Game server, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, game control method, and game system

• US 9,694,287 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2016
• Issued: 07/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2013
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: GREE Inc.
• Original Assignee: GREE Inc.
• Inventors: Mizuno, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): YEN, JASON TAHAI
• Application Number:
  US15/277,729
• Publication Number:
  US 20170014721A1
• Time in Patent Office: 280 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/61 using advertising information
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/79 involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/575 for trading virtual items
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/609 for unlocking hidden game elements, e.g. features, items, levels

Abstract

A game server employs a notification system associated with purchase of an item in a game and is capable of promoting the purchase of the item, Specifically, a game server may include a notifier, when receiving a request for provision of a first item from a communication terminal, for sending a notification that the first item is provided to the communication terminal to a communication terminal; and an item provider, when sending the notification from the notifier to the communication terminal that the first item is provided, for providing a second item, in addition to the first item, to at least one of the communication terminal and the communication terminal that sends the request for provision of the first item.

Claims

1. A game server for transmitting a plurality of items usable in a game to a plurality of communication terminals connected to the game server over a network, the game server comprising:

a processor;

a storage unit, executed by the processor, that stores first user ID information and notification information;

an item provider that, when receiving a request for provision of a first item usable in the game from a first communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to first user ID information, provides the first item to the first communication terminal; and

a notifier that, when providing the first item to the first communication terminal, sends a notification to a second communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals that the first item is provided to the first communication terminal, the second communication terminal corresponding to second user ID information linked to the first user ID information,

wherein when receiving a request for provision of the first item from the second communication terminal based on the notification, the notifier sends a notification to a third communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals that the first item is provided to the second communication terminal, the third communication terminal corresponding to third user ID information linked to the second user ID information,

wherein the first user ID information identifies a first user, the second user ID information identifies a second user different from the first user, and the third user ID information identifies a third user different from the first user and the second user, and

wherein the item provider provides a second item usable in the game, in addition to the first item, to the second communication terminal that is mentioned in the notification sent to the third communication terminal by the notifier.

2. The game server according to claim 1, wherein when receiving a request for provision of the first item from the third communication terminal based on the notification, the item provider provides the second item usable in the game to at least one of (i) the first communication terminal and (ii) the third communication terminal that sends a request for provision of the first item based on the notification.

3. The game server according to claim 1, wherein a user corresponding to the second communication terminal is a friend user of a user corresponding to the first communication terminal.

4. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the second item is identical to the first item.

5. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the first item and the second item restore an energy, an attack cost and a defense cost.

6. The game server according to claim 1, wherein the notifier sends, to additional communication terminals of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to a plurality of the additional user ID information, the notification that the first item is provided, and

wherein the item provider, when receiving additional requests for the first item from a predetermined number of the additional communication terminals, further provides the second item to the first communication terminal.

7. The game server according to claim 1, wherein when the notifier sends the notification to a predetermined number of the plurality of communication terminals, the item provider provides the second item to the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to a plurality of user ID information associated with the notification.

8. The game server according to claim 1, further comprising a selection panel generator that generates a selection panel that allows for selection of among a plurality of different user ID information linked to the first user ID information, a destination of the notification that the first item is provided to the first communication terminal.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing an order to be executed by a computer for functioning as a game server for transmitting a plurality of items usable in a game to a plurality of communication terminals connected to the game server over a network, wherein the order includes a program for executing:

an item providing step of, when receiving a request for provision of a first item usable in the game from a first communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to first user ID information, providing the first item to the first communication terminal; and

a notification step of, when providing the first item to the first communication terminal, sending a notification to a second communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals that the first item is provided to the first communication terminal, the second communication terminal corresponding to second user ID information linked to the first user ID information,

wherein when receiving a request for provision of the first item from the second communication terminal based on the notification, a notification is sent to a third communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals that the first item is provided to the second communication terminal, the third communication terminal corresponding to third user ID information linked to the second user ID information,

wherein the first user ID information identifies a first user, the second user ID information identifies a second user different from the first user, and the third user ID information identifies a third user different from the first user and the second user, and

wherein at the item providing step, a second item usable in the game, in addition to the first item, is provided to the second communication terminal that is mentioned in the notification sent to the third communication terminal by the notifier.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein when receiving a request for provision of the first item from the third communication terminal based on the notification, the item provider provides the second item usable in the game to at least one of (i) the first communication terminal and (ii) the third communication terminal that sends a request for provision of the first item based on the notification.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein a user corresponding to the second communication terminal is a friend user of a user corresponding to the first communication terminal.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the second item is identical to the first item.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the first item and the second item restore an energy, an attack cost and a defense cost.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein the notification that the first item is provided is sent to additional communication terminals of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to a plurality of the additional user ID information, and

when receiving additional requests for the first item from a predetermined number of the additional communication terminals, the second item is provided to the first communication terminal.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, wherein when the notification is sent to a predetermined number of the plurality of communication terminals, the second item is provided to the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to a plurality of user ID information associated with the notification.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 9, further comprising generating a selection panel that allows for selection of, among a plurality of different user ID information linked to the first user ID information, a destination of the notification that the first item is provided to the first communication terminal.

17. A game control method for providing a plurality of items usable in a game to a plurality of communication terminals connected to the game over a network, the game control method comprising:

an item providing step of, when receiving a request for provision of a first item usable in the game from a first communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to first user ID information, providing the first item to the first communication terminal; and

a notification step of, when providing the first item to the first communication terminal, sending a notification to a second communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals that the first item is provided to the first communication terminal, the second communication terminal corresponding to second user ID information linked to the first user ID information,

wherein when receiving a request for provision of the first item from the second communication terminal based on the notification, a notification is sent to a third communication terminal of the plurality of communication terminals that the first item is provided to the second communication terminal, the third communication terminal corresponding to third user ID information linked to the second user ID information,

wherein the first user ID information identifies a first user, the second user ID information identifies a second user different from the first user, and the third user ID information identifies a third user different from the first user and the second user, and

wherein at the item providing step, a second item usable in the game, in addition to the first item, is provided to the second communication terminal that is mentioned in the notification sent to the third communication terminal by the notifier.

18. The game control method according to claim 17, wherein when receiving a request for provision of the first item from the third communication terminal based on the notification, the item provider provides the second item usable in the game to at least one of (i) the first communication terminal and (ii) the third communication terminal that sends a request for provision of the first item based on the notification.

19. The game control method according to claim 17, wherein a user corresponding to the second communication terminal is a friend user of a user corresponding to the first communication terminal.

20. The game control method according to claim 17, wherein the second item is identical to the first item.

21. The game control method according to claim 17, wherein the first item and the second item restore an energy, an attack cost and a defense cost.

22. The game control method according to claim 17, wherein the notification that the first item is provided is sent to additional communication terminals of the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to a plurality of the additional user ID information, and

when receiving additional requests for the first item from a predetermined number of the additional communication terminals, the second item is provided to the first communication terminal.

23. The game control method according to claim 17, wherein when the notification is sent to a predetermined number of the plurality of communication terminals, the second item is provided to the plurality of communication terminals corresponding to a plurality of user ID information associated with the notification.

24. The game control method according to claim 17, further comprising generating a selection panel that allows for selection of, among a plurality of different user ID information linked to the first user ID information, a destination of the notification that the first item is provided to the first communication terminal.