U.S. Pat. No. 10,373,432

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below through reference to the drawings. However, embodiments of the present invention described below are nothing but an example, and are not intended to exclude the application of various modifications or techniques not specifically expressed below. That is, embodiments of the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. Also, in the discussion of the drawings below, portions that are the same or similar will be assigned the same or similar reference signs. The drawings are simplified, and do not necessarily match the actual dimensions, proportions, and so forth. From one drawing to the next, there may be portions in which the dimensional relations and proportions are not the same.

A information processing device, a method of game processing, and a game processing system in one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described below through reference to the drawings.

Overview of Game Processing System

FIG. 1is a simplified diagram of an example of a game processing system in one or more embodiments of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 1, a game processing system1is such that, for example, game devices10A,10B, and10C operated by different players are connected via a network N to a server (information processing device)50and a billing server60provided by a game management company.

When the game devices are described separately, they will be referred to by their reference signs10A,10B, and10C, but when there is no need to distinguish between them, they will be referred to collectively with the number10. The game devices10are, for example, a mobile terminal, a tablet terminal, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a personal computer, a game machine, or the like. The game device10is an example of an external device.

The game devices10are connected online to the server50via the network N, and execute game play in web-game format.

The server50controls games that are fundamentally played for free, so-called F2P online games and so forth, by a plurality of players via the network N. The server50receives commands inputted from the game devices10, controls the progress of the game, and manages and distributes data that is necessary for the execution of the game.

The billing server60performs in-game billing processing in response to billing requests from the game devices10or the server50.

The network N is the Internet, etc., and includes wireless LAN access points, mobile telephone base stations, and the like.

Hardware Configuration

The hardware configuration of the game devices10will now be described.FIG. 2shows the hardware configuration of one of the game devices10shown inFIG. 1in one or more embodiments of the present invention.

The game device10shown inFIG. 2has at least a moving body communication antenna30, a moving body communication component32, a wireless LAN communication antenna34, a wireless LAN communication component36, a memory38, and a main controller40, and further has an external interface42or the like that includes a camera26and an audio output terminal24.

A touch panel14functions both as a display device and as an input device, and is made up of a display (display screen)14A that handles display functions, and a touch sensor14B that handles input functions. The display14A is made up, for example, of a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (electroluminescence) display, or another such common display device. The touch sensor14B consists of an element that senses touch and is disposed on the upper face of the display14A, and a transparent input surface that is laminated over this. The touch sensing method of the touch sensor14B can be any known method, such as an electrostatic capacity method, a resistance film method (pressure sensitive method), or an electromagnetic induction method.

The touch panel14displays, under control by the main controller40, game images generated by the execution of a game program39stored in the memory38. The touch panel14(input device) senses the movement of an object (a player's finger, a touch pen, etc.; hereinafter “finger” will be used as a representative example) touching the input surface, thereby receiving an operation input, and gives the main controller40information about the position of the contact. The movement of the finger is sensed as coordinate information indicating the position or region of the contact point, and the coordinate information is expressed, for example, as biaxial coordinates in the short-side direction and the long-side direction of the touch panel14.

The game device10is connected through the moving body communication antenna30or the wireless LAN communication antenna34to the network (Internet) N, and is able to exchange data with the server50.

The server50functions as a server that is the hub of this game system, collecting play data, such as the game being executed on the game device10, via the network N, controlling the progress of the game on the basis of this play data, and so forth.

In one or more embodiments of the present invention, when the game device10is connected to the network N and the server50, this creates an online game system with which various games can be provided online to that game device10. With this online game system, play data corresponding to many types of game is managed and provided, so that a player can have as much fun as if he were playing a variety of games at a video game arcade.

The game program39according to one or more embodiments of the present invention may be one that is installed in the game device10, or it may be one with which the game functions are provided from a server online (not limited to the server50).

Next, the hardware configuration of the server50will be described.FIG. 3shows an example of the hardware configuration of the server50in one or more embodiments of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 3, the server50has a controller302, a communication interface306, a memory308, a display component314, and an input component316, with the various components connected via a bus line.

The controller302includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM304, etc. The controller302executes a control program310, etc., stored in the memory308, and is therefore configured to carry out processing related to online gaming, for example, in addition to its general function as an information processing device.

The RAM304temporarily stores various kinds of information, and is used as a work area when the CPU is executing various kinds of processing.

The communication interface306controls communication with the game devices10and the billing server60via the network N.

The memory308consists of a hard disk drive or the like, for example, and stores the control program310in addition to storing applications and data (not shown) for carrying out its function as a general information processing device. The memory308also has an information memory312.

The control program310is a program for performing processing related to a game, and is a program that receives commands from the game device10and controls the progress of the game while it is being played on the basis of these commands. The control program310is stored on a recording medium that can be read by a computer, and may be read out from this recording medium and stored in the memory308.

The information memory312stores data that is necessary for use in the game, data related to the user, and so forth, for example.

The display component314displays information to the manager. The input component316receives input from the manager, and receives commands from the manager. Also, the server50does not necessarily need to be provided with the display component314and the input component316, and instead the display component314and the input component316may be connected to the server50from the outside.

Overview of Game

An overview of the game in question in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention will now be given. The game in one or more embodiments of the present invention involves having a drawing (gacha). This drawing allows a player to acquire intangible items, such as characters, drawing tickets, or game items. A game item, in the case of a battle game, is a weapon or the like that increases the fighting strength of a player, for example. A drawing may be the purchase of an intangible item, but is not limited to that, as long as it is an acquisition request for an intangible item from a player, whether directly or indirectly. The following description will use a drawing as an example, but in the following embodiment, the same processing can be carried out if “drawing” is replaced by “the purchase of an intangible item,” etc.

There are two kinds of drawings: a free drawing (free gacha) and a pay drawing (pay gacha). Different probability tables are set up for free and pay drawings. Consequently, the probability that an intangible item of high value to the player can be acquired is higher with a pay drawing than with a free drawing. Alternatively, different intangible items can be acquired by a pay drawing than by a free drawing.

With the game in one or more embodiments of the present invention, if at least a predetermined number of players (out of a certain, limited number of players) do a drawing within a predetermined time period, an additional intangible item besides the one obtained by drawing (hereinafter also referred to as a reward) is awarded to the players who did the drawing. The function for making the above-mentioned drawing processing possible will be described below. Examples of the reward include game items, characters, items that strengthen a game item, and drawing tickets.

Functional Configuration

FIG. 4is a block diagram of an example of the functional configuration of the game device10in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The game device10shown inFIG. 4includes, for example, a first transmitter402, a first receiver404, and a game execution component406.

The first transmitter402can be realized, for example, by the main controller40, the moving body communication component32, the wireless LAN communication component36, the game program39, etc. The first transmitter402sends the server50a command based on what has been inputted by the player, drawing information (request information) that includes information about the player who made the drawing (acquisition request) executed in the game, and so forth.

The first receiver404can be realized, for example, by the main controller40, the moving body communication component32, the wireless LAN communication component36, the game program39, etc. The first receiver404receives information related to a drawing (gacha) that is an event in the game (including drawing results), data related to the progress of the game, and so forth.

The game execution component406can be realized, for example, by the main controller40, the game program39, etc. The game execution component406executes the game (a plurality of events, for example). The game execution component406includes an operation accepting component412, a command issuing component414, an image generator416, and a display component418.

The operation accepting component412accepts player operations inputted from the touch panel14while the game is underway (i.e., during gameplay). For instance, the operation accepting component412accepts an operation for executing a drawing during an event in the game. The details of the accepted operation are outputted to the command issuing component414.

The command issuing component414issues a command according to the operation accepted by the operation accepting component412, and sends the issued command through the first transmitter402to the server50. For instance, the command issuing component414issues a command indicating an operation for executing a drawing (also called a drawing execution command). At this point, player information and identification information for identifying the game device10are sent along with the drawing execution command. Consequently, the server50can ascertain which player or which game device10executed the drawing.

The image generator416acquires data related to the progress of the game, which was received by the first receiver404, and generates the image to be displayed on the touch panel14on the basis of this information. The image generator416outputs the generated image to the display component418.

The display component418displays the acquired image on the touch panel14. Consequently, the game device10displays an image based on data sent from the server50and related to the progress of the game, allowing the game to proceed. For example, the display component418displays the drawing result, notification details (discussed below), etc.

The function of the server50will now be described.FIG. 5is a block diagram of an example of the functional configuration of the server50in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The server50shown inFIG. 5includes, for example, a second transmitter502, a second receiver504, and a game controller506.

The second transmitter502can be realized, for example, by a communication interface106, a controller102, the control program310, etc. The second transmitter502sends the game devices10a signal including information related to a drawing (including drawing results), data related to the progress of the game, and so forth. The second transmitter502may send the game devices an instruction to award an intangible item to a player.

The second receiver504can be realized, for example, by the communication interface106, the controller102, the control program310, etc. The second receiver504receives, from the game device10, a command based on what has been inputted by the player, drawing information (request information) that includes information about the player who made the drawing (acquisition request), and so forth. For example, the acquisition request may be a request to acquire an intangible item to be executed in the game.

The game controller506can be realized, for example, by the controller102, the control program310, etc. The game controller506controls the progress of the game based on player operations, etc. For instance, the game controller506acquires a command based on details of a player's operation, and uses this command to control the progress of an event in the game, such as a battle.

Also, the game controller506includes a drawing controller (request controller)512, a first generator514, a second generator516, a determination component518, a notification component520, an award component522, a billing controller524, a display controller526, and a recommendation component528, in order to execute the above-mentioned game (a game including an event that prompts joint drawings, for example).

The drawing controller512controls drawings (gachas). For example, if at least a predetermined number of players set as a quota, out of a plurality of players that satisfy a predetermined condition, have made a drawing within a predetermined time period, the drawing controller512controls the drawing event so that a reward is given to the players who made the drawing.

For instance, the drawing controller512launches a campaign to enable the execution of a drawing event, at either regular or irregular periods, and notifies the players of how long the campaign will last. A campaign lasts for one day, for example.

Also, the drawing controller512controls the start time from which the predetermined time period is reckoned, on the basis of the clock time specified by the player for the start of a drawing event. Consequently, when a player himself decides the start time of the predetermined time period, for example, this drawing event can be commenced at a favorable time when people are gathered around, such as at a party.

Also, the drawing controller512may allow the predetermined number set as the quota to be changed by the players, or may allow it to be changed according to the number of players who satisfy a predetermined condition. Consequently, the quota can be changed according to the wishes of the players, or a quota can be set that is suited to the number of players who are gathered.

Also, the drawing controller512may provide an upper limit to the number of rewards that can be acquired by one player during the campaign period. This prevents more rewards than necessary from being given out.

The first generator514generates a first list that includes a plurality of players (also called a candidate list) while the game is underway. The generated first list is stored in the memory308. For instance, the first generator514may generate one or more first lists including players who satisfy a predetermined condition, for each player. More specifically, the first generator514generates a first list on the basis of location information indicating a position related to a player, or a friend list that includes players registered as friends. When location information is used, the first generator514generates a first list that includes players within a predetermined area, or generates a first list that includes players within a predetermined range from a certain player. As another example of a first list, the first generator514may produce a first list by collecting players of the same level on the basis of parameters within the game, such as player level, or may generate a first list on the basis of login time to the game. As another example of a first list, the first generator514may produce a first list of all players, or may generate a first list by collecting players other than those who have not logged in for a certain length of time, from among all players.

The second generator516generates, for each first list, a second list (also called a participant list) that includes players who have made a drawing within a predetermined time period for a drawing event controlled by the drawing controller512. Also, the second generator516sorts the players included on the second list on the basis of the drawing time (request time) when these players made the drawing (acquisition request). Consequently, when the second list is displayed, the players can ascertain the times when drawings were made in ascending or descending order. When a player makes a friend request to a player on the second list, the drawing time can be added to the friend request determination criteria. The second generator516is not necessarily a required component if there is no need to display a second list.

The determination component518counts the number of predetermined players who have input the drawing (an acquisition request) within a first predetermined time period (first time period) among the predetermined players. Then, the determination component518determines whether or not the count value of players (the number of predetermined players) who are among the players included in the first list and who have performed a drawing to be executed in the game within the first predetermined time period is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. The “first predetermined time period” refers to a time limit until the quota is reached, for example, and is a set length of time such as one hour or two hours. For example, the first predetermined time period may be from when the first player makes the request until the quota is reached (predetermined ending point). The “predetermined value” is the same as the predetermined number set for the quota. Regarding a determination as to whether or not another player has made a drawing, since information to the effect that a drawing has been made is sent to the server50when a player makes a drawing, the determination component518can make this determination by receiving this information.

Also, when a particular player has made a drawing, the determination component518may count the players who have made a drawing within the first predetermined time period after the drawing time, and within a second predetermined time period (second time period) before the drawing time when a particular player out of the players included in the first list, generated according to this particular player, made a drawing. Consequently, the time limit to reach the quota can be extended, making it easier to reach the quota. The second predetermined time period may be the same as or different from the first predetermined time period. For example, the second predetermined time period may be from a predetermined starting point before the first player makes the request.

What is counted by the determination component518may be only players who have made a pay drawing, or may be players who have made either a pay drawing or a free drawing.

When a particular player (second player) has made a drawing, the notification component520notifies players having a first list that includes this particular player that a drawing has been made (including the drawing time), and how much of a predetermined time period is left. In other words, when the second receiver504receives the request based on input from a second player, the controller causes information that indicates the received request and how much time remains in the first time period to be displayed on a play screen of the game for a second predetermined player. Consequently, on the system side, players having a first list that includes the particular player who has made a drawing can learn that there is a player who made a drawing and when it was made, and this provides players with motivation to make drawings.

The award component522awards an intangible item that is a drawing result to players who made a drawing when the count value counted by the determination component518is less than a predetermined value, and awards an intangible item that is a drawing result and an additional intangible item to players who made the drawing when the count value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. That is, if the count value for players who have made a drawing in the first list is less than a predetermined value (a predetermined number set as a quota), the quota has not been reached, and the award component522awards only the intangible item that is the drawing result. On the other hand, if the count value for players who have made a drawing in the first list is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the quota has been reached, and the award component522awards both the intangible item that is the drawing result and a reward.

Also, if the count value has become greater than or equal to the predetermined value after an intangible item that is the drawing result has been awarded to players who have made a drawing, the award component522may give a reward to the players counted as this count value. Consequently, the drawing result is awarded immediately after the drawing, so players suffer no loss, and if the quota is reached (if the count value is greater than or equal to a predetermined value), they can also receive a reward, so the players profit. The award component522may change the reward that is given according to the number of the quota. For instance, the award component522may give a reward of higher value the higher is the number of the quota.

The billing controller524controls billing processing according to billing instructions from players. The billing controller524sends the billing server60information about predetermined players who have issued billing instructions, and the billing server60performs billing processing so as to withdraw a predetermined amount of money using a bank account number or a credit card number registered in the information about the predetermined player that is sent.

In the above example, direct billing processing was performed in performing drawing processing, but billed items may be purchased by billing, and drawing processing may be performed for the consumption and exchange of these billed items. In the following description, “billing” shall encompass not only direct billing, but also indirect billing through the consumption of billed items. A billed item is an item that can at least be obtained by players by billing, and may be distributed at no charge in the event of server trouble, or may be distributed at no charge as a login reward.

The display controller526controls so that a second list is displayed on the play screen of the game. The play screen is, for example, the screen that is displayed on the display screens of the game devices10. At this point, the display controller526may rearrange the second list in the order of the drawing times when drawings were made. This allows a player looking at the second list to confirm the players who have made drawings recently, the players who made drawings in the early part of a predetermined time period, and so forth.

The recommendation component528generates a third list that includes players (third predetermined players) who are not included in the first list and who have made a drawing within a predetermined time period, and recommends that the players included in the third list be included in the first list. For example, the recommendation component528causes the third list to be displayed on a play screen of the game. The recommendation component528produces, for example, a third list that includes players who are not included in a friend list (the first list) and who have made a drawing within a predetermined time period. This third list is also called a recommendation list (recommendation information). With the recommendation list, players are rearranged by the recommendation component528on the basis of drawing times, and a friend request button may be provided. When a player presses the friend request button, a friend request is made to the player corresponding to that button. For example, the recommendation component528may rearrange the drawing times in descending order.

In this case, the determination component518may update the players included in the first list so that the count value includes the number of players newly included in the first list on the basis of the recommendation of the recommendation component528, or the number of players newly included in the first list because a player issued a friend request on his own, without being based on the recommendation of the recommendation component528, and the number of friends has been increased. An upper limit to the effective number used as the count value may be provided, out of the number of players newly included as a result of the updating of the first list by the addition of friends, either by the players on their own or on the basis of a recommendation. Consequently, even those players with few friends included in the first list will have a higher possibility of reaching the quota, and at the same time, the opportunity to create friend relationships among players can be provided. Also, providing an upper limit to the effective number used as the count value prevents people from temporarily increasing the number of friends for the sole purpose of increasing the count value.

When a drawing is made on a billed basis, among groups that reach the quota, there is the possibility that there will be groups with a high billing capacity. On the system side, ascertaining which groups have this high billing capacity makes it possible to provide to those groups drawings with which intangible items of higher value than those obtained by an ordinary drawing can be awarded.

Specific Example

A specific example of when the first list is a friend list will now be described.FIG. 6shows an example of a first list in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The first list shown inFIG. 6is a friend list of player A, and list categories include player IDs, player names, and attribute information. Player A may or may not be included in the first list. Player ID is information used to identify a player, and may be used in a friend search. The player name is the name arbitrarily selected by that player, and is used when displaying the list. Attribute information is information that includes information about items used in the game, etc.

If a friend list is the first list, then generating a first list at the first generator514includes the meaning of acquiring a first list. The reason is that since a friend list has already been generated at the time of a drawing event, the first generator514does not need to generate a first list every time there is a drawing event.

FIG. 7shows an example of a second list in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The second list shown inFIG. 7is a participant list, which lists the players who are among the players included in the first list and who have participated in a drawing event. If player A participates in a drawing event, then player A himself is included in this participant list. The list categories in the second list include the IDs of the players who have made a drawing, player names, and drawing times. The second generator516may use drawing times in sorting the second list. The second list shown inFIG. 7is an example of sorting by drawing times in descending order.

FIG. 8shows an example of a screen on which a second list is displayed in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The screen shown inFIG. 8is a screen Di102on a game device10, and the second list Li102shown inFIG. 7is displayed. On the screen Di102is displayed, for example, “——————more people until award,” to clarify how many more people are needed until the quota is reached, making it possible to prompt a player to perform drawing processing. The screen information shown on the screen Di102is generated by the display controller526, for example.

FIG. 9shows an example of notification details in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The screen shown inFIG. 9is a screen Di104, which shows what is sent to a player having a first list that includes player A, when player A has participated in a drawing event (made a drawing). Notification details Ni102are displayed on the screen Di104. The notification details Ni102are displayed as a pop-up within the screen, for example.

The notification details Ni102include the names of participating players, the names of drawing events in which they participated, the number of people until the quota is reached, how much of the predetermined time period is left, and so forth. During a drawing event, the notification shown inFIG. 9is given every time a player included in the friend list makes a drawing, so players can be motivated to make a drawing.

FIG. 10shows an example of adding to the second list in one or more embodiments of the present invention.FIG. 10Ais the first list (friend list) of player A, andFIG. 10Bis the second list (participant list) of player A.FIG. 10Cis the first list of player B, andFIG. 10Dis the second list of player B.FIG. 10Eis the first list of player C, andFIG. 10Fis the second list of player C. In the examples shown inFIG. 10, the first and second lists are illustrated in simplified form, so the first list has only player names, and the second list has only player names and drawing times.

As shown inFIG. 10B, let us assume that player A has participated, by making a drawing at 9:00 p.m., in a drawing event in which players B, C, and D included in player A's own first list (FIG. 10A) have participated. At this point, notification indicating that player A has participated in a drawing event is sent to players B and C having a first list that includes player A.

FIG. 10Dshows a second list generated for player B as a result of the participation of player A in a drawing event. In the example shown inFIG. 10D, of the players in player B's first list (FIG.10C), only player A is included in the second list of player B because player A participated in a drawing event for the first time.

FIG. 10Fshows a second list generated for player C as a result of the participation of player A in a drawing event. In the example shown inFIG. 10F, of the players in player C's first list (FIG. 10E), player A is added to the second list including player B because player A participated in a drawing event right after player B.

The second generator516and the determination component518may receive notification indicating that a player has participated in a drawing event, in which case a player can be added to the second list, or the count value can be increased.

FIG. 11is a diagram illustrating an example of measuring a predetermined time period indicating the time limit of a drawing event in one or more embodiments of the present invention. In the example shown inFIG. 11, the first predetermined time period indicating the basic time limit of the drawing event is given as one hour. Also, the second predetermined time period is given as one hour, but this need not be the same as the first predetermined time period.

As shown inFIG. 11, in the campaign period launched by the drawing controller512, let us assume that player B makes a drawing at 8:45 p.m. on September 29, player makes a drawing at 9:00 p.m. on September 29, and player F makes a drawing at 9:32 p.m. on September 29.

At this point, players A, B, and F are friends, and none of the other friends of the players has participated in the drawing event.

Premised on the above, the timing of the drawing event for player B is a start time of 8:45 p.m., and an end time (after the first predetermined time period has elapsed) is 9:45 p.m.

When player A, having received notification of the drawing event participation of player B, participates in the drawing event at 9:00 p.m., the timing of the drawing event for player A is a start time of 8:00 p.m., which is prior to the second predetermined time period prior to the drawing time of 9:00 p.m., and an end time of 10:00 p.m., which is after the first predetermined time period after 9:00 p.m.

Similarly, when player F, having received notification of the drawing events of players B and A, participates in the drawing event at 9:32 p.m., the timing of the drawing event for player F is a start time of 8:32 p.m., which is prior to the second predetermined time period prior to the drawing time of 9:32 p.m., and an end time of 10:32 p.m., which is after the first predetermined time period after 9:32 p.m.

Specifically, the drawing controller512may measure the timing of a drawing event backward from the time at which the player himself made a drawing, as with players A and F. This extends the duration of the drawing event and makes it easier to reach the quota.

Also, the award component522may give player B, who is the first to draw in the first list, a reward of higher value than that for players A and F as the reward for reaching the quota. This means that players can be motivated to be the first one to draw.

FIG. 12shows an example of a screen on which a second list and a recommendation list are displayed in one or more embodiments of the present invention. The screen shown inFIG. 12is the screen Di106of a game device10, and the second list Li102shown inFIG. 7and the number of people until the quota is reached are displayed. Also displayed on the screen Di106is the recommendation list Li104generated by the recommendation component528. The recommendation list includes player names, drawing times, and a request button. Also displayed on the screen Di106is the effective number of people that will be counted in the drawing event. The players can make friend requests to players numbering above the effective number of people, and can perform friend registrations, but there is an upper limit to the number of people counted as participants in a drawing event.

Consequently, when a player makes a friend request to a player displayed on the recommendation list Li104, that player can be added to the friend list, allowing players who have already made a drawing to be made friends, and reducing the remaining number of people until the quota is reached. Furthermore, by providing an upper limit to the effective number of people serving as the count value for players registered as friends from the recommendation list, players are prevented from reaching the quota merely by making a large number of friend requests only to players included in the recommendation list.

Operation

Next, the operation related to the drawing processing of the game processing system1in one or more embodiments of the present invention will be described. The following description is divided into drawing processing A when player A is the first to draw, and drawing processing B when player B receives a notification and makes a drawing.FIG. 13is a flowchart of an example of drawing processing A in the game processing system1in one or more embodiments of the present invention.

In step S102shown inFIG. 13, the drawing controller512determines whether or not player A has executed a drawing. If a drawing has been executed (Yes in step S102), the flow proceeds to step S104, but if no drawing has been executed (No in step S102), the flow returns to step S102.

In step S104, the award component522gives the players the drawing results.

In step S106, the drawing controller512determines whether or not the drawing time is within the campaign period of the drawing event. If it is within the campaign period (Yes in step S106), the flow proceeds to step S108, but if it is outside the campaign period (No in step S106), the processing is ended.

In step S108, the first generator514generates a first list for each player that includes players who satisfy a predetermined condition. Satisfying a predetermined condition means that they are registered as friends, they fall within a predetermined range using location information, etc.

In step S110, the second generator516generates a second list that includes players who have made a drawing.

In step S112, the notification component520performs processing to notify players having a first list that includes player A who made a drawing.

In step S114, the determination component518determines whether or not another player included in the first list has executed a drawing. The determination component518can determine whether or not another player has executed a drawing from whether or not a notification has been received. If another player has executed a drawing (Yes in step S114), the flow proceeds to step S116, and if another player has not executed a drawing (No in step S114), the flow proceeds to step S118.

In step S116, the second generator516adds the other players who have executed a drawing to the second list.

In step S118, the determination component518determines whether or not a predetermined time period (the time limit of the drawing event) has elapsed. If the predetermined time period has elapsed (Yes in step S118), the flow proceeds to step S120, and if the predetermined time period has not elapsed (No in step S118), the flow returns to step S114.

In step S120, the determination component518determines whether or not the count value obtained by counting player A and players who have made a drawing in the first list is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. If the count value is greater than or equal to the predetermined value (Yes in step S120), the flow proceeds to step S122, and if the count value is less than the predetermined value (No in step S120), the processing is ended.

In step S122, the award component522gives a reward to players who have made a drawing. At this point the award component522may give a reward of higher value to the first player to draw (player A).

FIG. 14is a flowchart of an example of drawing processing B in the game processing system1in one or more embodiments of the present invention.

In step S202shown inFIG. 14, the game controller506determines whether or not there is a notification that another player has executed a drawing. If there is such a notification (Yes in step S202), the flow proceeds to step S204, and if there is no notification (No in step S202), the flow returns to step S206.

In step S204, the first generator514generates a first list for each player that includes players who satisfy a predetermined condition. Satisfying a predetermined condition means that they are registered as friends, they fall within a predetermined range using location information, etc.

In step S206, the second generator516generates a second list that includes players who have made a drawing (notified players).

In step S208, the drawing controller512determines whether or not player B is executing drawing processing. If a drawing is already being executed (Yes in step S208), the flow proceeds to step S216, and if no drawing is being executed (No in step S208), the flow proceeds to step S210.

In step S210, the drawing controller512determines whether or not a drawing has been executed by player B. If a drawing has been executed (Yes in step S210), the flow proceeds to step S212, and if no drawing has been executed (No in step S210), the flow proceeds to step S216.

In step S212, the award component522gives the players the drawing results.

In step S214, the notification component520performs processing to notify players having a first list that includes player B who made a drawing.

Steps S216to S224are the same as the processing in steps S114to S122shown inFIG. 13, and therefore will not be described again.

The various processing steps included in the processing flow discussed above can be executed in parallel or with the order changed as desired, so long as this causes no contradictions in the processing details, and other steps may also be added in between these processing steps. Also, steps that are discussed as a single step for the sake of convenience may be divided up and executed as a plurality of steps, while those discussed as being divided into a plurality of steps for the sake of convenience may be considered as a single step.

The drawing processing shown inFIGS. 13 and 14is nothing but an example, and for the sake of convenience in description, processing was described as being divided up by player, but in actual practice the processing is not divided up by player.

According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, a system is provided that enhances the enjoyability of the game while suitably fostering cooperation among a plurality of players in the drawing processing of the game.

Although the disclosure has been described with respect to only a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of this disclosure, will appreciate that various other embodiments may be devised without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the attached claims. Furthermore, the functions on the server50side may be provided as needed on the game device10side.

If a first list is associated with a particular player, when a quota is reached by the particular player and the players in the first list, the award component522may give a reward to the particular player. This makes it possible for parents to make a drawing for their children and to give a reward only to the children when the first list consists of a group with a strong relationship, such as a family. Also, the first generator514may use a friend list itself as the first list, or may use part of a friend list as the first list.1Game Processing System10Game Device50Server60Billing Server102Controller106Communication Interface108Memory114Display Component116Input Component502Second Transmitter504Second Receiver506Game Controller512Drawing Controller514First Generator516Second Generator518Determination Component520Notification Component522Award Component524Billing Controller526Display Controller528Recommendation Component