Game system utilizing network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764241-B2
Application number	US-201214234894-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 1, 2012
Priority date	Aug 4, 2011
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

This game system (1) includes multiple game machines (2A, 2B) connected to a network (5), allows a player of a game machine to select one of selective items on a game prepared in advance, and allows the player to play a game having content reflecting the selected item. This game system is provided with a device (32) for storing relation data for determining whether or not a predetermined connection exists between players, a device (11) for determining the selection state pertaining to the items selected by the players on the game machines, a device (11, 12) for determining, based on the relation data, other players that have the predetermined connection with the player, and a device (21) which, when the player is making the selection from the selective items, presents the player making the selection with the selection state of other players having the predetermined connection with that player.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A game system including a plurality of game machines connected to a network to make a player of each of the plurality of game machines: select a desired selective item from a plurality of selective items which are used in a game; and play at the game machine of the player the game having content reflecting the selective item selected, the game system comprising:
a data storage device storing relation data having information necessary for determining whether or not a predetermined connection exists between players; and
a computer, the computer functioning by executing a computer program as:
a selection state determining device configured to determine the selective item selected from the plurality of selective items by the player at each of the plurality of game machines;
a relation determining device configured to determine based on the relation data another player having the predetermined connection with the player;
a selection state presenting device configured to present to the player when the player is allowed to select the desired item, the selective item determined by the selection state determining device pertaining to another player who is determined by the relation determining device as the another player having the predetermined connection; and
a selection executing device configured to present the plurality of selective items while making the player select a desired selective item regardless of whether the player is made to select a player for matchmaking for the game.

2. The game system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a common game executing device configured to make a plurality of players play a common game, on condition that the selective item selected by each of the plurality of players is identical with each other.

3. The game system according to claim 2 , further comprising
a matching device configured to match players with each other on condition that the selective item selected by each of the players is identical with each other, wherein
the game machine comprises:
a matching requesting device configured to while providing to the matching device information necessary for specifying the selective item selected by the player, request matching to the matching device,

the selection state presenting device is configured to provide to the player making the selection, information for determining the selective item selected by the another player having the predetermined connection and also requesting the matching to the matching device, and
the common game executing device is configured to make the players play the common game, the players being matched with each other by the matching device in response to the request from the matching requesting device.

4. The game system according to claim 1 , further comprising
an interaction service providing device configured to provide a communication site via the network to the players having the predetermined connection.

5. The game system according to claim 4 , wherein
a terminal apparatus for personal use being used by the player as a user is connectable to the network, and
the interaction service providing device is configured to provide the communication site to the user of the terminal apparatus.

6. The game system according to claim 5 , wherein
the interaction service providing device is configured to set the predetermined connection based on instructions of the user from the terminal apparatus.

Assignees

• Mito Yasushi
• Shimizu Hidekazu
• Kono Masanori
• Makino Koji
• Shamoto Masayuki
• Tsuchida Satoshi
• Horie Ryo
• Nakano Yuki
• Nasuhara Naoko
• Inami Tomohiro
• Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mito Yasushi
• Shimizu Hidekazu
• Kono Masanori
• Makino Koji
• Shamoto Masayuki
• Tsuchida Satoshi
• Horie Ryo
• Nakano Yuki
• Nasuhara Naoko
• Inami Tomohiro

Classifications

• A63F2300/8047

  Music games · CPC title

• A63F13/79

  involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories · CPC title

• A63F2300/5566

  by matching opponents or finding partners to build a team, e.g. by skill level, geographical area, background, play style · CPC title

• A63F13/30 Primary

  Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers · CPC title

• A63F13/795 Primary

  for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list · CPC title