Game control method, server apparatus, and storage medium

1. A method of sharing virtual containers in an electronic game, the method being performed by a server including a memory and a processor, the method comprising:

storing in the memory, by the processor, user identification information that identifies users of individual mobile terminals of a plurality of mobile terminals that communicate with the server, the mobile terminals including a first mobile terminal corresponding to a first user and a second mobile terminal corresponding to a second user, the first and second user cooperating as companions in the game;

controlling transmission, by the processor, of instructions to the first mobile terminal to execute a game in which the first user accesses a virtual container that holds a virtual item, the virtual item affecting at least one parameter of the game when used;

receiving from the first mobile terminal, by the processor, an indication relating to the virtual container;

opening, by the processor, the virtual container to obtain the virtual item when the indication indicates that the first user selects to open the virtual container;

storing in the memory, by the processor when the virtual container is opened, information that indicates the virtual item obtained from the virtual container in association with user identification information of the first user;

controlling transmission, by the processor when the indication indicates that the first user selects to present the virtual container to the second user of the second mobile terminal, of data for producing a first screen to the second mobile terminal indicating that the virtual container is presented to the second user;

controlling transmission, by the processor upon receipt of an indication of acceptance of the virtual container by the second user, of data for producing a second screen to the second mobile terminal indicating that the virtual container is gifted from the first user to the second user;

storing in the memory, by the processor when the data for producing the second screen is transmitted, information that indicates an association between the virtual container and user identification information of the second user;

receiving, by the processor from the first mobile terminal, an operation to purchase a special item based on purchase information, which is in-game currency associated in advance with the user identification information of the first user by an operation of the first user before the opening of the virtual container;

storing in the memory, by the processor, the special item in association with the user identification information of the first user; and

updating, by the processor, the purchase information to consume the in-game currency according to a number of purchased special items, wherein

when the special item is purchased by the first user, a success percentage of the opening of the virtual container is increased to 100% and the special item is consumed.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

storing in the memory for each of the first user and the second user, by the processor, user identification information in association with points allocated to each of the first user and the second user; and

increasing, by the processor, the points associated to one of the first user and the second user by a point value corresponding to the virtual item when the virtual container is opened by the one of the first user and the second user.

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

converting, by the processor prior to the increasing, the information that indicates the virtual item into the point value.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the opening includes opening the virtual container at a predetermined success percentage rate.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

discarding, by the processor, the virtual container when a present count of virtual containers reaches a predetermined upper limit count.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

controlling a first forwarding of, by the processor, an acceptance request of a companion to the second mobile terminal based on an operation of the first user of the first mobile terminal, the companion being the second user;

controlling a second forwarding of, by the processor, an acceptance response of the companion to the first mobile terminal; and

storing in the memory, by the processor, user identification information of the companion in association with the user identification information of the first user.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

controlling transmission, by the processor to the first mobile terminal when the virtual container has not been opened and is gifted to the second user based on the selection by the first user, of data for producing a present destination selection screen including user identification information of the second user in association with the user identification information of the first user; and

receiving, by the processor, a selection of the data for producing the present destination selection screen to gift the virtual container to the second user.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the virtual item contained in the virtual container is not displayed by a mobile terminal until the virtual container is opened.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

creating, by the processor, a composite item including a plurality of items stored in the memory in association with the user identification information of the first user based on an operation of the first user after the opening of the virtual container;

storing in the memory, by the processor, information relating to the composite item in association with the user identification information of the first user;

converting, by the processor, the information relating the composite item into points based on an operation of the first user after the composition; and

increasing, by the processor, a number of points stored in the memory in association with the first mobile terminal.

10. A server that controls sharing of virtual containers in an electronic game, comprising:

a memory configured to store user identification information that identifies users of individual mobile terminals of a plurality of mobile terminals that communicate with the server, the mobile terminals including a first mobile terminal corresponding to a first user and a second mobile terminal corresponding to a second user, the first and second user cooperating as companions in the game; and

processing circuitry configured to

control transmission of instructions to the first mobile terminal to execute a game in which the first user accesses a virtual container that holds a virtual item, the virtual item affecting at least one parameter of the game when used;

receive, from the first mobile terminal, an indication relating to the virtual container;

open the virtual container to obtain the virtual item when the indication indicates that the first user selects to open the virtual container;

control the memory to store information, when the virtual container is opened, that indicates the virtual item obtained from the virtual container in association with user identification information of the first user;

control transmission, when the indication indicates that the first user selects to present the virtual container to the second user of the second mobile terminal, of data for producing a first screen to the second mobile terminal indicating that the virtual container is presented to the second user;

control transmission, by the processor upon receipt of an indication of acceptance of the virtual container by the second user, of data for producing a second screen to the second mobile terminal indicating that the virtual container is gifted from the first user to the second user;

control the memory to store information, when the data for producing the first screen is transmitted, that indicates an association between the virtual container and user identification information of the second user;

receive, from the first mobile terminal, an operation to purchase a special item based on purchase information, which is in-game currency associated in advance with the user identification information of the first user by an operation of the first user before the opening of the virtual container;

store in the memory the special item in association with the user identification information of the first user; and

update the purchase information to consume the in-game currency according to a number of purchased special items, wherein

when the special item is purchased by the first user, a success percentage of the opening of the virtual container is increased to 100% and the special item is consumed.

11. A non transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a server, causes the processor to perform a method of sharing virtual containers in an electronic game comprising:

storing user identification information that identifies users of individual mobile terminals of a plurality of mobile terminals that communicate with the server, the mobile terminals including a first mobile terminal corresponding to a first user and a second mobile terminal corresponding to a second user, the first and second user cooperating as companions in the game;

controlling transmission of instructions to the first mobile terminal to execute a game in which the first user accesses a virtual container that holds a virtual item, the virtual item affecting at least one parameter of the game when used;

receiving, from the first mobile terminal, an indication relating to the virtual container;

opening the virtual container to obtain the virtual item when the indication indicates that the first user selects to open the virtual container;

controlling the memory to store information, when the virtual container is opened, that indicates the virtual item obtained from the virtual container in association with user identification information of the first user;

controlling transmission, when the indication indicates that the first user selects to present the virtual container to the second user of the second mobile terminal, of data for producing a first screen to the second mobile terminal indicating that the virtual container is presented to the second user;

controlling transmission, by the processor upon receipt of an indication of acceptance of the virtual container by the second user, of data for producing a second screen to the second mobile terminal indicating that the virtual container is gifted from the first user to the second user;

controlling the memory to store information, when the data for producing the first screen is transmitted, that indicates an association between the virtual container and user identification information of the second user;

receiving, from the first mobile terminal, an operation to purchase a special item based on purchase information, which is in-game currency associated in advance with the user identification information of the first user by an operation of the first user before the opening of the virtual container;

storing in the memory the special item in association with the user identification information of the first user; and

updating the purchase information to consume the in-game currency according to a number of purchased special items, wherein

when the special item is purchased by the first user, a success percentage of the opening of the virtual container is increased to 100% and the special item is consumed.