IP Library Granted Patent US 10,369,464
Granted Patent B2
US 10,369,464 · App. 16/035,368 · Granted Aug 6, 2019

Game control method, server device, game system, and computer-readable recording medium

Inventor: Koichi Suzuki (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: GREE, Inc.
A63F13/35A63F13/795A63F13/822A63F2300/5566
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,369,464
App. No.
16/035,368
Granted
Aug 6, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A social game and the like that can increase the fun and amusement of a team battle and enhance players' motivation to participate in or continue a game by suppressing an occurrence of any non-participation team not participating in the battle are provided. A guild status determination unit determines, for each guild, whether the guild is in an inactive state or an active state, based on a result of detecting a login state of each player. A guild integrated control unit forcibly disbands a guild (i.e. an inactive guild) determined to be in the inactive state, based on guild activity information notified from the status determination unit. A disbandment notification unit notifies each player belonging to the inactive guild, of the disbandment of the guild.

Claims (29)

1. A method of controlling a server for providing a battle game between groups, to each of which a plurality of players belong, the method comprising:

disbanding, by the server, a group determined to be in an inactive state;

acknowledging, by the server, an independent player who does not belong to any group as a formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group, depending on an activity status of the independent player, wherein the independent player includes a player who belonged to the disbanded group; and

creating, by the server, a new group when the formation wait player satisfies a setting condition.

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

determining, by the server, a group to be in the inactive state based on at least one of:

(1) the group has no battle against another group for a predetermined period or more;

(2) no login to the battle game is performed by any player belonging to the group for a predetermined period or more; and

(3) the number of players belonging to the group is below a predetermined number for a predetermined period or more.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein acknowledging an independent player comprises:

comparing, by the server, the activity status of the independent player with player determination information relating to the independent player; and

determining, by the server, whether the independent player is acknowledged as a formation wait player based on the comparison.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the player determination information comprises at least one of progress information of the game and score information of the game.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the setting condition is that the number of the formation wait players reaches a specified number.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the setting condition comprises at least one of:

the experience value of the formation wait player is equal to or greater than a specified number; or

the formation wait player possesses a specified item.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein acknowledging an independent player comprises:

acknowledging, by the server, the formation wait player as a first type of formation wait player if the formation wait player has never belonged to any group,

acknowledging, by the server, the formation wait player as a second type of formation wait player if the formation wait player belonged to the disbanded group.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the activity status of the first type of formation wait player differs from the activity status of the second type of formation wait player.

9. A server for providing a battle game between groups, to each of which a plurality of players belong, the server comprising circuitry configured to:

disband a group determined to be in an inactive state;

acknowledge an independent player who does not belong to any group as a formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group, depending on an activity status of the independent player, wherein the independent player includes a player who belonged to the disbanded group;

create a new group when the formation wait player satisfies a setting condition.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a server, cause circuitry of the server, to:

disband a group determined to be in an inactive state;

acknowledge an independent player who does not belong to any group as a formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group, depending on an activity status of the independent player, wherein the independent player includes a player who belonged to the disbanded group;

create a new group when the formation wait player satisfies a setting condition.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY DATA AND ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 71296 FRAME: 482. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071611/0140 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071296/0482 →
Priority Claims (3)
JP 2013-130237 · Jun 21, 2013 · national
JP 2013-257677 · Dec 13, 2013 · national
JP 2014-046141 · Mar 10, 2014 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15363435 · Nov 29, 2016
Continuation 14309814 · Jun 19, 2014
Related Publication 20180339227A1 · Nov 29, 2018