Server device, method for controlling the same, computer-readable recording medium and game system

1. A server device that provides a game, in which a plurality of players can participate, and that is connected to terminal devices operated by the players via a communication line, comprising:

an information storage unit; and

a control unit that accesses the information storage unit to perform processing to display an image of the game at the terminal devices, wherein

the information storage unit is configured to store information on a group fighting event of the game involving at least a first group and a second group,

the control unit is configured to perform processing to, in accordance with an instruction from a player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group, display the information on the group fighting event and permit the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group to watch the group fighting event as a watcher who does not fight, and

when receiving a participation instruction for the group fighting event currently in progress from the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group and who is watching the group fighting event, the control unit is configured to let the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group fight under a certain limitation of behavior in the group fighting event.

2. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein a group comprises at least one of the set of: a player, a non-player character, a plurality of players, and a plurality of non-player characters.

3. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to display, when a fighting event ends, a bulletin-board at terminal devices of players who fought in the group fighting event, the bulletin-board enabling a communication among the players.

4. The server device according to claim 3 , wherein the bulletin-board displays, on a terminal device of the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group, a graphical user interface element configured to send an application to at least one of the first group or the second group.

5. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein a certain limitation is placed on said player about a reward that can be given after the fighting event ends, which certain limitation is not placed on other players.

6. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to let the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group fight under a certain limitation of behavior in the group fighting event in such a manner that the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group participates in attacks only in a second position tier.

7. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to let the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group fight under a certain limitation of behavior in the group fighting event in such a manner that the player who belongs to no group is prevented from entry into a first positional tier.

8. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the group fighting event comprises selecting a plurality of powerups from a random set of powerups; determining if the plurality of powerups satisfies at least one criterion in the set of: a type match, an attribute match, a degree of rareness match, or a combination match; and, when the plurality of powerups satisfies the at least one criterion, activating an effect for a battle phase of the group fighting event.

9. The server device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to receive a plurality of participation instructions from a plurality of players belonging to neither the first group or the second group, and is configured to restrict participation based on an attribute of each of the plurality of players.

10. The server device according to claim 9 , wherein the control unit is configured to restrict a number of players belonging to neither the first group or the second group that can participate based on a character level of each of the plurality of players.

11. A method for controlling a server device that provides a game, in which a plurality of players can participate, and that is connected to terminal devices operated by the players via a communication line, the server device comprising an information storage unit, and a control unit that accesses the information storage unit to perform processing to display an image of the game at the terminal devices, the method comprising:

operating the information storage unit to store information on a group fighting event of the game involving at least a first group and a second group,

operating the control unit to perform processing to, in accordance with an instruction from a player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group, display the information on the group fighting event and permit the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group to watch the group fighting event as a watcher who does not fight, and

when receiving a participation instruction for the group fighting event currently in progress from the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group and who is watching the group fighting event, operating the control unit to let the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group fight under a certain limitation of behavior in the group fighting event.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein a group comprises a player, a non-player character, or a plurality of players and/or non-player characters.

13. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

when a fighting event ends, operating the control unit to display a bulletin-board at terminal devices of players who fought in the group fighting event, the bulletin-board enabling a communication among the players.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein a certain limitation is placed on said player about a reward that can be given after the fighting event ends, which certain limitation is not placed on other players.

15. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

operating the control unit to let the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group fight under a certain limitation of behavior in the group fighting event in such a manner that the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group participates in attacks only in a second position tier.

16. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

operating the control unit to let the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group fight under a certain limitation of behavior in the group fighting event in such a manner that the player who belongs to no group is prevented from entry into a first positional tier.

17. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

when the group fighting event ends, operating the control unit to display a bulletin board at terminal devices of players who fought in the group fighting event, said players including at least: at least one player in the first group, at least one player in the second group, and the at least one player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group;

wherein the bulletin board comprises a communication system accessible to said players.

18. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the group fighting event comprises selecting a plurality of powerups from a random set of powerups; determining if the plurality of powerups satisfies at least one criterion in the set of: a type match, an attribute match, a degree of rareness match, or a combination match; and, when the plurality of powerups satisfies the at least one criterion, activating an effect for a battle phase of the group fighting event.

19. The method according to claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, with the control unit, a plurality of participation instructions from a plurality of players belonging to neither the first group or the second group, and restricting participation based on an attribute of each of the plurality of players.

20. A non-transitory recording medium that provides a game, in which a plurality of players can participate, that is connected to terminal devices operated by the players via a communication line, and that can access an information storage unit that stores information on a group fighting event of the game involving at least a first group and a second group, the recording medium having stored thereon a computer program to configure the computer to:

access the information storage unit to perform processing to display an image of the game at the terminal devices;

display, in accordance with an instruction from a player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group, the information on the group fighting event and permit the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group to watch the group fighting event as a watcher who does not fight, and

when receiving a participation instruction for the group fighting event currently in progress from the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group and who is watching the group fighting event, let the player who belongs to neither the first group or the second group fight under a certain limitation of behavior in the group fighting event.