IP Library Granted Patent US 10,967,257
Granted Patent B2
US 10,967,257 · App. 16/454,502 · Granted Apr 6, 2021

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 10,967,257
App. No.
16/454,502
Granted
Apr 6, 2021
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 (38)

1. A method of controlling a server for providing a battle game between groups, wherein each group comprises a plurality of players, the method comprising:

detecting, by the server, an independent player, wherein the independent player does not belong to any of the plurality of groups;

if the independent player has never belonged to any group and the independent player satisfies a first condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledging, by the server, the independent player as a first type of formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group;

if the independent player has once belonged to a group and an activity status of the independent player satisfies a second condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledging, by the server, the independent player as a second type of formation wait player; and

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

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the activity status to which the first condition relates differs from the activity status to which the second condition relates.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein acknowledging an independent player as a first type of formation wait 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 first type of formation wait player based on the comparison.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein comparing, by the server, the activity status of the independent player with player determination information relating to the independent player comprises comparing at least one of:

the player's game score with a predetermined score, and

the player's progress with a predetermined progress criterion.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein acknowledging an independent player as a second type of formation wait 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 second type of formation wait player based on the comparison.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein comparing, by the server, the activity status of the independent player with player determination information relating to the independent player comprises comparing at least one of:

the player's game score with a predetermined score, and

the player's progress with a predetermined progress criterion.

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

the experience value of the independent player is equal to or greater than a specified number; and

the independent player possesses a specified item.

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

disbanding, by the server, a group of the plurality of groups determined to be in an inactive state.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein

determining, by the server, a group of the plurality of groups to be in the inactive state is carried out based on at least one of the following criteria:

(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.

10. A server for providing a battle game between groups, wherein each group comprises a plurality of players, the server comprising circuitry configured to:

detect an independent player, wherein the independent player does not belong to any of the plurality of groups;

if the independent player has never belonged to any group and the independent player satisfies a first condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a first type of formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group;

if the independent player has once belonged to a group and an activity status of the independent player satisfies a second condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a second type of formation wait player; and

create a new group when the independent player satisfies a setting condition.

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

detect an independent player, wherein the independent player does not belong to any of a plurality of groups, wherein each of the plurality of groups comprises a plurality of players;

if the independent player has never belonged to any group and the independent player satisfies a first condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a first type of formation wait player who waits for forming of a new group;

if the independent player has once belonged to a group and an activity status of the independent player satisfies a second condition relating to an activity status of the independent player, acknowledge the independent player as a second type of formation wait player; and

create a new group when the independent player satisfies a setting condition.

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 (4)
Continuation 16035368 · Jul 13, 2018
Continuation 15363435 · Nov 29, 2016
Continuation 14309814 · Jun 19, 2014
Related Publication 20190314723A1 · Oct 17, 2019