IP Library Granted Patent US 11,406,893
Granted Patent B2
US 11,406,893 · App. 17/070,421 · Granted Aug 9, 2022

Game control method, server apparatus, and storage medium

Inventors: Takayuki Itoh (Tokyo, JP); Tomohiro Tsukihara (Tokyo, JP); Haruya Nishikubo (Tokyo, JP); Midori Moriyama (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: GREE, Inc.
A63F13/332A63F13/46A63F13/69A63F13/58A63F13/822A63F2300/57
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,406,893
App. No.
17/070,421
Granted
Aug 9, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

When a mobile terminal obtains a container upon movement of a display range, a processor increases points in a storage unit. When the mobile terminal opens a container obtained by movement of the display range or as a present from another mobile terminal, the processor opens the container at predetermined success percentages, and writes an item obtained from the opened container in the storage unit. When the mobile terminal presents a container without opening it, the processor transmits screen data indicating a present to the other mobile terminal. The processor converts an item in the storage unit into points to increase the points in the storage unit based on an operation of the user of the mobile terminal.

Claims (34)

1. A game control method, comprising:

controlling, by circuitry of a server, a plurality of mobile terminals to individually execute a game, the game including a container that contains an item, the container being obtained by one of moving a display range for each mobile terminal in a virtual space based on a user operation of a first mobile terminal or a second mobile terminal;

controlling the circuitry of the server to transmit to the first mobile terminal, when the container is not opened and is provided as a present to the first mobile terminal, present destination selection screen data including user identification information corresponding to at least one user other than a user of the first mobile terminal and user identification information of the user of the first mobile terminal;

controlling the circuitry of the server to receive, from the first mobile terminal, selection of user identification information of a user, other than the user of the first mobile terminal, selected from the present destination selection screen data; and

controlling the circuitry of the server to transmit, to the second mobile terminal corresponding to the selected user identification information, screen data indicating presentation of the container based on the selected user identification information and the user identification information of the user of the first mobile terminal.

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

determining, by the circuitry of the server, whether the container is opened by a user of the second mobile terminal; and

in response to determining that the container is opened, causing, by circuitry of the server, the second mobile terminal to obtain points corresponding to the item in the container.

3. The game control method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining, by the circuitry of the server, whether the container is opened by a user of the second mobile terminal;

in response to determining that the container is opened, determining, by the circuitry of the server, whether a number of items stored by the second mobile terminal is equal to or greater than a predetermined limit; and

causing, by the circuitry of the server, the second mobile terminal to store the item when the number of items stored by the second mobile terminal is below the predetermined limit.

4. The game control method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the circuitry of the server, screen data to the second mobile terminal to cause the second mobile terminal to display a control for consuming the item or an item stored in by the second mobile terminal.

5. The game control method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the circuitry of the server, opening failure screen data to the second terminal indicating a failure to open the container when the circuitry of the server determines that the user fails to open the container.

6. The game control method according to claim 5 , wherein the opening failure screen data includes an operation object to present the container to another mobile terminal and an operation object to discard the container.

7. The game control method according to claim 6 , wherein the opening failure screen data includes user companion information corresponding to other users that are identified as companions to the user of the second mobile terminal in the game.

8. The game control method according to claim 7 , wherein a number of companions of the user of the second terminal is limited by a set limit.

9. The game control method according to claim 8 , wherein the set limit is increased based on a number of containers presented to other mobile terminals.

10. The game control method according to claim 1 , wherein the first mobile terminal receives in-game currency in exchange for presenting the container to the second mobile terminal.

11. The game control method according to claim 1 , wherein the first mobile terminal receives in-game currency when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

12. The game control method according to claim 11 , wherein the predetermined condition is an increase in the game level of the user of the first mobile terminal.

13. A server that controls a game, comprising:

circuitry configured to:

control a plurality of mobile terminals to individually execute the game, the game including a container that contains an item, the container being obtained by one of moving a display range for each mobile terminal in a virtual space based on a user operation of a first mobile terminal or a second mobile terminal,

transmit to the mobile terminal, when the container is not opened and is provided as a present to the first mobile terminal, present destination selection screen data including user identification information corresponding to at least one user other than a user of the first mobile terminal and user identification information of the user of the first mobile terminal,

receive, from the first mobile terminal, selection of user identification information of a user, other than the user of the first mobile terminal, selected from the present destination selection screen data, and

transmit, to the second mobile terminal corresponding to the selected user identification information, screen data indicating presentation of the container based on the selected user identification information and the user identification information of the user of the first mobile terminal.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with computer-readable instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry, causes the processing circuitry to perform a game control method comprising:

controlling a plurality of mobile terminals to individually execute a game, the game including a container that contains an item, the container being obtained by one of moving a display range for each mobile terminal in a virtual space based on a user operation of a first mobile terminal or a second mobile terminal;

transmitting to the mobile terminal, when the container is not opened and is provided as a present to the first mobile terminal, present destination selection screen data including user identification information corresponding to at least one user other than a user of the first mobile terminal and user identification information of the user of the first mobile terminal;

receiving, from the first mobile terminal, selection of user identification information of a user, other than the user of the first mobile terminal, selected from the present destination selection screen data; and

transmitting, to the second mobile terminal corresponding to the selected user identification information, screen data indicating presentation of the container based on the selected user identification information and the user identification information of the user of the first mobile terminal.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY STREET ADDRESS AND ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 71293 FRAME: 608. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071611/0221 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071293/0608 →
Priority Claims (2)
JP 2012-268225 · Dec 7, 2012 · national
JP 2013-081240 · Apr 9, 2013 · national
Continuity (3)
Continuation 14454329 · Aug 7, 2014
Division 14099665 · Dec 6, 2013
Related Publication 20210023446A1 · Jan 28, 2021