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

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 activity status of a player in the plurality of players, and, based on the activity status of the player comprising an indication that a parameter associated with the player meets at least one condition, determining the player to be an independent player;

receiving, from the independent player, an instruction to join a group based on an operation of the independent player, and determining whether the instruction is an instruction to join a new group or an instruction to join an existing group;

when the instruction is the instruction to join the new group, determining whether a setting condition is satisfied, and, upon satisfaction of the setting condition, creating the new group and adding the independent player into the group; and

when the instruction is the instruction to join the existing group, adding the independent player into the group;

determining an opponent group for the group, and conducting a battle between the group and the opponent group; and

determining a subsequent opponent group for the group based on a result of the battle.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a step of receiving the instruction to join the existing group comprises at least one of:

searching a set of groups and receiving a selection instruction designating one of the set of groups; and

providing, to the independent player, an invitation message, and receiving a selection of the independent player based on the invitation message.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the instruction to join the new group comprises a player vote, and wherein the new group is automatically formed from a plurality of formation wait players based on player votes.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the group is associated with a battle history stored in association with the group, said battle history comprising a plurality of past battle records.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the group is associated with a group ranking, and wherein the group ranking is based on the battle history stored in association with the group.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein setting the interaction menu button to the non-selectable state further comprises changing a displayed color of the interaction menu button.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein providing the battle game between groups further comprises organizing a plurality of the groups into a league group based on a battle history of each group in the plurality of groups; and

wherein determining the opponent group for the group comprises selecting the opponent group from the plurality of groups of the league group.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the league group is one of a plurality of league groups, the plurality of league groups comprising at least one other league group, and wherein determining the opponent group for the group comprises excluding, from a determination process, opponents in the at least one other league group.

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

identifying, by the server, an inactive group that is in an inactive state; and

disbanding, by the server, the inactive group.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein identifying the inactive group comprises determining that a number of players belonging to the group is below a predetermined number.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein identifying the inactive group further comprises determining that the number of players belonging to the group has been below the predetermined number for at least a predetermined period.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein identifying the inactive group comprises determining that a stored battle history of the group does not meet a predetermined condition.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein identifying the inactive group further comprises determining that the group has had no battle against another group for at least a predetermined period.

14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying the inactive group further comprises determining that no login to the battle game has been performed by any player belonging to the inactive group for at least a predetermined period.

15. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising causing to be displayed, on an interface of a terminal device of a player in the group, an edit menu for the group.

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

disbanding, by the server, the group; and

removing an association between the independent player and the disbanded group.

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

prior to a step of disbanding the group, causing to be displayed, on an interface of the independent player, at least one interaction menu button, and setting said interaction menu button to a selectable state; and

following a step of removing the independent player from the disbanded group, setting said interaction menu button to a non-selectable state.

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

graying out an interaction menu button of the independent player when the independent player is not part of a group; and

activating the interaction menu button of the independent player when the independent player is part of a group.

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

detecting, by the server, an activity status of a player in the plurality of players, and, based on the activity status of the player comprising an indication that a parameter associated with the player meets at least one condition, determining the player to be an independent player;

receiving, from the independent player, an instruction to join a group based on an operation of the independent player, and determining whether the instruction is an instruction to join a new group or an instruction to join an existing group;

when the instruction is the instruction to join the new group, determining whether a setting condition is satisfied, and, upon satisfaction of the setting condition, creating the new group and adding the independent player into the group; and

when the instruction is the instruction to join the existing group, adding the independent player into the group;

determining an opponent group for the group, and conducting a battle between the group and the opponent group; and

determining a subsequent opponent group based on a result of the battle.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon instructions, that, when executed by a server, cause circuitry of the server to execute steps of providing a battle game between groups, wherein each group comprises a plurality of players, said steps comprising:

detecting, by the server, an activity status of a player in the plurality of players, and, based on the activity status of the player comprising an indication that a parameter associated with the player meets at least one condition, determining the player to be an independent player;

receiving, from the independent player, an instruction to join a group based on an operation of the independent player, and determining whether the instruction is an instruction to join a new group or an instruction to join an existing group;

when the instruction is the instruction to join the new group, determining whether a setting condition is satisfied, and, upon satisfaction of the setting condition, creating the new group and adding the independent player into the group; and

when the instruction is the instruction to join the existing group, adding the independent player into the group;

determining an opponent group for the group, and conducting a battle between the group and the opponent group; and

determining a subsequent opponent group based on a result of the battle.