IP Library Granted Patent US 12,138,551
Granted Patent B2
US 12,138,551 · App. 18/433,039 · Granted Nov 12, 2024

Game control method, game server, and program

Inventors: Tsuyoshi Yoshikawa (Tokyo, JP); Tomohiro Tsukihara (Tokyo, JP); Norikazu Kato (Tokyo, JP); Tomoki Yasuhara (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: GREE, INC.
A63F13/69A63F13/35A63F13/79A63F2300/575A63F2300/609
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,138,551
App. No.
18/433,039
Granted
Nov 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A game control method, game server, and program can increase variations on methods for acquiring items, increase the predictability of acquisition of an item with a high rarity value or the like, and heighten interest in the game. Included are the steps of presenting a communication terminal, connected over a communication line, with acquirable item information that, for each item type, includes a total count and an acquisition count or a non-acquisition count of items when receiving, from the communication terminal, a request to present information related to items acquirable by the communication terminal, determining an item to provide to the communication terminal when receiving an item acquisition request from the communication terminal, and changing the acquirable item information when receiving a reset request from the communication terminal.

Claims (67)

1. A game control method comprising:

sending information to a user terminal of a user for displaying, on a display of the user terminal, a screen comprising a first plurality of cells arranged, wherein

an item is associated with each of the cells,

a rarity value is set to at least two of the items, and

a display appearance of each of the cells associated with the at least two of the items to which the rarity value is set differs depending on the rarity value of the associated item;

storing in a memory a user information table containing provided items provided to the user;

receiving a reset request from the user terminal; and

in response to the reset request, resetting the user information table stored in the memory such that at least a portion of the provided items and at least a portion of acquirable items are changed.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the resetting of the user information table changes the acquirable items randomly.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

sending information to the user terminal for displaying, on the display, acquirable item information of the acquirable items, wherein

a display method for each acquirable item differs based on the rarity value of each acquirable item.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein

the display appearance of each of the cells that differs depending on the rarity value of the associated item is one of a pattern of each of the cells, a color of each of the cells, and a character displayed in each of the cells.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising

receiving an item acquisition request from the user terminal;

in response to the item acquisition request, providing to the user terminal the item associated with an initial cell; and

sending information to the user terminal for displaying an image of the item associated with the initial cell.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising

subsequent to receiving the item acquisition request from the user terminal, sending information to the user terminal for displaying a second plurality of cells different from the first plurality of cells, wherein

the second plurality of cells include a subset of the first plurality of cells and a cell not provided in the first plurality of cells.

7. A server comprising:

a controller configured to

send information to a user terminal of a user for displaying, on a display of the user terminal, a screen comprising a first plurality of cells arranged, wherein

an item is associated with each of the cells,

a rarity value is set to at least two of the items, and

a display appearance of each of the cells associated with the at least two of the items to which the rarity value is set differs depending on the rarity value of the associated item;

store in a memory a user information table containing provided items provided to the user;

receive a reset request from the user terminal; and

in response to the reset request, reset the user information table stored in the memory such that at least a portion of the provided items and at least a portion of acquirable items are changed.

8. The server of claim 7 , wherein

the resetting of the user information table changes the acquirable items randomly.

9. The server of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to

send information to the user terminal for displaying, on the display, acquirable item information of the acquirable items, wherein

a display method for each acquirable item differs based on the rarity value of each acquirable item.

10. The server of claim 7 , wherein

the display appearance of each of the cells that differs depending on the rarity value of the associated item is one of a pattern of each of the cells, a color of each of the cells, and a character displayed in each of the cells.

11. The server of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to

receive an item acquisition request from the user terminal;

in response to the item acquisition request, provide to the user terminal the item associated with an initial cell; and

send information to the user terminal for displaying an image of the item associated with the initial cell.

12. The server of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to

subsequent to receiving the item acquisition request from the user terminal, send information to the user terminal for displaying a second plurality of cells different from the first plurality of cells, wherein

the second plurality of cells include a subset of the first plurality of cells and a cell not provided in the first plurality of cells.

13. A non-transitory computer readable recording medium having stored thereon instructions to be executed on a computer, the instructions causing the computer to perform the steps of:

sending information to a user terminal of a user for displaying, on a display of the user terminal, a screen comprising a first plurality of cells arranged, wherein

an item is associated with each of the cells,

a rarity value is set to at least two of the items, and

a display appearance of each of the cells associated with the at least two of the items to which the rarity value is set differs depending on the rarity value of the associated item;

storing in a memory a user information table containing provided items provided to the user;

receiving a reset request from the user terminal; and

in response to the reset request, resetting the user information table stored in the memory such that at least a portion of the provided items and at least a portion of acquirable items are changed.

14. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 13 , wherein

the resetting of the user information table changes the acquirable items randomly.

15. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer to perform the step of

sending information to the user terminal for displaying, on the display, acquirable item information of the acquirable items, wherein

a display method for each acquirable item differs based on the rarity value of each acquirable item.

16. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 13 , wherein

the display appearance of each of the cells that differs depending on the rarity value of the associated item is one of a pattern of each of the cells, a color of each of the cells, and a character displayed in each of the cells.

17. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer to perform the steps of

receiving an item acquisition request from the user terminal;

in response to the item acquisition request, providing to the user terminal the item associated with an initial cell; and

sending information to the user terminal for displaying an image of the item associated with the initial cell.

18. The non-transitory computer readable recording medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions further cause the computer to perform the step of:

subsequent to receiving the item acquisition request from the user terminal, sending information to the user terminal for displaying a second plurality of cells different from the first plurality of cells, wherein

the second plurality of cells include a subset of the first plurality of cells and a cell not provided in the first plurality of cells.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY STREET ADDRESS AND ATTORNEY DOCKET NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 71308 FRAME: 765. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Jun 10, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071611/0252 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 16, 2025
From: GREE, INC.
To: GREE HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 071308/0765 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2012-140213 · Jun 21, 2012 · national
Continuity (7)
Continuation 18130653 · Apr 4, 2023
Continuation 17538274 · Nov 30, 2021
Continuation 16778404 · Jan 31, 2020
Continuation 16531536 · Aug 5, 2019
Continuation 16053149 · Aug 2, 2018
Continuation 14409219
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