JP7632705B2 - PROGRAM, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information processing device and a program.

A system is known in which a game fee is set for each fixed period (e.g., a monthly fee) and users who have paid the game fee for the fixed period are permitted to play the game during that fixed period (e.g., Patent Document 1).

JP 2011-200692 A

In such a system, for example, if a user has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period, he or she can receive the benefit for paying the game fee only during that previous fixed period. Then, in order to receive the same benefit in the next subsequent fixed period, the user needs to pay the game fee for the current fixed period. However, there was no mechanism to actively encourage users who had paid the game fee for the previous fixed period to pay the game fee for the current fixed period, which could reduce users' desire to continue receiving the benefit.

The present invention was made in light of these circumstances, and its purpose is to increase users' desire to receive continuous benefits by paying a game fee at fixed intervals.

The main invention of the present invention to solve the above problems is:
a user information storage unit that stores user information including information for identifying whether or not a user has paid a game fee set at a fixed period;
an event providing section that provides, to a user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period, an event game that has become playable as a result of the user having paid the game fee for the previous fixed period, during the previous fixed period;
an event re-providing unit for providing, to a user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period and also paid a game fee for a current subsequent fixed period, an event game that is the same as or related to the event game that became playable as a result of the user having paid the game fee for the previous fixed period, during the current fixed period;
The present invention relates to an information processing device comprising:
According to such an information processing device, by paying the game fee for the previous fixed period and the game fee for the current fixed period, the event game that was playable during the previous fixed period can be played during the current fixed period. Therefore, a user who was unable to play the event game during the previous fixed period or a user who played the event game during the previous fixed period but was unable to complete it can challenge the event game during the current fixed period. This motivates users who have paid the game fee for the previous fixed period to pay the game fee for the current fixed period, thereby increasing the willingness of users to continuously receive benefits by paying the game fee every fixed period.

Furthermore, when a user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period logs in within the previous fixed period, the event providing unit provides the logged-in user with an event game that has become playable as a result of the user having paid the game fee for the previous fixed period;
When a user who has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period and has also paid the game fee for the current fixed period does not log in during the previous fixed period, it is desirable for the event re-provision unit to provide, again within the current fixed period, to the user who did not log in an event game that is the same as or related to the event game that was provided during the period in the previous fixed period when the user did not log in.
This makes it possible for a user to challenge, within the current fixed period, the event games that were offered during the period in which the user did not log in, even if the user was unable to log in to the event game within the previous fixed period.

Furthermore, the event providing unit provides the event game that can be played over a plurality of days to a logged-in user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period and has logged in within the previous fixed period;
When a user who has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period and has also paid the game fee for the current fixed period does not log in on any of the multiple days, it is desirable for the event re-provision unit to re-provide, within the current fixed period, an event game that is the same as or related to the event game that the user who paid the game fee for the previous fixed period was able to play over multiple days for the number of days on which the user did not log in.
This means that even if you were unable to log in to all of the event games for multiple days during the previous fixed period, you will be able to challenge the events for the number of days that you were not logged in during the current fixed period.

Furthermore, when a user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period logs in within the previous fixed period, the event providing unit provides the logged-in user with an event game that has become playable as a result of the user having paid the game fee for the previous fixed period, over a number of days spanning the previous fixed period and the current fixed period;
When a user who has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period and also paid the game fee for the current fixed period does not log in on any day included in the previous fixed period out of the multiple days, it is desirable for the event re-provision unit to again provide, within the current fixed period, to the user who did not log in an event game that is the same as or related to the event game that was playable over multiple days, for the number of days that the user who paid the game fee for the previous fixed period did not log in on any day included in the previous fixed period out of the multiple days.
This means that when event games are provided for multiple days spanning a previous fixed period and a current fixed period, even if you are unable to log in on any of the days included in the previous fixed period, you will be able to challenge the game within the current fixed period for the number of days that you did not log in on any of the days included in the previous fixed period.

Furthermore, when a user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period logs in within the previous fixed period, the event providing unit provides the logged-in user with an event game that has become playable as a result of the user having paid the game fee for the previous fixed period;
When a user who has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period and also paid the game fee for the current fixed period is unable to complete the event game that was provided during the period in which the user logged in during the previous fixed period, it is desirable for the event re-provision unit to provide again, within the current fixed period, an event game that is the same as or related to the event game that the user was unable to complete.
This allows a player to challenge the event game that he or she was unable to clear within a certain period of time last time, again within the current period of time.

It is also desirable to have a bonus awarding unit that awards a bonus that is more advantageous to a user who has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period and who performs the operations required to pay the game fee for the current fixed period earlier within the previous fixed period.
This makes it possible to motivate users who have paid the game fee for the previous fixed period to pay the game fee for the current fixed period early, thereby further increasing users' desire to receive continuous benefits by paying the game fee at fixed intervals.

Also, the computer,
a user information storage means for storing user information including information for identifying whether or not a user has paid a game fee set at a fixed period;
an event providing means for providing, to a user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period, an event game that has become playable as a result of the user having paid the game fee for the previous fixed period, during the previous fixed period;
an event re-provision means for providing, to a user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period and also paid a game fee for a current subsequent fixed period, an event game that is the same as or related to the event game that became playable as a result of the user having paid the game fee for the previous fixed period, within the current fixed period;
This is a program that functions as a
Such a program can increase the motivation of users to continuously receive benefits by paying a game fee at fixed intervals.

1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an example of an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram illustrating an example of a computer according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a server device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a client terminal according to the embodiment. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of user information. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of log history information. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of monthly billing user information. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of login bonus information. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of event information. FIG. 13 is an image diagram showing an example of a game screen. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a first specific example in which the same event game as last month's event game is provided again within the current month. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a specific example 2 in which the same event game as last month's event game is provided again within the current month. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a specific example 3 in which the same event game as last month's event game is provided again within the current month.

The following provides a detailed description of an information processing device, a program, and an information processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the present invention can be widely applied to information processing devices, programs, information processing systems, and the like that employ games that can be played by users who have paid a game fee (e.g., a monthly fee) at fixed intervals.

[Embodiment]
<System Configuration>
Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the information processing system 1 according to the present embodiment has one or more client terminals 10 and a server device 20 connected via a network N.

The client terminal 10 is a terminal device operated by a user, such as a PC, smartphone, or tablet, or a dedicated gaming device for home or commercial use. The server device 20 manages and controls the game played by the user on the client terminal 10, and processes billing within the game. The network N is the Internet, etc., and includes a mobile wireless base station, etc.

In addition to the client-server type information processing system 1 shown in FIG. 1, the present invention can also be applied to a standalone game device by providing a separate mechanism for in-game billing processing. The information processing system 1 in FIG. 1 is only one example, and it goes without saying that there are various system configurations depending on the application and purpose. For example, the server device 20 in FIG. 1 may be configured to be distributed across multiple computers.

<Hardware Configuration>
Client terminal and server device
Fig. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram showing an example of a computer 50 according to the present embodiment. The client terminal 10 and the server device 20 according to the present embodiment are realized by, for example, a computer 50 having the hardware configuration shown in Fig. 2. The computer 50 is an example of an information processing device.

As shown in FIG. 2, the computer 50 includes a CPU 51, a RAM 52, a ROM 53, a communication interface 54, an input device 55, a display device 56, an external interface 57, and a HDD 58, all of which are connected to each other via a bus line B. The input device 55 and the display device 56 may be connected and used when necessary.

The CPU 51 is a calculation device that realizes the control and functions of the entire computer by reading programs and data from storage devices such as the ROM 53 and HDD 58 onto the RAM 52 and executing various processes based on the read programs and data.

RAM 52 is an example of a volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) for temporarily storing programs and data, and is also used as a work area when CPU 51 executes various processes.

ROM 53 is an example of a non-volatile semiconductor memory (storage device) that can retain programs and data even when the power is turned off. ROM 53 stores programs and data such as the BIOS, OS settings, and network settings that are executed when computer 50 is started.

The communication interface 54 is an interface for connecting the computer 50 to the network N. This allows the computer 50 to perform data communication via the communication interface 54.

The input device 55 is a device used by a user or administrator to input various signals. In this embodiment, the input device 55 is, for example, an operating device such as a touch panel, operation keys or buttons, a keyboard, or a mouse.

The display device 56 is a device for displaying various information to a user or administrator. In this embodiment, the display device 56 is, for example, a liquid crystal or organic electroluminescence display.

The external interface 57 is an interface for connecting to an external device so as to enable data communication. This allows the computer 50 to read and/or write data from and to a recording medium via the external interface 57. The external device is, for example, a recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD, a DVD, an SD memory card, or a USB memory.

HDD 58 is an example of a non-volatile storage device that stores programs and data. The programs and data stored therein include the OS, which is the basic software that controls the entire computer, and applications that provide various functions on the OS.

In addition, instead of HDD 58, a drive device that uses flash memory as a storage medium (e.g., a solid-state drive: SSD) may be used.

The client terminal 10 and server device 20 according to this embodiment can perform various processes, as described below, by executing a program on a computer 50 having the hardware configuration described above.

<Software configuration>
Server device
3 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the server device 20 according to the present embodiment. The server device 20 according to the present embodiment is realized by, for example, the functional blocks shown in FIG.

The server device 20 according to this embodiment realizes a server control unit 200, a server storage unit 220, and a server communication unit 240 by executing a program.

The server control unit 200 has the function of executing processes related to various games. This server control unit 200 includes a game control unit 201, an event providing unit 202, an event re-providing unit 203, a reward granting unit 204, a notification unit 205, and a display control unit 206.

The game control unit 201 controls the progress of various games, such as a competitive game and a lottery game, described below, based on game operations received by the client terminal 10 from the user. In this embodiment, the game control unit 201 also functions as a competitive game control unit and a lottery game control unit.

The event providing unit 202 provides an event game to the user. For example, when a user has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period, the event providing unit 202 in this embodiment provides, within the previous fixed period, the event game that became playable as a result of the payment of the game fee for the previous fixed period. Also, when the user continues to pay the game fee for the current fixed period, the event game that became playable as a result of the payment of the game fee for the current fixed period is provided within the current fixed period to the user who has paid the game fee for the current fixed period.

The event re-provision unit 203 provides again to the user an event game that has already been provided by the event provision unit 202. In this embodiment, for example, when a user has paid the game fee for the previous fixed period and has also paid the game fee for the current subsequent fixed period, the event re-provision unit 203 provides again, within the current fixed period, the same event game that became playable as a result of paying the game fee for the previous fixed period.

The bonus granting unit 204 grants a bonus to the user. For example, if a user has paid game fees for the previous fixed period, the bonus granting unit 204 in this embodiment grants the user a bonus for paying game fees for the previous fixed period within the previous fixed period. Also, if the user continues to pay game fees for the current subsequent fixed period, the bonus granting unit 204 grants the user a bonus for paying game fees for the current fixed period within the current fixed period. And, for example, the bonus granting unit 204 in this embodiment can grant a bonus that is more advantageous to a user who has paid game fees for the previous fixed period, the earlier the user performs the operations required to pay game fees for the current fixed period within the previous fixed period.

The notification unit 205 notifies the user of various information. In this embodiment, the notification unit 205 notifies the user within the current fixed period to encourage payment of the game fee for the next fixed period following the one that follows. This notification unit 205 can notify the user by displaying a screen, sending an email, pushing a notification, etc.

The display control unit 206 generates data for various game screens according to the progress of, for example, a competitive game or a lottery game executed by the game control unit 201, and controls the screen display of the client terminal 10.

The server storage unit 220 has the function of storing information related to various games. This server storage unit 220 includes a character information storage unit 221, a user information storage unit 222, a login bonus information storage unit 223, and an event information storage unit 224.

The character information storage unit 221 is an example of a content information storage unit, and stores character information (content information) related to characters as an example of content. The character information stored in the character information storage unit 221 includes various characters used in competitive games and lottery games, various characters used as bonuses, and the like.

The user information storage unit 222 stores user information about the user. The user information stored in the user information storage unit 222 includes information such as the user's rank, various characters owned by the user, and information for identifying whether or not the user has paid a game fee at regular intervals (monthly billing user).

The login bonus information storage unit 223 is an example of a privilege information storage unit, and stores login bonus information (privilege information) related to login bonuses as an example of privileges. The login bonus information stored in the login bonus information storage unit 223 sets the type and amount of login bonuses that are awarded when a user logs in for each fixed period of time.

The event information storage unit 224 stores event information related to events. The event information stored in the event information storage unit 224 includes event games that are provided to users who have paid a game fee for each fixed period (monthly billing users) at fixed intervals.

The server communication unit 240 has the function of communicating with the client terminal 10 via the network N.

Client terminal
4 is a functional block diagram showing an example of the client terminal 10 according to the present embodiment. The client terminal 10 according to the present embodiment is realized by, for example, the functional blocks shown in FIG.

The client terminal 10 according to this embodiment executes a program to realize a client control unit 100, a client storage unit 120, a client communication unit 140, an operation reception unit 150, and a screen display unit 160. The client control unit 100 includes a request transmission unit 101 and a response reception unit 102.

The operation reception unit 150 receives operations from a user who operates the client terminal 10. The client control unit 100 also performs processing related to the game in the client terminal 10. The request transmission unit 101 transmits a request to the server device 20 based on the content of the operation received from the user by the operation reception unit 150. The response reception unit 102 receives responses such as processing results in response to the request transmitted by the request transmission unit 101 to the server device 20.

The client storage unit 120 also stores information required by the client terminal 10. The client communication unit 140 communicates with the server device 20. The screen display unit 160 displays the screen of the client terminal 10 under control of the server device 20.

As described above, in the information processing system 1 according to this embodiment, the server device 20 controls the game progress and display, but the client terminal 10 may also perform these functions. Specifically, at least some of the functional units of the server control unit 200 may be configured not to be provided in the server control unit 200 of the server device 20, but to be provided in the client control unit 100 of the client terminal 10.

The client control unit 100 of the client terminal 10 may be of a browser type, which receives page data written in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) or the like and scripts contained in the page data from the server device 20 and performs game-related processing. The client control unit 100 of the client terminal 10 may be of an application type, which performs game-related processing based on an installed application.

＜Overview＞
Here, an overview of the system in this embodiment will be described. In the system in this embodiment, a competitive game and a lottery game are provided to users.

The battle game in this embodiment is a game in which an enemy character appears against a party made up of multiple characters, and each character in the party battles against the enemy character.

In this fighting game, multiple quests are set up, with the objective of defeating enemy characters, varying in difficulty. Users can form a party using characters they own, select one of the quests and challenge enemy characters to a battle. During the battle, the user may be granted a character that is set as available for acquisition in the selected quest.

The lottery game in this embodiment is a game in which, when an operation to select a character is received from a user, one of multiple characters that are the subject of the lottery is selected based on the lottery probability of each character, and the selected character is granted to the user.

In this lottery game, the higher the rarity of a character, the lower the probability of winning. Users can form their own party using the characters they obtain in the lottery game and play a battle game.

In addition, in the system of this embodiment, a user can become a monthly paying user by paying a game fee (monthly fee) every month (every fixed period). When a user becomes a monthly paying user, for example, when the user pays the game fee for this month, the user is provided with an event game that becomes playable for the payment of the game fee for this month during the month, and the user can receive a special benefit for paying the game fee for this month.

In this embodiment, as a reward for paying this month's game fee, a login bonus can be received by logging into the game once per day during this month. The login bonus received by monthly billing users is set to be more advantageous than the login bonus received by users who have not paid this month's game fee (regular users).

Furthermore, if you become a monthly paying user, for example if you have paid last month's game fee and then continue to pay this month's game fee, you will be provided with the same event game again for one month this month that became playable after you paid last month's game fee.

Therefore, even if a user who has paid last month's game fee was unable to log in on any day last month and is unable to play last month's event game that became available as a result of paying last month's game fee, they can still pay this month's game fee to challenge last month's event game within this month. Also, if a user who has paid last month's game fee logged in on any day last month but was unable to complete last month's event game, they can still pay this month's game fee to re-challenge last month's event game that they were unable to complete within this month.

In this way, users who paid last month's game fee can be given an incentive to pay this month's game fee, thereby increasing the willingness of monthly paying users to receive continuous benefits by paying the monthly fee.

<Operation>
FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the information processing system 1 in this embodiment.

When the login screen for the competitive game is displayed on the screen display unit 160 of the client terminal 10, the user performs a login operation on the client terminal 10 to log in to the competitive game. When the user performs a login operation on this login screen, the operation acceptance unit 150 of the client terminal 10 accepts the operation content based on the user's login operation.

The request sending unit 101 of the client terminal 10 sends a login request for a competitive game to the server device 20, which includes login operation information, such as a user ID and password, based on the operation content accepted by the operation accepting unit 150 from the user (step S11).

Next, when the game control unit 201 of the server device 20 receives a login request for the competitive game from the client terminal 10, the game control unit 201 executes login processing for the competitive game according to login operation information including a user ID, password, etc. (step S12).

Specifically, the game control unit 201 of the server device 20 performs user authentication by referencing the user information stored in the user information storage unit 222 based on the user ID and other information accompanying the login request. When the game control unit 201 of the server device 20 successfully authenticates the user, it updates the log history information set in the user information and adds the login date and time of the competitive game.

Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of user information. The user information shown in Figure 6 has items such as a user ID, number of owned items, owned characters, party, log history information, monthly billing user information, event provision information, and event clear information. The user ID is information for uniquely identifying a user. The number of owned items is information indicating the number of items owned by the user. The owned characters is information indicating one or more various characters currently owned by the user. The party is information indicating each character that makes up the user's party. The log history information is information indicating the user's log history. The monthly billing user information is information about monthly billing users. The event provision information is information about events that can be provided to the user. The event clear information is information about events that the user has cleared.

Figure 7 is a configuration diagram showing an example of log history information. The log history information shown in Figure 7 has items such as a log ID, login date and time, and logout date and time. The log ID is information for uniquely identifying log data. The login date and time is information indicating the date and time when a user logged into a competitive game. The logout date and time is information indicating the date and time when a user logged out.

Returning to FIG. 5, next, when the login process for the competitive game is completed in this manner, the game control unit 201 of the server device 20 acquires monthly billing user information from the user information stored in the user information storage unit 222, and by referring to the acquired monthly billing user information, determines whether the logged-in user is a monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for this month (step S13).

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of monthly billing user information. The monthly billing user information shown in Figure 8 has items such as payment target, monthly billing user, and payment date and time. Payment target is information indicating the month for which the monthly fee is to be paid. Here, the current month is September, and it is shown that the user has paid the game fee for last month, August, and the game fee for this month, September. Monthly billing user is information indicating whether or not the user has become a monthly billing user for the month for which payment is to be made. Payment date and time is information indicating the date and time when the game fee for that month was paid.

Returning to FIG. 5, if the result of the determination made in step S13 above indicates that the user is a monthly billing user who has paid the current month's game fee, the process proceeds to step S15, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the result indicates that the user is not a monthly billing user who has paid the current month's game fee, the process proceeds to the next step S14.

Next, if the bonus granting unit 204 of the server device 20 determines that the user is not a monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for this month (step S13: NO), the bonus granting unit 204 grants a login bonus for a regular user based on the login bonus information stored in the login bonus information storage unit 223 since the user is a regular user who has not paid the game fee for this month (step S14).

Specifically, the bonus granting unit 204 of the server device 20 grants the login bonus for normal users set for that day only when the user logs in for the first time on that day, based on the login bonus information stored in the login bonus information storage unit 223. In other words, the login bonus is granted only once a day.

9 is a diagram showing an example of login bonus information. The login bonus information shown in FIG. 9 has items such as a bonus ID, a provision period, bonus content for normal users, and bonus content for monthly billing users. The bonus ID is information for uniquely identifying a bonus. The provision period is information indicating the period during which a login bonus can be granted. The bonus content for normal users is information indicating the content of the login bonus granted when a normal user logs in during the provision period. Here, an item is set as the login bonus for normal users, and the number of items granted is also set as shown in parentheses in the figure. The bonus content for monthly billing users is information indicating the content of the login bonus granted when a monthly billing user logs in during the provision period. Here, an item or a character is set as the login bonus for monthly billing users, and the number of items or characters granted is also set as shown in parentheses in the figure. In this embodiment, the login bonus received by monthly billing users is set to be more advantageous than the login bonus received by normal users.

Returning to FIG. 5, next, if the reward granting unit 204 of the server device 20 determines that the user is a monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for this month (step S13: YES), it grants a login bonus as a reward for paying the game fee for this month (step S15).

Specifically, the bonus granting unit 204 of the server device 20 grants a login bonus to a monthly billing user, different from the regular user, set for that day, based on the login bonus information stored in the login bonus information storage unit 223.

The bonus granting unit 204 of the server device 20 grants the login bonus for the monthly billing user set for that day only when the user logs in for the first time on that day. In other words, the login bonus for the monthly billing user is granted only once a day.

Next, when the bonus granting unit 204 has granted the login bonus for this month in this manner, the event providing unit 202 of the server device 20 provides the monthly event game that can be played by paying the game fee for this month to the monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for this month (step S16).

Specifically, first, the event providing unit 202 of the server device 20 references the event information stored in the event information storage unit 224 to obtain the event games for this month that can be provided to monthly billing users who have paid the game fee for this month.

Figure 10 is a configuration diagram showing an example of event information. The event information shown in Figure 10 has items such as an event ID, a provision period, an event content, and a bonus content. The event ID is information for uniquely identifying an event. The provision period is information indicating the period during which the event game can be provided. The event content is information indicating the content of the event game that can be provided. Here, competitive games (quests) and lottery games that are available for a limited period are set as event games. The bonus content is information indicating the bonus content that can be obtained in the event game. Here, items and characters are set as the bonuses that can be obtained, and the number of items and characters is also set, as shown in parentheses in the figure.

Then, when the event providing unit 202 of the server device 20 acquires the event games for this month that can be provided to a monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for this month, it updates the event providing information for that user set in the user information stored in the user information storage unit 222, and registers the acquired event games for this month that can be provided.

Next, the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 acquires monthly billing user information from the user information stored in the user information storage unit 222, and refers to the acquired monthly billing user information to determine whether the monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for this month is also a user who has paid the game fee for last month (step S17).

If it is determined that the monthly billing user who has paid this month's game fee is a user who has not paid last month's game fee (i.e., a user who started paying monthly fees this month), the process proceeds to step S20, which will be described later. On the other hand, if it is determined that the monthly billing user who has paid this month's game fee is a user who has also paid last month's game fee, the process proceeds to the next step S18.

Next, if the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 determines that the monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for this month is also a user who has paid the game fee for last month (step S17: YES), it determines whether there are any event games from last month that were provided to other users who logged in during the period of the last month when the user did not log in (step S18).

Specifically, the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 refers to the log history information shown in FIG. 7 and the event information shown in FIG. 10 to identify last month's event games that were provided during the period of the last month when the monthly billing user, who has paid the game fee for the previous month and the game fee for the current month, did not log in. Then, if at least one event game can be identified, it means that a corresponding event game for last month exists.

If it is determined that there are no event games from the previous month that were provided to other users who logged in during the period of the previous month when the user did not log in, the process proceeds to step S20, which will be described later. On the other hand, if it is determined that there are event games from the previous month that were provided to other users who logged in during the period of the previous month when the user did not log in, the process proceeds to the next step S19.

Next, if the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 determines that there is an event game from last month that was provided to other users who logged in during the period of the last month when the user did not log in (step S18: YES), it re-provides the same event game as last month's event game to monthly paying users who have paid the game fee for last month and the game fee for this month (step S19).

Specifically, first, the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 updates the event provision information for the user set in the user information stored in the user information storage unit 222, and registers an event game that is identical to the existing event game from last month as an event game for this month that can be provided.

In this embodiment, the provision period of the additionally registered event game is set to one month after the provision period of the event game that existed last month. It is not limited to this, and it is also possible to set the provision period of the additionally registered event game to one month within the current month. In this case, the provision of the event game may end when the user plays the event game. It is also possible to set it to a fixed date within the current month.

Next, the notification unit 205 of the server device 20 notifies the monthly billing user of an event list that displays a list of event games that can be provided for the current month, based on the event provision information set in the user information stored in the user information storage unit 222 (step S20).

In other words, if it is determined that a monthly billing user who has paid this month's game fee is also a user who has paid last month's game fee (step S17: YES), and if it is determined that there are event games from last month that were provided to other users who logged in during a period of last month when the monthly billing user who paid last month's game fee and this month's game fee did not log in (step S18: YES), the notification unit 205 of the server device 20 will notify the event list that displays the event games for this month set in the event information stored in the event information storage unit 224 and the existing event games for last month.

In contrast, if it is determined that a monthly paying user who has paid the current month's game fee is a user who has not paid last month's game fee (step S17: NO), or if it is determined that there are no last month's event games that were provided to other users who logged in during the period of last month when the monthly paying user who has paid the last month's game fee and the current month's game fee did not log in (step S18: NO), the notification unit 205 of the server device 20 will notify an event list that lists only the current month's event games set in the event information stored in the event information storage unit 224.

In this embodiment, notification is performed by a game screen as shown in FIG. 11. Therefore, when the display control unit 206 of the server device 20 is requested by the notification unit 205 of the server device 20 to execute screen display control, the display control unit 206 controls the game screen to be displayed on the screen display unit 160 of the client terminal 10.

Figure 11 is an image diagram showing an example of a game screen. This game screen 500 displays an event list 501 that displays a list of event games for the current month that can be provided to monthly paying users. Here, assuming that the current month is September, the event games for September set in the event information stored in the event information storage unit 224 and the same event games as the August event games that were provided to other users who logged in during the period in August when the monthly paying user who paid the August game fee and the September game fee did not log in are displayed in a list.

As described above, according to the information processing system 1 of this embodiment, a monthly paying user can pay this month's game fee after last month's game fee and be provided with an event game that is the same as last month's event game during the current month. This can motivate monthly paying users who have paid last month's game fee to pay this month's game fee. This can increase the motivation of monthly paying users who want to continuously receive benefits by paying the monthly fee.

Example 1
12 is a diagram illustrating a specific example 1 of providing the same event game as last month's event game again this month. Here, it is assumed that last month was "August" and this month is "September", and that a monthly billing user has paid the game fees for August and September.

In this specific example 1, as shown in FIG. 12, "Event A" and "Event B" are set as event games for August. A monthly fee paying user logs into the fighting game when "Event A" is provided and plays "Event A", but is unable to log into the fighting game when "Event B" is provided, and is therefore unable to play "Event B".

If this is the case in August, then in the following month of September, the event re-provision unit 203 will provide "Event B," which was provided to other users who logged in during the period in August when the user did not log in, again to the monthly billing user who did not log in within the month of September.

As a result, even if a user is unable to log in to the competitive game during August and is unable to play "Event B," in September they will be able to challenge the same event game as "Event B" for August that was offered to other users during the period when they were not logged in. This gives users who have paid the game fee for August an incentive to pay the game fee for September, thereby increasing users' willingness to receive continuous benefits by paying the game fee at regular intervals.

Example 2
13 is a diagram illustrating a specific example 2 in which the same event game as last month's event game is provided again within the current month. As in the above-mentioned specific example 1, it is assumed here that last month was "August" and this month is "September", and that a monthly paying user has paid the game fees for August and September.

In this specific example 2, as shown in FIG. 13, "Event A" is set as the event game for August. Unlike the above-mentioned specific example 1, this "Event A" is set as the event game for August that can be played over multiple days. Here, it is assumed that it can be played over three days. The monthly paying user logs in when "Event A" is provided on the first of the three days, but is unable to log in when "Event A" is provided on the second and third days.

If this is the case in August, then in the following month of September, the event re-provision unit 203 will provide the same event game as "Event A" that was playable over those three days again to the monthly paying user who did not log in for the two days (the second and third days) out of the three days during which the user did not log in, within the month of September.

As a result, even if a user is unable to log in to the competitive game during August and is unable to play part of "Event A," in September they will be able to challenge the same event game as "Event A" for August that was provided to other users for the number of days they were unable to log in. This gives users who have paid the game fee for August an incentive to pay the game fee for September, thereby increasing users' willingness to receive continuous benefits by paying the game fee at regular intervals.

Example 3
14 is a diagram illustrating a specific example 3 in which the same event game as last month's event game is provided again within the current month. As in the above-mentioned specific example 1, it is assumed here that last month was "August" and this month is "September", and that a monthly paying user has paid the game fees for August and September.

In this specific example 3, as shown in FIG. 14, the first half of "Event A" is set as the event game for August, and the second half of "Event A" is set as the event game for September. In other words, unlike the above-mentioned specific examples 1 and 2, this "Event A" is set as an event game that can be played over multiple days across August and September. Here, it is assumed that it was playable over five days across August and September, with the first three days (three days from the 1st to the 3rd) set as the event game for August, and the last two days (two days from the 4th to the 5th) set as the event game for September. It is shown that monthly billing users were unable to log in during the first half of the five days, from the 1st to the 3rd, when "Event A" was provided.

If August is in this state, then in the following month of September, the event re-provision unit 203 will provide the same event game as "Event A" that was playable over those five days to monthly paying users who did not log in during that August for the three days during which they did not log in during the first three days of August (only the three days from the 1st to the 3rd) within the month of September. Here, the first three days are provided again consecutively after the last two days during which September is included in the multiple days (the two days from the 4th to the 5th).

As a result, even if a user does not log in for the August portion of "Event A" that spans August and September, in September they will be able to challenge the same event game as "Event A" that was provided to other users for the number of days in August that they did not log in. This gives users who have paid the game fee for August an incentive to pay the game fee for September, which makes it possible to increase users' willingness to receive continuous benefits by paying the game fee at regular intervals.

[Other embodiments]
The above-described embodiments are provided to facilitate understanding of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the present invention. The present invention may be modified or improved without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and equivalents thereof are also included in the present invention. In particular, the following embodiments are also included in the present invention.

<Event Re-Provision Department>
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the event re-providing unit 203 of the server device 20 re-provides, within the current month, an event game that is the same as the event game from last month that was provided to another user who logged in during a non-login period during the last month, but the present invention is not limited to this. An event game that is the same as or related to a user-specific event game that was provided to the user during a non-login period during the last month and that was not provided to other users may be re-provided within the current month.

For example, if a monthly billing user who has paid the game fee for both the previous month and the current month is unable to complete last month's event game that was provided during the period in which the user logged in last month, regardless of whether the user played the event game or not, the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 may provide the same event game that was unable to be completed last month again during the current month.

In this case, in the process of step S18 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 5, it is determined whether there are any event games from last month that were provided during the login period last month and that could not be cleared. That is, the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 identifies, based on the event clearing information set in the user information shown in FIG. 6, the event games from last month that were provided during the login period last month by a monthly billing user who has paid last month's game fee and this month's game fee and that could not be cleared. Then, if at least one event game can be identified, it is determined that there are corresponding event games from last month.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 re-provisions an event game that is the same as last month's event game within the current month, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 may provide an event game related to an event game from last month during the current month. An event game related to an event game from last month may be an event that has some kind of relationship between an event from last month and an event that is provided again during the current month.

For example, if "Character X" was obtained as a bonus by clearing last month's event game "Quest X," it is possible to make "Quest Y," which is a different type of "Quest X," available within the current month. However, by making it possible to obtain the same "Character X" as a bonus by clearing "Quest Y," the two are related.

Also, if a player wins last month's event game, "Lottery Game N," and thereby receives "Character N" as a bonus, it is possible to provide a "Lottery Game M," which is a different type from "Lottery Game N," within the current month. However, by making it possible to obtain the same "Character N" as a bonus by winning "Lottery Game M," the two are related to each other.

In addition, if "Character X" is acquired as a bonus by clearing last month's event game "Quest X," it is possible to provide "Lottery Game Z," a different game type from "Quest X," within the current month. However, the two are related in that the same "Character X" can be acquired as a bonus by winning "Lottery Game Z."

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was described in which the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 re-provisions an event game that is the same as or related to last month's event game within the current month, but the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the event re-provision unit 203 of the server device 20 can provide, not only last month's event game, but also an event game that is the same as or related to an event game from several months ago during the current month.

<Benefits Granting Department>
In the above embodiment, a case where a login bonus is used as an example of a reward is described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a character or an item is given as a reward for clearing a quest in a battle game.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the bonus granting unit 204 can grant a bonus that is more advantageous to a monthly billing user who has paid last month's game fee, the earlier during the last month the user performs the operations required to pay this month's game fee.

For example, if a monthly billing user who has paid the August game fee performs the renewal procedure and fee payment operations required to pay the September game fee, the earlier in August they perform the procedure, the rarer the characters, items, etc. will be given as a login bonus for September. It is also possible to increase the quantity of characters and items given. This can motivate users who paid last month's game fee to pay this month's game fee early, further increasing users' desire to receive continuous benefits by paying game fees at regular intervals.

<Notification Department>
In the above embodiment, the notification unit 205 may issue a notification prompting payment of the current month's game fee or renewal procedure as the last day of the previous month approaches. Similarly, the notification unit 205 may issue a notification prompting payment of the next month's game fee or renewal procedure as the last day of the current month approaches. At that time, the notification may be issued to the effect that the earlier the game fee payment or renewal procedure is performed, the more advantageous benefits will be given to monthly billing users.

1 Information processing system 10 Client terminal 20 Server device 50 Computer 51 CPU
52 RAM
53 ROM
54 Communication interface 55 Input device 56 Display device 57 External interface 58 HDD
100 Client control unit 101 Request transmission unit 102 Response reception unit 120 Client memory unit 140 Client communication unit 150 Operation reception unit 160 Screen display unit 200 Server control unit 201 Game control unit 202 Event providing unit 203 Event re-provision unit 204 Benefit granting unit 205 Notification unit 206 Display control unit 220 Server memory unit 221 Character information storage unit 222 User information storage unit 223 Login bonus information storage unit 224 Event information storage unit 240 Server communication unit 500 Game screen 501 Event list B Bus line N Network

Claims (9)

Computer,
a game control means for controlling the progress of a game that can be played by a user, regardless of whether the user is a paying user who has paid a game fee for a certain period of time or a non-paying user who has not paid;
a reward giving means for giving a reward different from that given to non-paying users during a certain period to paying users who have paid a game fee for the certain period;
a provision means for providing a first quest within a previous fixed period to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the previous fixed period, and providing a second quest related to the first quest within a current fixed period to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the current fixed period following the previous one and has completed the first quest;
A program that functions as a Computer,
a game control means for controlling the progress of a game that can be played by a user, regardless of whether the user is a paying user who has paid a one-month game fee or a non-paying user who has not paid;
a reward giving means for giving a reward different from a reward given to a non-paying user for one month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for one month;
a provision means for providing a first quest during the last month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the previous month, and providing a second quest related to the first quest during the current month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for this month following last month and who has completed the first quest;
A program that functions as a 3. The program according to claim 1, wherein the same character can be acquired in the first quest and the second quest. a game control means for controlling the progress of a game that can be played by a user, regardless of whether the user is a paying user who has paid a game fee for a certain period of time or a non-paying user who has not paid;
a reward giving means for giving a reward different from a reward given to a non-paying user during a certain period to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the certain period;
a provision means for providing a first quest within a previous fixed period to a paying user who has paid a game fee for a previous fixed period, and for providing a second quest related to the first quest within a current fixed period to a paying user who has paid a game fee for a current fixed period following the previous one and has completed the first quest;
An information processing device comprising: a game control means for controlling the progress of a game that can be played by a user, regardless of whether the user is a paying user who has paid a one-month game fee or a non-paying user who has not paid;
a reward giving means for giving a reward different from a reward given to a non-paying user for one month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for one month;
providing means for providing a first quest during the previous month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the previous month, and for providing a second quest related to the first quest during the current month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for this month following last month and who has completed the first quest;
An information processing device comprising: The information processing device according to claim 4 , wherein the information processing device is configured to enable the same character to be acquired in the first quest and the second quest. The computer
a game control process for controlling the progress of a game that can be played by a user, regardless of whether the user is a paying user who has paid a game fee for a certain period of time or a non-paying user who has not paid;
a reward granting process for granting a reward different from that given to non-paying users within a certain period of time to paying users who have paid a game fee for a certain period of time;
a provision process for providing a first quest within a previous fixed period to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the previous fixed period, and providing a second quest related to the first quest within the current fixed period to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the current fixed period following the previous one and has completed the first quest;
An information processing method for performing the above. The computer
a game control process for controlling the progress of a game that can be played by a user, regardless of whether the user is a paying user who has paid a one-month game fee or a non-paying user who has not paid;
a reward granting process for granting a reward different from that given to a non-paying user for one month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for one month;
a provision process for providing a first quest during the last month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for the previous month, and providing a second quest related to the first quest during the current month to a paying user who has paid a game fee for this month following last month and who has completed the first quest;
An information processing method for performing the above. The information processing method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the same character can be acquired in the first quest and the second quest.

Images