WO2025088738A1 - Game server and game system - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To further promote digital data transactions. [Solution] The present invention comprises: a virtual space generation unit for generating a virtual space, a location object, and a user object; an owner information management unit for managing owner information of the location object; an owner information registration unit for registering the owner information of the location object as the user when an occupancy condition including a positional relationship between the user and the location is satisfied in the real space; and a game event provision unit for registering one user determined by a designated game event as new owner information when the plurality of users satisfy the occupancy condition.

Description

Game server and game system

The present invention relates to a game server, a content providing method, a content providing program, and a game system.

In recent years, technology has been proposed for trading and distributing digital data such as image data as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The following documents disclose such NFT-related technology, and their entirety is incorporated herein by reference.

Patent No. 6710401 Patent No. 6656628 Patent No. 6572493 Patent No. 6640320 Patent No. 6538996 Patent No. 6404435 Patent No. 6710401 Patent No. 6391128

The NFT technologies mentioned above are merely for trading digital data and are insufficient to actively promote trading.

The present invention aims to further promote trading of digital data.

According to the present invention,
a storage unit that stores a virtual space generated based on geographic information of a real space, a location object corresponding to a location existing in the real space, owner information certified as an owner of the location object, and content information associated with the owner information;
an object providing unit that provides the virtual space, the location object, and the user object in association with position information of a user terminal in the real space so as to be displayable on a display unit of the user terminal;
a content providing unit that provides the content so that it can be used by the user terminal when the location information of the user terminal indicates that the user terminal is visiting within a predetermined range from the location in the real space and a request for the content is made from the user terminal;
A game server is obtained that includes an incentive granting unit that grants a predetermined incentive to the owner of the corresponding location object in accordance with the number of user terminals that visit within a predetermined range from the location.

According to the present invention, the use of entertainment can further promote trading of digital data.

1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the correspondence between the virtual space and the real space provided in the game server of FIG. 1. 3 is a diagram showing the positional relationship with a user located within a predetermined range from a location in the real space of FIG. 2. 2 is an example of a screen displayed on a display unit of the user terminal of FIG. 1 . FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the game server of FIG. 1 . 11A to 11C are diagrams illustrating an example of screen transitions for a game event according to the present invention. 1 is an example of a data set according to the present invention. 2 is a flowchart showing a process flow of the game server of FIG. 1 .

<Details of the embodiment>
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

＜Overview＞
The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to determine the "owner" of a specific location (geographical position) efficiently and fairly when there are many users in a virtual space linked to a real space, and to increase user engagement in the determination process. The effect of the invention is that the owner is determined by a game event in the virtual space, so that users can experience high engagement and satisfaction in the process of acquiring ownership of the location through game elements. Furthermore, fairness is ensured by determining a winner (new owner) in a game event when multiple users meet the occupancy conditions.

The game server of the present invention comprises a virtual space generation unit that generates a virtual space based on geographic information of the real space, an owner information management unit that manages owner information of location objects, an owner information registration unit that registers a user who satisfies the occupancy conditions as a new owner, and a game event providing unit that determines a new owner in a specified game event when multiple users satisfy the occupancy conditions. Furthermore, the game event providing unit further comprises a game object placement unit that places game objects that users can acquire in the virtual space, a win/loss determination unit that determines whether or not a game has been won, and an occupancy time determination unit that determines the occupancy time.

<Configuration>
1, a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "this system") includes a game server, a user terminal, and an owner terminal. The game server, the user terminal, and the owner terminal are connected to each other via a network so as to be able to communicate with each other.

This system is equipped with a recording medium onto which a program that executes the system can be loaded. The program is loaded into a processor (control unit) of a computer terminal or the like, and physically and/or logically cooperates with hardware resources to realize the system and method.

<System Overview>
As shown in Figures 2 to 4, this system allows a user to use a user terminal to experience a virtual space generated based on geographic information of the real space. That is, as shown clearly in Figure 2, the virtual space 200 is generated by directly reproducing the real space 100. There exists position information ( _Xn , _Yn ) of the virtual space 200 that uniquely corresponds to position information ( _xn , _yn ) of the real space 100.

Note that real-space location information can be measured using GPS (Global Positioning System) or other methods, but location information may also be determined using other methods.)

For example, as shown in FIG. 2, in the real space 100, the building location 102 exists at the position information (x ₁ , y ₁ ). The stadium location 104 exists at the position information (x ₂ , y ₂ ). The user position information that changes with the movement of the user 110 is represented as (x ₀ , y ₀ ). Meanwhile, in the virtual space 200 generated by the game server, the real space location 102 is displayed as a location object 202 at the position information (X ₁ , Y ₁ ) in the virtual space. The stadium location 104 is displayed as a location object 204 at the position information (X ₂ , Y ₂ ). The user 110 is represented as a user object 210 at the position information (X ₀ , Y ₀ ). The relative positional relationship between the location and the terrain in the real space and the user is maintained in the virtual space as well. The virtual space 200 of the present invention is expressed as if the real space were faithfully represented as an object or symbol. When the user moves in the real space 100, the user object in the virtual space is also displayed moving a distance and in a direction corresponding to the movement.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the real space 100, when a user is located within a predetermined range L from the building of the location 102, the game server recognizes that the user has visited (checked in to) the location 102. The method of recognizing a visit to the location 102 is not limited to this, and may be detected, for example, by connection to a network such as a beacon installed in the location 102.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen displayed on a user terminal. A user can use the game system by using the user terminal. The hardware configuration of the user terminal will be described later. As shown, the structural object 202 and user object 210 that existed in the virtual space 200 shown in FIG. 2 are displayed as 3D objects or 3D images on the display unit (display, etc.) of the user terminal. In the example screen, an owner object 220 is written alongside a location object 220.

<Functional configuration>
The functional blocks of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 5. The virtual space generation unit generates a virtual space based on geographic information of the real space. At the same time, a location object corresponding to a specific location (e.g., a park, a building, a station, etc.) existing in the real space is created and displayed in the virtual space. The virtual space generation unit generates and displays a user object 210 at a corresponding position in the virtual space based on the user's position in the real space (position information acquired from the user terminal). As a result, the user object is displayed in the same position in the virtual space based on the user's position in the real world.

The owner information management unit manages the owner (occupant) information of location objects. Specifically, it has the function of storing information on which user or group is occupying each location object in a database or other appropriate data storage, and querying and updating that information. This unit cooperates with the owner information registration unit and owner information update unit to register and update the owner information when the occupancy conditions are met. The owner information management unit can also retain the history when the owner of a location object is changed. This makes it possible to track the history of occupancy of a specific location object and the transition of ownership among multiple users. This function is useful for promoting events and promotions within the game, as well as competition between users. Furthermore, the owner information management unit can cooperate with APIs and other systems, and is structured to flexibly support referencing owner information in external systems and setting occupancy conditions outside the game server. This allows for scalability and diverse operation.

When a user meets an occupancy condition for a specific location (e.g., staying at a location for a certain period of time), the owner information registration unit registers the user as the owner of the location object. When a new owner is assigned to a location object in the virtual space, the owner information registration unit has a function of registering the information in the database or the owner information management unit. Specifically, when a user meets a specific occupancy condition for a specific location object, the owner information registration unit recognizes the user as the new owner and updates the owner information. This part has logic for acquiring the user's location information in the real space using GPS information and other sensor data and determining whether it matches or is close to a specific location object. The occupancy condition can be set, for example, by a user staying at a specific location for a certain period of time or more, using a specific item, and so on. When the owner information registration unit confirms that the condition is met, it updates the owner information in the database in cooperation with the owner information management unit. This makes it possible to change ownership in real time. In addition, when the owner information is changed, it is also possible to notify the relevant user via a notification function. In this way, the owner information registration unit plays a role in enhancing the competitive and cooperative elements in the game and improving user engagement.

The owner information update unit updates the owner information of the location object when another user meets the occupancy conditions. The owner information update unit has a mechanism for updating the information when a new user occupies the location of an existing owner based on specific occupancy conditions. For example, when a new user performs an action that meets the occupancy conditions (e.g., staying in a specific place for a certain amount of time, completing a specific task, etc.), the owner information update unit updates the corresponding record in the database. The owner information update unit refers to real-world location information, item use history, time data, etc. to detect that the occupancy conditions have been met. This information is provided by the owner information management unit, or is obtained directly from a sensor, GPS, user input, etc. Once the new owner is determined, the information is sent to the owner information management unit, and the owner information of the corresponding location object is updated. In addition, when the owner is changed, it is common for the system to have a function for sending a notification to both the existing owner and the new owner. This will stimulate competition between users and increase engagement in games and services. Through the above functions, the owner information update unit efficiently and fairly manages the transfer of ownership in the virtual space, promoting interaction between users.

The game event providing unit is a part that plays a role of registering new owner information when multiple users satisfy the occupancy conditions, triggered by a specific game event. This game event can take various forms, such as a battle format, a quiz format, or an auction format. The game event providing unit automatically generates such events and provides them to the user. Specifically, a game event that occurs when the occupancy conditions are satisfied by multiple users becomes a means of determining a new owner. For example, a case can be considered in which users battle using resources (in-game currency, items, etc.) required to occupy a specific location. The winner of this battle is registered in the owner information of the location object as the new owner. The game event providing unit manages the rules, progress, results, etc. of the game event, and updates the information in cooperation with the owner information management unit and the owner information registration unit. In this way, the game event providing unit plays an important role of fairly and efficiently progressing the competition between multiple users and selecting a new owner.

The game event providing unit according to this embodiment has a game object placement unit and a win/loss determination unit. The game object placement unit places game objects that users can acquire in the virtual space. These game objects provide various elements that users can use in the game, such as special items, weapons, and skills. As a result, users can create advantageous situations in strategy and competition by acquiring game objects. When selecting a winner of a game event that occurs between multiple users who satisfy the occupancy conditions, the win/loss determination unit determines the outcome based on the game objects acquired by each user. As a result, not only simple location information and time but also the amount of effort and strategy that the user has combined in the game will affect the outcome. Such an extension makes the competition in the game deeper and emphasizes strategic elements. Users compete with other users by making full use of the game objects acquired in the virtual space, and the process of ultimately determining the owner of the new location object becomes more complex and engaging. This can be said to have the effect of increasing the long-term appeal of the game and encouraging users to continue participating.

The occupancy time determination unit plays a role in determining how long a user who wins a particular game event (e.g., a rock-paper-scissors game) can occupy the location object. For example, if the margin of victory in a game event is large, the occupancy time is set to be long. Conversely, if the victory is close, the occupancy time is set to be short. Specific logic may be considered. The occupancy time determination unit may calculate the occupancy time using information such as the following:
・The score difference between the winner and loser of a game event ・The attributes of the rock-paper-scissors cards and other game objects used in the game event ・The characteristics of the location object where the game event took place (e.g. popularity, past occupancy history, etc.)
- Information about the team to which the winner belongs - Event time and duration (e.g. promotions where occupancy time varies depending on the time of day or date)
This gives the game system a more strategic and dynamic element, and players no longer simply have to win by rock-paper-scissors, but also have to think about how to win. In addition, new strategies and tension regarding the occupation of location objects may be created, improving game engagement.

A game event according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 6. The game event according to this embodiment may be a so-called rock-paper-scissors game. In this case, the game object placement unit randomly places rock-paper-scissors cards (rock, scissors, paper) in the virtual space. Users can acquire these cards by exploring the virtual space and use them in later game events. Depending on the type of rock-paper-scissors card acquired, strategies may change significantly. If there are multiple users who satisfy the occupancy conditions, the win/lose determination unit generates a rock-paper-scissors game as a game event. Each user selects one of the rock-paper-scissors cards they have acquired, and the winner and the owner of the new location object are determined based on the result.

The rock-paper-scissors game may be modified as follows.
Cards with attributes: In addition to the usual rock-paper-scissors cards (rock, paper, scissors), each card is also assigned a specific attribute (fire, water, wood, etc.) When these attributes match, a special skill is activated, adding a strategic element.
Combo System: Using the same rock-paper-scissors card multiple times in succession will create a combo, granting certain bonus effects. This element creates strategy for which cards to acquire and save.
Limited-time events: Limited-time events occur near location objects, and if you win within that time, you can get a special reward. This motivates users to gather at a specific time or place.
Team play: Multiple users form a team and play rock-paper-scissors together. This requires deeper strategies and cooperative play than simple rock-paper-scissors.
Chance to turn things around: Even if you lose, there is a certain probability that a "chance to turn things around" will occur, giving you a chance to get revenge. This creates tension and excitement in the game.
Card Exchange: A feature that allows users to exchange Janken cards that they have acquired with each other, further enhancing communication and strategy between users.
Special Cards: Special cards (e.g. boost cards, cards that erase all attributes, etc.) that appear very rarely can turn the tide of battle in an instant.

<Hardware Configuration>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a game server according to the present invention. The illustrated configuration is an example, and other configurations may be included, or elements having similar functions may be substituted. Furthermore, the illustrated game server is shown as a single device, but may be configured as a single device by combining multiple devices. Each functional block can be configured, for example, by hardware, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), or software provided in the server device. For example, when configured by software, each functional block is actually configured with a computer's CPU, RAM, ROM, etc., and is realized by the operation of a program stored in a recording medium such as a RAM, ROM, hard disk, or semiconductor memory.

<Data structure>
As shown in Fig. 7, the game server has virtual space generation information, user information, and game event execution information. The virtual space generation information has at least location object information, owner information, and content information. Note that some of the information may be provided by an external terminal, and all of the information does not necessarily have to be stored in the storage unit at all times.

The virtual space generation information is information necessary to display a virtual space that corresponds to real space on a user terminal. The virtual space generation information uses location object information, owner information, and content information. The virtual space generation information may be data such as a 3D map, 3D objects, effects, images, and text.

Location object information is information necessary to display location objects placed in virtual space. Location objects are objects that represent locations that exist in real space. Locations that exist in real space include, for example, expressways, toll roads, general national highways, major regional roads, general prefectural roads, railways, subways, railway and station buildings, stations and subways, oceans, rivers, lakes, intersection names, green spaces, golf courses, parks, service areas, parking areas, toll booths, parking lots/travel stations/roadside stations, tunnels, bridges, interchanges, prefectural offices, city/town/village offices, police stations/police boxes, fire stations, hospitals, post offices, community centers, etc., government offices/courts/embassies, etc., castles and castle ruins, mausoleums, mountains (general term)/mountain range names, elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, technical colleges, etc., universities, kindergartens, power plants, shrines, temples, telephone exchanges/telephone base stations, ferry terminals, airports/airports. Examples include heliports, Christian churches and cathedrals, cemeteries, factories, lighthouses, bases, hot springs, parks/gardens/green spaces, amusement parks/theme parks, tourist farms/drinking ranches, stadiums, baseball fields, gymnasiums, horse racing tracks, motorsport facilities, beaches/swimming pools, yacht harbors/marinas, ski resorts, golf courses, campsites, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, art galleries/museums/libraries, halls/theaters, department stores, shopping centers, gas stations, hotels, banks, driving schools, tennis courts, convenience stores, and supermarkets, and are not limited to structures, but also include places with a certain area such as land, regions, territories, rivers, and lakes.

Owner information is information about the owner who owns the location object. Location objects are traded on a specified trading platform. The game server maintains and updates the owner information to keep it up to date.

Content information is content information associated with the owner. Examples of content may be art, characters, domain names, music, videos, photos, voices, cards, land in other virtual spaces, and points created by the owner. These may be content managed and owned by the owner, or content certified as having been created by the owner and managed or owned by other users.

User information is information that associates each user terminal and owner terminal that uses this system with a user. Typically, it may include a user ID, a rock-paper-scissors card that the user possesses, a password, payment information, unique identification information for the terminal, and contact information.

The game event execution information includes, for example, the following information:
Rock-Paper-Scissors Card Information: Stores the card type (Rock, Paper, Scissors), optional attributes (fire, water, wood, etc.), and a unique identifier for the card.
Game Event: Stores information about game events to be held. This manages what events will be held at what location, when, and rewards.
Results and History: The results of past rock-paper-scissors games played by each user and location, rewards won, cards used, and other history are managed.
Win/Loss Determination Logic: The logic that determines the winner of rock-paper-scissors. This is an algorithm or function rather than a data structure, but it calculates the basic rules of which card wins against which card, and the effects of additional elements (attributes, combos, etc.).
Team Info: Information about the team the user belongs to, such as a list of team members, the team's win/loss record, and special events and rewards for the team.
Incentive information: Stores the types, conditions, and rewards of various incentives for winning or losing.

<Processing flow>
As shown in FIG. 8, the embodiment of the present invention comprises the following steps.
Step S1: Virtual Space Generation Based on the geographic information of the real space, the virtual space generation unit generates a virtual space. In this virtual space, "location objects" corresponding to locations existing in the real space are placed.
Step S2: Owner Information Management The owner information management unit records and manages the owner information of each location object.
Step S3: Obtaining and displaying user position information. Obtain information about the user's position in real space, and display a "user object" at the corresponding position in the virtual space based on that information.
Step S4: Determining Occupancy Conditions It is determined whether or not a specific "occupancy condition" such as the positional relationship between the user and the location is satisfied.
Step S5: Implementing the Game Event If the occupancy condition is satisfied in step S4, the game event providing unit starts the game event. In this game event, "game objects" that can be acquired in the virtual space are placed.
Step S6: Win/Loss Determination and New Owner Registration When a plurality of users participating in the game event fulfills the occupancy condition, the win/loss determination unit determines the winner (new owner) based on the game objects.
Step S7: Setting of Occupancy Time After the winner is determined, the occupation time determination unit sets the occupation time of the user.
Step S8: Updating New Owner Information The owner information management section updates the winner (new owner) information.
Through the above steps, the present invention determines ownership of locations in a virtual space linked to a real space with a high degree of engagement and fairness.

<Other Examples>
Examples of configurations that can be implemented in addition to or as a partial replacement for the embodiments of the present invention are listed below.
1. Game Competition 1.1 Turn-based Strategy Game: Owners compete against each other in a turn-based strategy game, betting on ownership.
1.2 Real-time Battle: Owners compete in real time, with speed and reflexes also being evaluated.
1.3 AI Battle: The owner designs his own AI and the AIs battle it out against each other.
1.4 Team Battle: Owners form teams with multiple people and play in group battles.
2. Ownership change algorithm 2.1 Points system: Ownership changes according to the number of wins and points earned.
2.2 Auction Format: Using points earned in the game, owners compete in an auction for ownership.
2.3 Random element: Special events occur with a certain probability, and ownership can fluctuate greatly depending on the results.
2.4 Timed: The owner who gets the highest score within a certain time period wins the ownership.
3. Game-Real Linkage 3.1 Real Event Trigger: A specific real-world event (e.g. festival, sale, etc.) triggers a special battle in the game.
3.2 Location Information Linkage: The owner's real-world location information is linked to special abilities and items in the game.
3.3 Time Dependency: In-game events occur depending on the time of day in the real world.

4. Incentive redesign 4.1 Growing incentives: The incentives you can earn will increase with each battle.
4.2 Skill-Based Incentives: Different types of incentives are given depending on specific skills and achievements.
4.3 Ranking Incentive: Additional incentives will be awarded to those who rank highly based on their performance during the period.
5. User Engagement Features 5.1 Spectating Bonus: Incentives are also given to users who watch battles.
5.2 Participation type: A "guest owner" system in which users can become owners for a short period of time.
5.3 Community Voting: Users can vote to decide parts of the battle, increasing the sense of participation.

It goes without saying that the invention examples described in the embodiments of this application document are not limited to those described in this application document, but can be applied to various examples within the scope of the technical concept. For example, in the embodiments of this application document, the system of each embodiment may be configured so that information presented on the screen of an information processing device can be transmitted to another information processing device so that it can be displayed on the screen of the other information processing device.

Furthermore, the processes and procedures described in this application document may be realizable not only by those explicitly described in the embodiments, but also by software, hardware, or a combination of these. Furthermore, the processes and procedures described in this application document may be implemented as computer programs and executed by various computers. Furthermore, these computer programs may be stored in storage media. Furthermore, these programs may be stored in non-transient or temporary storage media.

The configurations included in the present invention are as follows.
(Configuration 1)
a virtual space generation unit that generates a virtual space based on geographic information of a real space; a location object corresponding to a location existing in the real space; and a user object to be displayed at a corresponding position in the virtual space based on a user's position in the real space;
an owner information management unit for managing owner information of the location object;
an owner information registration unit that registers the owner information of the location object as the user when an occupancy condition including a positional relationship between the user and the location in the real space is satisfied;
a game event providing unit that registers one of the users determined by a predetermined game event as new owner information when the plurality of users satisfy the occupancy condition,
Game server.
(Configuration 2)
2. The game server according to claim 1,
The game event providing unit includes:
a game object placement unit that places game objects obtainable by the user in the virtual space;
a winning/losing determination unit that determines a winning or losing outcome based on the game objects owned by each of the users when the plurality of users satisfy the occupancy condition.
Game server.
(Configuration 3)
2. The game server according to claim 1,
The game event providing unit includes:
an occupancy time determination unit that determines a time to be registered as the new owner information according to a result of the game event;
Game server.
(Configuration 4)
A game system including a user terminal and a game server,
The game server includes:
a virtual space generation unit that generates a virtual space based on geographic information of a real space; a location object corresponding to a location existing in the real space; and a user object to be displayed at a corresponding position in the virtual space based on a position of the user terminal in the real space;
an owner information management unit for managing owner information of the location object;
an owner information registration unit that registers the owner information of the location object as the user terminal when an occupancy condition including a positional relationship between the user terminal and the location in the real space is satisfied;
a game event providing unit that registers one of the user terminals determined by a predetermined game event as new owner information when the plurality of user terminals satisfy the occupancy condition;
Game system.

100 Real space 102, 104 Location 106 Road 110 User 200 Virtual space 202, 204 Location object 206 Road object

Claims (4)

a virtual space generation unit that generates a virtual space based on geographic information of a real space; a location object corresponding to a location existing in the real space; and a user object to be displayed at a corresponding position in the virtual space based on a user's position in the real space;
an owner information management unit for managing owner information of the location object;
an owner information registration unit that registers the owner information of the location object as the user when an occupancy condition including a positional relationship between the user and the location in the real space is satisfied;
a game event providing unit that registers one of the users determined by a predetermined game event as new owner information when the plurality of users satisfy the occupancy condition,
Game server. 2. The game server according to claim 1,
The game event providing unit includes:
a game object placement unit that places game objects obtainable by the user in the virtual space;
a winning/losing determination unit that determines a winning or losing outcome based on the game objects owned by each of the users when the plurality of users satisfy the occupancy condition.
Game server. 2. The game server according to claim 1,
The game event providing unit includes:
an occupancy time determination unit that determines a time to be registered as the new owner information according to a result of the game event;
Game server. A game system including a user terminal and a game server,
The game server includes:
a virtual space generation unit that generates a virtual space based on geographic information of a real space; a location object corresponding to a location existing in the real space; and a user object to be displayed at a corresponding position in the virtual space based on a position of the user terminal in the real space;
an owner information management unit for managing owner information of the location object;
an owner information registration unit that registers the owner information of the location object as the user terminal when an occupancy condition including a positional relationship between the user terminal and the location in the real space is satisfied;
a game event providing unit that registers one of the user terminals determined by a predetermined game event as new owner information when the plurality of user terminals satisfy the occupancy condition;
Game system.