Patent ID: 9561439
Date: 2017-02-07
CPC Classifications: A63F

Claim:
1. A game control method carried out by a game control device for providing a game to a plurality of communication terminals respectively used by a plurality of users, the game control device communicating with the plurality of communication terminals over a communication network and having a storage unit for storing information for each of the plurality of users, the method comprising the steps of: (a) grouping the plurality of users into one or more groups; (b) storing a correspondence between the plurality of users and the one or more groups in the storage unit; (c) transmitting information over the communication network to initiate a group event in which a first plurality of users forming a first group cooperatively participate in the game; (d) storing a parameter value for each of the plurality of users, wherein the parameter value for a respective user is increased as the respective user makes progress in the group event; (e) monitoring progress of the group event and updating the parameter value for each of the first plurality of users in accordance with the progress of the first group in the group event; (f) providing at least one of a plurality of game pieces to each of the first plurality of users in the group event, based on the parameter value for the corresponding user, wherein the plurality of game pieces are required to obtain a game item; (g) storing allocation information indicating which game piece has been provided to which user, in the storage unit; (h) determining whether all the required game pieces have been provided to the first plurality of users, based on the allocation information; and (i) allocating in a memory, the game item to the first group or at least one of the first plurality of users, when it is determined that all the required game pieces have been provided within a predetermined period of time during which the group event is taking place.