54. The category includes numerical values from 1 to 3, for example, as categories of the preferential status granted to the player. The granting date and time includes the date and time when the preferential status was granted to the player.

Set rank includes the rank (class) set for the player. There are 20 ranks, for example, from buck private (rank 1) to general of the army (rank 20). For example, if the player has the preferential status, the rank is set regardless of the player's spending usage. In this case, the higher is the category of the preferential status, the higher the rank of the player is set. On the other hand, if the player does not have the preferential status, the rank is set according to the player's spending usage. Even though a player has the preferential status, the rank set for that player may be set to a higher rank according to the player's spending usage.

Character information 50B is stored for each character in association with the character ID of that character. This character information 50B includes, for example, the character name or image (design), rarity, initial values (such as hit points, attack power, defense power, etc., at level 1) and upper limit values (such as hit points, attack power, defense power, etc., at level 100) of ability parameters, and skills. Rarity includes, for example, a number from 1 to 6. This number may be indicated by the number of stars, for example. Here, characters with high rarity are set to have ability parameters and skills that are advantageous for the game (such as in quests and missions).

Rank information 50C is stored for each rank in the first game in association with the rank ID for that rank. This rank information 50C includes, for example, the name of the rank, the attainment amount, preferential treatment information, and the like.

Attainment amount includes, for each rank, the lower limit spending usage (specific spending usage) for attaining that rank. This lower limit spending usage increases as the rank increases. This lower limit spending usage is, for example, 0 yen for a buck private (rank 1), 5,000 yen for a private (rank 2), and 10,000 yen for a private first class (rank 3). For example, if the player spends 8,000 yen in the first game, the rank of the player is set to private (rank 2).

Preferential treatment information includes, for each rank, the preferential treatment to be provided for that rank. The higher is the rank, the higher are the quantity and quality of this preferential treatment. For example, neither buck private (rank 1) nor private (rank 2) includes any preferential treatment. Also, for example, ranks from captain (rank 11) to colonel (rank 15) include the preferential treatment of shortening the stamina recovery time by one minute. Also, for example, ranks from brigadier general (rank 16) to general of the army (rank 20) include the preferential treatment of shortening the stamina recovery time by two minutes. Also, for example, ranks from private first class (rank 3) to general of the army (rank 20) include the preferential treatment of being able to recover stamina at no charge once a day.

Category information 50D includes usage information for a second game that is different from the first game (game A) and a corresponding rank for each preferential status (or license) category.

Usage information includes a higher rank in the second game (game B or game C) for each preferential status category. For example, the rank of the second game increases if the player's spending usage exceeds the attainment amount for each rank, just as in the first game. Also, in the second game, the higher is the rank, the higher are the quantity and quality of preferential treatment provided to the player. This higher rank is, for example, a rank at which the attainment amount in the second game is equal to or greater than a certain amount (such as 50,000 yen). For example, the usage information includes a higher rank in the second game, that is, a rank with a higher attainment amount, as the category of preferential status is higher. For instance, category 1 includes rank 3 of game B, or ranks 20-24 of game C. Also, category 2 includes rank 4 of game B and ranks 25-29 of game C, for example. Also, category 3 includes rank 5 or higher of game B, or rank 30 or higher of game C, for example.

Corresponding ranks include the rank of the first game for each category of preferential status. For example, category 1 includes second lieutenant (rank 9). Also, category 2 includes major (rank 13), for example. Also, category 3 includes lieutenant general (rank 18), for example.

The acquisition unit 52 is a functional unit for acquiring various kinds of information. In one or more embodiments, the acquisition unit 52 acquires usage information indicating the player's spending usage (or a second usage charge) in the second game, which is different from the first game. For example, the acquisition unit 52 acquires usage information from a server device (external server) that manages the second game, or from a terminal device 12 of the player. More specifically, the acquisition unit 52 receives an input of a player ID in game B, which is the second game, from the player, and acquires the rank of the player in game B from the server device that manages game B. Also, the acquisition unit 52 acquires, from the terminal device 12 of the player, information with which the player's rank in game C, which is the second game, can be identified. This information includes, for example, a screen capture of the screen displaying the rank in game C, a URL associated with that screen, an input code indicating the rank, or the like.

The granting unit 54 is a functional unit for granting a preferential status (or giving a predetermined license) to the player. In one or more embodiments, if the spending usage indicated by the usage information acquired by the acquisition unit 52 is equal to or greater than a certain amount (such as 50,000 yen), the granting unit 54 grants preferential status to the player regardless of the player's spending usage in the first game. More specifically, the granting unit 54 analyzes the screen capture in game C acquired by the acquisition unit 52 and identifies the rank of the player in game C. Then, if the identified rank of the player in game C is included in any category of the category information 50D, that is, if the attainment amount for the rank is equal to or greater than a certain amount, the granting unit 54 grants the player preferential status for that category. More specifically, if a player's rank in game C is 31, the granting unit 54 grants category 3 preferential status to that player.

Meanwhile, if the rank in the second game acquired by the acquisition unit 52 is not included in any category of the category information 50D, that is, if the attainment amount for the rank in the second game is less than a certain amount, the granting unit 54 does not grant preferential status to the player. In other words, if the rank set for a player in the second game is not a higher rank, the granting unit 54 does not grant preferential status to that player.

The control unit 56 is a functional unit for controlling the progress of various games in the first game. In one or more embodiments, the control unit 56 gives preferential treatment to a player who has preferential status in the first game. For example, the control unit 56 sets a rank in the first game corresponding to the category of the preferential status for a player to whom preferential status has been granted by the granting unit 54. More specifically, the control unit 56 sets the rank of the player to second lieutenant (rank 9) if the category of preferential status held by the player is 1, sets the rank of the player to major (rank 13) if the category of preferential status is 2, and sets the rank of the player to lieutenant general (rank 18) if the category of preferential status is 3. Then, the control unit 56 refers to the rank information 50C and provides the player with the preferential treatment included in the set rank.

Also, if a player having preferential status does not satisfy a specific condition in the first game within a specific period of time, the control unit 56 cancels the preferential treatment for that player. Examples of this specific period of time include within three months and within six months from the date when the player was granted preferential status. The specific condition includes, for example, that the player's spending usage in the first game exceeds a first specific amount. An example of this first specific amount is 5,000 yen. For instance, when three months have passed since preferential status was granted, if the player's spending usage has not yet exceeded 5,000 yen, the control unit 56 sets the player's rank to buck private (rank 1), and cancels the player's preferential treatment. Also, the specific condition includes that the player's usage frequency of the first game exceeds a specific number of times. The usage frequency includes, for example, login frequency, stamina recovery frequency, number of times a quest has been cleared, and virtual currency purchase frequency. For example, if the player's login frequency (number of times) within three months after the player was granted preferential status has not exceeded a specific number (such as 50 times), the control unit 56 sets the player's rank to buck private (rank 1) and cancels the preferential treatment for that player.

On the other hand, if a player who has preferential status has satisfied a specific condition in the first game within a specific period of time, the control unit 56 continues preferential treatment for that player. For instance, when three months have passed since category 1 preferential status was granted, if the player's spending usage exceeds 5,000 yen, the control unit 56 maintains the player's rank at second lieutenant (rank 9), and continues preferential treatment for that player for the next specific period of time (such as three months later).

Also, the control unit 56 provides preferential treatment to a player who has started the first game without having preferential status if that player reaches a specific rank in that first game. For example, the control unit 56 refers to the player information 50A and the rank information 50C, and provides preferential treatment if the spending usage of a player who started the first game without having preferential status has exceeded an attainment amount (such as 10,000 yen) associated with a specific rank (such as private first class).

Also, the control unit 56 provides preferential treatment to a player who has started the first game without having preferential status if that player's spending usage exceeds a second specific amount. This second specific amount is, for example, the attainment amount (such as 10,000 yen) associated with private first class (rank 3) for which the provision of preferential treatment is started in the rank information 50C. This second specific amount is, for example, larger than the first specific amount (such as 5,000 yen). This second specific amount may be determined regardless of the attainment amount for the rank in the rank information 50C.

Flow of Processing for Granting Preferential Status

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing for granting a preferential status in the game system according to one or more embodiments. Also, the processing of the following steps is commenced, for example, at the point when the player issues an instruction to register the rank of the second game (usage information). The order and details of the following steps can be changed as needed.

Step SP10

The acquisition unit 52 acquires the rank of the player in the second game as usage information indicating the player's spending usage in the second game. For example, the acquisition unit 52 acquires from the terminal device 12 of the player a screen capture from game C with which the rank of the player in game C, which is the second game, can be identified. The processing then moves to the processing of step SP12.

Step SP12

The granting unit 54 analyzes the screen capture from game C acquired in step SP10 and identifies the rank of the player in game C. The granting unit 54 then determines whether or not the identified rank of the player in game C is included in any category of the category information 50D, that is, whether or not the attainment amount for the rank is equal to or greater than a certain amount. Then, if the determination is affirmative, the processing moves to the processing of step SP14. On the other hand, if the determination is negative, the processing ends the series of processing shown in FIG. 5.

Step SP14

The granting unit 54 grants the player the preferential status for the category in the category information 50D corresponding to the player's rank in game C. More specifically, the granting unit 54 registers (stores) the preferential status, the category, and the granting date and time in the preferential status information of the player information 50A. The processing then ends the series of processing shown in FIG. 5.

Processing Flow

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of processing performed by functional units shown in FIG. 4 in the game system according to one or more embodiments. Also, the processing of the following steps is commenced, for example, at the point when the player logs into a game or when the player purchases virtual currency. The order and details of the following steps can be changed as needed.

Step SP20

The acquisition unit 52 acquires the player's spending usage in the first game. More specifically, the acquisition unit 52 acquires the player's spending usage by referring to the spending usage information of the player information 50A. The processing then moves to the processing of step SP22.

Step SP22

The control unit 56 determines whether or not a player has the preferential status. More specifically, the control unit 56 refers to the preferential status information in the player information 50A to determine whether or not the player has the preferential status. If the determination is affirmative, the processing moves to the processing of step SP30. On the other hand, if the determination is negative, the processing moves to the processing of step SP24.

Step SP24

The control unit 56 sets the player's rank according to the player's spending usage acquired in step SP20. More specifically, the control unit 56 refers to the rank information 50C to determine whether or not the spending usage exceeds each of the attainment amounts (lower limit amounts), from the lowest rank (buck private) to the highest rank (general of the army), in order. After this, the control unit