PRIZE ACQUIRING GAME SYSTEM USING COMMUNICATION NETWORK, HOST COMPUTER FOR PRIZE ACQURIJNG GAME, AND PLAYER TERMINAL

摘要

A host computer connected to player terminals through a communication network, on receiving a prize allocation request of a player terminal, subtracts the number of virtual prizes currently allocated (allocated number) from the number of virtual prizes allocatable (allocatable number) to determine the number of virtual prizes unallocated. The host computer compares the number of virtual prizes unallocated with the number of virtual prizes requested to be allocated so as to judge whether the allocation is possible or not. The host computer notifies the terminal of the result of the judgment. The allocatable number is set according to the actual quantity of inventory of the virtual prizes recorded in an inventory management database and to the payout factor for controlling the prize acquisition rate at the terminal. The lower the payout factor is, the larger the total allocatable number can be. Therefore virtual prizes can be allocated to many users. As a result, the users simultaneously enjoying the game can be increased, and a wide range of users can enjoy games.