# US 2014/0155140 A1 · Game system, and control method and storage medium employed therein > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155140 A1 - Document ID: US20140155140A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/086,239 - Filed: 2013-11-21 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Eiri Mikoshiba; Yosuke Ota; Takashi Matsui - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155140A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3251: {involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens} - A63F 13/493: Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure - A63F 13/55: Controlling game characters or game objects based on the game progress - A63F 13/79: involving player-related data, e.g. identities, accounts, preferences or play histories - A63F 13/825: Fostering virtual characters - A63F 13/847: Cooperative playing, e.g. requiring coordinated actions from several players to achieve a common goal - A63F 2300/207: for accessing game resources from local storage, e.g. streaming content from DVD - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract Provided is a game system that is capable of limiting the usage of predetermined information individually. The game system acquires a two dimensional code for recreating a combined image from a character card, and utilizes, for the progression of a game, the combined image recreated during the game on the basis of the two dimensional code that has been acquired. And, the game system provides a two dimensional code so that information of a player name ID that is employed in order to limit the usage of the two dimensional code is included. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A game system that acquires predetermined information for recreating a predetermined image from a recording medium; that utilizes, for progression of a game, the predetermined image recreated during the game on the basis of the predetermined information that has been acquired; and wherein the game system comprises an information provision device adapted and configured to provide the predetermined information so that limiting information that is employed in order to limit the usage of the predetermined information is included. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A game system according to claim 1, wherein: information characteristic of each player of the game is employed as the limiting information; and the information provision device provides the predetermined information so that the characteristic information is included as the limiting information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A game system according to claim 2, wherein player specification information for specifying each player is employed as the characteristic information. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A game system according to claim 3, further comprising a group data storage device that stores group data for grouping together a predetermined number of players into one group on the basis of the player specification information; and wherein, on the basis of the group data, the usage of the predetermined information is limited based upon the group to which the player specification information included in the predetermined information belongs. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A game system according to claim 4, further comprising: an awarding condition determination device adapted and configured to, on the basis of the group data, and based upon the groups, determine whether or not a privilege awarding condition is satisfied in units of groups; and a privilege awarding device adapted and configured to, on the basis of the results of determination by the awarding condition determination device, award an advantageous development to all the players who belong to a group that satisfies the privilege awarding condition. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A game system according to claim 5, wherein: as the game, a game in which items are awarded during play is employed; and as the privilege awarding condition, a condition that is satisfied if the total number of specified items awarded to the players within the group is at least a predetermined number is employed. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A game system according to claim 1, further comprising: a possible/impossible determination device adapted and configured to, when the limiting information is acquired from the recording medium, determine whether or not the predetermined information can be used on the basis of the limiting information; and a possible/impossible control device adapted and configured to control whether or not the predetermined information is used on the basis of the result of determination by the possible/impossible determination device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A game system according to claim 1, further comprising a format storage device that stores format data for expressing a base format corresponding to a fixed portion of the predetermined image, so that a variable region which is capable of changing information to be displayed in the predetermined image is included in the base format; and wherein: the information provision device provides the predetermined information so that game information relating to the result of the game is further included therein; and a combined image in which the base format and the game information are combined so that the game information is displayed in the variable region is used as the predetermined image. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A game system according to claim 8, further comprising an image data generation device adapted and configured to generate image data for expressing the combined image; and wherein at least one of the image data and the combined image is recorded upon the recording medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A game system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a two dimensional code created in conformity to a predetermined standard so as to include the predetermined information, and code data for expressing the two dimensional code, is recorded upon the recording medium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A game system according to claim 10, further comprising: a printer that can print the two dimensional code and the predetermined image; and a code reader that can read the two dimensional code printed upon the recording medium; and wherein the printer prints the two dimensional code and the predetermined image upon the recording medium on the basis of the predetermined information and the code data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A game system according to claim 1, further comprising a server apparatus to which a user terminal that provides the game is connected via a communication line, and wherein the server apparatus provides at least one of an application and data for the user terminal for providing the game to the user terminal via the communication line. ### Claim 13 A control method of controlling a computer applied to a game system that acquires predetermined information for recreating a predetermined image from a recording medium and that utilizes, for progression of a game, the predetermined image recreated during the game on the basis of the predetermined information that has been acquired, and wherein the control method comprises an information provision step that provides the predetermined information so that limiting information that is employed in order to limit the usage of the predetermined information is included. ### Claim 14 A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a computer program for a game system that acquires predetermined information for recreating a predetermined image from a recording medium; that utilizes, for progression of a game, the predetermined image recreated during the game on the basis of the predetermined information that has been acquired; and wherein the computer program for the game system is configured so as to cause a computer which is incorporated into the game system, to function as an information provision device adapted and configured to provide the predetermined information so that limiting information that is employed in order to limit the usage of the predetermined information is included.