Competitive game system, method, apparatus and program which can be played via network

A competitive game method which can be executed by a plurality of terminal devices that are connected via a network, wherein one of the terminal devices will be a master terminal device that manages the progress of the game and the remaining terminal devices will becomes client terminal devices, the game method comprising the steps of:

• executing a game that includes a plurality of game progress units by transmitting and receiving data to and from the master terminal device and the client terminal devices via the network;
• recording master experience times corresponding to a total length of time each terminal device has been the master terminal device in the game, the length of the time that one terminal device is the master terminal device is measured every time a terminal device becomes the master terminal device, and the master experience time is updated by adding the measured value to the master experience time of the terminal device;
• allowing the master terminal device or each respective terminal device to select the master terminal device before one game progress unit is started where the terminal device having the shortest master experience time is selected as the master terminal device for the next game progress unit being started;
• allowing the master terminal device to switch the master terminal device after the one game progress unit is completed;
• and
• allowing the master terminal device not to accept data from the client terminal devices when switching the master terminal device.

A competitive game method which is executed by a terminal device that is connected to other terminal devices via a network, comprising the steps of:

• executing a game that includes a plurality of game progress units by making the terminal device or one of the other terminal devices a master terminal device which manages the progress of the game, and transmitting and receiving data to and from other terminal devices via the network;
• recording master experience times corresponding to a total length of time each terminal device has been the master terminal device in the game, the length of the time that one terminal device is the master terminal device is measured every time a terminal device becomes the master terminal device, and the master experience time is updated by adding the measured value to the master experience time of the terminal device;
• determining the master terminal device before an initial game progress unit is started, and when the terminal device is the master terminal device in a game progress unit, determining the master terminal device in the next game progress unit, where the terminal device having the shortest master experience time is selected as the master terminal device for the next game progress unit being started;
• switching the master terminal device after the game progress unit is completed;
• and
• controlling the master terminal device so that it will not accept data from the client terminal devices when the master terminal device is being switched.