WO2007066894A1

WO2007066894A1 - Method for growing skill of game character in game-guild and system thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2007066894A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/004409
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dae Il Kim
Original assignee: Nhn Corporation
Priority date: 2005-11-01
Filing date: 2006-10-27
Publication date: 2007-06-14
Also published as: KR100778554B1; CN101300595A; KR20070047078A

Abstract

A method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which can have differentiated skills for a particular guild or for each game area occupied by a guild in a game, and grow a selectively invested skill of a knight character, which is a guild member, and thereby can grow the differentiated skills for each guild is provided. According to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a character to acquire a skill, which is supported only in a guild joined by the character or in a game area occupied by the guild, and also enables the character to act with the acquired skill in a game, and thereby can grow a characteristic skill available only to the guild.

Description

METHOD FOR GROWING SKILL OF GAME CHARACTER IN GAME- GUILD AND SYSTEM THEREOF

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which can have differentiated skills for a particular guild or for each game area occupied by a guild in a game, and grow a selectively invested skill of a knight character, which is a guild member, and thereby can grow the differentiated skills for each guild.

Background Art

As already well-known, the main purpose of a general Role Playing Game (RPG) is to accumulate experience points of a character and enhance a physical power or a skill level of the character based on the experience points.

A method of growing a skill for each character may be usefully utilized in the general RPG where a single character progresses a game. However, in a guild war game where a plurality of characters is connected to an organization, i.e. a guild, and progresses a game for a common goal, the above-described method may act as an interfering element in a distribution of a power of the guild.

As an example, in the method of growing a skill for each character, a gamer may put greater importance on acquiring experience points of the character than on achieving the common goal of the guild. Therefore, despite of a war between guilds, a character may individually or independently progress a game and a coalition of a guild may be destroyed.

Accordingly, when there is a skill growing method in which a skill of a character joining a guild can be controlled by a lord of the guild and affected by a skill growth of an individual character according to a goal achievement of the guild, a stronger power of the guild may be exhibited than in a game based on a guild war.

Accordingly, a new model of growing a skill of a character which can grow a differentiated skill for each guild, and guarantee a guild member of a more specialized skill when a guild dominates a particular game area, and thereby can ensure a coalition of the guild to be stable and firm in a game based on a guild war is required. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Goals

The present invention provides a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a character to acquire a skill, which is supported only in a guild joined by the character or in a game area occupied by the guild, and also enables the character to act with the acquired skill in a game, and thereby can grow a characteristic skill available only to the guild.

The present invention also provides a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a knight character, maintaining a subordinate relationship in a guild, to acquire a guild skill or a spot skill developed by a lord character in an online-based game service of a guild war, and also enables the lord character to have an influence on a skill growth of the knight character, and thereby can more firmly stabilize a coalition of the guild under the lord character.

The present invention also provides a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a lord character to strengthen a control over a guild member in a guild since a knight character, which belongs to the guild member, may grow only a skill within a skill range activated by the lord character.

The present invention also provides a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a knight character, which is a guild member, to know that a lord character has an ability to directly influence the knight character's skill growth and thereby to positively progress a game for a goal achievement of a guild according to the lord character's command and thus, can further enhance the power of the guild.

Technical solutions

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of growing a skill of a character in a guild, the method including: maintaining a guild skill database which stores guild skill information associated with a predetermined guild; receiving knight investment information from a knight character which joins the guild as a guild member; extracting the guild skill information from the guild skill database by using the received knight investment information; and storing the extracted guild skill information in a skill information field of the knight character, wherein the step of extracting includes: establishing first activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to lord investment information which is received from a lord character of the guild; establishing second activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to the knight investment information, among the guild skill information having established the first activation information; and extracting the guild skill information, having established the second activation information, from the guild skill database.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, the system including: a guild skill database storing guild skill information associated with a predetermined guild; an interface receiving knight investment information from a knight character which joins the guild as a guild member; a skill extractor extracting the guild skill information from the guild skill database by using the received knight investment information; and a skill acquirement component enabling the knight character to act with a guild skill associated with the guild skill information in a game that the knight character is being played in, by storing the extracted guild skill information in a skill information field of the knight character, wherein the skill extractor 1) establishes first activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to lord investment information which is received from the lord character of the guild, 2) establishes second activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to the knight investment information, among the guild skill having established the first activation information, and 3) extracts the guild skill information, having established the second activation information, from the guild skill database.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a character skill growing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a character skill growing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a guild skill database according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a spot skill database according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of growing a skill of a character according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of growing a skill of a character according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

Hereinafter, a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The term "guild skill" used throughout the present specification may be different for each individual guild, and may be acquired by a guild member of a particular guild. Also, the guild skill may indicate a group of skills which are developed by a lord character representing a corresponding guild. Specifically, the guild skill may designate a skill that is acquired by a knight character, which is a guild member satisfying a predetermined condition, with respect to skills that the lord character invested time and resources and activated to be acquirable. In this instance, the knight character may act with a corresponding guild skill in a game.

Also, the term spot skill may designate a particular skill which can be acquired in a game area occupied by a guild, and also may designate a group of skills which are developed by a lord character similar to the above-described guild skill. Specifically, when a guild occupying a corresponding game area loses its occupation right (e.g., when the game area is taken away by another guild), the spot skill is removed from all knight characters, which are guild members of the guild, and thus, the knight characters may no longer use the spot skill in the game. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to foster a continuous competitiveness between guilds for occupying a wider game area to have a more useful spot skill. Also, a gamer may continue to enjoy the game. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a character skill growing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A character skill growing system 100 functions to provide a list of skills that a character may acquire and grow according to a guild joined by the character, and a game area occupied by the guild. Also, the character skill growing system 100 enables the character satisfying a predetermined condition to acquire a skill supported in the guild. Specifically, in the character skill growing system 100, a lord character of the guild may gradually develop and activate skills. Also, a knight character of the guild may invest predetermined resources with respect to the developed and activated skills and thereby grow the same into a differentiated skill for each guild.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the character skill growing system 100 is operated in an online-based game, particularly, in a Massive Multi-Player Online Role Playing Game (MMORPG) where a plurality of knight characters organizes a guild and progresses a game for a common goal according to a command of a lord character which is a top level of the guild. However, it is only an example of the present invention for convenience of description, and the present invention is therefore not limited thereto. Specifically, the present invention may be applicable to a personal computer (PC)-based game, a video console-based game, and the like, in addition to the online-based game.

An online-based game server 110 may designate a server, for example, a

Multiple User Dialogue (MUD) game service server, a Multiple User Graphic (MUG) game service server, and the like, which allows an access by a gamer 120 via a network 140, and provides an online game service to the gamer 120 according to a predetermined contract. In this instance, the online game service provided from the online-based game server 110 transmits game patch data, game data, and the like, which is required for a game, to a user terminal 130 installed with a game-related program. Also, the online game service supports a substantial game service by installing the transmitted data in the user terminal 130. Also, the online-based game server 110 controls a character of the gamer 120 according to a predetermined control signal received from the gamer 120 and thereby enables a smooth game progress.

The gamer 120 may designate an online game user which holds the user terminal 130 to maintain a connection with the online-based game server 110 via the network 140, and receives the contracted game service from the online-based game server 110.

The user terminal 130 may designate a device which maintains a connection with the online-based game server 110 via the wired/wireless network 140, such as an Internet communication network, a telephone line, and the like, and displays an online game provided via the network 140 by using an installed game-related program.

Also, the character skill growing system 100 enables a character of the gamer

120, which utilizes the online game service, to acquire a skill which is supported only in a guild joined by the character or in a game area occupied by the guild, and also enables the character to act with the acquired skill. Therefore, it is possible to grow a characteristic skill for each guild.

Also, since a skill, which may be acquired by a knight character which is a guild member, must be developed (activated) by a lord character, the character skill growing system 100 may strengthen a control right of the lord character over the knight character and also solidify a coalition of the guild when a game is being progressed in an online game according to a war between guilds.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a character skill growing system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As described above, a character skill growing system 200 includes a guild skill that a knight character belonging to a guild member may acquire according to a guild joined by the knight character, and also includes a spot skill that the knight character may acquire according to a game area occupied by the guild in a game. Also, the character skill growing system 200 enables a guild member satisfying a predetermined condition to acquire the guild skill and the spot skill. In this instance, the guild skill and the spot skill are preferentially developed and activated by a lord character representing the guild. The knight character, i.e. guild member, may acquire a skill only with respect to skills activated by the lord character.

The character skill growing system 200 includes a guild skill database 210, a spot skill database 220, an interface 230, a skill extractor 240, and a skill acquirement component 250.

The guild skill database 210 stores guild skill information associated with a predetermined guild. In this instance, the guild skill information includes information about a guild skill acquirable by only a guild member of a particular guild. As an example, the guild skill information may include information about resources (or tools, a character level, etc.), which are required to acquire a particular guild skill, information about a period of time for which an acquired guild skill by the knight character is to be maintained, and the like. Specifically, the guild skill database 210 maintains guild skill information that can be acquired in the particular guild and information about elements that are required to acquire each guild skill. Specifically, in the guild skill database 210, the guild skill information is arranged and stored in a form of a tree structure according to predetermined level information. In this instance, the lord character may gradually develop the guild skill information from a guild skill with low level information according to the tree structure. Also, the lord character transmits predetermined lord investment information associated with the development of guild skill to the character skill growing system 200. The character skill growing system 200 activates a guild skill corresponding to the transmitted lord investment information and thereby enables the knight character to acquire the guild skill.

When the lord character develops, i.e. activates the guild skill, the guild skill database 210 flags guild skill candidates that can be acquired in a current level of the lord character, and also establishes first activation information with respect to guild skill information, which satisfies the lord investment information (or which is selected by the lord character), among the flagged guild skill information. Also, the guild skill database 210 may flag guild skill information, which is connected to the guild skill information, having established the first activation information, in a form of a branch of the tree structure, i.e. a next acquirable guild skill candidate.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a guild skill database according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The guild skill database 210 stores guild skill information about a plurality of guild skills that a guild member of a particular guild may acquire, and also arranges and stores the guild skill information in a form of a tree structure according to corresponding level information. In this instance, the level information may include required resource information as a standard for establishing the first activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to the level information. Specifically, a circumstance where a guild skill is developed by a lord character of the guild and thus can be acquired by a knight character belonging to a guild member is prepared. As an example, in FIG. 3, the guild skill information 200 determines '800 silvers' as required resource information with respect to guild skill information 'oath of blood¹ corresponding to level information 'first level'. When the guild skill information 'oath of blood' is developed by the lord character and reaches a first activation state, and the knight character belonging to the guild member generates knight investment information associated with the '800 silvers', the character skill growing system 200 enables the knight character to act with the guild skill associated with the guild skill information 'oath of blood' in a game.

The spot skill database 220 stores spot skill information associated with a game area occupied by the guild. In this instance, the spot skill information includes information about an acquirable spot skill by only a guild member of a particular guild with respect to the game area occupied by the guild. As an example, the spot skill information may include information about resources, such as costs/tools/character level, and the like, which are required for the knight character to acquire a particular spot skill, information about a period of time for which the knight character can act with the acquired spot skill in a game, and the like. Specifically, the spot skill database 220 maintains information about spot skills which can be acquired in the game area occupied by the guild, and information about elements which are required to acquire each spot skill.

When the guild loses an occupation right over the game area, the spot skill information stored in the spot skill database 200 is deleted. Therefore, no more spot skills may be developed, and the spot skill acquired by the guild member becomes unavailable in the game area and thus the knight character may not act with the spot skill. Specifically, acquirement and development of the spot skill may be determined depending upon whether the game area supporting the spot skill is occupied by the guild.

Like the above-described guild skill information, in the spot skill database 220, the spot skill information is arranged and stored in a form of a tree structure according to predetermined level information. In this instance, the lord character may gradually develop the spot skill information from a spot skill with low level information according to the tree structure. In the present embodiment, only a knight character that has generated predetermined knight investment information may acquire a predetermined spot skill with respect to the spot skill information developed and activated by the lord character. However, it is only an example. Specifically, knight characters, which are guild members, may automatically acquire a corresponding spot skill in interoperation with a development of the spot skill by the lord character.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a spot skill database according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The spot skill information 220 stores spot skill information about a plurality of spot skills that a guild member of a particular guild may acquire, and also arranges and stores the spot skill information in a form of a tree structure according to corresponding level information. Like the above-described level information with respect to the guild skill information, the level information with respect to the spot skill information may include required resource information as a standard for establishing the first activation information with respect to the spot skill information.

As an example, FIG. 4 illustrates spot skill information which can be acquired by a guild member of a guild occupying a predetermined game area 'tower of flame¹. In this instance, the spot skill information is stored in the spot skill database 220 depending upon whether the guild occupies the game area, and whether the lord character may gradually develop, i.e. activate, the spot skill information from spot skill information corresponding to lowest level information.

As an example, in FIG. 4, the spot skill database 220 determines, as '80000 silvers', required resource information with respect to spot skill information 'principle of flame' corresponding to level information 'fourth level'. When the spot skill information 'principle of flame' is developed by the lord character and reaches a first activation state, and the knight character belonging to the guild member generates knight investment information associated with the '80000 silvers', the character skill growing system 200 enables the knight character to act with the spot skill associated with the spot skill information 'principle of flame' in a game. In the tree structure, 'shield of flame' of spot skill information 'flame of life' is in the first activation state.

Specifically, when the lord character activates the spot skill, the spot skill database 220 may flag spot skill information ' 'guard of flame' and 'principle of flame', which are connected to the spot skill information 'principle of flame', having established the first activation information, in a form of a branch of the tree structure. Therefore, it is possible to set a skill development candidate when subsequent lord investment information is received.

As another example, the lord character may invest the required resource information '80000 silvers' corresponding to the spot skill information 'principle of flame', and thereby activate corresponding spot skill information. Also, a spot skill associated with the spot skill information 'principle of flame', having established the first activation information, may be acquired by all guild members of a guild associated with the lord character.

The interface 230 functions to receive knight investment information from a knight character which joins a guild as a guild member. In this instance, the knight character may generate the knight investment information for a skill growth in the user terminal 130, based on a current status of a particular guild skill or a spot skill, which can be acquired in the guild joined by the knight character, and a skill to be updated by the knight character. The interface 230 receives the generated knight investment information from the user terminal 130 via the network 140. In this instance, the knight investment information may include required resource information of level information corresponding to guild skill information or spot skill information.

The skill extractor 240 functions to extract the guild skill information from the guild skill database 210 or to extract the spot skill information from the spot skill database 220 by using the received knight investment information. Specifically, the skill extractor 240 functions to searches the guild skill database 210 or the spot skill database 220 for particular guild skill information or spot skill information, invested by the knight character (generation of knight investment information), among the guild skill information or the spot skill information which has been developed by the lord character and has established first activation information. Therefore, a guild war where a game is being progressed based on a guild organization has a structure where the knight character, which is a guild member, may grow a skill within a range of the guild skill activated by the lord character. Specifically, the lord character may strengthen its control over guild members in the guild. Also, the guild member controlling the knight character may know that the lord character of the guild has the ability to directly influence a skill growth of the knight character, and thus may concentrate the power of the guild by positively progressing the game to achieve a goal according to the lord character's command.

Also, the skill extractor 240 may determine whether the knight character, having transmitted knight investment information, joins a guild. When the knight character does not join the guild associated with the knight investment information, the skill extractor 240 may entice the knight character into joining the guild. Specifically, the skill extractor 240 does not extracts guild skill information or spot skill information with respect to the knight character which has transmitted the knight investment information, but does not join an associated guild. Since a predetermined penalty is imposed on the not-joined knight character, an individual skill of each guild member may not be enhanced.

The skill acquirement component 250 enables the knight character to act with a guild skill associated with the guild skill information in a game that the knight character is being played in, by storing the extracted guild skill information in a skill information field of the knight character. In this instance, the skill information field is for maintaining information about skills, which an individual character may utilize in a game being played by the knight character. In the present embodiment, whether the individual character may act with the skill is determined depending upon whether the skill information is stored in the skill information field.

As an example, when a joined character is removed from a corresponding guild, the character skill growing system 200 may delete the guild skill information and the spot skill information stored in the skill information field. Therefore, the knight character is unable to act with the spot skill or the guild skill in the game.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an environment where a characteristic skill of each guild may be acquired and grown by enabling a knight character, maintaining a subordinate relationship in a guild, to acquire a guild skill or a spot skill developed by a lord character in an online-based game service.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the character skill growing system 200 may receive a predetermined size of security information from a knight character which requests joining a particular guild, and enable a lord character representing the guild to utilize the received security information for developing skills. When the knight character joins the guild, costs (game money), character loyalty points, and the like may be required. Also, the security information received when the knight character joins the guild may be utilized for developing a predetermined skill under the aim of public benefits of the guild.

Specifically, the character skill growing system 200 receives a request signal for joining a guild from a particular knight character, and stores the security information transmitted from the knight character in a guild member field of a lord character in response to the received request signal. In this instance, the guild member field functions to manage knight characters which join the guild associated with the lord character. It is possible to join the knight character, having transmitted the security information, in the guild associated with the lord character by storing the security information in the guild member field.

Also, with respect to a particular knight character which generates a withdrawal signal to withdraw from a joined guild, the character skill growing system 200 may return a predetermined proportion of security information among the transmitted security information to the knight character. In this instance, the predetermined proportion may be arbitrarily determined by an operator of the present system. As an example, in the present embodiment, it is possible to determine the proportion as O%', and impose a predetermined penalty upon the knight character when the knight character withdraws from the guild.

Hereinafter, an operation flow of the character skill growing system 200 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of growing a skill of a character according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a particular guild skill, which can be acquired by a knight character which joins a guild of a lord character as a guild member, will be described.

The method of growing a skill of a character according to the present invention may be performed by the above-described character skill growing system 200.

In operation S510, the character skill growing system 200 maintains the guild skill database 210 which stores guild skill information associated with a predetermined guild. Operation S510 is a process of storing a guild skill which is established to be acquirable by a guild member of the guild. In operation S510, the character skill growing system 200 associates guild skill information and level information, corresponding with each other, in a form of a tree structure, and stores the associated guild skill information in the guild skill database 210. In this instance, the level information includes required resource information.

Particularly, in operation S510, the character skill growing system 200 may gradually develop (firstly activate) guild skills, stored in the guild skill database 210, corresponding to lord investment information received from a lord character of the guild. Also, the character skill growing system 200 may enable the gamer 120 of the knight character to grow a predetermined guild skill among the developed guild skills according to a skill growth plan. In this instance, the guild skill, which can establish first activation information corresponding to the lord investment information, may be limited to a single guild skill among flagged guild skills. Also, the flagging may be performed with respect to next guild skill candidates after developing a preceding guild skill. Specifically, to force a gradual skill growth by the lord character, the character skill growing system 200 may develop a single guild skill and then flag next guild skill candidates. In this instance, when next lord investment information is received from the lord character, the character skill growing system 200 may establish the first activation information with respect to a single guild skill among the flagged guild skills.

In operation S520, the character skill growing system 200 receives knight investment information from a knight character which joins the guild as a guild member. Operation S520 is a process of transmitting knight investment information with respect to a guild skill, which a knight character desires to grow, among guild skills that the lord character has established as first activation information. Therefore, the gamer 120 of the knight character may select a guild skill, which the knight character may act with in a game. The character skill growing system 200 may receive, via the network 140, the knight investment information generated in the user terminal 130 in association with a selection of the gamer 120. In this instance, the knight investment information may include required resource information, and the like, which is required to grow a particular guild skill.

In operation S530, the character skill growing system 200 extracts the guild skill information from the guild skill database 210 by using the received knight investment information. Operation S530 is a process of searching the guild skill database 210 for the guild skill information associated with a guild skill, which is required by the knight character for a skill growth. In operation S530, the character skill growing system 200 extracts the guild skill information corresponding to the knight investment information from guild skills which are developed and activated by the lord character. Specifically, in operation S530, the character skill growing system 200 establishes second activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to the knight investment information received from the knight character, among the guild skill information having established the first activation information in correspondence to the knight investment information received from the knight character, and then extracts the guild skill information from the guild skill database 210.

In operation S540, the character skill growing system 200 stores the extracted guild skill information in a skill information field of the knight character. Operation S540 is a process of enabling the knight character to act with a guild skill in a game that the knight character is being played in, by storing the extracted guild skill information in the skill information field of the knight character. In this instance, the guild skill information may be maintained in the skill information field of the level information for a predetermined period of time, and then deleted from the skill information field after the predetermined period of time. Also, it is possible to entice the knight character to continuously make an investment for skill maintenance.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to grow a knight character with a differentiated guild skill for each guild, and to grow a guild skill of the knight character among guild skills developed by a lord character which is a top level of the guild. Specifically, the lord character may significantly strengthen its control over the knight character in the guild.

Next, when a withdrawal request signal, associated with a join and withdrawal of a guild, is generated by the knight character, the character skill growing system 200 may delete the guild skill information from the skill information field of the knight character. Specially, as the knight character is withdrawn from the guild, benefits for skill growth, which have been assigned only to the guild member, are also taken away. In other words, as the guild skill information is deleted from the skill information field, the knight character is unable to act with the guild skill in the game. Therefore, an objective of the present invention to grow a characteristic skill for each guild may be faithfully achieved.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of growing a skill of a character according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, a particular spot skill, which can be acquired by a guild member only in a game area occupied by a guild, will be described.

In operation S610, the character skill growing system 200 maintains the spot skill database 220 which stores spot skill information associated with a game area occupied by a guild. Operation S610 is a process of storing a spot skill, which is established to be acquirable by only a guild member of the guild occupying a particular game area in an online-based game service based on a guild war. In operation S610, the character skill growing system 200 associates spot skill information corresponding to level information with each other in a form of a tree structure, and stores the associated spot skill information in the spot skill database 220. In this instance, the level information includes required resource information. Also, an occupation of the game area may be different according to a game environment of each game service. As an example, when the game area is in a form of a dungeon, an occupation right with respect to a predetermined size of game area is assigned to a guild which occupies a siege stone located in a central field within a predetermined time, and protects the occupied siege stone.

Particularly, in operation S610, the character skill growing system 200 may gradually develop (firstly activate) spot skills, stored in the spot skill database 220, corresponding to lord investment information received from a lord character of the guild. Also, the character skill growing system 200 may enable the knight character to grow a spot skill suitable for the knight character among the developed spot skills. In this instance, the spot skill corresponding to the lord investment information may be limited to a single spot skill among flagged spot skills. Also, the flagging may be performed with respect to next spot skill candidates after developing a preceding spot skill. Specifically, to force the lord character to provide a gradual skill growth, the character skill growing system 200 may develop a single spot skill and then flag next guild skill candidates. In this instance, when next lord investment information is received from the lord character, the character skill growing system 200 may establish the first activation information with respect to a single spot skill among the flagged spot skills. According to another embodiment of the present invention, the character skill growing system 200 may enable all knight characters, which are guild members, to acquire a spot skill developed (firstly activated) by the lord character.

In operation S620, the character skill growing system 200 receives knight investment information from a knight character which joins the guild as a guild member. Operation S620 is a process of transmitting knight investment information with respect to a spot skill, which a knight character desires to grow, among spot skills that the lord character has established as first activation information. Therefore, the gamer 120 of the knight character may select a spot skill, which the knight character may act with in a game. The character skill growing system 200 may receive, via the network 140, the knight investment information generated in the user terminal 130 in association with a selection of the gamer 120. In this instance, the knight investment information may include required resource information, and the like, which is required to grow a particular spot skill.

In operation S630, the character skill growing system 200 extracts the spot skill information from the spot skill database 220 by using the received knight investment information. Operation S630 is a process of searching the spot skill database 220 for the spot skill information associated with a spot skill, which is required by the knight character for a skill growth. In operation S630, the character skill growing system 200 extracts the spot skill information corresponding to the knight investment information from spot skills which are developed and activated by the lord character. Specifically, in operation S630, the character skill growing system 200 establishes second activation information with respect to the spot skill information corresponding to the knight investment information received from the knight character, and then extracts the spot skill information from the spot skill database 220.

In operation S640, the character skill growing system 200 stores the extracted spot skill information in a skill information field of the knight character. Operation S 640 is a process of enabling the knight character to act with a spot skill in a game that the knight character is being played in by storing the extracted spot skill information in the skill information field of the knight character. In this instance, the spot skill information may be maintained in the skill information field of the level information for a predetermined period of time and then deleted from the skill information field after the predetermined period of time. Also, it is possible to entice the knight character to continuously make an investment for skill maintenance.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to grow a knight character with a spot skill which can be acquired only in a game area occupied by a guild. Also, it is possible to foster a competitiveness between guilds and provide continuous enjoyment by encouraging all guild members to make efforts for occupying a game area to acquire a more useful spot skill.

Next, when an occupation right with respect to the game area occupied by the guild is lost, the character skill growing system 200 makes a utilization of the spot skill in the guild impossible and also deletes the spot skill information from the skill information field of the knight character. Also, when the game area is taken away by another guild, associated spot skill information may be deleted from the spot skill database 220 of the guild. Also, first activation information with respect to the spot skill information may be released. Therefore, the character skill growing system 200 may enable the lord character to invest resources again from the start and develop spot skills in a newly occupied game area.

Also, when a withdrawal request signal, associated with a join and withdrawal of a guild, is generated by the knight character, the character skill growing system 200 may delete the guild skill information and the spot skill information from the information field. Specifically, as the knight character is withdrawn from the guild, benefits for skill growth, which have been assigned to the guild member, are also taken away. In other words, as the guild skill information and the spot skill information is deleted from the skill information field, the knight character is unable to act with the guild skill or the spot skill in the game. Therefore, an objective of the present invention to grow a characteristic skill for each guild may be faithfully achieved.

The exemplary embodiments of the present invention include computer-readable media including program instructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may also include, alone or in combination with the program instructions, data files, data structures, tables, and the like. The media and program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they may be of the kind well-known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks; magneto-optical media such as floptical disks; and hardware devices that are specially configured to store and perform program instructions, such as readonly memory devices (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). The media may also be a transmission medium such as optical or metallic lines, wave guides, etc. including a carrier wave transmitting signals specifying the program instructions, data structures, etc. Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that may be executed by the computer using an interpreter.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a character to acquire a skill, which is supported only in a guild joined by the character or in a game area occupied by the guild, and also enables the character to act with the acquired skill in a game, and thereby can grow a characteristic skill available only to the guild.

Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a knight character, maintaining a subordinate relationship in a guild, to acquire a guild skill or a spot skill developed by a lord character in an online-based game service of a guild war, and also enables the lord character to have an influence on a skill growth of the knight character, and thereby can more firmly stabilize a coalition of the guild under the lord character.

Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a lord character to strengthen a control over a guild member in a guild since a knight character, which belongs to the guild member, may grow only a skill within a skill range activated by the lord character.

Also, according to the present invention, there is provided a method and system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, which enables a knight character, which is a guild member, to know that a lord character has an ability to directly influence the knight character's skill growth and thereby to positively progress a game for a goal achievement of a guild according to the lord character's command and thus, can further enhance the power of the guild.

Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A method of growing a skill of a character in a guild, the method comprising: maintaining a guild skill database which stores guild skill information associated with a predetermined guild;

receiving knight investment information from a knight character which joins the guild as a guild member;

extracting the guild skill information from the guild skill database by using the received knight investment information; and

storing the extracted guild skill information in a skill information field of the knight character.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of extracting comprises:

establishing first activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to lord investment information which is received from a lord character of the guild;

establishing second activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to the knight investment information, among the guild skill information having established the first activation information; and

extracting the guild skill information, having established the second activation information, from the guild skill database.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the guild skill database arranges and stores the guild skill information in a form of a tree structure according to predetermined level information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of establishing the first activation information comprises:

establishing first activation information with respect to guild skill information of level information, which satisfies the lord investment information, among flagged guild skill information; and

flagging guild skill information which is connected to the guild skill information, having established the first activation information, in a form of a branch of the tree structure.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the level information includes required resource information as a standard for establishing the first activation information with respect to the guild skill information of the level information.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the level information includes information about a period of time for which the guild skill information is to be maintained in the skill information field.

7. A method of growing a skill of a character in a guild, the method comprising: maintaining a spot skill database which stores spot skill information associated with a game area occupied by a guild;

extracting the spot skill information from the spot skill database by using the received knight investment information; and

storing the extracted spot skill information in a skill information field of the knight character.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of extracting comprises:

establishing first activation information with respect to the spot skill information corresponding to lord investment information which is received from a lord character of the guild;

establishing second activation information with respect to the spot skill information corresponding to the knight investment information, among the spot skill information having established the first activation information; and

extracting the spot skill information, having established the second activation information, from the spot skill database.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

releasing the first activation information with respect to the spot skill information having established the first activation information, when the game area occupied by the guild is lost.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

deleting the spot skill information which is stored in the skill information field of all the knight characters that are guild members of the guild, when the game area occupied by the guild is lost.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the spot skill database arranges and stores the spot skill information in a form a tree structure according to predetermined level information, and the step of establishing the first activation information comprises: establishing first activation information with respect to spot skill information of level information, which satisfies the lord investment information, among flagged spot skill information; and

flagging spot skill information which is connected to the spot skill information, having established the first activation information, in a form of a branch of the tree structure.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the level information includes required resource information as a standard for establishing the first activation information with respect to the spot skill information of the level information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the level information includes information about a period of time for which the spot skill information is to be maintained in the skill information field.

14. The method of claim 1 or 7, further comprising:

enabling the knight character to act with a guild skill associated with the guild skill information or act with a spot skill associated with the spot skill information in a game that the knight character is being played in, the guild skill information and the spot skill information being stored in the skill information field.

15. The method of claim 1 or 7, further comprising:

deleting the guild skill information or the spot skill information, stored in the skill information field, when the knight character is removed from the guild.

16. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 through 13.

17. A system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, the system comprising: a guild skill database storing guild skill information associated with a predetermined guild;

an interface receiving knight investment information from a knight character which joins the guild as a guild member;

a skill extractor extracting the guild skill information from the guild skill database by using the received knight investment information; and

a skill acquirement component enabling the knight character to act with a guild skill associated with the guild skill information in a game that the knight character is being played in, by storing the extracted guild skill information in a skill information field of the knight character.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the skill extractor 1) establishes first activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to lord investment information which is received from the lord character of the guild, 2) establishes second activation information with respect to the guild skill information corresponding to the knight investment information, among the guild skill having established the first activation information, and 3) extracts the guild skill information, having established the second activation information, from the guild skill database.

19. A system for growing a skill of a character in a guild, the system comprising: a spot skill database storing spot skill information associated with a game area occupied by a guild;

an interface receiving knight investment information from a knight character which joins the guild as a guild member; a skill extractor extracting the spot skill information from the spot skill database by using the received knight investment information; and

a skill acquirement component enabling the knight character to act with a spot skill associated with the spot skill information in a game that the knight character is being played in by storing the extracted spot skill information in a skill information field of the knight character.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the skill extractor 1) establishes first activation information with respect to the spot skill information corresponding to lord investment information which is received from the lord character of the guild, 2) establishes second activation information with respect to the spot skill information corresponding to the knight investment information, among the spot skill information having established the first activation information, and 3) extracts the spot skill information, having established the second activation information, from the spot skill database.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the skill acquirement component deletes the spot skill information which is stored in the skill information field of all the knight characters that are guild members of the guild, when the game area occupied by the guild is lost.

22. The system of claim 17 or 19, wherein the skill acquirement component deletes the guild skill information or the spot skill information, stored in the skill information field, when the knight character is removed from the guild.