`

`US 9,597,594 B2
`Page 2
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
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`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
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`8,821,260 Bl*
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`8,845,423 Bl*
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`9,022,869 Bl*
`
`2013/0217489 Al*
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`2015/0005051 Al*
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`9/2014 DeSanti .................. A63F 13/00
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`Office Action for corresponding JP Application No. 2015-160035
`dated Mar. 1, 2016 (6 pages).
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`dated May 17, 2016 (6 pages).
`Office Action for corresponding JP Application No. 2015-160036
`dated Mar. 1, 2016 (9 pages).
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`dated Mar. 1, 2016 (6 pages).
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`dated May 17, 2016 (2 pages).
`Nobunyaga No Yabou, Nekobukan, Koei Tecmo Games Co., Ltd.,
`Jan. 27, 2012, Second printing, pp. 112 and 113.
`Nobunaga No Yabou/Tendou Handbook the second volume, Koei
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`cation No. PCT/JP2014/075673; mailed Oct. 21, 2014 (3 pages).
`Final Rejection for corresponding JP Application No. 2015-123316
`dated Sep. 30, 2015 (5 pages).
`Office Action for corresponding JP Application No. 2015-123331
`dated Jul. 6, 2015 (5 pages).
`Office Action for corresponding JP Application No. 2015-160032
`dated Sep. 30, 2015 (13 pages).
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`dated Oct. 5, 2015 (15 pages).
`
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`dated Sep. 30, 2015 (15 pages) .
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`dated Jun. 19, 2014 (9 pages).
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`#
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`&oldid~57247297 l.
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`Jan. 27, 2012, Second printing, pp. 111 and 126.
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`2
`
`

`

`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2017
`
`Sheet 2 of 15
`
`US 9,597,594 B2
`
`DEVICE
`PROCESSING UNIT
`GAME PROGRESSION
`UNIT
`TEMPLATE
`CREA TI ON UN IT
`TEMPLATE
`APPLICATION UNIT
`
`~ 2
`"-..__./ 2
`5
`
`v-
`
`,.i-----,_
`
`_.,.,- 25 1
`
`_/25 2
`,-r-,...
`
`_/25 3
`,-r,...
`
`22
`
`....._
`
`....._
`
`FIG.2A
`PORTABLE DEVICE
`21 '-..../ - COMMUNICATION
`DEVICE
`UNIT
`'-..../ - STORAGE UN IT
`DEVICE
`23 '-..../ -OPERA TI ON UN IT ....._
`24 '-..../ - DISPLAY UNIT
`FIG.2B
`POSITION
`TYPE
`S 001
`(3, 2)
`S 001
`(3, 3)
`S 002
`(4, 2)
`...
`...
`
`FACILITY
`F 001
`F 002
`F 003
`. ..
`
`FIG.2C
`IMAGE
`NAME
`WALL
`S_001.jpg
`HOUSE
`S_002.jpg
`CASTLE
`S_003.jpg
`...
`.. .
`
`TYPE
`S 001
`S 002
`S 003
`...
`
`...
`...
`...
`...
`. ..
`
`...
`...
`...
`...
`.. .
`
`TEMPLATE
`
`IMAGE
`
`T 001
`
`T_001.jpg
`
`...
`
`FIG.2D
`TYPE
`S 001
`S 001
`S 002
`. ..
`
`POSITION
`(1, 1)
`(1, 2)
`(2, 1)
`...
`
`...
`...
`...
`...
`.. .
`
`4
`
`

`

`

`

`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2017
`
`Sheet 5 of 15
`
`US 9,597,594 B2
`
`FIG.5A
`
`~ 3
`
`r---...
`....- 33
`
`SERVER
`SERVER
`......____ ~ COMMUNICATION
`UNIT
`
`31
`
`........___ v-,.._ SERVER
`32
`STORAGE UNIT
`
`-
`
`SERVER PROCESSING
`UNIT
`SERVER
`CONTROL UNIT
`TEMPLATE
`REGISTRATION
`UNIT
`
`TEMPLATE
`PROV IS ION UN IT
`
`---r-- -33
`---r-- -33
`---r-- -33
`
`1
`
`2
`
`3
`
`FIG.5B
`IMAGE
`TEMPLATE
`NAME
`PLAYER 1 P _001.jpg T_001, ...
`PLAYER 2 P _002.jpg T_003, ...
`PLAYER 3 P _003.jpg T_004, ...
`
`PLAYER
`P 001
`
`P 002
`
`P 003
`
`...
`
`...
`
`. ..
`
`...
`
`TEMPLATE
`
`IMAGE
`
`T 001
`
`T _001.jpg
`
`. ..
`
`FIG.SC
`TYPE
`S 001
`S 001
`S 002
`...
`
`POSITION
`(1, 1)
`(1, 2)
`(2, 1)
`...
`
`...
`
`...
`
`...
`
`...
`
`. ..
`
`...
`...
`...
`...
`...
`
`7
`
`

`

`

`

`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2017
`
`Sheet 8 of 15
`
`US 9,597,594 B2
`
`FIG.SA
`
`PORTABLE DEVICE
`DEVICE
`UNIT
`
`STORAGE UNIT
`
`21
`
`22'
`
`23
`'---./
`
`' - . / - COMMUNICATION
`'---./ - DEVICE
`-
`-OPERA TI ON UN IT
`-
`24 ' - . / - DI SPLAY UN IT -
`
`2
`~
`
`,..- '--.._/ 2
`5
`
`v....._ -...__/ 25
`1'
`
`v....._ -...__/ 25 2
`
`v....._ -...__/ 25
`3
`
`v....._ -...__/ 25 4
`
`DEVICE PROCESSING
`UNIT
`GAME PROGRESSION
`UNIT
`TEMPLATE
`CREATION UN IT
`TEMPLATE
`APPLICATION UNIT
`SECOND TEMPLATE
`APPLICATION UNIT
`
`FIG.8B
`
`PLAYER
`
`P 001
`
`FACILITY
`F 001
`F 002
`F 003
`
`...
`
`. . .
`
`TYPE
`S 001
`S 002
`S 003
`
`...
`
`POSITION
`(3, 2)
`(3, 3)
`(4, 2)
`
`. . .
`
`...
`
`...
`
`...
`
`...
`
`...
`
`10
`
`

`

`

`

`

`

`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2017
`
`Sheet 12 of 15
`
`US 9,597,594 B2
`
`FIG. 12
`
`~ 2
`
`1 "
`.,,,i---.. r--..-- 25
`
`
`
`.,,-i-----r--..-- 25 2
`
`DEVICE PROCESSING v ~2
`5
`UNIT
`GAME
`PROGRESSION UNIT
`TEMPLATE
`CREA TI ON UN IT
`TEMPLATE
`APPLICATION UNIT
`THIRD TEMPLATE
`APPLICATION UNIT
`
`.,,-r--
`
`3
`I'--" 25
`
`5
`.,,-i-----I'--" 25
`
`PORTABLE DEVICE
`
`21
`
`DEVICE
`' -~ COMMUNICATION
`UNIT
`
`22
`
`DEVICE
`' -~ STORAGE UN IT
`
`-
`
`23
`
`' -~ OPERATION UN IT -
`
`24 ........__ ~ DISPLAY UNIT -
`
`14
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.21,2017
`
`Sheet 13 of 15
`
`US 9,597,594 B2
`
`FIG. 13A
`
`SERVER
`
`31
`
`SERVER
`' -v---- COMMUNICATION
`UNIT
`
`32'
`' -
`
`v--,- SERVER
`
`STORAGE UNIT -
`
`------- 3
`
`3
`3
`
`SERVER PROCESSING v---
`UNIT
`SERVER CONTROL
`UNIT
`
`1'
`.____. 33
`vr--...
`
`TEMPLATE
`REGISTRATION
`UNIT
`TEMPLATE
`PROV I S ION UN IT
`
`v:---. ___..33 2
`
`vr--... .____. 33
`3
`
`EVENT
`MANAGEMENT UNIT
`
`1,-,.......__ .____. 33
`4
`
`FIG. 13B
`STARTING DATE
`AND TIME
`13/10/1,21 :00:00
`13/10/2,21 :00:00
`13/10/3,21 :00:00
`...
`
`TEMPLATE
`T 001
`T 003
`T 004
`...
`
`EVENT
`I 001
`I 002
`I 003
`...
`
`PLAYER
`P _001, ...
`
`...
`
`...
`
`...
`...
`...
`...
`
`15
`
`

`

`

`

`

`

`US 9,597,594 B2
`
`1
`COMPUTER CONTROL METHOD,
`CONTROL PROGRAM AND COMPUTER
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATION
`
`This application is a new U.S. patent application that
`claims the benefit of priority from JP 2013-202721, filed on
`Sep. 27, 2013, JP 2014-080554, filed on Apr. 9, 2014, and
`PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2014/075673, the
`entire content of which are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`This invention relates to a method for controlling a 15
`computer, a recording medium and a computer.
`
`2
`contents arranged within a game space, pos1t10ns of the
`game contents, and a template defining positions of one or
`more of game contents, and that progresses a game by
`arranging the game contents within the game space based on
`5 a command by a player. The method includes when the
`template is applied to a predetermined area within the game
`space based on the command by the player, moving, by the
`computer, the game contents arranged within the game space
`to the positions of the game contents defined by the tem-
`lO plate.
`The computer may be, for example, a portable device, a
`desktop device, a server, etc., as long as it can execute the
`above procedure.
`In one embodiment, in the above method, the storage unit
`further stores a template related to a different player, and
`when the template related to the different player is applied
`to a predetermined area within the game space based on the
`command by the player, the computer moves the game
`20 contents arranged within the game space to the positions of
`the game contents defined by the template related to the
`different player.
`In another embodiment, in the above method, the storage
`unit further stores game contents which are arranged within
`25 the game space and are related to the different player, and
`positions of the game contents, and when the template
`related to the different player is applied to a predetermined
`area within the game space based on a command by the
`different player, the computer moves, out of the game
`30 contents arranged within the game space, game contents
`related to the different player to the positions of the game
`contents defined by the template related to the different
`player.
`In another embodiment, in the above method, when a start
`35 of an event is reported by a different computer, the computer
`obtains a template for the event from the different computer
`and moves the game contents arranged within the game
`space to the positions of the game contents defined by the
`template obtained from the different computer.
`Yet in another embodiment, in the above method, when
`the number of game contents arranged within the game
`space is smaller than the number of game contents for which
`positions are defined by the template, the computer moves
`the game contents arranged within the game space to the
`45 positions of the game contents defined by the template to
`which the moving distance is the smallest.
`Still in another embodiment, in the above method, out of
`the positions of the game contents defined by the template,
`the computer displays positions on which no game contents
`50 are arranged and the game contents, in a discernible condi(cid:173)
`tion.
`In another embodiment, in the above method, when the
`number of game contents arranged within the game space is
`larger than the number of game contents for which position
`55 are defined by the template, the computer moves the game
`contents arranged within the game space for which the
`moving distance to the positions of the game contents
`defined by the template is the smallest, to the positions.
`In another embodiment, in the above method, when a
`60 template is created for a predetermined area within the game
`space based on a command from the player, the computer
`stores positions of game contents arranged within the pre(cid:173)
`determined area, as the template, in the storage unit.
`Yet in another embodiment, in the above method, when a
`65 template is created by combining a plurality of templates
`based on a command from the player or a different player,
`or commands from the player and the different player, the
`
`40
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`In recent years, games which are played by installing a
`game program on a portable device from a server via a
`communication network have become common. Such games
`include games in which multiple players can participate
`( so-called "social games"). There are games wherein players
`can not only fight against or help each other, but are also
`enabled to communicate with each other.
`Such known games include, for example, games (so(cid:173)
`called "city building games") wherein a player builds a city
`within a virtual space (hereinafter referred to as "game
`space") provided in the game program. In city building
`games, players can build various facilities (such as houses,
`streets, ports, train stations, airports, castles, training facili(cid:173)
`ties, etc.) on desired positions and create a city after their
`liking. See, "SimCity", [online], Aug. 27, 2013, [Searched
`on Sep. 13, 2013], URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sim(cid:173)
`City; and "Clash of Clans", [online], Sep. 6, 2013, [Searched
`on Sep. 13, 2013], URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clash
`of Clans
`
`SUMMARY
`
`In conventional city building games, it is the object of the
`game to build a desired city, and it is unnecessary to
`completely rebuild a city after it has been built once. On the
`other hand, in recent city building games, a city built by one
`player is attacked by a different player, and the city (arrange(cid:173)
`ment of items such as protective walls, buildings that are
`subject to an attack, protecting soldiers, weapons, etc.) is
`one of factors for deciding the winning and losing, or
`superiority and inferiority. However, since the items (game
`contents) of a city of a player increase as the city develops,
`it is very complicated for a player to change positions, types,
`levels, etc., of individual items. Further, it is hard to under(cid:173)
`stand what kind of effect changing a city would have against
`an attack from a different player. Therefore, many players
`have limited themselves to change only certain kinds of
`items, such as soldiers and weapons, for which changing
`positions, types, levels, etc., is easy. As a result, as the game
`progresses, it becomes monotonous, and players might
`become bored with it.
`The present invention has been devised to address the
`above problem, and an object of the invention is to provide
`a method for controlling a computer, a recording medium
`and a computer that improve the usability of city building
`games and continuously attract players to the game.
`Provided is a method for controlling a computer that is
`provided with a storage unit configured to store game
`
`18
`
`

`

`3
`computer stores the positions of the game contents defined
`by the plurality of templates, as the template, in the storage
`unit.
`Provided is a non-transitory computer-readable recording
`medium having recorded thereon a program for a computer 5
`that is provided with a storage unit configured to store game
`contents arranged within a game space, positions of the
`game contents, and a template defining positions of one or
`more of game contents, and that progresses a game by
`arranging the game contents within the game space based on 10
`a command by a player. The program causes the computer
`to execute a process. The process includes when the tem(cid:173)
`plate is applied to a predetermined area within the game
`space based on the command by the player, moving, by the 15
`computer, the game contents arranged within the game space
`to the positions of the game contents defined by the tem(cid:173)
`plate.
`Provided is a computer that progresses a game by arrang(cid:173)
`ing game contents within a game space based on a command 20
`by a player. The computer includes a storage unit configured
`to store game contents arranged within a game space,
`positions of the game contents, and a template defining
`positions of one or more of game contents, and a processing
`unit configured to apply the template to a predetermined area 25
`within the game space based on the command by the player.
`When the template is applied, the processing unit moves the
`game contents arranged within the game space to the posi(cid:173)
`tions of the game contents defined by the template.
`The above method, recording medium and computer 30
`make it possible to improve the usability of city building
`games and continuously attract players to the game by
`making game contents and the arrangement of the game
`contents changeable by using templates.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Other features and advantages of the present invention
`will be apparent from the ensuing description, taken in
`conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a schematic configuration
`of a game system;
`FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a schematic configura(cid:173)
`tion of the portable device;
`FIGS. 28 to 2D illustrate examples of data structures of
`the various types of tables;
`FIGS. 3A to 3E illustrate examples of a display screen of
`the portable device;
`FIG. 4 illustrates a concept of creating and applying a
`template;
`FIG. SA illustrates one possible schematic configuration
`of the server;
`FIGS. SB and SC illustrate examples of data structures of
`the various types of tables;
`FIGS. 6A to 6C illustrate examples of the operational flow 55
`of the portable device;
`FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate examples of the operational flow
`of the server;
`FIG. SA illustrates an example of a schematic configura(cid:173)
`tion of the portable device according to the second embodi(cid:173)
`ment;
`FIG. SB illustrates an example of a data structure of the
`facility table;
`FIG. 9 illustrates a concept of applying a template in a
`multi-player environment;
`FIGS. lOA and lOB illustrate examples of the operational
`flow of the portable device;
`
`US 9,597,594 B2
`
`4
`FIG. 11 illustrates a concept of combining templates in a
`multi-player environment;
`FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a schematic configura(cid:173)
`tion of the portable device according to the third embodi(cid:173)
`ment;
`FIG. 13A illustrates one possible schematic configuration
`of the server;
`FIG. l3B illustrates an example of a data structure of the
`event table;
`FIGS. 14A and l4B illustrate examples of the operational
`flow of the portable device; and
`FIGS. 15A to 15C illustrate examples of the operational
`flow of the server.
`
`DESCRIPTION
`
`Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a method for
`controlling a computer, a recording medium, and a computer
`will be described. It should be noted that the technical scope
`of the present invention is not limited to the described
`embodiments, but covers the invention described in the
`claims and its equivalent.
`
`First Embodiment
`
`In the present embodiment, a player builds a city within
`a game space. The player can arrange various facilities
`which are one example of game contents, within the game
`space. Further, for a predetermined area within the game
`space, the player can also create a template stipulating types
`and positions of facilities based on the types and positions of
`facilities arranged within the area. Moreover, the player can
`also apply the created template to a given area within the
`game space. When a template is applied, facilities arranged
`35 within the game space are automatically changed to the
`facilities defined in the template, and they are automatically
`moved to the defined positions.
`Game contents refer to digital contents used in a game,
`and include, besides facilities, characters, soldiers, weapons,
`40 cards, figures, avatars, items, etc.
`FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a schematic configuration
`of a game system 1.
`The game system 1 includes at least one portable device
`2 and a server 3. The portable device 2 and the server 3 are
`45 connected to each other via a communication network, and
`are connected to each other, for example, via a base station
`4, a mobile communication network 5, a gateway 6, and the
`Internet 7. A program to be executed by the portable device
`2 (e.g., a game program) and a program to be executed by
`50 the server 3 (e.g., a game control program) communicate
`with each other by using a communication protocol such as
`a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP).
`FIG. 2A illustrates an example of a schematic configura(cid:173)
`tion of the portable device 2.
`The portable device 2 progresses the game in response to
`an operation of an operation unit 23 by a player. When
`necessary, the portable device 2 is connected to the server 3
`via the base station 4, the mobile communication network 5,
`the gateway 6, and the Internet 7, to communicate with the
`60 server 3. In order to implement the foregoing functions, the
`portable device 2 includes a device communication unit 21,
`a device storage unit 22, the operation unit 23, a display unit
`24, and a device processing unit 25.
`While a multifunctional mobile phone (a so-called
`65 "smartphone") may be assumed as the portable device 2, the
`present invention is not limited to this. The portable device
`2 may be, for example, a mobile phone (a so-called "feature
`
`19
`
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`US 9,597,594 B2
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`phone"), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable game
`machine, a portable music player, a tablet device, a tablet
`personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, etc., as long as the
`present invention is applicable thereto.
`The device communication unit 21 includes a communi(cid:173)
`cation interface circuit including an antenna having a sen(cid:173)
`sitivity band in a predetermined frequency band, and con(cid:173)
`nects the portable device 2 to a wireless communication
`network. The device communication unit 21 establishes a
`wireless signal link with the base station 4 by a Code
`Division Multiple Access (CDMA) system or the like via a
`channel to be assigned by the base station 4, and commu(cid:173)
`nicates with the base station 4. The device communication
`unit 21 sends data supplied from the device processing unit
`25 to the server 3 or the like. The device communication unit
`21 supplies the data received from the server 3 or the like to
`the device processing unit 25.
`The device storage unit 22 includes a semiconductor
`memory, for example. The device storage unit 22 stores an
`operating system program, a driver program, an application
`program, data, etc., used for processing in the device pro(cid:173)
`cessing unit 25. For example, the device storage unit 22
`stores an input device driver program for controlling the
`operation unit 23 and an output device driver program for
`controlling the display unit 24, as the driver program. The
`device storage unit 22 stores a game program, etc., for
`progressing the game and displaying the result thereof, as
`the application program. The device storage unit 22 stores
`identification numbers (IDs) of the players, a facility table 30
`(FIG. 28) for managing facilities arranged within the game
`space, a facility-type table (FIG. 2C) for managing types of
`the facilities, a template table (FIG. 2D) for managing
`templates, and image data, video data, etc., relating to the
`facilities, templates, etc., as the data. Further, the device 35
`storage unit 22 may store temporary data relating to prede(cid:173)
`termined processing.
`FIG. 28 depicts a facility table. In the facility table, a
`facility ID, a type ID, a position within the game space, etc.,
`are recorded for each facility.
`In the present embodiment, the game space is configured
`in grid form, wherein one facility is arranged on one grid,
`and the position of the facility is represented with the help
`of grid coordinates that have their origin in a predetermined
`grid (e.g., upper left of the game space). However, the 45
`present invention is not limited to this configuration. Any
`configuration of the game space, etc., is possible as long as
`the present invention can be applied to the configuration.
`FIG. 2C depicts a facility-type table. In the facility-type
`table, a type ID, name, file name of image data, etc., are 50
`recorded for each type of facility.
`FIG. 2D depicts a template table. In the template table, for
`each template, a template ID, a file name of thumbnail image
`data, a type ID and a position within the template of each
`facility, etc., are recorded.
`Similarly to FIG. 28, a position of a facility is represented
`with the help of the grid coordinates that have their origin in
`a predetermined grid ( e.g., upper left of the template).
`However, the present invention is not limited to this con(cid:173)
`figuration. Any representation of a position is possible as 60
`long as the present invention can be applied with the
`representation.
`The operation unit 23 may be any device capable of
`operating the portable device 2, for example, a touch panel,
`a key button or the like. The player can input letters, 65
`numbers, symbols, etc., by using the operation unit 23.
`When operated by the player, the operation unit 23 generates
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`a signal corresponding to the operation. The generated signal
`is supplied to the device processing unit 25 as a command
`from the player.
`The display unit 24 may be any device capable of dis-
`5 playing a video, an image, etc., for example, a liquid crystal
`display, an organic electro-luminescence (EL) display, etc.
`The display unit 24 displays a video, an image, etc., corre(cid:173)
`sponding to video data and image data supplied from the
`device processing unit 25.
`The device processing unit 25 includes one or more
`processors and their peripheral circuits. The device process(cid:173)
`ing unit 25 is, for example, a central processing unit (CPU),
`and integrally controls an overall operation of the portable
`15 device 2. The device processing unit 25 controls operations
`of the device communication unit 21, the display unit 24,
`etc., so that various types of processing of the portable
`device 2 are executed in an appropriate order in accordance
`with the programs stored in the device storage unit 22, the
`20 operation of the operation unit 23, etc. The device process(cid:173)
`ing unit 25 executes processing based on the programs (the
`operating system program, the driver program, the applica(cid:173)
`tion program, etc.) stored in the device storage unit 22. The
`device processing unit 25 can execute multiple programs
`25 (application programs, etc.) in parallel.
`FIGS. 3A to 3E illustrate examples of a display screen of
`the portable device 2.
`FIG. 3A depicts a game progression screen 300 that is
`displayed when a command has been given to start the game.
`The game progression screen 300 displays a game space
`301 and various facilities 302 to 306 arranged within the
`game space.
`Further, multiple buttons are displayed in the lower por(cid:173)
`tion of the game progression screen 300. By pushing but(cid:173)
`tons, commands are given: pushing a "Create" button 307
`creates a template, pushing an "Apply" button 308 applies a
`template.
`FIG. 38 depicts an area selection screen 310 that is
`displayed when a command to create a template has been
`40 given on the game progression screen 300 depicted in FIG.
`3A.
`The area selection screen 310 displays the game space
`301, in which, for example, by tapping on two arbitrary
`points, an area 311 with the two points as opposite apexes is
`selected.
`Further, a "Confirm" button 312 is displayed in the lower
`portion of the area selection screen 310, and by pushing this
`button, a command is given to create a template for the
`selected area 311.
`FIG. 3C depicts a template selection screen 320 that is
`displayed when a command to apply a template has been
`given on the game progression screen 300 depicted in FIG.
`3A.
`On the template selection screen 320, a thumbnail image
`55 321 and a "Select" button 322 are displayed for each
`template. By pushing the "Select" button 322, the corre(cid:173)
`sponding template is selected.
`FIG. 3D depicts a template display screen 330 that is
`displayed when a template has been selected on the template
`selection screen 320 depicted in FIG. 3C.
`A preview image 3310 for when the template is applied to
`a predetermined area (e.g., around the center) within the
`game space is displayed in the left portion of the template
`display screen 330.
`Further, names and quantities 3320 of facilities for which
`positions are defined by the template, are listed in the right
`portion of the template display screen 330.
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`Further, a "Confirm" button 333 is displayed in the lower
`portion of the template display screen 330, and by pushing
`this button, a template is confirmed.
`FIG. 3E depicts an area selection screen 340 that is
`displayed when a template has been confirmed on the 5
`template display screen 330 depicted in FIG. 3D.
`The area selection screen 340 displays the game space
`301, in which, for example, by tapping on two arbitrary
`points, an area 341 with the two points as opposite apexes
`is selected.
`Further, a "Confirm" button 342 is displayed in the lower
`portion of the area selection screen 340, and by pushing this
`button, a command is given to apply the template to the
`selected area 341.
`FIG. 4 illustrates a concept of creating and applying a
`template.
`400 illustrates a game space. Nine facilities are arranged
`within the game space 400. Specifically, four facilities
`illustrated as "black circle", three facilities illustrated as
`"black triangle", and two facilities illustrated as "black
`square" are arranged therein.
`Assume that a template has been created for an area 401
`within the game space 400. 410 illustrates the created
`template. The template 410 defines that facilities illustrated 25
`as "black circle" of a type illustrated as "white circle" are
`arranged at (1,1) and (1,2), facilities illustrated as "black
`triangle" of a type illustrated as "white triangle" are
`arranged at (1,3), (2,1) and (2,2), and a facility illustrated as
`"black square" of a type illustrated as "white square" is 30
`arranged at (2,3).
`420 illustrates another game space. Six facilities are
`arranged within the game space 420. Specifically, two
`facilities illustrated as "black circle", three facilities illus(cid:173)
`trated as "black triangle", and one facility illustrated as 35
`"black square" are arranged therein.
`Assume that the template 410 has been applied to an area
`421 within the game space 420. The number of types of
`facilities and the number of facilities in each type arranged
`within the game space 420 are equal to the number of types 40
`of facilities and the number of facilities in each type,
`respectively, positions of the facilities being defined by the
`template 410. Thus, all facilities arranged within the game
`space 420 are moved to positions of facilities as defined by
`the template 410. Actually, facilities 422 to 425 arranged 45
`outside of the area 421 are moved to positions of these
`facilities within the area 421. 420' illustrates the game space
`420 after the facilities 422 to 425 have been moved.
`430 illustrates yet another game space. Nine facilities are
`arranged within the game space 430. Specifically, three
`facilities illustrated as "black circle", five facilities illus(cid:173)
`trated as "black triangle", and one facility illustrated as
`"black square" are arranged therein.
`Assume that the template 410 has been applied to an area
`431 within the game space 430. The number of types of
`facilities and the number of facilities in each type arranged
`within the game space 430 is equal to or larger than the
`number of types of facilities and the number of facilities in
`each type, respectively, positions of the facilities being
`defined by the template 410. Thus, of the facilities arranged
`within the game space 420, those facilities with the smallest
`moving distance (e.g., Manhattan distance) to positions of
`facilities defined by the template 410, are moved to the
`positions of facilities. Actually, facilities 432 to 435
`arranged outside of the area 431 are moved to positions of
`these facili