Game system, server, game-system control method, server control method, and storage medium

Abstract

A user terminal can receive game arcade information corresponding to the user of the user terminal from a server as a game arcade information acknowledgement. The user can select therefrom to specify a game arcade where a game machine in which a game element is made to appear is installed. The server stores addition information in association with selected game arcade information. When the server receives, from a game machine, a check request asking whether addition information is provided, the server determines whether the game machine is a game machine installed at the selected game arcade. When the game machine is a game machine installed at the selected game arcade, the server sends back a check acknowledgement to the game machine.

1 . A game system comprising:
 a user terminal operated by a user;   game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades; and   a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines;   the user terminal
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select; 
 receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; and 
 sending to the server an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information; 
   the server
 generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal; 
 storing the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request, in association with each other, when receiving the addition request from the user terminal; 
 determining, when receiving from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information stored in association with the addition information; and 
 sending back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information; and 
   the game machine
 executing the game; 
 sending the check request to the server; and 
 making the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game if the check acknowledgement includes the addition information, when receiving the check acknowledgement. 
   
     
     
         2 . A game system comprising:
 a user terminal operated by a user;   game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades; and   a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines;   the user terminal
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select; 
 receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; and 
 sending to the server selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information; 
   the server
 generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal; 
 storing addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other, when receiving the selected game arcade information from the user terminal; 
 determining, when receiving from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information stored in association with the addition information; and 
 sending back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information; and 
   the game machine
 executing the game; 
 sending the check request to the server; and 
 making the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game if the check acknowledgement includes the addition information, when receiving the check acknowledgement. 
   
     
     
         3 . A game system comprising:
 a user terminal operated by a user;   game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades; and   a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines;   the user terminal
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select; 
 receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; and 
 sending to the server an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information; 
   the server
 generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal; 
 storing the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request, in association with each other, when receiving the addition request from the user terminal; and 
 sending the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information; and 
   the game machine comprising:
 a plurality of game terminals; and 
 a control unit that stores the addition information in a storage unit when receiving the addition information, executes the game in each of the plurality of game terminals, and makes the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game when the addition information is stored in the storage unit. 
   
     
     
         4 . A game system comprising:
 a user terminal operated by a user;   game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades; and   a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines;   the user terminal
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select; 
 receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; and 
 sending selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information; 
   the server
 generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal; 
 storing addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other, when receiving the selected game arcade information from the user terminal; and 
 sending the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information; and 
   the game machine comprising:
 a plurality of game terminals; and 
 a control unit that stores the addition information in a storage unit when receiving the addition information, executes the game in each of the plurality of game terminals, and makes the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game when the addition information is stored in the storage unit. 
   
     
     
         5 . A server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising;
 a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines; and   a control unit;   the control unit
 generating, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and controlling the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; 
 storing, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request, in association with each other in a storage unit; 
 referencing, when the communication unit receives from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, the storage content of the storage unit and determining whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information stored in association with the addition information; and 
 controlling the communication unit to send back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information. 
   
     
     
         6 . A server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising;
 a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines; and   a control unit;   the control unit
 generating, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and controlling the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; 
 storing, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other in a storage unit; 
 referencing, when the communication unit receives from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, the storage content of the storage unit and determining whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information; and 
 controlling the communication unit to send back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information. 
   
     
     
         7 . A server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising;
 a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines; and   a control unit;   the control unit
 generating, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and controlling the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; 
 storing, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request in association with each other in a storage unit; and 
 controlling the communication unit to send the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information. 
   
     
     
         8 . A server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising;
 a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines; and   a control unit;   the control unit
 generating, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and controlling the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information; 
 storing, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other in a storage unit; and 
 controlling the communication unit to send the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information. 
   
     
     
         9 . The server according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the storage unit stores, for each user, related game arcade information indicating some game arcades to which the user is related among all of the game arcades; and   the control unit
 identifies a user who sent the game arcade information request when the communication unit receives the game arcade information request, and 
 references the storage content of the storage unit, reads related game arcade information corresponding to the identified user, and uses the related game arcade information as the game arcade information. 
   
     
     
         10 . The server according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the storage unit stores, for each user, related game arcade information indicating some game arcades to which the user is related among all of the game arcades; and   the control unit
 identifies a user who sent the game arcade information request when the communication unit receives the game arcade information request, 
 identifies another user who has friendship with the identified user, and 
 references the storage content of the storage unit, reads related game arcade information corresponding to the identified user and related game arcade information corresponding to the other user, and uses the related game arcade information corresponding to the identified user and the related game arcade information corresponding to the other user as the game arcade information. 
   
     
     
         11 . The server according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the game arcade information request includes designation information designating some or all of other users who have friendship with the user;   the storage unit stores, for each user, related game arcade information indicating some game arcades to which the user is related among all of the game arcades; and   the control unit
 identifies a user who sent the game arcade information request when the communication unit receives the game arcade information request, 
 identifies another user designated by the identified user and the designation information, and 
 references the storage content of the storage unit, reads related game arcade information corresponding to the other user, and uses the related game arcade information as the game arcade information. 
   
     
     
         12 . The server according to  claim 5 , wherein the game element is a character specified by the user, and the addition information includes character information designating the character. 
     
     
         13 . The server according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the character information includes ability information indicating the level of ability of the character;   the storage unit stores the character information in association with the user; and   the control unit updates, when the communication unit receives from the game machine a result notice that includes result information indicating a change in the ability of the character based on an action result of the character that appeared in the game, the ability information stored in the storage unit according to the result information.   
     
     
         14 . The server according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the game is a battle game in which a character of a player of the game machine fights against another character;   the other character includes the character specified by the user of the user terminal, which appears in the game of the game machine according to the addition information; and   the result information indicates a change in the ability of the character specified by the user of the user terminal according to a result of a battle between the character of the player of the game machine and the character specified by the user of the user terminal.   
     
     
         15 . The server according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the storage unit stores management information indicating an appearance state in which the character appears in any of the game machines or a non-appearance state in which the character does not appear in any of the game machines, in association with the character information; and   the control unit
 reads the management information stored in the storage unit when the communication unit receives the check request, 
 controls the communication unit to send back to the game machine a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information and updates the management information to the appearance state, when the read management information indicates the non-appearance state, 
 controls the communication unit to send back to the game machine a check acknowledgement that does not include the addition information and that indicates that the character appears, when the read management information indicates the appearance state, and 
 updates the management information to the non-appearance state when the communication unit receives the result notice from the game machine. 
   
     
     
         16 . The server according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the control unit
 measures time that elapsed from when the management information is updated to the appearance state, and 
 updates the management information to the non-appearance state when the measured time reaches a predetermined time. 
   
     
     
         17 . A control method for a game system comprising a user terminal operated by a user, game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades, and a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising:
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, performed by the user terminal;   receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   sending to the server an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal, performed by the server;   storing the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request, in association with each other, when receiving the addition request from the user terminal, performed by the server;   determining, when receiving from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information stored in association with the addition information, performed by the server;   sending back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information, performed by the server;   executing the game, performed by the game machine;   sending the check request to the server, performed by the game machine; and   making the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game if the check acknowledgement includes the addition information, when receiving the check acknowledgement, performed by the game machine.   
     
     
         18 . A control method for a game system comprising a user terminal operated by a user, game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades, and a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising:
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, performed by the user terminal;   receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   sending to the server selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal, performed by the server;   storing addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other, when receiving the selected game arcade information from the user terminal, performed by the server;   determining, when receiving from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information stored in association with the addition information, performed by the server;   sending back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information, performed by the server;   executing the game, performed by the game machine;   sending the check request to the server, performed by the game machine; and   making the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game if the check acknowledgement includes the addition information, when receiving the check acknowledgement, performed by the game machine.   
     
     
         19 . A control method for a game system comprising a user terminal operated by a user, game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades, each of the game machines comprising a plurality of game terminals, and a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising:
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, performed by the user terminal;   receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   sending to the server an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal, performed by the server;   storing the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request, in association with each other, when receiving the addition request from the user terminal, performed by the server;   sending the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, performed by the server;   storing the addition information in a storage unit when receiving the addition information, performed by the game machine;   executing the game in each of the plurality of game terminals, performed by the game machine; and   making the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game when the addition information is stored in the storage unit, performed by the game machine.   
     
     
         20 . A control method for a game system comprising a user terminal operated by a user, game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades, each of the game machines comprising a plurality of game terminals, and a server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising:
 sending to the server a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, performed by the user terminal;   receiving from the server a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   sending selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the received game arcade information, performed by the user terminal;   generating the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal the game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information, when receiving the game arcade information request from the user terminal, performed by the server;   storing addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other, when receiving the selected game arcade information from the user terminal, performed by the server;   sending the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, performed by the server;   storing the addition information in a storage unit when receiving the addition information, performed by the game machine;   executing the game in each of the plurality of game terminals, performed by the game machine; and   making the game element indicated by the addition information appear in the game when the addition information is stored in the storage unit, performed by the game machine.   
     
     
         21 . A control method for a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising;
 generating, when receiving from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   storing, when receiving from the user terminal an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request in association with each other in a storage unit;   referencing, when receiving from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, the storage content of the storage unit and determining whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information stored in association with the addition information; and   sending back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information.   
     
     
         22 . A control method for a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising;
 generating, when receiving from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   storing, when receiving from the user terminal selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other in a storage unit;   referencing, when receiving from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, the storage content of the storage unit and determining whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information; and   sending back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information.   
     
     
         23 . A control method for a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising;
 generating, when receiving from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   storing, when receiving from the user terminal an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request in association with each other in a storage unit; and   sending the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information.   
     
     
         24 . A control method for a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server capable of communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, the control method comprising;
 generating, when receiving from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and sending back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   storing, when receiving from the user terminal selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other in a storage unit; and   sending the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information.   
     
     
         25 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a computer to function as a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, and a control unit, the computer program causing the control unit
 to generate, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and to control the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   to store, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request in association with each other in a storage unit;   to reference, when the communication unit receives from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, the storage content of the storage unit and to determine whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information stored in association with the addition information; and   to control the communication unit to send back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information.   
     
     
         26 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a computer to function as a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, and a control unit, the computer program causing the control unit
 to generate, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and to control the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   to store, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other in a storage unit;   to reference, when the communication unit receives from the game machine a check request that includes game-arcade identifying information indicating the game arcade at which the game machine is installed, the storage content of the storage unit and to determine whether the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information; and   to control the communication unit to send back to the game machine, when the game arcade identified with the game-arcade identifying information is included in the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, a check acknowledgement that includes the addition information stored in association with the selected game arcade information.   
     
     
         27 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a computer to function as a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, and a control unit, the computer program causing the control unit
 to generate, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and to control the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   to store, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal an addition request that includes selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, and that includes addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, the selected game arcade information and the addition information included in the addition request in association with each other in a storage unit; and   to control the communication unit to send the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information.   
     
     
         28 . A non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon a computer program for causing a computer to function as a server used in a game system provided with a user terminal operated by a user and game machines installed at a plurality of game arcades and used to execute games, the server comprising a communication unit for communicating with the user terminal and each of the game machines, and a control unit, the computer program causing the control unit
 to generate, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal a game arcade information request requesting to send game arcade information indicating one or a plurality of game arcades that the user of the user terminal can select, the game arcade information and to control the communication unit to send back to the user terminal a game arcade information acknowledgement that includes the game arcade information;   to store, when the communication unit receives from the user terminal selected game arcade information indicating a game arcade selected by the user from the one or the plurality of game arcades indicated by the game arcade information, addition information indicating a game element to be added to and made to appear in a game executed in a game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information, and the selected game arcade information, in association with each other in a storage unit; and   to control the communication unit to send the addition information to the game machine installed at the game arcade indicated by the selected game arcade information.