Game device

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a commercial game device including a plurality of game machines.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

For example, in a game center or the like, a plurality of game machines are installed, but usually, a game that can be played is determined for each game machine.

【0003】

Therefore, while game machines that can play popular games are always in use and difficult to play, game machines that can play games that have become less popular are often not played.

【0004】

As a result, players were dissatisfied with the inability to freely play the games they wanted to play, and arcades were dissatisfied with the fact that sales did not grow as expected for the number of game consoles installed.

【0005】

It should be noted that there is also known a game machine in which a plurality of game cassettes can be mounted and the player can arbitrarily select those games by a predetermined operation. However, in such a game machine, each game machine is used. A plurality of game cassettes are required for the game, and the purchase cost of the game cassette becomes expensive for the game center side.

【0006】

The present invention has been conceived under such circumstances, and provides a game device capable of arbitrarily selecting and playing a plurality of games on a plurality of game machines without preparing a plurality of the same game software. Providing is the issue.

【0007】

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the following technical means are adopted in the present invention.

【0008】

According to the first aspect of the present invention, between one game software supply device capable of arbitrarily reading game software recorded on a plurality of mounted recording media and the game software supply device. Equipped with a plurality of communicable game machines, the game software supply device reads the requested game software from the recording medium and transmits it to the game machine in response to a request from the game machine based on the player's instruction. It is characterized in that the game software is stored in a storage medium by the game machine so that the game can be executed.

【0009】

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the game software supply device and each game machine are connected by a cable, and the game software is configured to communicate with each other via the cable.

【0010】

According to the third aspect of the present invention, each game machine is equipped with a plurality of sub-recording media recording each part of a plurality of game software that can be read by the game software supply device, and the game software supply device is provided. While receiving the game software from, a part of the same game software as the game software is read from the sub-recording medium so that a part of the game can be executed.

【0011】

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the game software supply device is provided with a laser disc playback device that reproduces a laser disc that records the guidance of the game software recorded on each of a plurality of recording media, and the laser disc playback device is provided. The feature is that a reproduction signal from the device is transmitted to each game machine, and the game machine displays the guidance of the game software on the display screen during the period when the game is not played.

【0012】

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, during the period when the game is not played, the game machine requests the game software supply device to transmit a part of each game software, receives it, and receives the game software. The feature is that the guidance is displayed on the display screen.

【0013】

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the game software supply device and each game machine are connected via a public communication network, and the game software is configured to communicate with each other via the public communication network.

【0014】

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The game software supply device can be equipped with a plurality of recording media on which the game software is recorded at the same time, and the game software can be arbitrarily read from the recording media. For example, one game software supply device is installed in a game center. The game machines can communicate with the game software supply device, and a plurality of game machines are installed in, for example, a game center. Then, in response to a request from the game machine based on the player's instruction, the game software supply device reads the requested game software from the recording medium and transmits it to the game machine, and the game machine stores the game software in the storage medium. By letting it run, the game can be executed. The game software recorded on the recording medium is composed of a game program and various data such as character moving image information. Further, the storage medium is installed in each game machine.

【0015】

Therefore, the player can freely play the game he / she wants to play on any game machine, and the waiting time is eliminated or reduced. In addition, for the game center side, there will be no game machines that are unpopular and players cannot approach, and sales will increase. In addition, since various games can be played on the same game machine, it is convenient for the player because it is not necessary to replace the game machine, and as a result, the number of plays increases, so that the game center side can expect an increase in sales. .. Furthermore, even when compared with a conventional game machine in which a plurality of game cassettes can be attached and those games can be arbitrarily selected by a player by a predetermined operation, a plurality of game cassettes are provided for each individual game machine. Is not required, so the game center can reduce the purchase cost of the game cassette. This effect is more remarkable as the number of installed game machines increases.

【0016】

The game software supply device and each game machine may be connected by a cable or may be wirelessly communicated. Furthermore, it is possible to configure a nationwide system using a public communication network such as ISDN.

【0017】

Each game machine is equipped with a plurality of sub-recording media that record each part of a plurality of game software that can be read by the game software supply device, and the game is being received from the game software supply device. A part of the same game software as the software may be read from the secondary recording medium so that a part of the game can be executed. By doing so, it is possible to eliminate the waiting time of, for example, several tens of seconds due to the communication of the game software, and the interest of the player is not diminished.

【0018】

The game software supply device is provided with a laser disc playback device that reproduces a laser disc that records the guidance of the game software recorded on each of a plurality of recording media, and the playback signal from the laser disc playback device is transmitted to each game machine. Then, during the period when the game is not played, the game machine may display the guidance of the game software on the display screen. In this way, by executing the demo loop of each game for a predetermined time, for example, the content of the playable game can be notified to the player.

【0019】

As for the playable game guidance, the game machine may request the game software supply device to transmit a part of each game software, receive the request, and display the game software guidance on the display screen. ..

【0020】

[Explanation of Examples]

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

【0021】

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a game device according to the present invention, and the game device is composed of one game software supply device 1 and a plurality of game machines 2. The game software supply device 1 includes a main cassette reader 3, a laser disc player 4, a control device 5, and a communication control device 6, and the game machine 2 includes a system board 7 and a control panel 8. , The display device 9 and an arbitrary number of speakers 10 are provided. The subcassette reading device 11, the RAM 12, the control device 13, and the communication control device 14 are mounted on the system board 7, and the communication control device 6 of the game software supply device 1 and the communication of each game machine 2 are mounted. It is connected to the control device 14 by cables 15 and 16.

【0022】

The game software supply device 1 transmits the game software to the game machine 2 at the request of each game machine 2, and the game machine 2 that has not been played is provided with a video for guiding the playable game. Send audio information. The game machine 2 requests the game software supply device 1 for a desired game based on the operation of the player, receives the game software, and advances the game. Further, when the game machine 2 is not being played, the game machine 2 receives video and audio information for guiding a playable game from the game software supply device 1 and reproduces them.

【0023】

The main cassette reader 3 can be equipped with a plurality of main cassettes, which are game cassettes having a built-in ROM for recording various data such as game programs and character moving image information, by the control device 5. The game software is read from the designated main cassette among the installed main cassettes under control. That is, the main cassette constitutes a recording medium for recording game software. The recording medium is not limited to ROM, and a CD-ROM, MO, cassette type magnetic tape, or the like may be used as long as it has a capacity for storing game software. The laser disc playback device 4 reproduces the laser disc that records the guidance of the game software recorded in the main cassette mounted on the main cassette reader 3, and outputs the playback information to the communication control device 6. The control device 5 is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and controls the main cassette reading device 3 based on the instruction from the game machine 2 received by the communication control device 6, and controls the main cassette reading device 3 and the laser disk playback. The communication control device 6 transmits the playback information from the device 4 to the game machine 2. The communication control device 6 controls communication between the game software supply device 1 and the game machine 2 via cables 15 and 16.

【0024】

The system board 7 controls the operation of the game machine 2. The control panel 8 includes an operation lever and a push button switch operated by the player, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation by the player to the control device 13. The display device 9 displays the contents of the game and the like on the display screen. The speaker 10 outputs sound effects and the like as the game progresses.

【0025】

The sub-cassette reader 11 can be equipped with a plurality of sub-cassettes composed of IC cards that record a part of various data such as a game program and character moving image information, and is controlled by the control device 13. Then, a part of the game software is read from the specified sub-cassette among the installed sub-cassettes. That is, the sub-cassette constitutes a sub-recording medium that stores a part of the game software, for example, information capable of playing a game of about one stage. As the secondary recording medium, not only an IC card but also various storage media can be used, but since a large storage capacity is not required, a compact, lightweight and fast reading speed is preferable. The RAM 12 constitutes a storage medium and stores the game software transmitted from the game software supply device 1. As the storage medium, in addition to ordinary RAM, an electrically rewritable ROM such as EPROM, a hard disk, or the like can be used. The control device 13 is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and controls the subcassette reading device 11 and the communication control device 14 based on the operation signal from the control panel 8 and the program of the game software stored in the RAM 12. , Drives the display device 9 and the speaker 10. The communication control device 14 controls communication between the game machine 2 and the game software supply device 1 via cables 15 and 16.

【0026】

Next, the operation will be described. Now, the main cassette reader 3 is equipped with a plurality of main cassettes on which different game software is recorded, and the subcassette reader 11 is equipped with a plurality of subcassettes corresponding to the main cassettes, and a laser disc. It is assumed that the playback device 4 is equipped with a laser disc having contents corresponding to the main cassette.

【0027】

In the game machine 2 which is not played by the player, the control device 13 displays a video related to the guidance of the game played by the laser disc playback device 4 of the game software supply device 1 on the display screen of the display device 9, and has an effect. Play the sound etc. on the speaker 10. That is, the laser disc playback device 4 is constantly playing back the laser disc for guiding the game, and this playback information is supplied to the communication control device 14 via the communication control device 6 and the cable 16. Therefore, the control device 13 can receive the video information and the audio information for guiding the game from the communication control device 14 at any time, and the demo loops of the plurality of games mounted on the main cassette reader 3 are transmitted to the display device 9. It is displayed, and the speaker 10 plays sound effects and background music corresponding to the video.

【0028】

When the player sees the guidance of the game and selects and operates the favorite game by the control panel 8, the selection signal is supplied to the control device 13. As a result, the control device 13 requests the control device 5 of the game software supply device 1 to transmit the game software corresponding to the game selected by the player via the communication control device 14, the cable 15, and the communication control device 6. To do. As a result, the control device 5 instructs the main cassette reader 3 to read the requested game software. As a result, the main cassette reader 3 reads the instructed game software from the corresponding main cassette and outputs it to the control device 5. As a result, the control device 5 transmits the game software to the control device 13 of the game machine 2 that has been requested via the communication control device 6, the cable 15, and the communication control device 14. As a result, the control device 13 stores the received game software in the RAM 12.

【0029】

At this time, the control device 5 stores data such as which game software is transmitted to which game machine 2 in the built-in RAM (not shown). By accumulating various data related to the played game in this way, it is possible to accurately determine the change in the popularity of the game, and when the game software supply device 1 or the game machine 2 is rented, a charge is made. Aggregation can be done easily. In addition, by using a public network such as ISDN, which will be described later, it is possible to easily grasp and aggregate the actual conditions such as the operating rate and billing of each game at all arcades.

【0030】

When transmitting game software to a plurality of game machines 2 at the same time, the communication control device 6 transmits using, for example, a time division multiplexing method or a frequency division multiplexing method.

【0031】

On the other hand, at the same time as the request for transmitting the game software to the control device 5 of the game software supply device 1, the control device 13 reads a part of the game software corresponding to the game selected by the player to the subcassette reader 11. Instruct. As a result, the subcassette reading device 11 reads a part of the instructed game software and outputs it to the control device 13. As a result, the control device 13 displays the video of the game on the display screen of the display device 9, plays sound effects, background music, and the like on the speaker 10, and further, the display screen responds to the operation of the control panel 8 by the player. Control the progress of the game for about one stage by changing the video and sound effects of.

【0032】

Following the end of the game by the subcassette, the control device 13 reads out the game software stored in the RAM 12, that is, various data such as the game program and the video information of the character, for example, from the second stage onward. Control the progress of the game in the same way as in the first stage.

【0033】

When the game is over, it returns to the demo loop playback state such as the laser disc guidance screen and sound effects, and waits for the player's selection operation.

【0034】

In this way, the main cassette reader 3 of the game software supply device 1 reads the game software from the main cassette corresponding to the game selected by the player among the plurality of main cassettes and transmits the game software to the game machine 2. You can select and play multiple games on multiple game consoles 2 without preparing multiple software. Therefore, the player can play his / her favorite game regardless of which game machine 2 is used, so that the player is less likely to have to wait. In addition, for game centers, the operating rate of game machine 2 will improve, and sales can be expected to increase. Alternatively, as compared with the case of a game machine capable of mounting a plurality of main cassettes, it is not necessary to purchase as many main cassettes as the number of game machines 2, so that the total cost can be reduced. That is, when purchasing new game software, it is not necessary to purchase the number of installed game machines 2, and if one main cassette is purchased, all game machines 2 can be played. This effect becomes more remarkable as the number of game machines 2 installed increases. It should be noted that, if you want to buy a new main cassette, laser disc also need to purchase at the same time is, further, the sub-cassette of only a few of the game machine 2 is also necessary to purchase.

【0035】

Further, as in the present embodiment, if the sub-cassette reading device 11 is provided in each game machine 2, the sub-cassette can be used to play the game for, for example, about one minute, so that the communication between the game software supply device 1 and the game machine 2 can be performed. No longer keeps the player waiting for a while.

【0036】

Further, as in the present embodiment, if the playable game is guided by the laser disc using the laser disc playback device 4, the moving image can be easily performed without performing complicated control by the control device 5 and the control device 13. You can guide the game.

【0037】

In the above embodiment, the communication between the game software supply device 1 and the game machine 2 is performed by the cables 15 and 16, but the communication is not limited to the cables 15 and 16, and communication may be performed by wireless or the like.

【0038】

Furthermore, even if the game software supply device 1 is installed in an area far away from the game machine 2, communication between the game software supply device 1 and the game machine 2 is performed using a public network such as ISDN. Good. In this way, a large number of main cassettes are not required to supply the game software, and even when a bug occurs, only one main cassette needs to be corrected, so that it can be dealt with quickly and easily.

【0039】

Further, in the above embodiment, the laser disc playback device 4 is provided in the game software supply device 1 to guide the game that can be played by the laser disc, but the content of the loop demo is recorded in the subcassette and the control device. The 13 may guide the playable game by causing the sub-cassette reading device 11 to sequentially read the contents of each sub-cassette. Furthermore, the contents of the loop demo are recorded in the main cassette, the control device 13 requests the control device 5 to transmit the loop demo, and the control device 5 sequentially reads the contents of each main cassette to the main cassette reader 3. Then, by transmitting it to the game machine 2, the playable game may be guided.

【0040】

Further, in the above embodiment, the RAM 12 of the game machine 2 is configured to store one game software, but the capacity of the RAM 12 may be further increased to store a plurality of game software. In this way, the game software of a popular game can be stocked in the RAM 12, and the number of times of communication with the game software supply device 1 is reduced. Therefore, for example, even if the sub-cassette reading device 11 is not provided, it is relatively less likely that the player is kept waiting.

【0041】

Further, in the above embodiment, one system board 7 is provided on the game machine 2, but the output of the system board 7 is matched with the JAMMA connector which is a unified standard of the game machine, and different types, for example, system boards of other companies are provided. May be connected to the JAMMA connector, and these may be connected to the control panel 8, the display device 9, or the speaker 10 via the selector so that games other than the main cassette can be played.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

It is an overall block diagram of the game apparatus which concerns on this invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Game software supply device 2 game console 12 RAM 15 cable 16 cable