Game device
Abstract
L'invention concerne une interface utilisateur dont la convivialite est amelioree lorsque les utilisateurs echangent des messages concernant un jeu qui est transmis, lesdits messages etant echanges tandis que des informations concernant le statut du jeu qui est en cours d'execution par undispositif de jeu sont transmises vers un autre dispositif de jeu. Le dispositif de jeu execute une application de jeu, transmet des informations concernant le statut du jeu en cours d'execution a un autre dispositif de jeu, recoit du dispositif de jeu destinataire de la transmission une entree de message par l'utilisateur du dispositif de jeu destinataire du message en relation avec les informations transmises, et affiche, sur un moyen d'affichage, le message recu et egalement une image du jeu indiquant le statut du jeu.

Term
No projected expiry on record.
- Priority and filed
- Published
- Today
24 claims: 10 independent, 14 dependent
- 1ゲームアプリケーションを実行するゲーム実行手段と、 前記ゲーム実行手段により実行中のゲームの状況に関する情報を、他のゲーム装置へ配信する配信手段と、 前記配信された情報に関して前記他のゲーム装置のユーザが入力したメッセージを、前記他のゲーム装置から受信するメッセージ受信手段と、 前記ゲームの状況を示すゲーム画像を、前記受信したメッセージとともに表示手段に表示させる表示制御手段と、 を含むことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 2請求項1に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記ゲーム実行手段は、当該ゲーム装置のユーザがゲームをプレイするために閲覧するプレイ用ゲーム画像を生成し、 前記表示制御手段は、前記ゲーム画像として、前記プレイ用ゲーム画像を、前記受信したメッセージとともに前記表示手段に表示させる ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 3請求項1に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記ゲーム実行手段は、当該ゲーム装置のユーザがゲームをプレイするために閲覧するプレイ用ゲーム画像を生成するとともに、前記配信手段による配信用に、前記プレイ用ゲーム画像とは異なる配信用ゲーム画像を生成し、 前記配信手段は、前記実行中のゲームの状況に関する情報として、前記配信用ゲーム画像を前記他のゲーム装置に配信し、 前記表示制御手段は、前記ゲーム画像として、前記配信用ゲーム画像を、前記受信したメッセージとともに前記表示手段に表示させる ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 4請求項1に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記配信された情報に関して当該ゲーム装置のユーザが入力したメッセージを、前記他のゲーム装置に対して送信するメッセージ送信手段をさらに含み、 前記表示制御手段は、前記ゲームの状況を示すゲーム画像を、前記受信したメッセージ及び前記送信したメッセージの双方とともに前記表示手段に表示させる ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 5請求項1に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記配信手段は、複数の他のゲーム装置に対して前記ゲームの状況に関する情報を配信し、 前記表示制御手段は、前記配信手段が配信する情報を受信中のゲーム装置の数を前記表示手段に表示させる ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 6ゲームアプリケーションを実行するゲーム実行ステップと、 前記ゲーム実行ステップで実行中のゲームの状況に関する情報を、他のゲーム装置へ配信する配信ステップと、 前記配信された情報に関して前記他のゲーム装置のユーザが入力したメッセージを、前記他のゲーム装置から受信するメッセージ受信ステップと、 前記ゲームの状況を示すゲーム画像を、前記受信したメッセージとともに表示手段に表示させる表示制御ステップと、 を含むことを特徴とするゲーム装置の制御方法。
- 7ゲームアプリケーションを実行するゲーム実行手段、 前記ゲーム実行手段により実行中のゲームの状況に関する情報を、他のゲーム装置へ配信する配信手段、 前記配信された情報に関して前記他のゲーム装置のユーザが入力したメッセージを、前記他のゲーム装置から受信するメッセージ受信手段、及び 前記ゲームの状況を示すゲーム画像を、前記受信したメッセージとともに表示手段に表示させる表示制御手段、 としてコンピュータを機能させるためのプログラムを記憶した、コンピュータ読み取り可能な情報記憶媒体。
- 8他のユーザによるゲームのプレイ内容を示す動画像を表示手段に表示させるゲーム装置であって、 表示対象の動画像を選択するための選択条件情報を取得する選択条件取得手段と、 それぞれ、他のユーザによるゲームのプレイ内容を示し、属性情報が関連づけられた複数の候補動画像の中から、前記選択条件情報に対応する属性情報が関連づけられた動画像を表示対象の動画像として選択する選択手段と、 前記選択された動画像を配信元装置から受信して、表示手段に表示させる表示制御手段と、 を含むことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 9請求項8に記載のゲーム装置において、 送信ユーザを特定する情報を含んだメッセージを受信するメッセージ受信手段をさらに含み、 前記選択条件取得手段は、前記受信したメッセージに含まれる送信ユーザを特定する情報を前記選択条件情報として取得する ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 10請求項8に記載のゲーム装置において、 ゲームアプリケーションを実行するゲーム実行手段をさらに含み、 前記選択条件取得手段は、前記ゲーム実行手段が実行するゲームアプリケーションに関する情報を前記選択条件情報として取得する ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 11請求項10に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記選択条件取得手段は、前記ゲーム実行手段が実行するゲームアプリケーションを特定する情報を前記選択条件情報として取得する ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 12請求項10に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記選択条件情報取得手段は、前記ゲーム実行手段が実行するゲームアプリケーションのメーカーを特定する情報を前記選択条件情報として取得する ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 13請求項10に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記表示制御手段は、前記ゲーム実行手段が所定の処理を実行している間、前記選択された動画像の表示を行う ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 14請求項13に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記所定の処理は、情報記憶媒体に記憶されたデータを読み出す処理である ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 15請求項11に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記選択条件情報取得手段は、前記ゲーム実行手段が実行するゲームの進行度を示す情報を前記選択条件情報としてさらに取得し、 前記選択手段は、前記取得したゲームアプリケーションを特定する情報が示すゲームの動画像であって、前記取得した進行度に応じて決まる進行度でのプレイ内容を示す動画像を表示対象の動画像として選択する ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 16それぞれ、ゲームのプレイ内容を示し、属性情報が関連づけられた複数の候補動画像の情報を記憶する手段と、 ゲーム装置から、表示対象の動画像を選択するための選択条件情報を含む選択要求を受け付ける手段と、 前記複数の候補動画像の中から、前記受け付けた選択要求に含まれる選択条件に対応する属性情報が関連づけられた動画像を、前記ゲーム装置による表示対象の動画像として選択する選択手段と、 を含むことを特徴とする配信管理サーバ。
- 17他のユーザによるゲームのプレイ内容を示す動画像を表示手段に表示させるゲーム装置の制御方法であって、 表示対象の動画像を選択するための選択条件情報を取得する選択条件取得ステップと、 それぞれ、他のユーザによるゲームのプレイ内容を示し、属性情報が関連づけられた複数の候補動画像の中から、前記選択条件情報に対応する属性情報が関連づけられた動画像の一つを表示対象の動画像として選択する選択ステップと、 前記選択された動画像を配信元装置から受信して、表示手段に表示させる表示制御ステップと、 を含むことを特徴とするゲーム装置の制御方法。
- 18他のユーザによるゲームのプレイ内容を示す動画像を表示手段に表示させるゲーム装置の制御プログラムであって、 表示対象の動画像を選択するための選択条件情報を取得する選択条件取得手段、 それぞれ、他のユーザによるゲームのプレイ内容を示し、属性情報が関連づけられた複数の候補動画像の中から、前記選択条件情報に対応する属性情報が関連づけられた動画像の一つを表示対象の動画像として選択する選択手段、及び 前記選択された動画像を配信元装置から受信して、表示手段に表示させる表示制御手段、 としてコンピュータを機能させるためのプログラムを記憶した、コンピュータ読み取り可能な情報記憶媒体。
- 19他のゲーム装置から、当該他のゲーム装置で実行中のゲームのプレイ状況を示す動画像の配信を受けて、表示手段に表示させる表示制御手段と、 前記動画像が表示されている状態において、所定の操作入力をユーザから受け付ける操作受け付け手段と、 前記所定の操作入力の受け付けに応じて、前記他のゲーム装置で実行中のゲームに対する参加要求を送信する参加要求手段と、 を含むことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 20請求項19に記載のゲーム装置において、 前記表示制御手段は、前記動画像とともに参加操作の対象となる操作対象画像を表示させ、 前記操作受け付け手段は、前記操作対象画像に対するユーザの操作を前記所定の操作入力として受け付ける ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 21請求項19に記載のゲーム装置において、 ゲームアプリケーションを実行するゲーム実行手段をさらに含み、 前記参加要求の対象となったゲームが前記ゲーム実行手段により過去に実行されていない場合、前記参加要求に応じたゲームへの参加が所定の条件に基づいて制限される ことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 22請求項19に記載のゲーム装置において、 ゲームアプリケーションを実行するゲーム実行手段と、 前記他のゲーム装置から、前記参加要求に応じてユーザが参加したゲームのプレイ結果に関するプレイ結果関連情報を受信するプレイ結果関連情報受信手段と、 前記受信したプレイ結果関連情報を、前記ユーザに関連づけて、前記ユーザが参加したゲームと同じゲームのアプリケーションを前記ゲーム実行手段が実行した結果出力される情報とともに記憶するプレイ結果関連情報記憶手段と、 をさらに含むことを特徴とするゲーム装置。
- 23他のゲーム装置から、当該他のゲーム装置で実行中のゲームのプレイ状況を示す動画像の配信を受けて、表示手段に表示させる表示制御ステップと、 前記動画像が表示されている状態において、所定の操作入力をユーザから受け付ける操作受け付けステップと、 前記所定の操作入力の受け付けに応じて、前記他のゲーム装置で実行中のゲームに対する参加要求を送信する参加要求ステップと、 を含むことを特徴とするゲーム装置の制御方法。
- 24他のゲーム装置から、当該他のゲーム装置で実行中のゲームのプレイ状況を示す動画像の配信を受けて、表示手段に表示させる表示制御手段、 前記動画像が表示されている状態において、所定の操作入力をユーザから受け付ける操作受け付け手段、及び 前記所定の操作入力の受け付けに応じて、前記他のゲーム装置で実行中のゲームに対する参加要求を送信する参加要求手段、 としてコンピュータを機能させるためのプログラムを記憶した、コンピュータ読み取り可能な情報記憶媒体。
Independent claims24
65 paragraphs, as filed
Game device
The present invention relates to a game device, its control method, a distribution management server, and an information storage medium.
It is connected with other game devices via a communication network, and a game device provided with functions (for example, chat function etc.) to exchange messages between the game device is known. There is a game device which distributes information (for example, video which shows a play situation of a game) a user indicates a situation of a game under play to be now to other game devices. A distribution system which distributes video which shows the contents of a play of a game which a user played in the past is also known. Thus, when a game device receives and displays video distributed from other game devices and distribution systems, the user of the game device concerned can peruse the contents of a play of a game by other users. There is a game device which can participate in a game under execution with other game devices by transmitting the contents of operation of a game to other game devices via a communication network.
<p num="0003">One of the objects of the present invention is distributing information about a situation of a game which a game device is performing to other game devices, When exchanging a message about a game which users are distributing, it is in providing a game device which can provide a user interface whose convenience improved more, its control method, and an information storage medium.</p><p num="0004">The another object of the present invention is to provide a game device which can choose from the inside effectively video which a user should be shown, its control method, a distribution management server, and an information storage medium, when multiple video which shows the contents of a play of a game is distributed.</p><p num="0005">In the state where the another object of the present invention receives and shows video which shows the contents of a play of a game in other game devices, When it is going to participate in a game which the video concerned shows, it is in providing a game device which can perform intervention in a game easily, its control method, and an information storage medium.</p>
<p num="0006">A game device concerning the present invention is provided with the following. A game executing means which performs game application, A distribution means which distributes information about a situation of a game under execution to other game devices by the game executing means, A message reception means which receives a message which a user of a game device besides the above inputted about information distributed [the] from a game device besides the above, and a display control means which displays on a displaying means a game picture which shows a situation of the game with a message which received [the].</p><p num="0007">In the game device, it is the game executing means, A game picture for a play perused in order that a user of the game device concerned may play a game is generated, and the display control means is good also as displaying the game picture for a play on the displaying means as the game picture with a message which received [the].</p><p num="0008">In the game device, it is the game executing means, While generating a game picture for a play perused in order that a user of the game device concerned may play a game, To distribution by the distribution means, the game picture for a play generates a different game picture for distribution, and it is the distribution means, As information about a situation of a game under the execution, the game picture for distribution is distributed to a game device besides the above, and the display control means is good also as displaying the game picture for distribution on the displaying means as the game picture with a message which received [the].</p><p num="0009">A message into which a user of the game device concerned inputted the game device about information distributed [the], The display control means is good also as displaying on the displaying means a game picture which shows a situation of the game with a message which received [the], and both sides of a message which transmitted [the], further including a message transmission means to transmit to a game device besides the above.</p><p num="0010">In the game device, the distribution means distributes information about a situation of the game to a plurality of game devices of other, and the display control means is good also as displaying on the displaying means the number of game devices while receiving information which the distribution means distributes.</p><p num="0011">It is characterized by a control method of a game device concerning the present invention comprising the following. A game execution step which performs game application, A distribution step which distributes information about a situation of a game under execution to other game devices by the game execution step, A message receiving step which receives a message which a user of a game device besides the above inputted about information distributed [the] from a game device besides the above, and a display control step which displays on a displaying means a game picture which shows a situation of the game with a message which received [the].</p><p num="0012">A game executing means in which an information storage medium concerning the present invention performs game application, A distribution means which distributes information about a situation of a game under execution to other game devices by the game executing means, A message which a user of a game device besides the above inputted about information distributed [the], A message reception means received from a game device besides the above, and a game picture which shows a situation of the game, It is the information storage medium which memorized a program for considering it as a display control means displayed on a displaying means, and operating a computer with a message which received [the] and in which computer reading is possible.</p><p num="0013">Another game device concerning the present invention is provided with the following. A selection condition acquisition means which is a game device which displays on a displaying means video which shows the contents of a play of a game by other users, and acquires selection condition information for choosing video for a display, A selecting means which chooses video with which attribute information corresponding to the selection condition information was related as video for a display from a plurality of candidate video which showed the contents of a play of a game by other users, and with which attribute information was related, respectively, A display control means which receives video chosen [the] from a distributing agency device, and it displays on a displaying means.</p><p num="0014">It is good also as acquiring information which specifies a transmitting user further contained in a message which the selection condition acquisition means received [the] including a message reception means which receives a message in which the game device included information which specifies a transmitting user as the selection condition information.</p><p num="0015">The selection condition acquisition means is good also as acquiring information about game application which the game executing means performs as the selection condition information, further including a game executing means in which the game device performs game application.</p><p num="0016">The selection condition acquisition means is good also as acquiring information which specifies game application which the game executing means performs as the selection condition information.</p><p num="0017">The selection condition information acquisition means is good also as acquiring information which specifies a maker of game application which the game executing means performs as the selection condition information.</p><p num="0018">The display control means is good also as displaying video chosen [the], while the game executing means is performing predetermined processing.</p><p num="0019">In the game device, the predetermined processing is good also as being the processing which reads data memorized by information storage medium.</p><p num="0020">In the game device, it is the selection condition information acquisition means, Information which shows the percentage of completion of a game which the game executing means performs is further acquired as the selection condition information, and it is the selecting means, It is good also as choosing video which shows the contents of a play in the percentage of completion decided according to the percentage of completion which acquired [the] as video for a display to be the video of a game which information which specifies game application which acquired [the] shows.</p><p num="0021">A distribution management server concerning the present invention is provided with the following. A means to memorize information on a plurality of candidate video which showed the contents of a play of a game and with which attribute information was related, respectively, A means to accept a selection demand which includes selection condition information for choosing video for a display from a game device, A selecting means which chooses video with which attribute information corresponding to a selection condition included in a beam selection demand with the receptacle was related as video for [by the game device] a display from the a plurality of candidate video.</p><p num="0022">It is characterized by a control method of another game device concerning the present invention comprising the following. A selection condition acquisition step which is the control method of a game device of displaying on a displaying means video which shows the contents of a play of a game by other users, and acquires selection condition information for choosing video for a display, A selection step which chooses one of the video with which attribute information corresponding to the selection condition information was related as video for a display from a plurality of candidate video which showed the contents of a play of a game by other users, and with which attribute information was related, respectively, A display control step which receives video chosen [the] from a distributing agency device, and it displays on a displaying means.</p><p num="0023">Another information storage medium concerning the present invention is a control program of a game device which displays on a displaying means video which shows the contents of a play of a game by other users, A selection condition acquisition means which acquires selection condition information for choosing video for a display, From inside of a plurality of candidate video which showed the contents of a play of a game by other users and with which attribute information was related, respectively, A selecting means which chooses one of the video with which attribute information corresponding to the selection condition information was related as video for a display, and video chosen [the] are received from a distributing agency device, It is the information storage medium which memorized a program for considering it as a display control means displayed on a displaying means, and operating a computer and in which computer reading is possible.</p><p num="0024">Furthermore it starts the present invention, another game device is provided with the following. from other game devices -- being concerned -- others -- a display control means displayed on a displaying means in response to distribution of video which shows a play situation of a game under execution with a game device, An operation receptionist means to receive a predetermined operation input from a user in the state where the video is displayed, A participating request means which transmits a participating demand to a game under execution with a game device besides the above according to registration of the predetermined operation input.</p><p num="0025">In the game device, the display control means displays a picture for operation which is the target of participating operation with the video, and the operation receptionist means is good also as receiving operation of a user to the picture for operation as the predetermined operation input.</p><p num="0026">The game device further includes a game executing means which performs game application, When a game which was the target of the participating demand is not performed in the past by the game executing means, it is good also as intervention in a game according to the participating demand being restricted based on predetermined conditions.</p><p num="0027">A game executing means in which the game device performs game application, A play result pertinent information reception means which receives play result pertinent information about a play result of a game in which a user participated according to the participating demand from a game device besides the above, It is good also as further including a play result pertinent information memory measure memorized with information outputted as a result of the game executing means's performing application of the same game as a game which related with the user play result pertinent information which received [the], and in which the user participated.</p><p num="0028">It is characterized by a control method of another game device comprising the following, furthermore it starts the present invention. from other game devices -- being concerned -- others -- a display control step displayed on a displaying means in response to distribution of video which shows a play situation of a game under execution with a game device, An operation receptionist step which receives a predetermined operation input from a user in the state where the video is displayed, A participating request step which transmits a participating demand to a game under execution with a game device besides the above according to registration of the predetermined operation input.</p><p num="0029">Furthermore it starts the present invention, it is another information storage medium, from other game devices -- being concerned -- others -- in the state where a display control means and the video which are displayed on a displaying means in response to distribution of video which shows a play situation of a game under execution with a game device are displayedIt responds to registration of an operation receptionist means to receive a predetermined operation input from a user, and the predetermined operation input, It is the information storage medium which memorized a program for considering it as a participating request means which transmits a participating demand to a game under execution with a game device besides the above, and operating a computer and in which computer reading is possible.</p>
<figref num="1">It is an outline figure of a game system concerning an embodiment of the invention.</figref><figref num="2">It is a lineblock diagram of a game device concerning an embodiment of the invention.</figref><figref num="3">It is a functional block diagram showing a function of a game system concerning an embodiment of the invention.</figref><figref num="4">It is a flow figure showing an example of a flow of processing at the time of a distribution start.</figref><figref num="5">It is a figure showing an example of a display picture which a distributing agency device displays.</figref><figref num="6">It is a figure showing an example of distributing agency device information which a distribution management server manages.</figref><figref num="7">It is a figure showing an example of a display picture which a receiving side device displays.</figref>
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the invention is described in detail based on a drawing.
Drawing 1 is an outline figure showing the whole game distribution system 1 outline concerning one embodiment of the present invention. Game distribution system 1 is constituted including a plurality of game devices 10 and distribution management servers 20. Concretely, in this embodiment, game distribution system 1 shall contain three game devices 10 of game devices 10a, 10b, and 10c. Via communication network 30, each game device 10 is connected with other game devices 10 and distribution management server 20 so that communication is possible. Communication network 30 may include various kinds of networks, such as the Internet, a Local Area Network, a wireless-communications network.
Game device 10 may be an information processor used in order that a user may play a game or may view and listen to other users' game play situation, and may be a home video game machine, a handheld game machine, a personal computer, etc. Drawing 2 is a configuration block figure showing composition of game device 10. As shown in the figure, game device 10 is constituted including control part 11, storage part 12, communications department 13, and image processing portion 14. Game device 10 is connected with indicator 15 and final controlling element 16.
Control part 11 performs various kinds of information processing according to a program memorized by storage part 12 including programmed control devices, such as CPU. Storage part 12 is constituted including memory devices, such as RAM and ROM, and memorizes a program which control part 11 runs, and data which is the targets of processing by this program. Storage part 12 functions also as a work memory of control part 11.
Game device 10 transmits [communications department 13 is an interface for delivering and receiving data among other devices via communication network 30, and] and receives information between other game devices 10 and distribution management server 20 via communications department 13.
Image processing portion 14 is constituted, for example including GPU and frame buffer memory, and draws a picture displayed on indicator 15 according to drawing directions which control part 11 outputs. As an example, GPU writes in a picture to frame buffer memory according to directions from control part 11 every predetermined time. And a picture written in this frame buffer memory is changed into a video signal to predetermined timing, and is displayed on a screen of indicator 15.
Indicators 15 are displays, such as a home television set and a liquid crystal display, and display a picture according to a video signal which image processing portion 14 outputs. According to this embodiment, indicator 15 displays pictures, such as a game picture generated by game processing which game device 10 performs.
Final controlling element 16 may be a device which receives a user's operation input, for example, may be a keyboard, a controller of a mouse and a home video game machine, etc. Final controlling element 16 may also contain operation members arranged on the case surface of game device 10, such as a manual operation button and a switch. A user is operating it to final controlling element 16, and inputs various kinds of directions to game device 10.
Distribution management servers 20 are information processors, such as a server computer. Distribution management server 20 is constituted including control part 21, storage part 22, and communications department 23, as shown in Drawing 1.
Control part 21 performs various kinds of information processing according to a program memorized by storage part 22 including programmed control devices, such as CPU. Storage part 22 is constituted including memory devices, such as RAM and ROM, and memorizes a program which control part 21 runs, and data which is the targets of processing by this program. Storage part 22 functions also as a work memory of control part 21.
Distribution management server 20 transmits [communications department 23 is an interface for delivering and receiving data among other devices via communication network 30, and] and receives information between each game device 10 via communications department 23.
According to this embodiment, each game device 10 can distribute information about a play situation of this game to other game devices 10 while it performs game application and makes a user play a game. Concretely, game device 10 distributes a picture of a game screen under play of a user of the game device 10 concerned to other game devices 10 as information about a play situation of a game, for example. If it carries out like this, the user of game device 10 which received distribution can know other users' game play situation because a user of game device 10 which is distributing peruses information about a situation of a game under play. Below, game device 10 which distributes information about a play situation of a game to other game devices 10 is called distributing agency device for explanation. Near game device 10 which receives distribution is called receiving side device.
In this embodiment, the user of a receiving side device can also participate in a game under execution with a distributing agency device. In this case, while information about a play situation of a game is distributed from a distributing agency device and a user of a receiving side device is shown it, it is transmitted to a distributing agency device from a receiving side device, and the contents of game operation which the user concerned inputted to final controlling element 16 are reflected in advance of a game.
Distribution management server 20 manages information on game device 10 which distributes a game play situation to other game devices 10 as a distributing agency device, and provides information on game device 10 which turns into a distributing agency device at other game devices 10 according to a demand so that it may explain in detail later.
Hereinafter, a function which game device 10 realizes in this embodiment is explained. Drawing 3 is a functional block diagram showing a function which each of a distributing agency device and a receiving side device realizes. As shown in the figure, game device 10 which functions as a distributing agency device is functionally constituted including game practice part 41, game situation distribution part 42, game image display controller 43, game participating reception part 44, and message transmission and reception section 48. Game device 10 which functions as a receiving side device is functionally constituted including game practice part 41, receiving video selecting part 45, video receiving part 46, game participating control part 47, and message transmission and reception section 48. One game device 10 may be provided with any function of a distributing agency device and a receiving side device. These functions are realized by being that control part 11 runs a program stored in storage part 12. For example this program may be stored in various kinds of information storage media which can computer read an optical disc etc., may be provided, and may be provided via communication networks, such as the Internet.
Game practice part 41 is realized when control part 11 runs a program of game application memorized by storage part 12. Game practice part 41 receives the contents of operation which a user who plays a game inputs to final controlling element 16, performs game processing according to the contents, and displays on indicator 15 a game picture which shows the result. In this case, a game picture displayed on indicator 15 is a picture which shows a situation of a game reflecting a user's game operation, and is a picture perused in order that a user may play a game. Hereinafter, a game picture which this user peruses during a game play is called game picture for a play. The user of game device 10 can play a game in inputting game operation, perusing a game picture for a play.
In this embodiment, a game picture for a play which game practice part 41 generates is not necessarily displayed on indicator 15 as it is. That is, a game picture for a play which game practice part 41 generated may be processed by game image display controller 43 mentioned below, and may be displayed on indicator 15. A game picture for a play may be the target of distribution to other game devices 10 by game situation distribution part 42. Game practice part 41 may generate separately a different game picture from a game picture for a play as an object for the distribution to other game devices 10 (receiving side device). Below, it distributes to a receiving side device and a game picture perused by user of the receiving side device concerned is called game picture for distribution. A distributing agency device may distribute a game picture for distribution to a plurality of receiving side devices at the period. In this case, game practice part 41 may generate several game pictures for distribution which are mutually different about each of a plurality of receiving side devices.
Game situation distribution part 42 distributes information about a situation of the game concerned to a receiving side device during a user's play of a game. Concretely, in this embodiment, game situation distribution part 42 distributes a game picture for distribution which game practice part 41 generated to a receiving side device. As mentioned above, a game picture for distribution may be the same picture as a game picture for a play, and may be a picture with this separate. A game picture for distribution may be a picture which game situation distribution part 42 processes a game picture for a play which game practice part 41 generated, and is generated. For example, game situation distribution part 42 receives a game picture for a play (or game picture which game practice part 41 generated to distribution aside from a game picture for a play), A picture which shows information (for example, the number of receiving side devices which have received the present distribution) about distribution of a game play situation may be superimposed, and a game picture for distribution may be generated.
A receiving side device which serves as a distribution place of a game play situation by game situation distribution part 42 here is determined by transfer of information through distribution management server 20. Hereinafter, an example of a flow of processing at the time of a distribution start is explained using a flow figure of Drawing 4. In this example, first, game situation distribution part 42 of game device 10a presupposes that registration as a distributing agency device was required from distribution management server 20 according to a user's directions etc., while performing game processing by game practice part 41 (S1). Distribution management server 20 records information on game device 10 which made the demand concerned as distributing agency device information (S2). Here, further, game situation distribution part 42 of game device 10b makes a registration demand as a distributing agency device similarly (S3), and distribution management server 20 presupposes that information on game device 10b was also recorded as distributing agency device information (S4). then, other game devices 10 (here, it is considered as game device 10c) provide distributing agency device information to distribution management server 20 -- requiring (S5) -- distribution management server 20, Distributing agency device information currently recorded is transmitted to game device 10c which made the demand concerned (S6). By receiving distributing agency device information from distribution management server 20, game device 10c can obtain information on game device 10 which can distribute a game play situation to game device 10 besides the present, and can choose game device 10 with which he actually receives distribution of a game play situation. In this example, game device 10c acquires information on game devices 10a and 10b from distribution management server 20 as a list of game devices 10 which serve as a candidate of a distributing agency device. And game device 10c chooses a distributing agency device with which it is methods, such as receiving a user's specification, and he receives distribution out of the list (S7). In an example of this figure, it is assumed that game device 10c chose game device 10a as a distributing agency device. In this case, game device 10c transmits a distribution demand which specified game device 10a to distribution management server 20 (S8). Distribution management server 20 directs distribution of a game play situation to game device 10c to game device 10a in response to this distribution demand (S9). According to these directions, game situation distribution part 42 of game device 10a starts distribution of a game picture for distribution to game device 10c (S10).
Game image display controller 43 displays on indicator 15 a game picture which game practice part 41 generates, and it shows it to a user. Usually, while a user is playing a game, game image display controller 43 displays a game picture for a play. However, game image display controller 43 may display a game picture for distribution under distribution to a receiving side device according to a user's directions. A message which was the target of transmission and reception by message transmission and reception section 48 mentioned below may be displayed. An example of the contents of a display by game image display controller 43 is mentioned below.
Game practice part 41 performs game processing, and game participating reception part 44 accepts a demand of game intervention from the receiving side device concerned, while a game picture for distribution which shows the play situation is distributed to a receiving side device. If a demand of game intervention is permitted, game participating reception part 44 will receive after it information which shows the contents of game operation which a user of a receiving side device to the receiving side device concerned performed. And information on received game operation is outputted to game practice part 41. Thereby, game practice part 41 can acquire the contents of game operation which a user of a receiving side device inputted into final controlling element 16 of a receiving side device like game operation which a user of a distributing agency device inputted into final controlling element 16 of a distributing agency device, and can perform game processing. Therefore, the user of a receiving side device can perform game operation, and can play a game currently performed with a distributing agency device as if final controlling element 16 which he operates was directly connected to a distributing agency device. A result of game processing reflecting the contents of game operation which a user of a receiving side device performed is distributed to a receiving side device from game situation distribution part 42 of a distributing agency device as a game picture for distribution.
Receiving video selecting part 45 chooses video which the game device 10 concerned actually receives from a plurality of video which serves as a candidate in whom game device 10 which functions as a receiving side device receives distribution. According to this embodiment, since a plurality of game devices 10 distribute video which shows a play situation of a game as a distributing agency device, receiving video selecting part 45 chooses game device 10 used as a distributing agency device to self from game devices 10 of these plurality. Concretely, receiving video selecting part 45 transmits a providing request of distributing agency device information to distribution management server 20 first, when a user points to an inspection of a game picture which other game devices 10 distribute (processing of S5 in a flow of Drawing 4 mentioned above). Receiving video selecting part 45 displays on indicator 15 a list of game devices 10 which can be distributed to game device 10 besides the present with reference to distributing agency device information which distribution management server 20 transmits according to this providing request. And a user is made to choose one game device 10 as a distributing agency device from lists. Thereby, receiving video selecting part 45 chooses a distributing agency device which distributes a game picture to itself.
Receiving video selecting parts 45 are methods other than a method of receiving selection by a user who explained above, and may choose game device 10 used as a distributing agency device. An example of this selection method is mentioned below.
Video receiving part 46 is shown to a user by receiving information on a game picture for distribution from a distributing agency device, and making it display on indicator 15. Thereby, the user can peruse a situation of a game under execution as video with other game devices 10.
Game participating control part 47 requires game intervention from the concerned distribution former device with a user's directions, while video receiving part 46 receives a game picture for distribution distributed from a distributing agency device. If a demand of game intervention is permitted by a distributing agency device, game participating control part 47 will transmit after it the contents of game operation which a user performed to final controlling element 16 to a distributing agency device as mentioned above. Control accompanying other game interventions is mentioned below.
Message transmission and reception section 48 performs message switching among other game devices 10. That is, message transmission and reception section 48 transmits to game device 10 with which a user specifies a message which consists of a character string which a user inputted according to a user's demand. A message which other game devices 10 transmitted to self is received. In this embodiment, especially message transmission and reception section 48 of a receiving side device transmits a message which a user of a receiving side device inputted about this distributed game play situation to a distributing agency device, while distribution of a game play situation is performed. This message may be transmitted also to other receiving side devices which have received distribution of a game play situation from the same distributing agency device. Message transmission and reception section 48 of a distributing agency device transmits the contents of the message which a user of a distributing agency device inputted to a receiving side device which has received distribution from the concerned distribution former device while receiving a message transmitted from message transmission and reception section 48 of a receiving side device. Thereby, a user of a distributing agency device and the user of a receiving side device can exchange messages about a game play situation under distribution, and can take communication. Concretely, by such message switching, the user of a receiving side device can give a user under play of a game a hint of a game, can explain the contents of a play to him to other users who view and listen to a play situation of the same game, or can broadcast, for example. It may be transmitted to game device 10 of a direct address, and a message which message transmission and reception section 48 transmits to addressing to a user of other game devices 10 may be transmitted to game device 10 of an address via distribution management server 20 or other message relay servers.
A user of a receiving side device is good also as performing feedback to a user of a distributing agency device by it not only transmitting a message which consists of character strings about a received game picture for distribution, but performing predetermined operation to final controlling element 16. For example, a user of a receiving side device operates a specific button in a scene which thought was interesting while viewing and listening to a game picture for distribution. Then, it is reported that such operation was performed from a receiving side device to a distributing agency device, and game image display controller 43 of a distributing agency device displays on indicator 15 a picture (for example, predetermined icon picture) which tells that there was such operation with a game picture for a play. Thereby, a user of a receiving side device cannot input a character string specially, but と can also know a reaction of a user of a receiving side device to a game picture to which he has distributed a user of a distributing agency device.
[The contents of a display in a distributing agency device] Hereinafter, a game play situation in a distributing agency device and an example of the method of presentation of a message are explained. Game device 10 is provided with a function to receive a message from other game devices 10, as above-mentioned. Game device 10 may display a received message by a display screen for exclusive use, and may show it to a user. However, when a message relevant to a game play situation under distribution is displayed by a display screen for exclusive use, relation of a message and a game play situation is unclear. So, in this embodiment, message transmission and reception section 48 may display on indicator 15 a game picture game image display controller 43 indicates a situation of a game which game practice part 41 is performing to be with a message received from a receiving side device. Thereby, the user can peruse a message which other users inputted about a situation of the game simultaneously, perusing a situation of a game. A message which the game device 10 concerned transmitted to other game devices 10 may also display game image display controller 43 collectively further with a game picture and a received message.
Drawing 5 is a figure showing an example of a picture which game image display controller 43 displays on indicator 15 in a distributing agency device. In an example of this figure, a game picture is displayed in field A1 on the right-hand side of a screen. In field A2 on the left-hand side of a screen, a plurality of messages which the game device 10 concerned received and transmitted are located in a line, and are displayed. Here, a game picture which game image display controller 43 displays with a message may be a game picture for a play which game practice part 41 generated.
Display control of such a picture is realized by processing as shown below. Namely, for every predetermined time, game practice part 41 writes it in a memory field for drawing secured in storage part 12 rather than writes directly a frame picture which constitutes a game picture for a play in frame buffer memory of image processing portion 14. Game image display controller 43 generates a picture which should combine a picture which shows the contents of the message and should be displayed on indicator 15 while it reads a frame picture written in in this memory field and contracts. And a generated picture is written in frame buffer memory. Game image display controller 43 is by repeating such processing for every predetermined time decided according to updating frequency (frame rate) of a picture displayed on indicator 15, While displaying a game picture for a play as video, a message transmitted and received in relation to this game picture can be displayed.
When game practice part 41 generates a game picture for distribution aside from a game picture for a play, game image display controller 43 may display this game picture for distribution on indicator 15 with a message. If it carries out like this, the user can peruse a message which a user who viewed and listened to a picture of this distributed game said, checking as what kind of picture the contents of the game which he is playing are distributed to other users. In this case, game practice part 41 writes too a frame picture which constitutes a game picture for distribution for every predetermined time in a predetermined memory field in storage part 12. It is read in order, it is coded by streaming data of video, and a frame picture written in for every predetermined time of this is distributed to a receiving side device by game situation distribution part 42. In order to reduce data transfer quantity at this time, game situation distribution part 42 may be coded after reducing a frame picture. On the other hand, game image display controller 43 reads a written-in frame picture, whenever a new frame picture is written in a memory field in this storage part 12. And a picture which should combine a picture which reduced a read frame picture, and a picture which shows the contents of the message, and should be displayed on indicator 15 is generated, and a generated picture is written in frame buffer memory. While a game picture for distribution is displayed on indicator 15 as video by repeating such processing, the contents of the message which perused this game picture for distribution collectively, and a user of a receiving side device inputted are displayed.
Information about a situation of a game which the game device 10 concerned other than a message transmitted and received or a game picture distributes now may be included in a picture which game image display controller 43 displays on indicator 15. Concretely, game image display controller 43 may include information on the number of receiving side devices while receiving video which the game device 10 concerned distributes now in a display picture, and may show it to a user, for example. If it carries out like this, the user of a distributing agency device can grasp easily the number of other users who are perusing their play situation.
A kind of picture which game image display controller 43 displays on indicator 15 is good also as changing according to a user's directions. Usually, in order that a user may concentrate on a play of a game, it is preferred that only a game picture for a play is displayed on the whole indicator 15. Thus, in the state where a game picture for a play is displayed alone, When a user directs a display change by the operation input to final controlling element 16, game image display controller 43 displays on indicator 15 a picture containing a message transmitted and received as shown in Drawing 5, and a game picture. And when directions of the further display change are received in this state, suppose that it returns to the state of displaying only a game picture for a play again. If it carries out like this, the user can peruse a message simultaneously, displaying a game picture for a play independently, and concentrating on a play of a game, or perusing a game picture for a play, and a game picture for distribution according to a situation.
[Selection of video by a receiving side device] As above-mentioned, a receiving side device receives distributing agency device information, and chooses from distribution management server 20 video which he receives by choosing a distributing agency device from lists of game devices 10 shown using received information. In this case, a receiving side device may choose a distributing agency device using attribute information related with video used as a candidate for distribution. An example in this case is explained below.
information (for example, host name) as which distribution management server 20 specifies the distributing agency device itself as distributing agency device information -- in addition, attribute information related with a game picture for distribution which the concerned distribution former device distributes is received and memorized from a distributing agency device. A user to whom this attribute information pointed to distribution of the video concerned, for exampleNamely, user specific information (for example, user name) that a user of a distributing agency device who is performing a play of a game which video distributed shows is specified, They are game specific information (for example, game title) that a game used as a candidate for distribution is specified, the maker specific information (for example, manufacture name) that a providing agency company (maker) of the game concerned is specified, etc. As an example, distribution management server 20 holds a table as shown in Drawing 6 as distributing agency device information. This distributing agency device information is the list information which shows which game device 10 has distributed video of what kind of attribute now. A game picture for distribution which each game device 10 contained in this list distributes serves as a candidate of video which a receiving side device makes applicable to a display.
In this example, receiving video selecting part 45 of game device 10 which is going to turn into a receiving side device from now on, and is going to receive distribution of video from other game devices 10 acquires selection condition information first. Here, selection condition information is information which specifies conditions for a receiving side device to choose video for a display, and corresponds to any one or plurality of attribute information mentioned above. Concretely, selection condition information may be information which specifies one of a plurality of user specific information. It may be the information which specifies either game specific information and maker specific information. An example of an acquisition method of selection condition information is mentioned below.
Next, receiving video selecting part 45 acquires distributing agency device information from distribution management server 20, and narrows down a distributing agency device related with attribute information corresponding to selection condition information from the inside. If the number of narrowed-down distributing agency devices is one, video which a distribution former device distributes will be chosen as a candidate for a display. When a plurality of distributing agency devices are narrowed down, receiving video selecting part 45 chooses a distributing agency device of one based on predetermined conditions from it. Most many users who choose at random, for example are viewing and listening to predetermined conditions in this case. That is, they may be the conditions of choosing a distributing agency device which chooses a distributing agency device which distributes video which most many receiving side devices have received and with which distributing agency device information was most newly registered into distribution management server 20. Or receiving video selecting part 45 may display information about video which a plurality of narrowed-down distributing agency devices are distributing on indicator 15, and may make a user choose from the inside video made applicable to a display.
Hereinafter, some examples of an acquisition method of selection condition information are explained.
As the 1st example, receiving video selecting part 45 of game device 10 acquires user specific information that a user who transmitted the message concerned is specified, as selection condition information, when a message is received from other game devices 10. Here, message transmission and reception section 48 of game device 10 may be provided not only with under /reception but with a function which transmits a message to a user of other game devices 10 arbitrarily during distribution of a game picture for distribution. Each game device 10 may be provided with a function to register a user of other game devices 10 as its own user's friend (friend). Especially such a friend's setup may be performed when users permit becoming a friend mutually. When you expect concretely that user U1 of game device 10a sets up user U2 of game device 10b as a friend, for example, user U1 transmits a message which applies for friend registration to user U2. On the other hand, consent of an application of friend registration of user U2 who received a message will perform a friend's setup between user U1 and user U2. In this example, message transmission and reception section 48 of game device 10a decides to embed user specific information that user U1 is specified, to a message which transmits to game device 10b for a friend registration application. When receiving video selecting part 45 of game device 10b receives a message of a friend registration application from user U1, it acquires user's U1 user specific information included in a received message as selection condition information according to user U's2 directions. By this, receiving video selecting part 45 will choose video a user who proposed to friend registration indicates a situation of a game under play to be as video for a display. By receiving such video, user U2 can judge [how user U1 who proposed to a friend setup is playing a game, and] whether it views and listens and consents to a friend registration application from user U1.
As the 2nd example, game device 10 may acquire information about a game under execution as selection condition information by game practice part 41. Concretely, receiving video selecting part 45 responds to directions from game practice part 41, Video which acquires information (for example, information which specifies the game itself [concerned] or information which specifies a maker of the game concerned) about a game which game practice part 41 is performing as selection condition information, and receives it using acquired selection condition information is chosen. And video receiving part 46 starts reception of selected video, and displays the contents on indicator 15. Thereby, video which other game devices 10 have distributed in relation to the game concerned during execution of a game by game practice part 41 can be shown to a user.
As a more concrete example, game application is the timing which starts predetermined processing (for example, read-out processing of data from information storage media, such as an optical disc), and game practice part 41 directs selection of video, and a start of reception. Usually, a user will be kept waiting until the processing is completed, since read-out processing of data from information storage media, such as an optical disc, takes time. Then, while such processing is performed, it can avoid boring a user by receiving and displaying video relevant to a game under execution from other game devices 10. After this predetermined processing is completed, game practice part 41 points to reception of video, and an end of a display to video receiving part 46, and resumes a display of a picture (game picture for a play) which game application generates.
In this example, using game specific information that a game under execution is specified, and maker specific information that a maker of the game concerned is specified, receiving video selecting part 45 is this maker's game, and may choose video of games other than a game under execution. Thus, by choosing video, video of games other than a game which a user is performing can be shown to a user, and a cause for a user to purchase a new game can be made. In this case, receiving video selecting part 45 is good also as choosing video of a game with many video under distribution among a maker's same games except a game under execution as video for a display.
A game which game practice part 41 of a receiving side device has performed until nowThat is, when choosing video of a game in which a user of a receiving side device owns a program as a candidate for a display, video for a display may be chosen according to the percentage of completion of a game at the time of a user playing the game concerned. It may not be preferred to display as an example video for which a play situation in the previous percentage of completion is shown from the percentage of completion of a game in this time of the user concerned depending on a kind of game. That is, in a role playing game, an adventure game, etc., if video which shows a play situation of the previous percentage of completion from the percentage of completion which a user played is displayed, the contents of a story of a game which a user plays after this may be understood. Video which shows a play situation in the percentage of completion comparatively near the percentage of completion which a user is playing is considered to be interested video for a user. Then, in consideration of such a situation, a receiving side device may choose video for a display, using percentage-of-completion information, including for example, coded data which shows a level and the degree of completion of a game character, tag information which shows an advance stage of a story, etc., which shows the percentage of completion of a game as selection condition information.
In this case, game device 10 which tries to distribute notifies percentage-of-completion information which shows the percentage of completion of a game under present play to distribution management server 20 as attribute information. A receiving side device acquires percentage-of-completion information which shows the percentage of completion of the game concerned as selection condition information about each of a game which game practice part 41 had performed so far. Such percentage-of-completion information is acquirable by referring to history information which game application outputs with advance of a game which game practice part 41 performed in the past, for example, and information for reproducing a state in the middle of a play of a game, including what is called save data etc. And receiving video selecting part 45 chooses video which shows the contents of a play in the percentage of completion decided according to the percentage of completion which acquired percentage-of-completion information, and which the percentage-of-completion information concerned shows for every game as video for a display. Receiving video selecting part 45 of a receiving side device decides to except from a candidate for selection more concretely about video with which information which shows the previous percentage of completion from the percentage of completion which percentage-of-completion information acquired as selection condition information shows is related as attribute information, for example. If it carries out like this, when a user will display video of a game under play, it can avoid displaying video which shows a situation under play with the percentage of completion which exceeds the percentage of completion of a game of the user concerned for the same game. or the percentage of completion which percentage-of-completion information which acquired receiving video selecting part 45 as selection condition information shows -- the same -- or information which shows this and the near percentage of completion chooses video associated as attribute information. Receiving video selecting part 45 may choose video combining these conditions. That is, it is the percentage of completion below the percentage of completion which percentage-of-completion information acquired as selection condition information shows, and makes applicable to selection video with which percentage-of-completion information which shows the percentage of completion nearest to this is related. If it carries out like this, video which shows a play situation of the percentage of completion which suited the percentage of completion of a game of a user of a receiving side device can be shown to a user.
A kind of attribute information related with video which serves as a distribution candidate, and information acquired as selection condition information is not restricted to what was explained above. For example, receiving video selecting part 45 may acquire information which specifies a user already registered as a friend as selection condition information, and may choose video which these users have distributed as video for a display.
In the above explanation, receiving video selecting part 45 acquired the whole distributing agency device information which distribution management server 20 memorizes from distribution management server 20, and decided to choose video for a display from candidate video shown in it. However, narrowing down of video for a display may be performed by the distribution management server 20 side. For example, receiving video selecting part 45 of game device 10 transmits a selection demand including acquired selection condition information to distribution management server 20, after acquiring selection condition information. Distribution management server 20 which received selection condition information, By performing processing which receiving video selecting part 45 performed in the above-mentioned explanation, and same processing, game device 10 which transmitted a selection demand chooses one of the video with which attribute information corresponding to a selection condition included in an accepted selection demand was related as video which should be made applicable to a display. And distribution management server 20 directs distribution to game device 10 which made a selection demand to a distributing agency device which distributes the selected video concerned. When a distributing agency device which received these directions distributes to game device 10 which made a selection demand, the game device 10 concerned performs reception of video which distribution management server 20 chose, and a display as a receiving side device. Distribution management server 20 does not narrow down to one video which game device 10 which made a selection demand should make applicable to a display, but its と is also good. In this case, distribution management server 20 transmits information on each of a plurality of candidate video with which attribute information corresponding to selection condition information received from game device 10 was related to game device 10, for example. Game device 10 which received this information is the method of making a user choose etc. for example, narrows down video finally displayed on indicator 15 to one, and requires distribution from a distributing agency device of the video concerned from distribution management server 20.
In the above explanation, although other game devices 10 made video which shows a situation of a game under execution actually a distribution candidate's video, a distribution candidate's video chosen by a selection method explained so far is not restricted to such a thing. For example, it supposes each game device 10 that data of video made applicable [to other game devices 10] to distribution is transmitted to distribution management server 20, and its distribution management server 20 is good also as memorizing data of received video. In this case, even after a play (and distribution of video which shows the play situation concerned) of a game in a distributing agency device is completed, distributed data of video is stored in distribution management server 20. Distribution management server 20 associates and memorizes attribute information received from game device 10 which distributed the video concerned to these video. If it carries out like this, self serves as a distributing agency device and distribution management server 20 can distribute video distributed to other game devices 10 from one of game devices 10 in the past to game device 10 which made a distribution demand. Also in this case, video for a display can be effectively chosen by narrowing down video for a display according to selection condition information which game device 10 which is going to receive distribution acquired. Video which distribution management server 20 distributes may be not the video itself that a distributing agency device distributed to a receiving side device but video which a user of a distributing agency device edits such video, and is generated. Video produced by he editing video distributed in the past and this video is not uploaded to distribution management server 20, but he memorizes it, and a distributing agency device may distribute it to other game devices 10 according to a demand.
[Game intervention] Next, control in case a user of a receiving side device participates in a game under execution with a distributing agency device is explained. When a game under execution is a game in which two or more user participation is possible with a distributing agency device, as mentioned above, the receiving side device can participate in this game by transmitting a participating demand to a distributing agency device. In this case, game participating control part 47 of a receiving side device, In the state where video receiving part 46 is displaying on indicator 15 a game picture for distribution received from a distributing agency device, a participating demand of a game is transmitted to a distributing agency device according to registration of this operation input by receiving a predetermined operation input to final controlling element 16 from a user. A predetermined operation input in this case may be operating a specific operation member which constitutes final controlling element 16, for example. Or it may be the operation to a picture for operation which is the target of participating operation displayed on a screen of indicator 15. Concretely, video receiving part 46 displays an icon picture showing a participating button as a picture for operation with a game picture for distribution received from a distributing agency device, for example. And when a user operates final controlling element 16 and shows a direction, the focus of the participating button is carried out, and when operation of directing determination is performed, a participating demand of a game is transmitted to a distributing agency device. Thereby, the user of a receiving side device can perform participating procedure to a game to suitable timing (for example, timing which does not check a play of a game, such as timing to which a user of a distributing agency device has taken a brief recess in a play of a game), perusing a play situation of a game.
Drawing 7 is a figure showing an example of a display screen containing icon picture I showing such a participating button. As shown in an example of this figure, while displaying a game picture for distribution distributed from a distributing agency device on field A1 like a distributing agency device also in a receiving side device, a message transmitted and received between distributing agency devices may be displayed on field A2.
Game participating control part 47 may transmit to distribution management server 20 rather than may transmit a participating demand to a game under execution to a distributing agency device directly with a distributing agency device. In this case, distribution management server 20 judges propriety of intervention in a game by a receiving side device which made a participating demand based on predetermined conditions, and when a permission is granted, it transmits a participating demand to a distributing agency device. In this case, since a receiving side device is making a distribution demand of video from a distributing agency device to distribution management server 20 in advance of a participating demand in a game, distribution management server 20 is, A receiving side device does not specify game device 10 in particular for intervention, but can specify as game device 10 with which と was also the target of a participating demand of a distributing agency device which is distributing the present video to a receiving side device. Thus, distribution management server 20 can restrict intervention in a game under execution with other game devices 10 by each game device 10 by processing a participating demand via distribution management server 20.
For example, it may not be preferred that a user who does not own a program of a game which was the target of a participating demand by control of game intervention by this embodiment can play with other game devices 10 in a game under execution without any restriction depending on a kind of game. Then, distribution management server 20 memorizes beforehand information which specifies a game which is the target of participating restriction, and when a participating demand in a game specified using the information concerned is accepted, it may judge propriety of game intervention based on predetermined conditions.
As the example of judgment conditions of participating propriety in this case, Conditions which had performed a game from which game practice part 41 of a receiving side device which made a participating demand was the target of a participating demand in the past (that is, a user of a receiving side device can play the game concerned also with his own game device 10) are mentioned. Distribution management server 20 which accepted a participating demand in a game used as a candidate for restriction concretely asks whether application of the game concerned was performed in the past to game device 10 which made a participating demand. As a result, since a user who made a participating demand will be presumed to be able to play a game which was the target of a participating demand also with its own game device 10 (receiving side device) if it is judged that it may be performed, intervention is permitted unconditionally. On the other hand, when a game which was the target of a participating demand is not performed with a receiving side device, distribution management server 20 is restricted in a mode which was able to define intervention in a game beforehand. It may restrict to a definite period of time which forbids all interventions as a mode of restriction in this case, for example, and there may be permitting intervention etc. A mode of this restriction may be separately set up for every game application. For example, it is good also as game intervention in other game devices 10 by a user who does not own a program of the game concerned about game G1 being permitted only for 1 hour on the 1st, and being permitted about game G2 till 3 hours on the 1st.
In this case, distribution management server 20 may be judged with reference to history information on which game practice part 41 records whether a game which was the target of a participating demand was performed in the past with a receiving side device at the time of execution of game application, for example. Or it may judge by existence of information (information on save data) for reproducing a state in the middle of a play of a game recorded on an information storage medium by directions of a user under game play.
Although distribution management server 20 decided to judge propriety of game intervention here, propriety of game intervention may be judged by receiving side device or a distributing agency device.
Processing after game intervention is explained. As already stated, the game application which game practice part 41 performs by this embodiment can generate a game picture for distribution displayed on indicator 15 connected to a receiving side device aside from a game picture for a play displayed on indicator 15 connected to a distributing agency device. Therefore, the user of a receiving side device which participated in a game under execution with a distributing agency device not only can play a game, but can play a game independently, perusing game picture with an another game picture for a play of a distributing agency device, sharing the same game screen as a distributing agency device. It is specifically choosing a choice from which a plurality of users differ mutually in the middle of a game, for example in an adventure game etc., and playing a game as it is, The user of a distributing agency device and each receiving side device can enjoy change of game advance which arises by selection of a choice in real time.
In this embodiment, game application which game practice part 41 performs may output information (henceforth play result pertinent information) about a play result of a game. This play result pertinent information is information which game application outputs, when a play result of a game by a user fulfills predetermined conditions, For example, they may be information on a rank which shows a point in which the degree of achievement of a game play by a user is shown, and how many play results of a game are excellent, the information which shows that there is a track record of having performed a play which fulfills special conditions, etc. In this case, game practice part 41 of a distributing agency device may output play result pertinent information according to the contents of a play which a user of not only a play by a user of a distributing agency device but a receiving side device performed, may relate with a user of a distributing agency device, and it may memorize it to storage part 12 of a distributing agency device. Thereby, the user of a distributing agency device can also acquire play result pertinent information by a game play of a user of not only play result pertinent information but a receiving side device according to his own game play as his own play result.
A receiving side device may also enable it to acquire play result pertinent information which game practice part 41 of a distributing agency device outputs. In this case, if predetermined conditions are fulfilled by play which a user of a receiving side device performed and game practice part 41 of a distributing agency device outputs a play result print-out by it, game participating reception part 44 will transmit the play result pertinent information concerned to a receiving side device. Game participating control part 47 of a receiving side device which received play result pertinent information judges whether a game in which a user participated is the game performed also with a receiving side device until now. As a result, when it is judged that a game in which a user participated is a game performed also with a receiving side device in the past, Play result pertinent information received from a distributing agency device is related with a user of a receiving side device, and is memorized to storage part 12 with play result pertinent information outputted in the past according to a play result of a game by a receiving side device. Namely, a receiving side device treats play result pertinent information acquired as a result of a user's playing a game within a receiving side device, and play result pertinent information acquired as a result of participating in a game of a distributing agency device as data of the same kind, and memorizes and manages it to a common storage area. In the case of coded data, such as a point which play result pertinent information shows the degree of achievement, both may be added together and a total value may be memorized as new play result pertinent information.
On the contrary, in the case of a game which that a user participated had not performed with a receiving side device in the past, although game participating control part 47 of a receiving side device may cancel received play result pertinent information, it may be memorized as preservation data temporarily at storage part 12, without canceling this. When memorizing as preservation data temporarily, game practice part 41 performs application of the game concerned after that, When play result pertinent information about a user's game play result is outputted, it memorizes as information which shows a play result of a user of the receiving side device concerned with play result pertinent information to which game practice part 41 outputs play result pertinent information memorized as preservation data temporarily. Also about a game in which he has not owned a user of a receiving side device yet by this, It participates in a game in other game devices 10, and play result pertinent information is acquired, and when purchasing the game behind and beginning to play also with its own game device 10, play result pertinent information acquired beforehand can be reflected as its own game play result.
When a user of a receiving side device participates in a game under execution with a distributing agency device and interrupts the play on the way, it is good also as receiving and memorizing information on save data for reproducing a state in the middle of the play, etc. from a distributing agency device. Thereby, if a user of a receiving side device owns a program of a game which participated, he can play a continuation of a game played with other game devices 10 with his own game device 10.
6 sheets
Sheet 1 Sheet 2 Sheet 3 Sheet 4 Sheet 5 Sheet 6
Every citation, both ways
| Document | Relation | Office | Category | Cited during |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP2013165910A | Cited by | Japan | – | Search report |
| US9861900B2 | Cited by | United States of America | – | Applicant |
| JP2013165911A | Cited by | Japan | – | Search report |
| US10413835B2 | Cited by | United States of America | – | Applicant |
| WO2013122203A1 | Cited by | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | – | International search |
| WO2013122204A1 | Cited by | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | – | International search |
| CN104684622A | Cited by | China | – | Search report |
| JP2002248273A | Cites | Japan | X | International search |
| JP2003000951A | Cites | Japan | Y | International search |
| JP2003024643A | Cites | Japan | A | International search |
| JP2004223084A | Cites | Japan | A | International search |
| JP2004329914A | Cites | Japan | Y | International search |
| JP2005296419A | Cites | Japan | Y | International search |
| JP2007222563A | Cites | Japan | Y | International search |
15 members in 6 offices
Members15
| Document | Office | Kind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2012017995A1This record | World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) | A1 | |
| JP2012034792A | Japan | A | |
| JP2012034793A | Japan | A | |
| JP2012038042A | Japan | A | |
| CN103068451A | China | A | |
| US2013130794A1 | United States of America | A1 | |
| EP2602010A1 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A1 | |
| EP2602010A4 | European Patent Office (EPO) | A4 | |
| RU2013109425A | Russian Federation | A | |
| RU2538910C2 | Russian Federation | C2 | |
| CN103068451B | China | B | |
| CN104436650A | China | A | |
| JP5991649B2 | Japan | B2 | |
| CN104436650B | China | B | |
| US10130890B2 | United States of America | B2 |
6 legal events, as 3 offices reported them to INPADOC
Over the term
Point at a mark for the eventEvents
| Event | Code | Office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry into the national phaseENP | ENP | RU | |
| Wipo information: entry into national phaseWWE | WWE | WO | |
| Non-entry into the national phaseNENP | NENP | DE | |
| Wipo information: entry into national phaseWWE | WWE | WO | |
| Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application121 | 121 | WO | |
| Wipo information: entry into national phaseWWE | WWE | WO |
Numbers
- Publication
- 2012/017995
- Application
- 67622
Titles4
- English
- Game device
- French
- DISPOSITIF DE JEU
- Unlabeled
- ゲーム装置
- Japanese
- Game device
Classification
- CPC, 6
- A63F13/86
- A63F2300/53
- A63F2300/534
- A63F13/87
- A63F13/30
- A63F13/79
- IPC, 3
- A63F13 12
- A63F13 10
- G06F13 00
Designated states140
- Regional, 78
- Botswana
- Ghana
- Gambia
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Sudan
- Sierra Leone
- Eswatini
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Kyrgyzstan
- Kazakhstan
- Republic of Moldova
- Russian Federation
- Tajikistan
and 54 moreShow fewer
- Turkmenistan
- Albania
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Switzerland
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Germany
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Spain
- Finland
- France
- United Kingdom
- Greece
- Croatia
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Iceland
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Latvia
- Monaco
- North Macedonia
- Malta
- Netherlands (Kingdom of the)
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Serbia
- Sweden
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
- San Marino
- Türkiye
- Burkina Faso
- Benin
- Central African Republic
- Congo
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Cameroon
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Equatorial Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Niger
- Senegal
- Chad
- Togo
- National, 62
- United Arab Emirates
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Angola
- Australia
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Barbados
- Bahrain
- Brazil
- Belize
- Canada
- Chile
- China
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Algeria
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- Grenada
- Georgia
- Guatemala
- Honduras
and 38 moreShow fewer
- Indonesia
- Israel
- India
- Comoros
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
- Republic of Korea
- Lao People’s Democratic Republic
- Saint Lucia
- Sri Lanka
- Libya
- Morocco
- Montenegro
- Madagascar
- Mongolia
- Mexico
- Malaysia
- Nigeria
- Nicaragua
- New Zealand
- Oman
- Peru
- Papua New Guinea
- Philippines
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Sao Tome and Principe
- El Salvador
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Thailand
- Tunisia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Ukraine
- United States of America
- Uzbekistan
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Viet Nam
- South Africa