WO1995015801A1

WO1995015801A1 - Game system

Info

Publication number: WO1995015801A1
Application number: PCT/JP1994/002007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Takatoshi Takemoto; Kazunari Kawashima
Original assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ace Denken
Priority date: 1993-12-06
Filing date: 1994-11-30
Publication date: 1995-06-15
Also published as: JPH1133232A; AU1119495A

Abstract

A game system comprises a centralized controller (20) and a plurality of game machines (10) connected to the centralized controller (20) in a manner to enable communication therebetween. The centralized controller (20) comprises a ROM (22) and a RAM (23), both of which serve to store a plurality of programs for games which are played on a part or all of the plurality of game machines, and a CPU (21) and a communication driver (27), which serve to transmit to specified game machines specified programs for games among the plurality of programs for games. The game machines (10) comprise a ROM (34) and a RAM (35), both of which serve to store the transmitted programs for games, an image display unit (11), an operation switch (17), and a CPU (33) for executing the programs for games and displaying images for games on the image display unit (11), and on receiving operation by the operation switch (17) changing the images for games.

Description

Specification

Game system technical field

The present invention relates to a game system for centrally managing a plurality of game machines. Background art

There are many playgrounds where multiple game consoles are installed. Players at the amusement arcade can enjoy the game by throwing cash or the like into a target game machine. .

However, in the past, each game console could only play a specific type of game.

For this reason, the model desired by the player was used by another player, and none of them was available. In such a case, the player had to wait for the desired type of game machine to be available or to play another game on another game machine. Disclosure of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a game system in which a player has a high possibility of playing a desired game in order to solve the above problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a centralized And a plurality of game machines communicably connected to the centralized controller.

The centralized controller includes a first storage unit that stores a plurality of types of game programs for a game performed on a part or all of the plurality of game machines, and a plurality of types stored in the first storage unit. Transmitting means for transmitting a specified game program among the specified game programs to a specified game machine;

Each of the plurality of game machines is stored in a second storage unit that stores a game program transmitted by the transmission unit, an image display unit, an operation unit, and the second storage unit. Executing the game program, displaying the game screen on the image display means, receiving an operation by the operation means, and changing the game screen accordingly. Provided is a game system characterized by comprising means and.

In the game system according to the present invention, the first storage means of the centralized controller stores a plurality of types of game programs of a game performed on a part or all of the plurality of game machines. The transmission means selects a designated game program from among these, and transmits this to the designated game machine. On the other hand, the game machine stores the transmitted game program in the second storage means. The control means executes the game program stored in the second storage means and stores the game program in the image display means. The game screen is displayed, and an operation by the operation means is received, and the game screen is changed accordingly. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of one embodiment of a game system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram relating to a game program of an embodiment of the game system according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an external view of one embodiment of the game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram relating to a game screen of an embodiment of the game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram relating to a game screen of an embodiment of the game machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of one embodiment of the game system according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the invention will be described as an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the game system according to the present embodiment includes a centralized controller 20 and a plurality of game machines 10 connected thereto. Each game machine 10 is installed in a game arcade. The centralized controller 20 is installed in a monitoring room where a game arcade manager who manages the game arcade (for example, a game arcade clerk) resides. As shown in FIG. 3, an image display section 11 is provided on the front of the game machine 10. The image display section 11 can display an image relating to the game selected by the player.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the game machine 10 further distinguishes between the input port 12 into which cash (bills or coins) is inserted and the cash input through the input port 12. A cash identification machine 31 for reading, a card slot 13 for inserting a card such as a prepaid card, a readout of the amount recorded on the prepaid card, A read-write device 32 that writes a predetermined amount of money to the card, a price designation switch 14, a game name of the game selected by the player, points scored in the game, etc. , A small display unit 15 for displaying the game, a checkout switch 16, an operation switch 17 used for moving the cursor displayed on the image display section 11, and a game. Setting switches 18 used when playing Various game switches 19, a cancel switch 19a for canceling the game once selected by the player, a PU 33 for controlling each part of the game machine 10, and a CPU. 3 Storage section for storing the programs executed in 3

(ROM 34, RAM 35) and a communication driver 36 for communicating with the centralized control port 20.

For the above-mentioned storage unit, a flash memory, an IC card, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, and the like can be used in addition to the IC memory such as R0M and RAM. For the image display section 11, a CRT or a liquid crystal display device can be used. Further, the operation switch 17 may be, for example, a device using a stick-shaped member or a device having a rotatably provided ball.

As shown in FIG. 2, the R 記憶 M 34 and the RAM 35 store a first storage area 10 a for storing the normal game programs 1 to 4 and a special game program. And a third storage area (not shown) for storing other information and serving as a main memory.

For example, if a prepaid card is inserted from the card slot 13 and the amount of money to be used in the game is specified by the amount specifying switch 14 thereafter, the CPU 33 Subtracts this usage amount from the remaining amount of the prepaid card, and displays the result on the display 15. Also, CPU 3 3 Simultaneously displays a game selection screen as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5 on the image display section 11.

Then, when the cursor is moved to a predetermined position on the image display unit 11 by the operation switch 17 and a specific game is designated by pressing the setting switch 18. CPU 33 calls the game program of this game into main memory and executes it. The points scored by the player during the game (the number of balls in the case of a pachinko game) are stored in the main memory at any time. After the game is over, if the checkout switch 16 is pressed, the score of the game at this point is added to the previous score recorded on the prepaid card, and the result is updated and recorded on the prepaid card Is done. The prepaid card also records the current amount of money. After such information is recorded, the prepaid card is paid out from the card slot 13.

In this embodiment, the normal game programs 1, 2, 3, and 4 are classified into genres. The regular game program 1 is a pachinko game, the regular game program 2 is a slot game, the regular game program 3 is a video game, and the regular game program 4 is a game that implements other games. It can be. In addition, in each game program, several types of games can be played. For example, the regular game program 4 displays a plurality of cards on the image display section 11 and controls the player for these cards. It is possible to execute a card game in which a game is made to progress and a rule game in which a rule is displayed on the image display section 11. The player can arbitrarily select which game program and what kind of game to play.

In addition, the CPU 33 determines whether the cash or the prepaid card is used, the amount of cash or prepaid card inserted, information (money information) such as the specified amount of money used, the type of the executed game, and the type of the game. The information (game information) such as the number of times the game has been executed, the progress of the game, and the points scored by the player in the game is transmitted to the centralized controller 20 via the communication driver 36. In the case of a pachinko game, the number of shots in which safe holes, the number of occurrences of fibers, the number of points paid out during each fiber, the time from what time to what time, Further, information on detection of a hit, a hit, or a hit is transmitted to the centralized controller 20 as the game information.

As shown in FIG. 1, the centralized controller 20 includes a CPU 21, a storage unit (R〇M 22, RAM 23) for storing programs executed by the CPU 21, and each game machine 1. It has a main unit with a built-in communication driver 27 for communicating with the device 0, an image display unit 24, a printer 25, and a keyboard 26 as an input device. A CRT or the like can be used for the image display section 24. The CPU 21 performs various processes based on the input operation by the keyboard 26 of the game arcade manager. This process includes, for example, a process of setting a game program for the game machine 10 and a process of deleting the same. Specifically, it is also possible to set a program relating to the pachinko game A and B for a certain game machine 10 and delete other programs relating to the pachinko game. When such a setting is made, the player cannot perform only the A and B of the no-dick dick game on the game machine 10. In this way, the games that the player can select can be limited.

ROM 22 and RAM 23 store a master program of each of the normal game programs 1 to 4 and the special game program. Then, the CPU 21 receives, via the keyboard 26, an instruction as to which game machine 10 is to be set with which game program, and according to this, the master program is transferred to the master program. Set to game console 10. At this time, the normal game programs 1 to 4 are stored in the first storage area 10a, and the special game programs are stored in the second storage area 10b. The master program will be replaced by a new one at any time by the arcade manager. In addition, the special game program refers to a program in which the difficulty level of the game is set in the centralized controller 20 in advance. For example, in the case of a pachinko game, the appearance of balls is adjusted.

In addition, based on the input operation by the keyboard 26, the CPU 21 may be configured to change parameters or the like of each game program. Even in this way, the difficulty of each game can be set. The difficulty level may be set from the keyboard 26 each time, or may be automatically changed by a process in the operation program of the CPU 21. Of course, a program for performing such processing is stored in advance in R0M22 or the like. In addition, the automatic change process can be realized by storing a random number table in advance and using this.

In addition, the CPU 21 can display a message on the image display section 11 of each game machine 10 based on an input operation of the game arcade manager by the keyboard 26. For example, if a player is playing a pachinko game and is likely to be stopped, a message such as "I'm about to stop, do my best!" May be displayed. In addition, when it is closed, "Congratulations ... it is stopped", and when the store is nearing closure, it will be closed soon. We are waiting for you tomorrow. May be displayed. Of course, it is also possible to display advertisements for nearby stores. These messages are displayed at one corner of the image display section 11 so as not to disturb the game. This message display may be performed from the keyboard 26 each time, or may be automatically performed as a process in the operation program of the CPU 21. . Further, the CPU 21 stores the monetary information and the game information transmitted from each game machine 10 in the storage unit. The information is called up by a call command from the keyboard 26, etc., and then, if necessary, is subjected to arithmetic processing or converted into a predetermined output format (for example, a table format). It is displayed on the image display section 24. The information displayed on the image display section 24 can also be output from the printer 25.

Next, the operation of the game system of the present embodiment will be described.

In the game system of the present embodiment, a player can select a desired game from various games within a range set from the centralized controller 20 in any of the game machines 10. You can freely select and play games.

That is, when cash or a prepaid card is inserted into the game machine 10 by the player, this amount of money is displayed on the display 15. Next, when the amount to be used for one game is designated by the amount designation switch 14, the designated amount is subtracted from the amount displayed on the display 15, and the display 1 5 shows the balance. At the same time, a game selection screen shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the image display section 11. Use the control switch 17 to move the cursor to the position where the game name of the target game is displayed, and press the setting switch 18 to switch the game to the target game. You can get started. The game selection screen is shown in Fig. 5, for example. It may be something like that. On the game selection screen in Fig. 5, icons representing each game are shown. This icon may be a picture of the actual game console itself. Note that the game name (or icon) displayed on the game selection screen is displayed only for games permitted from the centralized controller 20.

When a target game is selected, a game screen of this game appears on the image display section 11. If the cancel switch 19a is pressed at this point, the image display section 11 returns to the above-mentioned game selection screen. Do this if you want to redo the game selection. Note that, before the game screen is displayed, an operation description related to the game is displayed.

If the user has used up the predetermined amount of money during the game, the game can be continued within the remaining amount by pressing the amount specifying switch 14 again. If the balance is exhausted, the game cannot be continued unless additional cash is inserted. Even if the specified amount of money remains, if the game machine 10 is instructed by the centralized controller 20 or the like to forcibly end the game (for example, if a stop is detected If a signal indicating forced termination is received), the game ends according to this instruction.

When the checkout switch 16 is pressed at the end of the game, the remaining amount and points earned at that point will be Is updated and paid out from the prepaid card dedicated slot 13. When the game is started by cash input, the remaining amount and the points earned are recorded on an internal card-shaped recording medium, and are paid out from the dedicated card slot 13 for prepaid cards. The player can go to the prize exchange counter with the paid out prepaid card or the issued card to receive a prize exchange or cash return. Of course, the game can be performed again with another game machine 10. Also, at the end of the game, the user can perform the game selection operation again without pressing the checkout switch 16 to perform the desired game.

On the other hand, the game arcade manager can set an executable game, set a game difficulty level, and send a message to each game machine 10 while staying in the monitoring room. it can. As a result, the management of the amusement arcade is difficult, and the services for the players are also perfect.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. A centralized controller and a plurality of game machines communicably connected to the centralized controller,

The centralized controller includes a first storage unit that stores a plurality of types of game programs for a game performed on a part or all of the plurality of game machines, and a plurality of the plurality of game programs that are stored in the first storage unit. Transmission means for transmitting a specified game program among the various game programs to a specified game machine;

Each of the plurality of game machines is stored in the second storage means for storing the game program transmitted by the transmission means, the image display means, the operation means, and the second storage means. Executing the game program, displaying the game screen on the image display means, receiving the operation by the operation means, and changing the game screen in response to the operation. A game system, comprising: a control means for changing.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second storage means is capable of storing a plurality of types of game programs transmitted by the transmission means, and wherein the game machine operates based on an external operation. The game apparatus further includes a selection means for selecting any one of a plurality of types of game programs stored in the second storage means, and the control means includes a game program selected by the selection means. A game system that specializes in executing programs.

3. The centralized controller according to claim 1 or 2, The game system further comprises means for displaying a message on the image display means based on an external operation.

4. The game console according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the centralized controller changes a parameter of the game program so that the game program is executed when the game program is executed. A game system characterized by further providing a means for setting a difficulty level.

5. Having an image display means, and displaying the game screen of the game selected by the player on the image display means based on the game program specified by the selection of the player, thereby enabling the game. And a centralized controller that sets a game program that can be selected by a player for each of the game machines based on an input operation by a game arcade manager. A game system characterized by comprising: