JP2002292120A - Game apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide games which can further enhance entertaining performances by adding collecting aspects of characters to the games. SOLUTION: In the organizing of a plurality of characters as a team, those obtained by actual exchanges with other game players and those newly obtained according to the results of games with other game players are arranged to form the team. This adds collecting aspects of characters to the games thereby enabling further enhancing of entertaining performances.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game apparatus capable of trading, for example, characters in a game world between game players.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Regardless of whether it is for home use or for business use, game machines are becoming popular among the people as providing the closest and easy entertainment. Under such circumstances, enhancing the entertainment of the game has significant significance in itself.

[0003] In this regard, there is a game player who raises various characters in the game world or acquires a new character every time the game is completed. In these games, each game player exchanges various characters that he or she has nurtured or acquired in the game world with other game players, and the elements of collection are added to the game to further enhance the entertaining ability. .

[0004]

However, in these conventional games, data of all characters is stored in advance in a game program owned by each game player, and characters are exchanged between game players. Even in this case, the data is not actually exchanged, and among the various character data prepared in advance in the user's game program,
The same data as that of a character apparently traded by another game player can be used in his or her own game program. Thus, it is merely as if it were actually exchanging character data.

Therefore, in this type of conventional game device, the types of characters to be exchanged are limited because character data prepared in advance in a game program owned by each game player is limited. The collection was poor. Also, the fact that the data of all characters is prepared in advance in your own game program,
This means that if the game player strives to clear the game, it is possible to eventually acquire all the characters and exchange characters with other game players. However, there was a problem that the significance of the system became low.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game which can add a character collection to a game to further enhance the entertainment.

[0007]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a game character is actually exchanged with another game player, or the game character is changed according to the result of the game. Is newly acquired, and a team is formed by the exchanged or acquired characters, thereby adding the character's collection to the game to further enhance the entertainment.

In particular, when a team is formed by a plurality of characters, the game can be provided with a character collection property by forming the team by various characters.

[0009] More specifically, the present invention provides the following.

(1) A game device for playing a game with another game device directly or via a server, wherein a communication unit for communicating with the other game device or the server is provided. An input unit for inputting an intention, the game being advanced based on the game program of the game, and a processing result of the game program of the other game device being received via the communication unit; And / or a control unit that processes the game program based on information input from the input unit, and performs a process of transmitting the processing result to the another game device or the server via the communication unit. The control unit includes a key used for a game with the other game device based on a result of the game with the other game device. A game device, which performs control for transmitting and receiving character data and performs control for forming a new character team based on character data obtained by transmitting and receiving the character data.

(2) The game device according to (1), wherein the game result with the other game device is a game result between characters in a competitive game.

(3) A game device for playing a game with another game device directly or via a server, wherein a communication unit for communicating with the other game device or the server is provided. An input unit for inputting an intention, the game being advanced based on the game program of the game, and a processing result of the game program of the other game device being received via the communication unit; And / or a control unit that processes the game program based on information input from the input unit, and performs a process of transmitting the processing result to the another game device or the server via the communication unit. The control unit acquires character data posted on an electronic bulletin board of the server connected via the communication unit, and acquires the character data. A game device for controlling the formation of a character team based on the obtained character data.

As described above, by acquiring a character by a game battle with another game device or exchanging a character with another game device,
The team is not limited to a predetermined character, but can be formed by various characters, and a character collection property can be added to the game.

[Definition of Terms, etc.] The “game device” according to the present invention includes all devices such as a dedicated device for reproducing data from a storage medium, a general-purpose computer, and a mobile phone. May be used. Also,
Some household items are portable.

"Content" includes movies, music, advertisements,
Includes anything that has any content in any field, such as photographs, paintings, book content or registered trademarks.

The "game program" is the content of the game executed by the game device, and includes games in all fields, such as a role-playing game having a story, a fighting game, and an aircraft control game.

The "storage medium" includes downloading a program via a DVD or other optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, or any storage medium such as an IC memory, or a line such as a network.

The "player" is not limited to a person who plays a game, but also includes a person who plays and enjoys a content such as a movie.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a game system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Apparatus Configuration] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a game system 1 having a game apparatus 10 according to the present invention. In the game system 1 shown in FIG. 1,
A plurality of game devices 10 are connected to the public telephone network 2,
Each game device 10 is connected to the server 4 via the public telephone network 2.
, Various information can be received from the server 4.

The portable telephone 70 can be connected to the portable telephone network 3 via the base station 5, and can access the server 4 via the public telephone network 2.

The server 4 manages addresses of the respective game devices 10 and the mobile phone 70, whereby the respective game devices 10 and the mobile phone 70 can exchange information with each other via the server 4. .

Each game device 10 includes the game device 10
CRT (Cathode) that displays the image of the game executed on
Ray Tube) display 41 is connected. This C
The RT display 41 is provided with a speaker 42 for outputting a sound of a game executed on the game device 10.

The game player can input various commands to the game apparatus main body 11 by operating the controller 12 connected to the game apparatus main body 11, and thereby the game software loaded in the game apparatus main body 11 can be input. DVD-ROM (Read Only Memory) 2
DVD-R on which a game program is read out from 1 and is advanced, or a content such as a movie is recorded.
The content can be reproduced from the OM.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the game apparatus main body 11. The central processing unit 13 includes a main storage unit 18.
Executes various processes according to the program stored in the.

The central processing unit 13 inputs a command S11 output from the controller 12 in response to a game player's operation to support reproduction, to the input interface 14
Received through the DV in accordance with the command S11.
By supplying a reproduction control signal S12 to the D reproduction unit 20, the reproduction of the DVD reproduction unit 20 is controlled.

For example, when the central processing unit 13 supplies a playback control signal S12 for executing a game to the DVD playback unit 20 based on the command S11,
The VD playback unit 20 stores the DVD-R loaded at this time.
The game program is read from the OM, and the read game program is output to the central processing unit 13.

The central processing unit 13 stores the game program read from the DVD reproducing unit 20 in the main storage unit 1.
8 and execute the game program.

When the execution of the game program is started, the game player operates the controller 12 to input various commands necessary for progressing the game to the central processing unit 13 of the game apparatus main body 11. The central processing unit 13 reads the basic data S13a of the game corresponding to the game program to be advanced from the DVD of the main storage unit 18 or the DVD reproduction unit 20 and supplies the basic data S13a to the graphics processing unit 15. At 15, game image data S15 based on the basic data S13a is generated.

The graphics processing section 15 supplies the generated game image data S15 to the display control section 16. The display controller 16 converts the game image data S15 into a video signal S16 of the NTSC system, and then outputs this to the CRT display 41 for display.

At this time, the central processing unit 13 transmits the basic data D1 for sound reproduction included in the game program.
By supplying 3b to the sound processing unit 19, an audio signal S19 is generated, and is supplied to the audio output unit 17 to be amplified to a predetermined level and output from the speaker 42 as reproduced sound.

Thus, in accordance with the progress of the game program from the DVD, the content of the game is displayed as an image on the CRT display 41, and sound accompanying the sound is emitted from the speaker 42.

The central processing unit 13 executes the command S1
When the DVD playback unit 20 supplies a playback control signal S12 for playing back a content such as a movie to the DVD playback unit 20 based on
Content data composed of moving image data and audio data is read from the D-ROM and decoded. The DVD playback unit 20 supplies the decoded video data S25 to the display control unit 16. Display control unit 16
Converts the moving image data S25 into an NTSC video signal S1.
After the conversion to 6, this is output to the CRT display 41 and displayed. In addition, the DVD reproducing unit 20 supplies the audio data S27 subjected to the decoding process to the audio output unit 17. The audio output unit 17 converts the audio data S27 into an analog signal of a predetermined level,
Output to 2.

As described above, when the loaded DVD-ROM 21 records a content such as a movie, the game apparatus main body 11 can reproduce the movie from the DVD-ROM 21, and DVD
In the case where the ROM 21 stores a game program, the game program can be read from the DVD-ROM 21 and executed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the DVD reproducing section 20. As shown in FIG.
The D drive 22 reads the packetized reproduction data from the DVD-ROM 21 and
To supply. The error correction processing unit 23 performs an error correction process on the reproduced data using an error correction code (Reed-Solomon code).

Then, the error correction processing section 23 supplies the reproduced data subjected to the error correction processing to the separation section 24. The separation unit 24 extracts a packet based on a disc information file, which will be described later, from each of the packetized playback data, so that the game program stream S20 including a plurality of packets including game program data, or a moving image of a content such as a movie A video stream S24v composed of a plurality of packets constituting data and an audio stream S24a composed of a plurality of packets constituting audio data of content such as a movie are obtained.

The separating section 24 converts the game program stream S20 extracted from the reproduced data into the central processing section 13
1 (FIG. 1), the central processing unit 13 starts executing the game program as described above with reference to FIG.

The separating section 24 converts the video stream S24v extracted from the reproduced data into an MPEG (Moving
(Picture coding Experts Group). The MPEG decoder 25 outputs the video stream S
The video data S25 is generated by decoding the 24v in, for example, the MPEG2 system and supplied to the display control unit 16 (FIG. 1). The display control unit 16 converts the video data S25 into the video signal S16 of the NTSC system and converts this into the video signal S16 of the CRT display 41, as described above with reference to FIG.
Output to

The separating section 24 supplies the audio stream S24a extracted from the reproduced data to the audio decoder 27. The audio decoder 27 generates audio data S27 by decoding the audio stream S24a by, for example, the AC-3 method, and supplies this to the audio output unit 17 (FIG. 1). Audio output unit 17
Is the audio data S as described above with reference to FIG.
27 is converted into an analog signal of a predetermined level, and this is output to the speaker 42.

Next, the data structure of content data such as a movie including moving picture data and audio data stored in the DVD-ROM 21 will be described.

FIG. 4 shows content data such as a movie including moving picture data and audio data in a DVD-ROM 21 on which content such as a movie is recorded, and image data of a character appearing in the movie. This shows a data structure in which usable character data is mixed. The character data is a group of image data of the character viewed from a plurality of angles such as the front, right side, left side, and back of the character such as a person. It has image data. For example,
When the character is an animated person, the front, right side, left side, and back of the character, and a group of images of these angles, such as "walking", such as a right foot, a left foot, a stopped state, etc. Image data for each mode of operation.

In the data structure shown in FIG.
The disc information file DF stored in a predetermined area of the D-ROM 21 includes a DVD-ROM 2 indicating which file is stored in which position.
1 describes information about the file stored in the file 1.

Each of the files F1, F2,... FN managed by the disk file information DF includes description data DATA which is content data itself such as a movie composed of moving image data and audio data or character data itself, and Description data DA
In the case of the data structure shown in FIG. 4, for example, the file F1 is a content file COF describing content data, and the file F3 is a character file CAF describing character data. is there.

Each of the description data DATA of the files F1, F2,... FN is composed of one of content data such as a movie including moving picture data and audio data, or character data for each of the files F1, F2,. The file management information FK of each of the files F1, F2,..., FN is either data content written as descriptive data DATA of the file, that is, either content data such as a movie including moving image data and audio data or character data. File management table FT indicating whether the file exists and the storage location of the description data DATA
And a program table PT that defines the reproduction order of the cells constituting the description data DATA, which will be described later.

The description data DATA of each file F1, F2,..., FN includes a plurality of cells SEL1, SEL2,.
Each cell SEL1, SEL
2,..., SELM are each composed of an aggregate of packs in which packet data, which is the minimum reproduction unit of content data or character data, is collected. At the time of reproduction, a series of each pack is read.

Each pack of the content file COF is
A video packet VP describing encoded image data obtained by compressing moving image data by, for example, the MPEG2 method, and an audio packet AP describing encoded audio data obtained by compressing audio data by, for example, the AC-3 method.
, An additional data packet IP describing additional data such as subtitles, and a link data packet LP describing link information to the character file CAF, and a management pack KP describing management information of each packet is added as a header. Have been.

Each pack of the character file CAF has a character data packet CP, and a management pack KP in which management information of each packet is described is added as a header.

Therefore, for example, in a certain scene of a movie obtained by playing back content data, when the game player operates the controller 12 to obtain data of a character appearing in the scene of the movie, the game device body Based on the link data LP described together with the content data, the central processing unit 13 searches for a file of character data previously associated with the content data by referring to the disc information file DF. It will be.

Therefore, when the game player who is watching the movie during the playback of the movie performs an operation for acquiring data of a character appearing in the scene of the movie,
The central processing unit 13 of the game apparatus main body 11 searches for a file of character data corresponding to the scene, and stores a character image represented by the character data in a C
Display on RT41. As this display method, a method of temporarily stopping the reproduction of the movie and displaying the character image, a method of displaying a window for displaying the character image on a part of the screen of the movie being reproduced, or the like can be used. .

When the game player wants to acquire the character image displayed on the display screen of the CRT 41, the game player operates the controller 12 and instructs the capture of the character image displayed on the display screen. Upon receiving this command, the central processing unit 13 reads the data of the character image being displayed on the display screen from the character file CAF and temporarily stores the data in the main storage unit 18. The game device main body 11 has a memory card 30 via a memory card interface (I / F) 29.
The central processing unit 13 stores various data such as character data in the memory card 30 or stores various data such as character data stored therein from the memory card 30. Can be read.

Therefore, the central processing unit 13 performs the
The character data read from the ROM 21 and temporarily stored in the main storage unit 18 is stored in the memory card 30 based on a command input by the game player. This allows the game player to collect characters appearing in the movie as characters for appearing in game play while watching the movie by playing the DVD-ROM 21. Incidentally, the character data includes level data indicating “strength” of the character when the character is used in a game.

The source of the character at the time of collecting the character is not limited to the DVD-ROM 21 owned by the game player itself, but may be downloaded from a server via a network such as the Internet, or connected to the network. Of the other game device or mobile phone via the server 4, or as a result of a match game with another game device or mobile phone, a character is transferred from the other game device or mobile phone via the server 4 via the server 4. It is also possible to acquire.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the server 4 distributes contents such as a movie to each game device 10 which is a network terminal via the public telephone line network 2 or a certain game device 10 or Various data can be transferred from the mobile phone 70 to another game apparatus 10 or the mobile phone 70 via the public telephone network 2. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the server 4. As shown in FIG. 5, in the server 4, the CPU 43 operates according to the program stored in the ROM 44 and executes various processes while storing necessary information in the RAM 45.

The CPU 43 transmits a command input through the operation input unit 48 by an operator's operation to the bus 41.
When the command is received via the command line, processing corresponding to the command is executed, and the processing content is displayed on the display unit 47.

The database 46 stores address information of each of the game devices 10 and the mobile phone 70, content data to be distributed to these terminal devices, and the like. For example, the server 4 can distribute various content data to each game device 10 and the mobile phone 70 by reading the unique identification information (address information) of the game device 10 from the database 46.
The user (game player) of each game apparatus 10 or mobile phone 70 performs registration (registration regarding charging) for receiving distribution of the content data with the server 4 in advance, and the server 4 responds to the request from the user. Each time the content data is distributed, a charging process is performed using the credit card number or the like registered in advance.

As content data to be distributed by the server 4, data (character data) such as images of characters appearing in the movie is prepared in the database 46 in advance in addition to content such as a movie. This character data has the same data structure as that described above with reference to FIG. 4, and can be linked from content data such as a movie.

As described above, the server 4 can also distribute character data to each of the game devices 10 and the mobile phone 70. The game machine 10 and the mobile phone 70 that have received the character data can The character data can be stored in each of the memory cards 30 loaded. The stored character data includes level data indicating “strength” when the character is used in the game, and is not limited to collection by the game player, and is not limited to collection in the game play. It can be used as a character that appears in the game.

In FIG. 1, a mobile telephone 70 can be connected to the mobile telephone network 3 via the base station 5 and can be connected to the server 4 via the public telephone network 2. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the mobile phone 70. As shown in FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Process
The ng unit (73) operates according to a program stored in a ROM (74), and executes various processes while storing necessary information in a random access memory (RAM) 75. By the way, the mobile phone 7 is stored in the RAM 75.
0 unique identification information (ID information) is stored, and the identification information is managed in the central office or the server 4.

When the CPU 73 receives the telephone number input via the operation input section 80 via the bus 71, the CPU 73 transmits a connection request signal via the communication interface 72 to the input telephone number. The communication line is connected by transmitting. Further, the CPU 73 includes a display unit 77
Required information such as a telephone number is sequentially displayed. In a state where the line with the callee is connected, the CPU 73 converts the voice of the caller input through the voice input unit 79 into digital data, and converts the digital data into the digital data.
2 to the destination. On the other hand, when receiving data such as voice from the other party via the communication interface 72, the CPU 73 converts the data into a voice signal and outputs the voice signal from the voice output unit 78 as voice.

In the portable telephone 70, when a request for character data is made from the portable telephone 70 to the server 4, the server 4 transmits the character data via the portable telephone network 3 based on the acquisition request. 70
Send to The timing at which the mobile phone 70 can request character data from the server 4 is when the game player requests the server 4 to download the game program from the mobile phone 70, or when only the character data is requested, or There is a case where character data is exchanged with another game apparatus 10 or a mobile phone or a character is acquired as a result of a battle in a battle game.

[Extraction of Character Data from Storage Medium]
DVD-ROM 21 on which content data and character data are recorded in the format described above with reference to FIG.
A processing procedure for extracting character data from a storage medium such as the above will be described. FIG. 7 shows the DV loaded in the game apparatus 10.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure for extracting character data from the D-ROM 21. As shown in FIG. 7, the central processing unit 13 of the game device 10
In step A11, a DVD-ROM as a storage medium
It waits for a game player to input a playback command of 21. When the game player operates the controller 12 to input a reproduction command of the DVD-ROM 21 to the game apparatus 10, the central processing unit 1
3 obtains an affirmative result in step A12, and proceeds to the subsequent step A13 to determine the content of the reproduction command. In the case of the game device 10, the game player operates the controller 12 so that the DVD-RO
It is possible to select either a reproduction mode of content data (movie or the like) of M21 or a reproduction mode of character data of DVD-ROM 21.

Therefore, when the game player specifies reproduction of the content data, the central processing unit 13 proceeds from step A13 to step A14, and starts reproduction of the content data specified at this time. This allows the game player to view the content such as a movie displayed on the CRT 41.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the CRT 41
When the character CA1 desired by the game player appears in the scene of the content displayed in, the game player operates the controller 12 to
Enter a character acquisition request. Upon receiving this acquisition request, the central processing unit 13 proceeds from step A15 to step A16, and stores the character file CAF storing the character data corresponding to the scene of the content being reproduced at this time in the content file CO.
The character image based on the character data of the character file CAF searched by the link data LP of F (FIG. 4) is superimposed on the movie scene by the display control unit 16 and reproduced. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, a window WIN representing the character CA1 is displayed on the CRT 41 at a part of the scene of the movie being reproduced. In this window WIN, a character name and a level indicating “strength” are displayed together with the image of the character. The game player can use this window WI
Based on the information displayed in N, it can be determined whether or not to acquire the character.

By the way, in each character file COF, for characters appearing for each content scene, data of all the characters in the scene is stored in one.
Character files CAF. For example, when a plurality of characters (characters, animals, etc.) appear in a certain scene, all of them are stored in one character file CAF associated with the scene, and the central processing unit 13 These character data are sequentially reproduced and displayed on the CRT 41. The game player can select the character by operating the controller 12 when the image of the desired character is displayed among the images of these characters displayed on the CRT 41.

When the game player selects a character, the central processing unit 13 proceeds to step A17.
By obtaining a positive result in the following step A1
In step 8, the character data selected by the game player at this time is stored in the main storage unit 18, and when the memory card 30 is loaded, the data is stored in the memory card 30. If the controller 12 does not input a content reproduction stop command based on the operation of the game player from the controller 12, the central processing unit 13 obtains a negative result in step A19, and returns to step A14 again. Repeat the process. On the other hand, if a positive result is obtained in step A19, this means that the controller 12 has input a content reproduction stop command based on the operation of the game player, and the central processing unit 1
3 ends the processing procedure.

On the other hand, if the reproduction command input by the game player is a command for reproducing only the character data, the central processing unit 13 executes the above-described step A1.
The process proceeds from step 3 to step A21, in which a plurality of character data stored in the DVD-ROM 21 are sequentially reproduced.
Therefore, the game player can select a desired character while viewing the character image displayed on the CRT 41.

Then, the central processing unit 13 waits for a command for determining a character from the controller 12 to be input. Thus, when the game player operates the controller 12 to select a desired character, the central processing unit 13 obtains an affirmative result in step A22, and proceeds to step A23, in which the character data selected at this time is mainly stored. The memory card 30 is stored in the storage unit 18 and the memory card 30 is
If the character data is loaded in the memory card 30, the character data is stored in the memory card 30.

As described above, in the game apparatus main body 11, data of a character appearing in the scene during reproduction of the content from the DVD-ROM 21, which is a storage medium loaded in the game apparatus main body 11, is used for the game. The character data stored in the DVD-ROM 21 can be obtained as game character data regardless of whether the data is obtained as character data or the content is reproduced.

The address information of the character data stored in the main storage unit 18 is managed by the central processing unit 13, and the address of the character data stored in the memory card 30 is stored in the management table of the memory card 30. Has been written to. Therefore, when executing the game program in the game device 10, the central processing unit 1
3, the character data can be read from the main storage unit 18 or the memory card 30, and the read character data can be used as character data for the game according to the progress of the game program.

[Download of Character Data from Server] The flowchart shown in FIG. 7 shows a processing procedure for reading character data from the DVD-ROM 21 loaded in the game apparatus main body 11, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the character data may be downloaded from the server 4 to the game device 10. In this case, the game device 10 and the server 4
The character data is downloaded according to the procedure shown in FIG.

That is, in FIG. 9, when the game player operates the controller 12 of the game apparatus 10 and selects to download a game program and character data from the server 4, the game apparatus 10 The server 4 is accessed based on the address information of the server 4. And the game device 10
Secures a communication path with the server 4 via the public telephone line network 2.

Further, the game device 10 is configured to use a PPP (Point
After a session is established by information transmitting / receiving means built in the game apparatus 10 such as a To Point Protocol process, an information request signal for requesting a game program and character data is transmitted to the server 4.
At this time, the game device 10 includes the terminal type information (data representing the public telephone line terminal device) stored in the main storage unit 18 in advance, the information for specifying the transmitting means, the game device 1
The terminal 4 transmits to the server 4 information for specifying the terminal, which includes a telephone number of 0, information of a protocol used at the time of connection, and various option data, and address information for specifying requested information.

At this time, the server 4 reads out the game program and character data necessary for progressing the game program from the database 46 based on the information request signal transmitted from the game device 10 and sends it to the information request signal. Is transmitted to the game device 10 that is the transmission source. As a method of selecting character data when reading character data from the database 46 in the server 4, a rare rate for determining the selection frequency is set for the character data stored in the database 46, and the rare rate is set. A method of selecting at random based on is used. In other words, the higher the level of the character in the game, the higher the rare rate is set, and the lower the probability of being selected when downloading from the server 4 to the game device 10 is, the lower the probability is. By providing a difference in the probability of being selected by each character in this way, it is possible to enhance the character collection for the game player. By the way, as a method of setting the selection frequency of the character data, for example, considering a case where there is a difference in the selection frequency between the two characters A and B, for example, ten natural numbers from 1 to 10 One is randomly selected from among them, and if the selected natural number is any of 1 to 3, character A is selected and the selected natural number is any of 4 to 10 , The character B is selected. This makes it possible to increase the probability that character B is selected over character A.

The game device 10 can store the game program and the character data downloaded from the server 4 in the main storage unit 18 and can store the character data in the memory card 30. When the download of the game program and the character data from the server 4 to the game device 10 is completed, the server 4
Game device 10 (game player) registered in advance
Is charged for the credit number corresponding to the authentication number. As a result of this billing, for example, the billing amount is deducted from the account of the corresponding game player on a date determined every month.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where character data is downloaded from the server 4 by the game apparatus 10 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Character data can be downloaded via the network 3. In this case, WAP (Wireless Applicat
The mobile phone 70 may be connected to the Internet using an ion protocol.

[Exchange of Character Data] Game Apparatus 10
The character data obtained by the mobile phone 70 can be exchanged between the game players. In this case, each game player uses the game device 10 or the mobile phone 70 that he or she owns to
Information on the exchange request can be posted on the bulletin board managed by. This information is information including a character to be exchanged by a game player who posts the information and a desired character. Each game player can select his / her desired condition from information on the exchange posted on the bulletin board. It is possible to select the matching information.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing a procedure for exchanging character data between game players via the server 4. FIG. 10 shows a case where character data is exchanged between the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70.
Similarly, character data can be exchanged between mobile phones 70.

As shown in FIG. 10, first, in the game apparatus 10, the game player
When the connection with the server 4 is designated by operating the, a call is transmitted from the game apparatus 10 to the server 4 to secure a communication path. At this time, the server 4
A session is established by information transmission / reception means such as (Point To Point Protocol) processing. In this state, the game device 10 transmits a registration request signal to the character exchange bulletin board to the server 4. The registration request signal includes terminal type information (data representing a public telephone line terminal device) stored in the main storage unit 18 of the game device 10 in advance, information for specifying a transmitting means, a telephone number of the game device 10, The information includes a number, information on a protocol used at the time of connection, and information for specifying a terminal including various option data.

The server 4 that has received the registration request signal is from a legitimate game device (user) in which the registration request signal is registered in advance, based on the authentication number included in the registration request signal. Authentication is performed (step A21). Then, when it is found that the authentication is from a legitimate user as a result of the authentication, the server 4
The game device 10 that is the transmission source of the registration request signal at this time
, A registration permission signal is transmitted.

Game device 10 receiving registration permission signal
Transmits, to the server 4, information representing the type of desired character data and character data to be provided in exchange for the acquisition of the character data as registration information in response to an input operation by the game player. In step A22, the server 4 that has received the registration information registers the character information desired to be exchanged, which is the registration information, in the exchange information table and posts it on the bulletin board. As a result, if another game player accesses the server 4,
In this bulletin board, information on character exchange can be viewed. Information about the exchange is stored in server 4
Game device 10 (game player) posted on a bulletin board
Terminates the line connection once.

In this state, when another game player accesses the server 4 by operating the portable telephone 70, for example, the exchange information from the game device 10 posted on the bulletin board can be viewed. That is, the mobile phone 70 is operated by the other user (game player).
Sends a call to the server 4 to secure a communication path. At this time, the server 4 sends a PPP (Point To Point Pr
A session is established by information transmission / reception means such as otocol) or WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) processing. In this state, the mobile phone 70 transmits a browse request signal to the bulletin board to the server 4. The browsing request signal includes terminal type information (data representing a mobile phone line terminal device) stored in the ROM 74 of the mobile phone 70 in advance, information for specifying a transmission means, a telephone number of the mobile phone 70, an authentication number, and a connection. It contains information on the terminal used, which is composed of information on the protocol used at the time and various optional data.

The server 4 that has received the browse request signal is from a legitimate mobile phone (user) in which the browse request signal is registered in advance based on the authentication number included in the browse request signal. Authentication is performed (step A23). Then, when it is found that the authentication is from a legitimate user as a result of the authentication, the server 4
The mobile phone 70, which is the transmission source of the browse request signal at this time,
In this case, character exchange information posted on the bulletin board is transmitted as browsing information. FIG.
FIG. 11 shows a display example of the browsing information displayed on the display unit 0. As shown in FIG. 11, the display unit 77 of the mobile phone 70 displays a bulletin board for character exchange by each game player. The displayed exchange information is displayed. The exchange information includes information such as image data of a character to be exchanged, a character name, and a level indicating the strength of the character in game play.

The user (game player) who has confirmed such exchange-related information on the display unit 77 of the mobile phone 70 selects, from among the characters displayed on the display unit 77, information that matches his or her desired exchange condition. Is selected by operating the operation input unit. The mobile phone 70 transmits the selection result to the server 4 together with character data to be exchanged from the mobile phone 70 side. Server 4
Registers in the database 46 the information for character exchange received from the mobile phone 70 (the data specifying the publication information desired to be exchanged and the character data to be exchanged at this time). The mobile phone 70 that has transmitted the information to be exchanged to the server 4 once terminates the line connection.

In this state, when the game player operating the game apparatus 10 accesses the server 4 again by operating the game apparatus 10, the server 4
After authenticating the access from the game device 10 in step A25, the information on the exchange of character data is transmitted to the game device 10 as browsing information. At this time, the server 4 transmits the exchange request information received from the mobile phone 70 to the game device 10 with the information included in the browse information.

As a result, on the CRT 41 of the game apparatus 10, information indicating that the exchange from the mobile phone 70 is to be performed is displayed. When the game player who sees the displayed information operates the controller 12 to approve the character exchange, the game device 10 transmits an exchange approval signal indicating the approval to the server 4. The server 4 that has received the exchange approval from the game device 10 transmits the character data submitted from the mobile phone 70, which is the exchange request information from the mobile phone 70 registered in the database 46, to the game device 10 at this time. As a result, the game device 10 has obtained the desired character data.

When the server 4 accesses the server 4 again from the mobile phone 70 in a state where the server 4 has received the exchange approval from the game device 10, the server 4
In response, the game device 10 transmits the browse information and the exchange approval information indicating that the exchange has been approved. The mobile phone 70 that has received the exchange approval information displays the display 77
Display the message "Exchange has been approved". After the user (game player) operating the mobile phone 70 sees the message and inputs a message indicating that the message has been confirmed to the mobile phone 70, the mobile phone 70 transmits an exchange confirmation signal to the server 4.

The server 4 that has received the exchange confirmation signal transmits character data received for exchange from the game device 10 to the mobile phone 70. Thereby, the mobile phone 70 has obtained the character data desired to be exchanged.

[Acquisition of Character Data in Fighting Game]
Next, a method of playing a battle game via the server 4 using the game device 10 or the mobile phone 70 and acquiring characters according to the game result will be described. FIG.
The server 4 between the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70
6 is a timing chart showing a case where a fighting game is played through the game. As shown in FIG. 12, for example, when a game player operating the game device 10 operates the controller 12 of the game device 10 to input a desire to participate in the game, the game device 10 accesses the server 4. By doing so, a communication path with the server 4 is secured. Then, in this state, game device 10 transmits a request signal for participation registration to server 4.

The server 4 having received the registration request signal,
Based on the authentication number included in the request signal, it is determined whether or not game device 10 is registered in advance (step A31). And, as a result of this judgment,
When the server 4 obtains an authentication result indicating that the game device 10 is a preregistered legitimate terminal device, the server 4 transmits a registration permission signal to the game device 10.

Game device 10 receiving registration permission signal
Transmits a game participation registration signal to the server 4. The server 4 registers the game device 10 in the database 46 based on the game participation registration signal (step A3).
2).

When the game player operating the mobile phone 70 operates the operation input unit 80 of the mobile phone 70 to input a desire to participate in the game, the mobile phone 70 accesses the server 4 A communication path with the server 4 is secured. Then, in this state, the mobile phone 70 transmits a participation registration request signal to the server 4.

The server 4 having received the registration request signal,
Based on the authentication number included in the request signal, it is determined whether or not the mobile phone 70 is registered in advance (step A33). And, as a result of this judgment,
Upon obtaining the authentication result that the mobile phone 70 is a pre-registered legitimate terminal device, the server 4 transmits a registration permission signal to the mobile phone 70.

Cellular phone 70 receiving registration permission signal
Transmits a game participation registration signal to the server 4. The server 4 registers the mobile phone 70 in the database 46 based on the game participation registration signal (step A3).
4).

Thus, the terminal devices (game players) participating in the competitive game are prepared in the server 4, and the server 4 sends the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70, which have registered for participation in the game, to the game device 10. Is notified that the conditions for performing are completed. The game device 10 and the mobile phone 70 that have received the notification respectively display the notification content on the display unit. Each game player who sees this display receives a message from the controller 12 and the operation input unit 8.
A game participation confirmation signal for agreeing to the start of the game is transmitted to the server 4 via “0”. At this time, the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70 simultaneously transmit the character data held by the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70 to the server 4. Server 4
These character data will be transmitted to the terminal device (game device 10 or mobile phone 70) that later won the game.

When the game preparation is completed, the server 4 starts executing a program for causing the game to proceed (step A35). Incidentally, the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70 have necessary game programs in advance, and advance the game while communicating with the server 4. In this case, each of the terminal devices (the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70) transmits information related to the action in the game such as “shot a bullet” (eg, the direction in which the bullet flies, the type of the bullet, and the launch position). 1)
Is transmitted to the server 4 as one event. The server 4 transmits the event to the partner terminal device (the game device 10 or the mobile phone 70) each time the event occurs, and the terminal device (the game device 10 or the mobile phone 70) that receives the event displays The display and the game are advanced, and the result is transmitted to the server 4 again as one event. A battle game is performed as the game program proceeds.

In this game, for example, the game device 10
When the player wins, the server 4 pre-sets the mobile phone 70
Is transmitted to the game device 10 that is the winner. Thereby, the game device 10
Means that the character of the mobile phone 70 as the opponent has been obtained.

[Team Formation by Characters] In the game device 10 and the mobile phone 70, the characters (characters extracted from the storage medium such as the DVD-ROM 21 or the like, exchanged with another game player) obtained by the above-described method are used. A team can be formed by characters and characters obtained in a game battle).

That is, FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a character knitting processing procedure in the game apparatus 10. The central processing unit 13 of the game apparatus 10
41, any one of the above-described methods (DVD-RO
When character data is acquired by extracting from a storage medium such as M21, exchanging with another game player, and acquiring through a game battle), the acquired character data is stored in the main storage unit 18. Then, the central processing unit 13 proceeds to the subsequent step A42 and updates the character table.

Here, the character table means a table in which character data possessed by the game player is collected, and this character table is usually stored in the memory card 30 (in the mobile phone 70, the RAM 7).
5). Therefore, when the memory card 30 is not loaded in the game device 10 when the character data is acquired, the central processing unit 13 sets the CRT 4
1 is displayed to prompt the user to load the memory card 30.
When the memory card 30 is loaded into the game device 10, the central processing unit 13 reads out the character table from the memory card 30 and stores it in the main storage unit 18.
And the content of the character table to which the character data acquired in step A41 described above is added is updated (step A4).
2).

After updating the character table in this way, the central processing unit 13 proceeds to step A43,
A display prompting the team formation work is displayed on the CRT 41. The game player displays information of the character table displayed on the CRT 41 (for example, information of all the characters registered in the character table is displayed in a list, and a team is formed by the character selected by the game player from the information. Every time new character data is acquired, the team can be reorganized in the device 10. The central processing unit 13 stores the character table in which the new team has been formed again in the memory card 30. In this manner, the team formed is used in a game in which a team composed of a plurality of characters participates.

[0101]

According to the present invention, when a team is formed by a plurality of characters, the team is exchanged with another game player or newly obtained according to the game result with another game player. By forming a team based on what has been done, it is possible to add a collection of characters to the game and further enhance the entertainment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a DVD reproducing unit of the game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a DVD used in the game device according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a data structure of a ROM.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server of the game system according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a mobile phone of the game system according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a character data extraction processing procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a display screen in a character extraction process according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a character data acquisition processing procedure according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart for explaining character data exchange processing according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating a display example of a character data exchange bulletin board according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart for explaining character data acquisition processing according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure for updating character data according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game system 2 Public telephone network 3 Mobile telephone network 4 Server 10 Game device 11 Game device main body 12 Controller 13 Central processing unit 18 Main storage unit 20 DVD playback unit 21 DVD 30 Memory card 41 CRT 42 Speaker 46 Database 70 Mobile Telephone

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game device for playing a game with another game device directly or via a server, comprising: a communication unit for communicating with the other game device or the server; And an input unit for inputting a game program based on the game program of the game, receiving the processing result of the game program of the other game device via the communication unit, And / or a control unit that processes the game program based on information input from the input unit and performs a process of transmitting the processing result to the another game device or the server via the communication unit.
The control unit performs control for transmitting and receiving character data used in the game to and from the other game device based on a result of the game with the other game device. And controlling the formation of a new character team based on the character data obtained by transmitting and receiving the character data. 2. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the game result with the other game device is a game result between characters in a competitive game. 3. A game device for playing a game with another game device directly or via a server, wherein a communication unit for communicating with the other game device or the server is provided. And an input unit for inputting a game program based on the game program of the game, receiving the processing result of the game program of the other game device via the communication unit, And / or a control unit that processes the game program based on information input from the input unit and performs a process of transmitting the processing result to the another game device or the server via the communication unit.
The control unit acquires character data posted on an electronic bulletin board of the server connected via the communication unit, and performs control to form a team of characters based on the acquired character data. Game device.