JP2003053006A - Network game system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve amusement with respect to a virtual game by a game terminal and to obtain high development. SOLUTION: A virtual game management device 6 realizes a virtual pachinko hall provided with a pachinko game simulation function, a (pachinko) slot game simulation function, a prize discharge function (electronic shopping function), etc. A personal computer 9 and a portable telephone set 10 performs a virtual game in the state of accessing to a virtual pachinko hall. This virtual game is performed by pulling out saved balls stored corresponding to the membership number of a player in a saved ball managing device 5 provided on actual pachinko halls 1 and 2 and using the saved balls. The number of virtual pachinko balls which are acquired by a virtual game by the player is added to saved ball data stored corresponding to the membership number of the player in the saved ball managing device 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game terminal capable of executing a virtual game on a screen for competing for the number of virtual game media to be acquired,
The present invention relates to a network game system including a server that manages information such as the number of acquired virtual game media while being connected to this game terminal via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of this type of network game system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-189666. This game system consists of a client that imitates a virtual pachinko parlor and a server that manages the game information of the virtual pachinko parlor in connection with this client. The client is a video game with the player paying the investment amount. A virtual game (for example, a pachinko machine simulation game) is provided on a gaming terminal such as a machine, and the server is configured to manage the player so that the player can be provided with a privilege equivalent to the investment amount.

[0003]

Since the network game system has a closed system configuration in which a virtual game is performed regardless of an existing pachinko parlor, there is a limit to improvement of interest in the virtual game at the gaming terminal. With
The system was not very developable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network game system which can realize an interest in a virtual game at a game terminal and can obtain high developability. Especially.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In order to achieve the above object, a game terminal capable of executing a virtual game on a screen in which a virtual game medium is used to compete for the number of acquisition of the virtual game medium, and a state in which the game terminal is connected via a network. In a network game system including a server that manages information such as the number of acquired virtual game media, the server is placed in an actual game hall in response to a request from the game terminal side The number of game media to be owned by
Access the data management device provided for storing as the number of custody game media data associated with the D code,
The game data of the number of deposited game media corresponding to the ID code of the player of the game terminal is provided to the game terminal, and the data of the number of deposited game media is reduced by an amount equivalent to the provided number, and the game terminal is provided. It is configured so that the number of game media indicated by the stored number of custody game media can be converted into the number of virtual game media to perform a virtual game.

[0006] In such a means, a player who has played a game in an existing game hall determines the number of game media (the number of game media obtained by paying the consideration or the number of game media obtained by the game) which is the share of the player. , Can be stored in the data management device provided in the game arcade as the number of custody game medium data associated with the ID code issued to the player in advance. In the case where the above-mentioned player uses a virtual game medium in a game terminal to perform a virtual game in which the number of acquisition of the virtual game medium is competed, first, the ID code of the player in the data management device is given to the server. Request to provide the game medium number data stored in association with each other. Then, in the server, the data management device is accessed to provide the custody gaming medium number data corresponding to the player's ID code at the gaming terminal to the gaming terminal, and the couch gaming medium number data is provided. Since the number is decreased by the number, the player can play a virtual game using the number of deposit game media number data stored in the actual game hall side as a virtual game medium in the game terminal. In other words, the player can always use the game medium acquired in the actual game hall as the virtual game medium used for the virtual game in the gaming terminal. For example, the acquired virtual game medium is the same as the real game hall. By adopting a configuration such as being able to be used for gift exchange, it will be possible to greatly improve the interest in virtual games on gaming terminals, and by linking with a real game hall, it becomes a network gaming system. The development potential of can be greatly increased.

In this case, as in the invention described in claim 2,
In the gaming terminal, the number of virtual gaming media acquired by the player through virtual gaming on the gaming terminal corresponds to the ID code of the player of the gaming terminal in the custody gaming medium number data in the data management device through the server. It can be configured to be able to be added to the data of the number of deposited game media. According to such a means, the virtual game medium obtained by the virtual game at the game terminal in the network game system can be used for the game at the actual game hall, so that the virtual game at the game terminal can be enjoyed. Not only can it be further improved, but the development potential as a network game system can be further enhanced.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, individual game data such as the number of virtual game media acquired for each player and the number of virtual game media used for the virtual game, which are generated according to the virtual game at the game terminal. May be configured to be confirmed on the game hall side. According to such means, individual game data (the number of acquired virtual game media) accompanying the virtual game on the game terminal can be confirmed on the game hall side, which is useful when managing the individual game data. Becomes

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, game data such as the number of virtual game media acquired for each game terminal and the number of virtual game media used for the virtual game, which are generated according to the virtual game at the game terminal. May be configured to be confirmed on the game hall side. According to such a means, it becomes possible to confirm the game data (the number of virtual game media to be released) for each game terminal on the game hall side, which is useful when managing the game data.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the number of virtual game media added to the number of stored game media data in the data management device from the game terminal side can be confirmed on the game hall side. Is also good. According to such a means, the breakdown of the custody game medium number data (for example, the ratio of the number of game media obtained by the game at the game hall to the number of virtual game medium obtained by the virtual game at the gaming terminal) is confirmed. You will be able to do exactly on the field side.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a network game system for playing a virtual pachinko game and a virtual pachislot game will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of the network game system. In FIG. 1, a plurality of pachinko machines 3 and pachislot machines 4 are provided in pachinko halls 1 and 2 which are actual game halls (both are pachinko halls 1).
Only the pachinko ball lending machines 3 each
a and a pachislot machine medal lending machine 4a, and a coin management device 5 as a data management device are installed. In addition to this, a pachinko ball counting machine, a medal counting machine, not shown,
Peripheral devices such as a POS terminal and a replay machine are provided. In this case, in the pachinko halls 1 and 2, when the player counts the pachinko balls and medals acquired by the game on the pachinko machine 3 and the pachislot machine 4 by a pachinko ball counter and a medal counter (not shown), the counting is performed. The result
Savings data associated with a membership number (ID code) issued to a player in advance (corresponding to the number of deposit game media data:
For the sake of convenience, the counting result of medals is also stored as (stored ball data), and a pool management apparatus 5 is provided to store such stored ball data.

In this case, a game ticket in which the membership number is recorded using a magnetic medium or an IC chip is issued to the player, and the player is a pachinko ball counting machine or medal counting machine. By setting the game ticket at the time of counting, the count result is stored in the coin management device 5 as the coin data associated with the member's own number (deposit)
You can do it. Further, the stored coin data thus stored can be used for prize exchange through a POS terminal (not shown), and a desired number of pachinko balls or medals can be pulled out through a replay machine (not shown) so that the pachinko machine 3 or pachislot machine can be operated. It has a system configuration that can be used for a game (so-called replay) on the table 4. Also,
The coin management device 5 is configured to accumulate history data such as deposits (pachinko balls, medals) of deposits, withdrawals, and the usage status of the coin system in association with each member number, and based on the history data, For example, various types of data can be displayed and forms can be printed such as the total number of deposits of deposits, the total number of withdrawals in a designated period, and the data of each person who deposits or withdraws deposits.

Each of the coin-collection management devices 5 in the pachinko halls 1 and 2 can be connected to a virtual game management device 6 (corresponding to a server) provided outside through, for example, a public telephone line 7, and in the connected state. It is configured such that data can be transmitted and received to and from the virtual game management device 6. This virtual game management device 6 is for realizing a virtual pachinko hall having a pachinko game simulation function, a pachi-slot game simulation function, a prize payout function (electronic shopping function), etc., and those functions on an external gaming terminal. The application program to be realized in 1 can be supplied to the game terminal through, for example, the Internet 8 (corresponding to a network). In this case, the game terminal is assumed to be a personal computer 9 or a mobile phone 10 capable of executing a Java (trademark: USA / Sun Microsystems, Inc.) application, for example. However, the gaming terminal may be a game-dedicated machine, and the point is that it is a device capable of executing the application program downloaded from the virtual game management device 6. The application program is a CD
The configuration may be such that it is supplied through a storage medium such as a ROM.

In the case of the present embodiment, in a game in a virtual pachinko hall (a virtual pachinko game played on a personal computer 9 or a mobile phone 10 or a virtual pachislot game), the player earns balls in the actual pachinko halls 1 and 2. (Pachinko balls,
It is premised to use a medal). FIG. 2 schematically shows a series of flows when a player plays a virtual pachinko game in the virtual pachinko hall, for example, with the personal computer 9. However, in the following description, it is assumed that the application program necessary for playing a game in the virtual pachinko hall has already been downloaded to the personal computer 9. Further, when this application program is upgraded, the latest application program is downloaded on the personal computer 9 side at an appropriate timing (when playing with the mobile phone 10, basically, the personal computer 9 is used to play the game). Is the same as doing).

In FIG. 2, when playing a game in a virtual pachinko hall, first, the personal computer 9 is connected to the Internet 8 to access the virtual pachinko hall (virtual game management device 5) (steps A1 and A2). In this state of access, the screen of the personal computer 9 is displayed as shown in FIG.
A login screen as shown in (a) is displayed.

On this login screen, the title "a" of the "virtual pachinko hall", a member number input dialog box b, and a password input dialog registered beforehand by the player who has issued the member number on the pachinko hall manager side. A box c, a “login” icon d, and a “cancel” icon e are displayed. When the player (the operator of the personal computer 9) logs in to the virtual pachinko hall, he / she inputs his / her own membership number and personal identification number,
Click the "login" icon d, and click the "cancel" icon e to cancel the login. When the correct membership number and PIN are entered, the virtual pachinko hall side sequentially accesses the deposit management device 5 of the pachinko halls 1 and 2 to search for deposit data corresponding to the entered membership number (step A3). , A
4). On the other hand, when the "cancel" icon e is clicked, the subsequent processing is ended and the virtual pachinko hall is logged out (step A5).

After executing the step A4 for searching the stored coin data, it is judged whether or not there is a stored coin (balance of stored coin data) corresponding to the member number input on the virtual pachinko hall side (step A6). PC 9
Is displayed on the screen indicating that the virtual pachinko game cannot be executed due to a shortage of coins (step A7), and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when there are accumulated balls, the withdrawal number selection screen as shown in FIG. 3B is displayed on the screen of the personal computer 9.

On the number-of-drawing-balls selection screen, a message a indicating the current total number of stored balls (the number of stored balls indicated by each stored ball data in the pachinko halls 1 and 2) and the number of replay used balls in the virtual pachinko hall ( A message b for prompting the selection of the number of drawn balls), icons c, d, e, f, g for selecting the number of drawn balls, and a “cancel” icon h are displayed. When pulling out the stored coins, the player clicks the icon in which the desired number of withdrawals is displayed among the icons c to g. When such a click is made,
A number of pachinko balls corresponding to the clicked icon are drawn out from the ball storage management device 5 (step A8). As a result, the pulled-out pachinko ball is transferred to the virtual pachinko ball and converted into a virtual pachinko ball for the virtual pachinko hole, and the virtual pachinko game on the personal computer 9 can be started. Of course, at the time of this withdrawal, the accumulated coin data on the side of the accumulated coin management device 5 is subtracted by the number of withdrawals. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the icon c is displayed on the withdrawal ball number selection screen (FIG. 3B).
When the "cancel" icon h is clicked before clicking ~ g, the subsequent processing is terminated and the virtual pachinko hall is logged out.

After that, a virtual pachinko game (corresponding to replay performed in an actual pachinko hall) using the converted virtual pachinko balls (balls) is executed on the personal computer 9 (step A9). At the end of the game, it is determined whether there is an acquired virtual pachinko ball in the virtual pachinko hall (step A10), and if there is no acquired virtual pachinko ball, the player selects whether or not to log out from the virtual pachinko hall. (Step A11). When logging out, the subsequent process is terminated, but when not logging out, the process returns to the step A6 where it is determined whether or not there is a stored coin. On the other hand, if there is a virtual pachinko ball acquired at the end of the game, the screen of the personal computer 9 is shown in FIG.
A selection / premium exchange selection screen as shown in is displayed.

On this savings / prize exchange selection screen, a message a indicating the current number of acquired virtual pachinko balls (possessed ball), the acquired virtual pachinko ball is used as a prize exchange at a virtual pachinko hall, or an existing virtual pachinko ball is used. A message b prompting the user to select whether or not to add to the accumulated coins in the pachinko hall, a "premium exchange" icon c, and a "accumulated coin" icon d are displayed. The player clicks the "gift exchange" icon c in order to use the acquired virtual pachinko balls for prize exchange (electronic shopping) in the virtual pachinko hall. In this case, a virtual store built on the Internet is displayed on the screen of the personal computer 9, and the player performs virtual shopping within this virtual store within the range of the value of the acquired virtual pachinko balls. Free gift exchange (Step A1)
3).

On the other hand, when the player wants to leave the acquired virtual pachinko balls as the accumulated coins, he / she clicks on the “accumulated coin” icon d. Then, in the virtual pachinko hall, the acquired virtual pachinko ball is added to the accumulated coin data (corresponding to the player's membership number) in the accumulated coin management device 5 installed in one of the existing pachinko halls 1 and 2 ( Step A
14). In this case, the system is such that the accumulated coin data in the accumulated coin management device 5 can be mutually used between the respective pachinko halls 1 and 2, and therefore the addition to the accumulated coin data is performed in each accumulated coin management device 5 of the pachinko halls 1 and 2. It does not matter which data you save. If a higher-level device that centrally manages the stored ball data is provided, the number of acquired virtual pachinko balls will be added to the stored-ball data in the higher-level device. Further, a virtual pachinko hall may be provided for each existing pachinko hall.

After the addition to the accumulated ball data, the player selects whether or not to replay (step A1).
5). Then, when replay is selected, FIG.
Although the process returns to the step A8 accompanied by the display of the number-of-drawing-balls selection screen of (b), when the replay is not selected, the subsequent process is ended and the user is logged out.

Although not shown in the figure, on the pachinko halls 1 and 2 side, game data for each player assigned a membership number (game history data in the pachinko hall, game history in the virtual pachinko hall). A centralized management device for accumulating data) is provided (this centralized management device can also be used as the ball storage management device 5). That is, the central management device, game history data in the actual pachinko hall (game date, game duration, game machine classification, machine number, model name, out, base, number of special prizes, sales amount, income and expenditure, A well-known database for accumulating retention time, etc. in association with member numbers, and game history data at virtual pachinko halls (game date, game duration, game type classification, out, base, number of prizes, replay) A database for virtual pachinko halls is constructed to store (amount of money, amount of money paid, amount of time spent, etc.) in association with a member number. Then, from these databases, individual game data for each player (member number) can be output in a state of being divided into data in an actual pachinko hall and data in a virtual pachinko hall.

Specifically, the personal game data in the actual pachinko hall is formatted as shown in FIG. 4 (a), and the personal game data in the virtual pachinko hall is shown in FIG.
The format is as shown in (b). That is,
In the individual game data in the actual pachinko hall shown in FIG. 4A, the record storing the game history data in the actual pachinko hall is a pachinko machine 3 or a pachislot machine 4.
Each time a new game is played, new records are created. In each record, the game date, game duration (time data), membership number, game machine category (P: pachinko machine,
For pachislot machines, for example, S), machine number, model name, out, base, number of special prizes (number of big bonuses in case of pachislot machines), sales amount, income and expenditure amount, data field for storing each data of retention time Has been. Also,
In the individual game data in the virtual pachinko hall shown in FIG. 4B, a record storing the game history data of the virtual pachinko game and the virtual pachislot game is added every time a new virtual pachinko game or virtual pachislot game is played. In each record, a game date, a game continuation period (time data), a membership number, a game type classification (P: virtual pachinko game, virtual pachislot game is S, for example), out, base, are created. A data field is provided for storing data of the number of special prizes (the number of big bonuses in the case of the virtual pachi-slot game), the amount of replay (the number of coins consumed), the amount of balance, and the staying time. The individual game data can be printed out as needed.

In short, according to the configuration of this embodiment described above, the following actions and effects can be obtained. That is, the player who has played a game in the existing pachinko halls 1 or 2 has the number of pachinko balls and medals (the number of pachinko balls and medals or games obtained by paying the consideration in the pachinko halls 1 or 2). The pachinko balls and the number of medals obtained by the above are stored in the pachinko hall 1 or 2 in the stored coin management device 5 in association with the membership number issued in advance to the player (paid game). It can be stored as a medium number data). The player is a personal computer 9 which is a gaming terminal.
In the case of playing a virtual pachinko game using virtual pachinko balls or a virtual pachislot game using virtual medals on (or mobile phone 10), first, via the Internet 8 to the virtual pachinko hall provided by the virtual game management device 6. The user logs in and requests to provide the accumulated coin data stored in the accumulated coin management device 5 in association with his / her own membership number.

Then, in the virtual game management device 6, only when there is a balance of the corresponding accumulated coin data, the accumulated coin data corresponding to the member number is stored in the personal computer 9 (or the mobile phone 10). The player can reduce the amount of stored coin data by an amount equivalent to the amount provided, so that the player can virtually store the stored coin data stored in the pachinko halls 1 and 2 on the personal computer 9 (or mobile phone 10). Virtual pachinko games and virtual pachislot games used as pachinko balls can be played. In other words, the player can always use the pachinko balls and medals acquired in the existing pachinko halls 1 and 2 as virtual pachinko balls to be used in the virtual pachinko game on the personal computer 9 or mobile phone 10 and virtual medals to be used in the virtual pachislot game. It can be used. In this case, in the present embodiment, the acquired virtual pachinko balls and virtual medals are displayed in a virtual store built on the Internet.
Like the existing pachinko halls 1 and 2, it can be used for exchanging prizes, which can greatly improve the interest in virtual games on gaming terminals such as personal computers 9 and mobile phones 10. By linking with the existing pachinko halls 1 and 2, it is possible to improve the developability as a network game system.

Further, in the present embodiment, the virtual pachinko balls and virtual medals obtained by the game in the virtual pachinko hall are stored in the coin management device 5 provided in the actual pachinko halls 1 and 2 as the player's membership number. Since the configuration is such that it can be added to the stored ball data stored in association with each other, the virtual pachinko balls obtained by the virtual pachinko game on the personal computer 9 or the mobile phone 10 and the virtual medals obtained by the virtual pachinko slot game can be used for the actual pachinko game. Holes 1 and 2
It can be used for playing games and exchanging prizes. As a result, the interest in the virtual pachinko game and the virtual pachislot game in the virtual pachinko hall can be further improved, and the developability as a network game system can be further improved.

Further, in this embodiment, in addition to the database for accumulating the game history data on the actual pachinko machines 3 and 4 on the pachinko halls 1 and 2 side in association with the member numbers and the like, virtual A database is constructed in which game history data about virtual pachinko games and virtual pachislot games in pachinko halls are stored in association with membership numbers. As a result, individual game data such as the number of virtual pachinko balls or virtual medals for each player generated in accordance with the virtual game on the personal computer 9 or the mobile phone 10 and the number of virtual pachinko balls or virtual medals used for the virtual game. Can be confirmed on the pachinko halls 1 and 2 side similarly to the game history data in the hall, which is useful when managing the individual game data. Also, on the pachinko halls 1 and 2 side, using such a database for virtual pachinko halls, a virtual pachinko machine for each personal computer 9 or mobile telephone 10 generated in response to a virtual game on the personal computer 9 or mobile telephone 10. It is possible to confirm game data such as the number of balls or virtual medals acquired and the number of virtual pachinko balls or virtual medals used in the virtual game. As a result, it becomes possible to check the game data (such as the number of virtual pachinko balls or virtual medals released) for each gaming terminal such as the personal computer 9 or the mobile phone 10 in the pachinko halls 1 and 2. Therefore, management of such game data is possible. It will be beneficial if you do.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but the following modifications or expansions are possible. In a centralized management device (or ball management device 5) not shown on the pachinko halls 1 and 2 side, the number of acquired virtual pachinko balls on the player side added to the ball data in the ball management device 5 from the personal computer 9 or the mobile phone 10 side. May be configured to be confirmed. According to this configuration, the ball storage management device 5
Breakdown of the stored coin data (for example, pachinko halls 1, 2
The ratio of the number of pachinko balls acquired by the game in (1) to the number of virtual pachinko balls acquired by the virtual pachinko game in the virtual pachinko hall) can be accurately confirmed on the game side.

When the player accumulates virtual pachinko balls or virtual medals acquired by the virtual pachinko hall game in the virtual pachinko halls to the pachinko halls 1 and 2, the stored coin data associated with the game in the pachinko halls 1 and 2 is stored. It is also possible to have a structure in which the balls are saved in a different account from the account for. Further, it is also possible to adopt a system configuration in which virtual pachinko balls or virtual medals acquired by the virtual pachinko game are stored in an account provided on the virtual pachinko hall side (virtual game management device 6 side). It is also possible to have a configuration in which the accumulated coins generated by the virtual game in the virtual pachinko hall can be arbitrarily transferred to any of the affiliated pachinko halls or the pachinko halls affiliated with each other.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an entire system showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a series of flows when a virtual pachinko game is played in a virtual pachinko hall.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen display example on the gaming terminal (personal computer) side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a format example of individual game data.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 are pachinko halls (game halls), 3 are pachinko machines,
4 is a pachi-slot machine, 5 is a coin management device (data management device), 6 is a virtual game management device (server), 8 is the Internet (network), 9 is a personal computer (gaming terminal),
Reference numeral 10 denotes a mobile phone (gaming terminal).

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game terminal capable of executing a virtual game on a screen in which a virtual game medium is used to compete for the number of acquisition of the virtual game medium, and the virtual game in a state of being connected to the game terminal via a network. In a network game system including a server that manages information such as the number of acquired media, the server is a share of the player in the existing playground in response to a request from the gaming terminal side. The ID code of the player of the gaming terminal is accessed by accessing the data management device provided to store the number of game media as the custody game medium number data associated with the ID code issued in advance to the player. Is provided so as to provide the custody gaming medium number data corresponding to the same to the gaming terminal, and reduce the custody gaming medium number data by the donation equivalent number. Network game system characterized by being configured the number of game media indicated by deposits game medium speed data so as perform virtual game is converted into the number of the virtual game medium. 2. The game terminal, wherein the number of virtual game media acquired by a player in a virtual game on the game terminal is stored in the data management device through the server, and the number of virtual game media stored in the data management device is the player of the game terminal. 2. The network game system according to claim 1, wherein the network game system is configured so as to be added to the number of custody game media data corresponding to the ID code of. 3. The personal game data, such as the number of virtual game media acquired for each player and the number of virtual game media used for the virtual game, which are generated according to the virtual game at the gaming terminal, are confirmed on the game hall side. The network game system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the network game system is configured to be possible. 4. The game hall side confirms game data such as the number of virtual game media acquired for each game terminal and the number of virtual game media used for the virtual game, which are generated according to the virtual game at the game terminal. The network game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to be possible. 5. The virtual game medium number added to the custody game medium number data in the data management device from the gaming terminal side can be confirmed on the gaming hall side. The network game system according to any one of 1 to 4.