JP2000051524A - Game system and game result summing-up method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enjoy a game for the purpose except heightening an individual record by obtaining game results in plural game machines which are previously made into a group and executing summing-up based on an index concerning the group. SOLUTION: A terminal game machine 121 is connected to a store host 111 through a small scale network such as Ethernet (R) and the terminal game machine 121 outputs the mark or score value of a shooting game or the game result of a time value in a drive game after playing the game by a player. The game results are transmitted to the store host 111 and transmitted to a high-order national sum-up host 101 from the store host 111. The national sum-up host 101 sums-up the transmitted game results and generates various kinds of sum-up data. The processings in the other terminal machine 122-126 and the store hosts 112 and 113 are executed in the same way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game system and a game result totaling method capable of totalizing game results of a plurality of game machines grouped into several groups by using an index relating to the groups.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, commercial game machines installed in so-called game centers and the like (hereinafter, simply referred to as "stores") include a result of a player playing (for example, a score or score value of a shooting game, Alternatively, there is a function having a function of totalizing the time values of one round of the course in a drive game, and displaying the results as a ranking. In recent years, game results from multiple game consoles have been concentrated on a tallying host computer via a network,
It is considered that ranking data is created by totaling by the totaling host computer, the ranking data is transmitted to each game machine, and ranking is displayed on each game machine.

For example, JP-A-8-117443 discloses that
Transmitting information on the score result of the video game performed by the plurality of game machines in the terminal to the center, calculating the score ranking for each terminal at the center, transmitting the information on the score ranking to each terminal, A video game system displaying the score ranking at each terminal is disclosed.

[0004]

In the conventional tallying method as described above, the game results (scores, time values, etc.) of each player are simply tallyed in the ranking, and tallyed by other indices. Was never done.

On the other hand, as disclosed in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. HEI 8-117443, in recent years, it has been considered that a business-use game machine is connected to a network, and a game at another store is connected via the network. It has also become possible to access information such as results. Therefore, in addition to totaling the rankings of the player's personal results, it is conceivable to increase the recreational value of the game in each store by performing totaling with other indices. In addition, it is conceivable that the player can enjoy the game for purposes other than improving the performance of the individual player, such as playing the game for the purpose of improving the performance in a group such as a store.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a game system and a game result totaling method in which a game can be enjoyed for purposes other than improving the individual's performance by not only totalizing the game results of each player but also performing totaling by other indices. The purpose is to provide.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a plurality of game machines grouped in advance and a game result of the game machine are acquired, and an index relating to the group is obtained. And a counting means for counting based on the count.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of game machines grouped in advance, an intermediate host computer provided for each group and connected to a game machine included in the group, A game system comprising: an intermediate host computer provided; and an aggregation host computer connected via a network, wherein the game machine plays the game based on a personal game result played on the game machine. A means for adding a personal ID which is an identifier of an individual and transmitting the personal ID to an upper intermediate host computer, wherein the intermediate host computer includes the personal game result and the personal ID included in the personal game result and the personal ID transmitted from the game machine; Adds the group ID that is the identifier of the group to be added, and Transmitting means, wherein the totaling host computer uses a personal game result, a personal ID, and a group ID transmitted from the intermediate host computer to perform totaling based on an index related to the group; and the totaling means. Means for transmitting the totaling result to the intermediate computer, and displaying the totaling result on the intermediate computer and / or the game machine.

The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2
, Wherein the group is a group divided by store, region, or country where the terminal game machine is installed, or a group divided by an attribute relating to a player playing on the terminal game machine. .

[0010] The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the above, the aggregation based on the index for the group,
The average score, the total score, or the total number of plays in the group unit.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game result summarizing method for summing up game results of a plurality of game machines. It is characterized in that it is calculated based on the total.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of game machines are grouped in advance, an intermediate host computer provided for each group and connected to a game machine included in the group, A game result tallying method in a game system including a provided intermediate host computer and a tallying host computer connected via a network, wherein the game is played on a personal game result played on the game machine. Adding a personal ID, which is an identifier of the individual, and transmitting the personal ID to a higher-level intermediate host computer; and, in the intermediate host computer, the personal game result and the personal ID transmitted from the game machine include the game machine. Add a group ID, which is a group identifier,
Sending to a higher-level aggregation host computer;
The aggregation host computer, using a personal game result, a personal ID, and a group ID transmitted from the intermediate host computer, a totaling step of totalizing based on the index regarding the group, and a totaling result of the totaling step, And transmitting the tally result to the intermediate computer and / or the game machine.

In each of the above claims, between each host computer or between the host computer and the terminal game machine, a relay device (such as a computer in an intermediate hierarchy) that mediates communication between them. It may be interposed.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A nationwide host computer (hereinafter simply referred to as “national host”) 101
Store host computers (hereinafter simply referred to as “store hosts”) 111 to 113 are connected. In this figure, the nationwide aggregation host 101 and each of the store hosts 111 to 113 are illustrated as being connected by a single line, but they are connected by a wide area network such as the Internet. . Each store host 111-1
Reference numerals 13 are arranged at different business bases (eg, game centers). The store host 111 has a plurality of business terminal game machines 121, 1 arranged at the same business base via a small network such as Ethernet.
22 are connected. Similarly, terminal game machines 123 and 124 are connected to the shop host 112 and the shop host 113
Are connected to terminal game machines 125 and 126. Here, an example is shown in which three store hosts are connected to the nationwide aggregation host 101 and two terminal game machines are connected to each store host, but the number of store hosts and terminal game machines is arbitrary. It should be noted that the nationwide aggregation host 101 and the store hosts 111-
A connection device or a computer that mediates communication between them may be interposed in the hierarchy between the terminal hosts 113 and the store hosts 111 to 113 and the terminal game machines 121 to 126.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of each of the terminal game machines 121 to 126. The terminal game machine has a central processing unit (CP
U) 201, random access memory (RAM) 20
2. Read-only memory (ROM) 203, external storage device 204, real-time clock 205, video generation circuit 206, display device 207, audio synthesis circuit 208, audio output device 209, input conversion circuit 210, input device 211,
A communication interface (I / F) 212 and a memory card I / F 213 are provided. CPU 201, RA
M202, ROM 203, external storage device 204, real-time clock 205, video generation circuit 206, audio synthesis circuit 208, input conversion circuit 210, communication I / F 212,
And the memory card I / F 213 are connected to the system bus 21.
5 is connected.

The CPU 201 controls the entire operation of the terminal game machine. The RAM 202 is a readable and writable memory used for a program execution area and a work area used when the CPU 201 operates. The ROM 203 stores various control programs (BIOS: Basic Input / Output System) executed by the CPU 201.
m) is a read-only memory for storing the information. The external storage device 204 is a storage device that stores a game program, various necessary data, and the like. External storage device 2
04, for example, a hard disk or a CD-ROM
However, at least a part thereof is a readable and writable nonvolatile storage device. The real-time clock 205 is a clock used to determine the current date and time and to measure an arbitrary time.

The image generation circuit 206 generates various images based on instructions from the CPU 201 and displays them on the display device 207. The voice synthesis circuit 208 outputs various voices (including sound effects and background music) to the voice output device 209 based on an instruction from the CPU 201. The input conversion circuit 210 acquires operation information of the input device 211 operated by the player, converts the information into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the CPU 201. With this, CPU2
01 can recognize the operation information by the operation of the input device 211 of the player. The communication I / F 212 is an interface circuit for communicating with an external device, here, a store host. The memory card I / F 213 is an interface circuit that reads and writes data on the removable memory card 214 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 201.
In FIG. 2, the communication I / Fs 212 and 213 are illustrated as connected to the bus line 215.
The form and method of F are arbitrary. For example, an interface that connects external devices in a daisy chain (such as a Universal Serial Bus) may be used.

In the terminal game machine having the configuration shown in FIG.
01 loads a game program and necessary data stored in the external storage device 204 into the RAM 202 and executes the game program, whereby the game can be played. The game screen is displayed on the display device 207, and various sounds are output from the sound output device 209. The game player performs various operation inputs to the game using the input device 211. Further, the player connects the memory card 214 storing his / her personal ID information to the memory card I / F 213 (actually, inserts the memory card into a predetermined connector of the terminal game machine), and inserts the personal card into the terminal game machine. The ID information can be read. The personal ID information is an identifier for identifying the player, and when it is used will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows a configuration example of the nationwide aggregation host 101 of FIG. The nationwide aggregation host 101 has a CPU 301,
It includes a RAM 302, a ROM 303, an external storage device 304, a real-time clock 305, a video generation circuit 306, a display device 307, an input conversion circuit 310, an input device 311, a plurality of communication I / Fs 312a to 312c, and a system bus 315.

The CPU 301 controls the entire operation of the host computer. The RAM 302 is a CPU 30
1 is a readable and writable memory used for a program execution area, a work area, and the like that are used when the 1 operates. The ROM 303 stores various control programs (BIOS: Basic Input / Output) executed by the CPU 301.
System) is a read-only memory for storing data.
The external storage device 304 is a storage device such as a hard disk that stores various programs and data. The real-time clock 305 is a clock used to determine the current date and time and to measure an arbitrary time.

The video generation circuit 306 displays various data on the display device 307 based on an instruction from the CPU 301. The input device 311 is an input device such as a keyboard by which an operator inputs various instructions to the host computer. The operation information of the input device 311 is converted into digital data by the input conversion circuit 310 and the CPU 301
Is output to A plurality of communication I / Fs 312a to 312c ...
Are, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of store hosts 111 to 11
3 is an interface for communicating with. Note that FIG. 3 shows the communication I / Fs 312a to 312c... As connected to the bus line 315.
The form and method of F are arbitrary. For example, an interface that connects external devices in a daisy chain (such as a Universal Serial Bus) may be used.

The configuration of the shop hosts 111 to 113 is the same as that of the nationwide aggregation host 101 in FIG. However, the shop hosts 111 to 113 are connected to the nationwide totaling host 101, the terminal game machine 121, and the like via the communication I / F.
In the case of a store host, the display device 307 is also used for displaying various rankings described later.

Hereinafter, the operation of the game system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described in detail.
The following describes an example in which a game is played at No. 1 and game results are totaled at the nationwide totaling host 101 via the shop host 111. The same applies to the processing at other terminal game machines and shop hosts.

In the game system shown in FIG. 1, in the terminal game machine 121, a game is played by a player and a game result is output. The game result is, for example, a score or a score value of a shooting game or a time value of a driving game, and is such that it can be ranked in comparison with a game result of another player. The game result is transmitted to the upper store host 111 of the terminal game machine 121, and further, the higher
It is transmitted from 1 to the higher-level nationwide totaling host 101. The nationwide totaling host 101 generates various totalized data by totalizing the transmitted game results.

In particular, in this game system, an average score ranking for each store can be output as total data in addition to a national personal ranking. The average score ranking for each store means that each store is arranged in the store (that is, connected to a lower level of one store host).
The average score of the game result at the terminal game machine is obtained, and the average score of each store is arranged in the order of performance. Hereinafter, in the present game system, a processing procedure for totalizing and displaying such a national individual ranking and an average score ranking for each store will be described in detail.

FIG. 5A shows a flowchart of a game start communication process which is a part of a process executed when a player starts a game at the terminal game machine 121. At step 501, the personal ID of the player is stored in the memory card 21.
4 and stored in a predetermined storage area, and the process ends. Note that another storage medium may be used instead of the memory card, or the player may directly input his or her personal ID in the terminal game machine 121.

FIG. 5B shows a flowchart of a game end communication process which is a part of a process executed when the game is ended in the terminal game machine 121. Step 511
Then, the personal game result and the personal ID of the player are transmitted to the upper store host 111, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 4A shows the game result data 401 transmitted from the terminal game machine 121 to the shop host 111 in step 511. The game result data 401 indicates that the individual I
D411 (data read from memory card 214)
And the player's personal game result (score, score, etc.) 412.

FIG. 6A is a flowchart of a game result reception process executed by the shop host 111 that has received the game result data 401 transmitted from the terminal game machine 121 in step 511. In step 601, the game result data 401 received is added with store ID information as an identifier for specifying the store where the game was played, and transmitted to the nationwide aggregation host 101. Next, in step 602, the received game result data 401 is stored in the game result storage unit (provided in the RAM 302 or the external storage device 304), and the process ends.

FIG. 4B shows the game result data 402 transmitted from the shop host 111 to the nationwide totaling host 101 in step 601. The game result data 402 includes a personal ID 421, a player's personal game result 422, and a store ID 423. Here, an example in which the terminal game machines are divided into groups for each shop will be described. However, when another grouping is performed, a group ID 433 for identifying the group may be used instead of the shop ID. For example, if you want to divide terminal game machines into regional groups,
It becomes a region ID.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are flowcharts of the game result receiving process executed by the nationwide totaling host 101 which has received the game result data 402 transmitted from the store host 111 in step 601. First, step 701
Then, it is determined whether or not there is a free area in the national personal ranking storage unit. The nationwide personal ranking storage unit is a storage area provided in the RAM 302 or the external storage device 304 of the nationwide totalization host 101, and is transmitted from a terminal game machine nationwide via a store host in FIG. This is an area for storing the game result data 402 and sorting the result order.

At step 702, it is determined whether or not the personal game result 422 of the received game result 402 is better than the worst record (lowest ranking) in the national personal ranking storage unit. If the result is worse than the lowest ranking, the process proceeds to step 801. If the result is better than the lowest ranking, the process proceeds to step 703.

In step 703, it is determined whether or not the record of the personal ID 421 of the received game result 402 is already in the nationwide personal ranking storage unit. If the individual's record is already within the rank, then at step 705, the received game result 402 is compared with the individual's performance already existing within the rank. Overwrite the received game result over the individual's record already in the rank. If a record that is already in the rank is performing better, it will not be overwritten. If the record of the individual is not within the rank in step 703, the received game result 402 is recorded in a free space portion of the national personal ranking storage unit or in the worst recorded portion if there is no record in step 704. Next, in step 706, the data in the national personal ranking storage unit is sorted and sorted in the order of results.

Next, at step 801, the game result data 4 received from the store in the average ranking storage unit for each store is stored.
02 is searched for the record corresponding to the store ID 423, and the store I is searched.
The individual game result 422 of the received game result data 402 is added to the total score corresponding to D423.

FIG. 4C shows the format of the store-specific average ranking storage unit. Store average ranking storage unit 40
Reference numeral 4 denotes a storage area provided in the RAM 302 or the external storage device 304 of the nationwide totaling host 101, and includes a store ID 441, a total score 442 obtained by adding the individual game results of the games played on the terminal game machines in the store, It is composed of the total number of plays 443 of the game played on the terminal game machine of the shop and the average score 444. Step 801 is a process of searching the shop average ranking storage unit 404 for the shop ID 423 of the received game result, and adding it to the corresponding total score 442. It should be noted that each store average ranking storage unit 4
If there is no store ID 423 of the received game result during the time 04, the record of the store ID is newly registered in the free area of the store-specific average ranking storage unit 404.

Next, at step 802, the total play count 443 corresponding to the shop ID 423 of the received game result is set to 1
Add In step 803, the average score 444 corresponding to the store ID 423 of the received game result is calculated as average score = total score / total number of plays and stored. Step 804
Then, the records in the store-specific average ranking storage unit 404 are sorted in the order of the average score 444, and the average score for each store is created. At step 805, the average score ranking created on the average ranking storage unit for each store in step 804 and the national ranking created on the national ranking storage unit at step 706 are transmitted to each store host. The process ends.

FIG. 6B shows a flowchart of the nationwide counting result receiving process executed by the shop host 111 which has received the data transmitted from the nationwide counting host 101 in step 805. In step 611, the received national individual ranking is stored and displayed in the national individual ranking storage unit provided in the shop host 111. At step 612,
The received average score ranking for each shop is stored and displayed in the average ranking storage section for each shop provided in the shop host 111, and the process is terminated. The display is performed on the display device 307 of the shop host 111. This allows all players playing the game at that store to see the individual rankings that include the game results they have issued, and also allows the average score of the store where they play the game to be different from other stores. You can know how much the grade is compared to the average score.

The ranking may be displayed on the display device 307 of the shop host, or may be displayed on each terminal game machine, for example, when the player is not playing a game. Hereinafter, a procedure for displaying a ranking on the terminal game machine will be described.

FIG. 5 (c) shows a procedure of ranking display processing executed at predetermined time intervals in the terminal game machine 121 during a waiting time during which no game is played. It should be noted that this ranking display processing is always executed when the player ends the game. First, in step 521, a display ranking request (a request to acquire the national individual ranking and the average ranking for each store) is transmitted to the store host 111. Next, in step 522, the shop host 1
Then, a process for receiving the ranking data for display from the CPU 11 is performed.
At step 523, it is determined whether or not the display ranking data has been received.
Return to Upon receiving the display ranking data, in step 524, the received display ranking data (national personal ranking and store-specific average ranking) is displayed on the display device 207 and stored in the reception ranking storage unit, and the process is terminated.

FIG. 6C shows that the store host 111
7 shows a processing procedure of a display ranking request reception process executed when a display ranking data acquisition request transmitted from the terminal game machine 121 is received. First, in step 621, a game result storage unit (in step 602, the received game result data 401 is stored) and a reception ranking storage unit (in step 524, a nationwide personal ranking and an average for each store received from an upper store host) The ranking data for display is created from the data of which the ranking is stored). The display ranking data is stored in the display ranking storage unit. The data in the game result storage unit reflected on the display ranking data is deleted. Next, in step 622, the display ranking data is transmitted to the requesting terminal game machine, and the process ends.

All the game results are sent to the nationwide tallying host 101 to be tallied, and the nationwide personal ranking and the store-specific average ranking are sent to each store host as the tallying result. Instead of waiting for the ranking, the ranking may be transmitted to the game machine until the ranking reflecting the game result is received. However, in such a case, when a low-speed network is interposed between each store host and the nationwide totaling host, the ranking reflecting the game result may not be sent immediately. Like that. That is, each store host temporarily stores the national personal ranking and the store-specific average ranking sent from the nationwide totaling host, and temporarily stores the game result from the terminal game machine when necessary. Is
They are merged to create a ranking and send it to the terminal game machine. As a result, the terminal game machine can immediately display the ranking reflecting the game result.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in addition to the national personal ranking, the average ranking of each store can be totaled, so that the player can compete with other stores with the average score of each store. The game can be enjoyed for purposes other than improving grades.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the average points for each shop are ranked. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to a case where each game machine is classified into some group. . For example, instead of grouping by store, grouping may be performed by country, by predetermined region, or by gender. Also, instead of summing up the average points within each group,
The total score ranking and the total play frequency ranking may be calculated by totaling the total play frequency. Further, when a support team is input in a baseball game or the like, some kind of tallying may be performed for each support team.

The term "grouping of terminal game machines" includes not only a case where terminal game machines as hardware are grouped but also a case where a group is dynamically determined when playing a game. For example, if the personal ID includes information such as the country or region to which the player belongs, even if the game is played on any terminal game machine as long as the player plays with the personal ID, the game machine is identified by the personal ID. Recognized as belonging to the specified country or region group.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which a store host is installed for each store at a business base. However, a local host may be installed for each region, for example, instead of for each store. Further, the terminal game machine may be directly connected to the nationwide aggregation host without installing a shop host. In short, it is only necessary that the game result data transmitted from the terminal game machine to the nationwide totaling host include a group ID such as a shop ID.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the game results of the game machines that have been grouped in advance are totaled based on the index related to the group, the player can know the totaling result of each group in addition to the individual game results. Therefore, the average score, the total score, or the total number of plays for each group, such as each store, each region, each country, each gender, and each support team, are aggregated. And so on, so that the game can be enjoyed for purposes other than improving personal performance. As a result, the player can be given new motivation to play and a new purpose.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a terminal game machine;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a host computer.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing data contents in the game system of FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the terminal game machine.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a store host computer.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart (No. 1) showing a processing procedure of a nationwide aggregation host computer.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart (part 2) showing a processing procedure of the nationwide totalization host computer.

[Explanation of symbols]

101: Host computer nationwide, 111-113
... store host computer, 121 to 126 ... terminal game machine, 401 ... game result data sent from the terminal game machine to the store host, 411 ... personal ID, 412 ... personal game result, 402, 403 ... store host to nationwide aggregation host Game result data to be sent, 421 ... personal ID, 422
… Individual game results 423 store ID 433 group ID 404 store average ranking storage unit 441 store ID 442 total score 443 total play count 444
... average points.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A game system comprising: a plurality of game machines that are grouped in advance; and a counting unit that obtains game results of the game machines and totals the game results based on an index related to the group. 2. A plurality of game machines grouped in advance, an intermediate host computer provided for each group and connected to a game machine included in the group, and an intermediate host computer provided for each group A game system comprising: a totaling host computer connected via a network, wherein the game machine includes, in a personal game result played on the game machine, an individual that is an identifier of an individual who played the game. A means for adding an ID to the host computer for transmission to an upper intermediate host computer, wherein the intermediate host computer is an identifier of a group including the game machine in a personal game result and a personal ID transmitted from the game machine. A means for adding a group ID and sending it to a higher-level aggregation host computer The tallying host computer, using a personal game result, a personal ID, and a group ID transmitted from the intermediate host computer, tallying means for tallying based on the index related to the group, and a tallying result of the tallying means, Means for transmitting to the intermediate computer, wherein the totaling result is displayed on the intermediate computer and / or the game machine. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the group is a group divided by store, region, or country where the terminal game machine is installed, or a group divided by an attribute relating to a player playing on the terminal game machine. The game system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the total based on the index related to the group is an average score, a total score, or a total number of plays in the group unit. 5. A game result summarizing method for summing up game results on a plurality of game machines, comprising: acquiring game results on a plurality of game machines which are grouped in advance;
A game result tallying method, wherein tallying is performed based on an index related to the group. 6. A plurality of game machines grouped in advance, an intermediate host computer provided for each group and connected to a game machine included in the group, and an intermediate host computer provided for each group A game result totaling method in a game system comprising: a totaling host computer connected via a network; wherein the personal game result played on the game machine is an identifier of an individual who played the game. Adding an ID to an intermediate host computer at a higher level, and transmitting a personal game result and a personal ID transmitted from the game machine to the intermediate host computer, the group being an identifier of a group including the game machine. Add ID and send to upper-level aggregation host computer Steps: a tallying step in which the tallying host computer performs tallying based on the index relating to the group by using a personal game result, a personal ID, and a group ID transmitted from the intermediate host computer; and a tallying result of the tallying step. And transmitting the totaling result to the intermediate computer, and displaying the totaling result on the intermediate computer and / or the game machine.