JP2002052253A - Game system with item exchange function, server and game machine used in the system, and recording medium used in them - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system that allows a player having no other party to exchange an item with to use an item exchange function. SOLUTION: In a game system allowing playing of a game for collecting items on each of a plurality of game machines 1 and exchange of items among the plurality of game machines 1 by transmitting and receiving item exchange data through a server 34, a control device 10 of the plurality of game machines 1 is made to function as a means to prepare item exchange data, the addressee of which is not specified, a means to transmit the item exchange data prepared to the server 34, and a means to receive the item exchange data prepared by the other game machine 1. Receiving item exchange data, the addressee of which is not specified, the server 34, selects the addressee of the item exchange data from among a plurality of game machines 1, and delivers the item exchange data to a saving place corresponding to the addressee selected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a game system using a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a video game using a computer, a character set as an operation target of a player searches for an item while moving in a predetermined game space.
In some cases, the ability of the character changes or the story of the game changes according to the collected items. In this type of game, the value of an item may be different for each player due to circumstances such as the effect of the item changing according to the combination of the character and the item. Therefore, there is also provided a game system in which predetermined item exchange data is exchanged between players to exchange items using a communication function of the game machine.

[0003]

In the conventional game system, when friends use the same game software and exchange items between the friends, or when players who have met through a network exchange items. , It merely provides an item exchange function on the premise that a party to exchange items is specified. Therefore, a player who has no opponent to exchange items cannot use the item exchange function effectively.
For this reason, the appeal of the item exchange function can only be appealed to a specific user group, and the player's interest in the game cannot be sufficiently attracted by the item exchange function.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a game system capable of expanding the range of use of the item exchange function and enhancing the appeal of the game system, a server used for the game system, and a computer-readable storage medium suitable for them. With the goal.

[0005]

The present invention will be described below. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

The game system of the present invention comprises a plurality of game machines (1... 1) and a server (3) connected to each game machine.
4), wherein each of the plurality of game machines can play a game including an element for collecting items, and the plurality of game machines include information for specifying an item to be exchanged. A game system in which the items can be exchanged by transmitting and receiving item exchange data via the server, wherein each of the plurality of game machines has an item having an unspecified destination. Means (10), transmitting means (10) for transmitting the created item exchange data to the server, and receiving means (10) for receiving item exchange data created by another game machine,
The server includes, when the destination receives unspecified item exchange data, destination selection means for selecting a destination related to the item exchange data from the plurality of game machines, and a storage location corresponding to the selected destination. The above-described problem is solved by providing a distribution unit that distributes the item exchange data.

According to the game system of the present invention, when the player sends the item exchange data to the server without specifying the destination, the server receiving the item exchange data selects the destination from a plurality of game machines. And distributes the item exchange data to a storage location associated with the destination. Therefore, a player who does not have a partner designated as the destination of the item exchange data can transmit the item exchange data without specifying the destination. By repeatedly transmitting such item exchange data with an unspecified destination from a plurality of game machines, an item transmitted from another game machine without specifying a destination to the game machine that transmitted the item exchange data Exchange data is distributed, and as a result, item exchange between game machines is realized. Therefore, a player who has no item exchange partner can sufficiently enjoy the game by utilizing the item exchange function.

[0008] The game system of the present invention can include the following aspects.

In the game system according to the present invention, the data creation means creates a message attached to information specifying the item as a component of the item exchange data in accordance with a player's input operation via an input device of the game machine. Preferably, each of the plurality of game machines may further include a message display means for displaying a message included in the item exchange data on a display device of the game machine.

[0010] In this case, the sender of the item exchange data can transmit the item exchange data with a message to an unknown receiver, and communication from the sender to the receiver can be achieved. Communication from the recipient to the sender can also be expected by means such as writing the sender's contact information in the message. Thus, it is expected that unknown players will start communicating with each other through item exchange, thereby increasing the appeal of the game system.

[0011] In the game system of the present invention, the data creation means can create the item exchange data so as to include information for specifying a transmission source, and when the item exchange data is received. Refers to the information for identifying the transmission source game machine included in the received item exchange data, specifies the transmission source, and transmits the item exchange data specifying the specified transmission source as a destination. Further, when the item exchange data having the designated destination is transmitted, the distribution means of the server may distribute the item exchange data to a storage location corresponding to the designated destination. .

In this case, the recipient of the item exchange data can create and transmit the item exchange data destined to the transmission source of the item exchange data. This allows unknown players to directly exchange items. In particular, if item exchange data with a message can be created, unknown players can start communication with each other when the item exchange data arrives from an unknown sender. Will greatly increase the appeal of game systems.

[0013] In the game system of the present invention, the destination selection means of the server may randomly select the destination from the plurality of game machines. In this case, an opportunity for item exchange can be given to a part of the plurality of game machines without bias.

[0014] The destination selection means of the server may select the destination from the plurality of game machines based on predetermined selection reference information. In this case, there are various circumstances regarding which game machine is given an opportunity to exchange items,
For example, the adjustment can be made in consideration of the convenience of the person who operates the server, the demand of each player who is a user, and the like.

In the game system of the present invention, the following aspects can be considered in relation to the selection reference information.

[0016] The server may be provided with reference information creating means for creating information associated with the transmission frequency of the item exchange data for each game machine as the selected reference information.

In this case, the destination of the item exchange data can be determined in consideration of the frequency of transmitting the item exchange data. In particular, the distribution means selects the destination such that the more frequently the item exchange data is transmitted, the more frequently the game device is selected as the destination. As the chance of receiving the item exchange data increases, the use of the item exchange function can be promoted.

[0018] The server may be provided with reference information creating means for creating information associated with the frequency of use of the server for each game machine as the selected reference information.

In this case, the destination of the item exchange data can be determined in consideration of the frequency of using the server. In particular, the distribution means selects the destination such that the more frequently the game machine uses the server, the more frequently the game machine is selected as the destination. Thus, the more the server is used, the more opportunity for receiving the item exchange data. As it increases, the use of the server can be promoted.
When various services are provided by the server, use of the services can be promoted. If the server provides a paid service, the player who uses the paid service has a greater chance of receiving the item exchange data, thereby promoting the use of the paid service.

[0020] In the game system of the present invention, each of the plurality of game machines is provided with storage means for storing collected data for specifying items owned by a player, and the exchange data creation means includes According to an instruction given through the input device of the game machine, the player selects an item from the items owned by the player specified by the collected data, and transmits information specifying the selected item to the item to be exchanged. May be created as information for specifying In this case, the player can select the item desired as the exchange target by himself and create the item exchange data.

Further, each of the plurality of game machines updates the collected data so that the item specified by the transmitted item exchange data is deleted from the range owned by the player, while receiving the received data. Data updating means for updating the collected data so that the item specified by the item exchange data is included in the range owned by the player may be provided.

With this arrangement, the item that has been transmitted as the item to be exchanged in the item exchange data is deleted from the range owned by the player on the side that has transmitted the item exchange data. Represents a state in which the item to be exchanged has been transferred to another person. On the other hand, on the game machine that receives the item exchange data, the item specified in the item exchange data can be added as an item owned by the player of the game machine, and the state in which the item has been transferred from another person can be expressed. it can. By these processes,
Item exchange can be clearly reproduced on the game.

Another game system of the present invention includes a plurality of game machines (1... 1) and a server (34) connected to each game machine, and each of the plurality of game machines collects items. A game system in which elements can be played, and the items can be exchanged between the plurality of game machines using item exchange data including information for specifying an item to be exchanged. In accordance with an instruction from a player given via the input device of the game machine, data creation means for creating item exchange data with an unspecified address, and when the item exchange data with an unspecified address is created, Destination selecting means for selecting the destination related to the item exchange data from the plurality of game machines; and storing the destination in a storage location corresponding to the selected destination. A distribution means for distributing the item exchange data, by providing, for solving the above problems.

In this game system, similarly to the above-mentioned game system, when the player creates item exchange data without specifying a destination, the destination of the item exchange data is selected from a plurality of game machines and the destination is selected. Since the item exchange data is delivered to the storage location associated with the item, the player who has no item exchange partner can sufficiently enjoy the game by utilizing the item exchange function. In this game system, the data creation means may be provided in each of the plurality of game machines, or may be provided in the server. When the data creation means is provided in the game machine, the created item exchange data is transmitted to the server, and the server distributes the item exchange data. In this case, it is desirable that the destination selection means be provided in the server, but a certain rule is determined for the selection of the destination, and the game machine that transmits the item exchange data automatically determines the destination according to the rule. Thus, the destination selection means can be provided for each of the plurality of game machines.

On the other hand, when the data creating means is provided in the server, the player who wants to create the item exchange data whose destination is unspecified is made to input predetermined information through the input device of the game machine, The transmitted information may be transmitted from the game machine to the server, and the server may create the item exchange data whose destination is not specified according to the transmitted information. With respect to the created item exchange data, the server selects a destination and distributes the item exchange data to a storage location associated with the selected destination.

In each of the above-described game systems, the item exchange data may be created in various formats according to the configuration of the game. As an example, the item exchange data can include information about a destination and information for identifying an item. When the information on the destination is included in the item exchange data, the item exchange data with an unspecified destination is configured as the information on the destination as the item exchange data in which information such as a unique code is set when the destination is unspecified. can do. The information for specifying an item may be a number for identifying the item, or data describing characteristics of the item itself. The storage location corresponding to the destination may be provided, for example, on the storage device of the server, or may be provided on the storage device of the game machine selected as the destination. When the storage location is provided on the storage device of the server, the distribution means distributes the item exchange data within the server, and when the storage location is provided on the storage device of the game machine selected as the destination. In the meantime, the distribution means transmits the item exchange data from the server to the game machine. If you want to exchange items between multiple game consoles,
The game machine on the sending side of the item exchange data deletes the item selected as the exchange target, and the game machine on the receiving side of the item exchange data adds the item specified by the received item exchange data. The processing may be performed in the same manner as in various game systems that realize item exchange.

The server of the present invention is connected to a plurality of game machines (1... 1) capable of playing a game including an element for collecting items, and information for specifying an item to be exchanged among the plurality of game machines. A server for a game system (34) functioning as an intermediary for transmitting and receiving the item exchange data when transmitting and receiving the item exchange data including the item exchange data. Receiving specific item exchange data,
A destination selecting means for selecting a destination related to the item exchange data from the plurality of game machines, and a distribution means for distributing the item exchange data to a storage location corresponding to the selected destination are provided.

According to this server, the above-described game system can be configured in combination with a plurality of game machines.

The game machine according to the present invention is capable of playing a game including an element for collecting items, and transmits item exchange data including information for specifying an item to be exchanged via a predetermined server (34). A game machine (1) in which the items can be exchanged by transmission or reception, and data creation means (10) for creating item exchange data configured to select a destination in the server; A transmission unit (10) for transmitting the created item exchange data to the server; and a receiving unit (10) for receiving the item exchange data created by another game machine.

According to this game machine, the above-described game system can be configured in combination with another game machine and a server. The item exchange data configured so that the destination is selected by the server is the item exchange data directed to determine the destination by itself when the server receives the required item exchange data. Means For example, a certain rule is set between the server and the game machine for specifying the destination of the item exchange data, and the rule is such that when the game machine specifies specific information, the server appropriately selects the destination. In the prescribed case, the game machine creates and transmits “item exchange data configured so that the destination is selected by the server” by designating the above specific information regarding the destination of the item exchange data. can do.

The computer-readable storage medium of the present invention is connected to a plurality of game machines (1... 1) capable of playing a game including an element for collecting items,
Used in a server (34) functioning as an intermediary for transmitting and receiving item exchange data including information for specifying an item to be exchanged between the plurality of game machines and exchanging the item exchange data when exchanging the item. A storage medium (35) recording a program to be exchanged, wherein the program receives item exchange data whose destination is unspecified from any of the game machines, and transmits the destination regarding the item exchange data from the plurality of game machines. The server is configured to function as a destination selection unit to be selected and a distribution unit that distributes the item exchange data to a storage location corresponding to the selected destination.

According to the present invention, the server according to the game system of the present invention can be configured by reading and executing the program recorded on the storage medium by the server.

The computer-readable storage medium of the present invention can play a game including an element for collecting items, and stores item exchange data including information for specifying an item to be exchanged on a predetermined server. A storage medium (18) storing a program to be used in a computer (10) of a game machine (1) in which the item can be exchanged by being transmitted or received via (34), Are data creation means for creating item exchange data configured such that a destination is selected in the server, transmission means for transmitting the created item exchange data to the server, and other game machines. Is configured to function as the receiving means for receiving the item exchange data. And it features.

According to the present invention, the game machine according to the present invention can be constituted by reading and executing the program recorded in the storage medium by the computer of the game machine.

Note that the term "item" in the present invention indicates a concept that includes various elements that are positioned as objects to be collected by the players in the game and have an exchange value between the players. It does not matter whether it is represented by the word "item". For example, in a game in which a player collects characters, as long as the character has an exchange value, it corresponds to an “item” in the present invention.

[0036]

FIG. 1 shows a portable game machine as a game device constituting a game system of the present invention. The portable game machine 1 has a main body 2, a liquid crystal monitor 3 as a display device attached to the main body 2, and an input device 4. The input device 4 includes a direction indication switch 5
And a plurality of push button switches 6a to 6d. The direction indication switch 5 has, for example, a cross-shaped operation member 5a, and outputs a signal corresponding to the operation of the operation member 5a in the up, down, left, and right directions (push operation of up, down, left, and right ends). The configuration of such an input device 4 is well known, and various modifications are possible. For example, instead of the operation member 5a, one push button switch may be arranged on each of the upper, lower, left, and right sides. The number and arrangement of the push button switches 6a to 6d may be variously changed.
When there is no need to distinguish these switches, they are expressed as pushbutton switches 6. In addition, the game machine 1 is provided with a power switch, an operation member for adjusting the volume, and the like.
They have been omitted.

FIG. 2 shows a control device 1 provided in the game machine 1.
0 is shown. The control device 10 is configured as a computer mainly including a CPU 11 using a microprocessor. The CPU 11 includes a ROM 12 and a RAM 13 as main storage devices, and an image processing circuit 14.
And the sound processing circuit 15 are connected via a bus 16. The ROM 12 stores a program necessary for basic control of the game machine 1 (for example, start-up processing). A work area for the CPU 11 is secured in the RAM 13. The image processing circuit 14 controls the liquid crystal monitor 3 according to a drawing instruction from the CPU 11 to display a predetermined image on the screen. The sound processing circuit 15 generates an analog audio signal according to a sound generation instruction from the CPU 11 and outputs the analog audio signal to the speaker 7.

The switches 5 and 6 of the input device 4 are connected to the CPU 11 via a bus 16 so that the CPU 1
Numeral 1 can determine the operation state of each of the switches 5 and 6. An external storage device 17 separate from the control device 10 is connected to the bus 16. The external storage device 17 is, for example, the main body 2
The ROM 18 and the user memory 19 are provided as storage media in the cassette
Is provided. In the ROM 18, a program for causing the control device 10 to function as each unit of the present invention and various data necessary for executing the program are recorded in advance. Memory 19
Is a rewritable ROM such as a flash memory, in which, for example, game save data and the like are recorded as necessary. The storage medium of the external storage device 17 is not limited to a semiconductor storage element, and various storage media such as a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, and a magneto-optical storage medium may be used. Although an interface circuit is interposed between the bus 16 and each element as necessary, they are not shown. The configuration of the control device 10 is not limited to the above, and various control devices may be used.

A communication control circuit 20 is connected to the CPU 11 via a bus 16 in order to connect the game machine 1 to a predetermined communication line or another game machine. The communication control circuit 20 has a communication connector 22 via a communication interface 21.
Is connected. As the communication control circuit 20, for example, DS
A combination of a P (Digital Signal Processor) and software can be used to function as a modem or a network interface. Communication connector 2
2 and the interface 21 may be provided as peripheral devices externally connected to the game machine 1.

FIG. 3 shows an example in which the game machine 1 is connected to a network or another game machine 1 via the communication control circuit 20. In FIG. 3A, a mobile communication terminal phone (hereinafter referred to as a mobile phone) 30 such as a mobile phone or a PHS is connected to a communication connector 22 of the game machine 1 by a communication cable 31. The telephone 30 is controlled to call a predetermined access point 32, and the access point 32
In this example, the game machine 1 is connected to a server 34 via a predetermined network 33. The network 33 is preferably the Internet, but a commercial network, LAN or WAN that is not open to the Internet.
May be. Various computer resources such as a workstation and a personal computer can be used for the server 34. A program for providing a predetermined service to the game machine 1 is installed in a storage device (for example, a hard disk) 35 of the server 34, and the server 34 according to the present invention is executed by executing the program. Various functions will be realized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3B, the game machines 1 can be connected to each other by a communication cable 36 to perform data communication or the like between the game machines 1. However, the form of communication between the game machines 1 in the game system of the present invention is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3, and the game machine 1 may be connected to a network or another game machine 1 in various forms. For example, the game machines 1 may be connected to each other using wireless communication using infrared rays or the like.

A player of one game machine purchases an external storage device 17 including a ROM 18 in which a game program according to the present invention is recorded, mounts it on the game machine 1 and causes the CPU 11 to execute the program. The game according to the present invention can be played on the screen of the monitor 3. The game program of the game machine 1 includes a module for communicating with the server 34 and other game machines 1 to exchange data and the like. The storage device of the server 34 stores programs and data for providing various services to each game machine 1 in cooperation with the program of the game machine 1 side. Server 3
In order to use the service to the server 4, user registration to the server 34 is required, and a storage device of the server 34 stores a database in which the registered contents of the user are recorded. The server 34 refers to the database to determine whether or not the access from each game machine 1 is permitted, and provides the service to only those who are permitted to access.

Next, the contents of the game will be described. R
The game recorded in the OM 18 has various modes, and particularly, a mail adventure mode is provided as a mode related to the present invention. In the mail adventure mode, a plurality of scenarios are prepared, and the player experiences each scenario in a predetermined order or an arbitrary order, and completes the game when all scenarios are cleared and predetermined conditions are satisfied. In each scenario, a plurality of characters appear as dialogue partners of the player.
Each character presents a fictional postcard to the player from various places while traveling the world alone. The player gives an instruction to the character by sending a reply to the postcard, and the character performs the next action according to the content of the instruction and sends the postcard again. The scenario proceeds by this repetition, and when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the scenario is cleared.

In the e-mail adventure mode, the player can acquire items according to the contents of the play. The item is positioned as a player's collection target, but the collection status of the item affects whether or not the mail adventure mode has been cleared. For example, when all scenarios are cleared, it is determined that the game in the e-mail adventure mode has been cleared on condition that certain items are available, and if the items are missing, it is determined that the game has not been cleared Is done. In addition, the item and the progress of the game may be associated in various ways.

Items can be obtained in various ways.
For example, a player can play a mini-game to earn points while waiting for the arrival of a postcard, and earn items in exchange for the points. When the scenario is completed, the character can bring back the item as a souvenir, purchase the item by connecting to the server 34, or exchange the item with a player of another game machine 1 using a communication function.

The exchange of items via the server 34
A player who has an unnecessary item creates a kind of e-mail with a message attached to the item, sends the e-mail to a specific or unspecified player, and a player who receives the e-mail through the server 34 This is realized by replying to the sender by sending the unnecessary items in the same mail format. Even if you omit the reply function to the sender of the player who received the item in the program and provide only the function to send unnecessary items to unspecified players, the transmission from each player will be repeated Therefore, it can be expected that the player who sent out the unnecessary item accidentally receives the item transmitted from another player, and as a result, the item exchange is realized.

Hereinafter, the server 34 will be described with reference to FIGS.
A method of exchanging items via the Internet will be described. In the following description, a player who sends out an unnecessary item and a game machine operated by the player are called a sending player and a sending game machine, respectively, and the player receiving the item and the game machine operated by the player are called a sending player and a sending game machine, respectively. Are called a receiving player and a receiving game machine, respectively.

FIG. 4A shows an item box screen 40 displayed on the monitor 3 when the transmitting player performs a predetermined operation on the input device 4 of the transmitting game machine 1.
Is shown. The item box screen 40 displays a list of items collected by the transmitting player.
In the example of FIG. 4 (a), the items "cookie decoration", "Christmas boots", "Kamehameha no Kankan", "Aboriginal mask", and "trouble doll"
Is displayed. During execution of the game, R of each game machine 1
In the AM 13, collected data for specifying a collection state of items related to the player of the game machine 1 is recorded. The collected data is also recorded in the user memory 19 in response to a save operation of the input device 4 by the player. The collected data may be configured as, for example, a flag for each item for determining whether or not each item is owned by the player, or may be configured as data for directly specifying the number of the collected item or the like by the player. Good.

When the item box screen 40 is displayed, the player can select any one of the displayed items by performing a predetermined selection operation on the input device 4. A cursor 41 imitating a wing is displayed for the selected item, and a description 42 about the selected item is displayed at the bottom of the item box screen 40.

On the right side of the item box screen 40, a mail button 43 is displayed. The sending player
When the user selects an unnecessary item, in other words, an item determined to be exchangeable, and operates the mail button 43 via the input device 4, a confirmation screen 4 shown in FIG.
5 is displayed on the monitor 3. The confirmation screen 45 includes a message 46 for confirming whether to execute transmission of the selected item, a Yes button 47 and a No button 48.
Is displayed. When the transmitting player operates the No button 46 via the input device 4, the item transmission is canceled and the item box screen 40 is displayed on the monitor 3 again.
Is displayed. On the other hand, when the transmitting player operates the Yes button 47, a process for transmitting an e-mail is started.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a mail transmission process executed by CPU 11 of transmitting game machine 1 to transmit the mail. Hereinafter, the procedure of sending a mail will be described with reference to FIG.

In the mail transmission process, a mail creation screen is displayed on the monitor 3 (step S11 in FIG. 6). FIG.
(A) shows an example of the mail creation screen 50.
On the mail creation screen 50, an item window 51, a message window 52, a character palette 53, and three selection buttons 54, 55, 56 are displayed.

In the item window 51, an image of an item ("Christmas boots" in the illustrated example) selected to be exchanged is displayed. Message window 52
By performing a predetermined text input operation on. Player input device 4 can be entered character group in. The character palette 53 "Hello" is displayed is listed in the message (figure creating the A desired character can be selected from the character palette 53. The selected character is displayed in the message window 52 according to the selection order. Each sheet is prepared separately, and each sheet has tabs 53a to 53d.
Is provided. The player performs a predetermined pallet selection operation on the input device 4 so that the tabs 53a to 53
d can be selected, the sheet associated with the selected tab is displayed on the foreground, and a character group on that sheet can be input. The selection button 54 is operated when sending an e-mail to a specific party, and the selection button 55
Is operated when sending an e-mail to an unspecified partner, and the selection button 56 is operated when returning to a predetermined initial screen (a screen representing a player's room) after canceling the e-mail creation. In order to allow the player to determine the function assigned to each of the buttons 54 to 56, the select button 54 is “call to a friend”, the select button 55 is “call to someone”,
The selection button 56 is described with a character string of “return”.

When the mail creation screen 50 of FIG. 5A is displayed, the CPU 11 sequentially determines whether or not the player has performed a text input operation and a pallet selection operation (steps S12 and S14). ). When a text input operation is performed, a text input process according to the content of the operation is performed (step S13). In the text input process, for example, a character selected from the character palette 53 by a text input operation is displayed in the message window 52, and message data recorded in a predetermined area of the RAM 13 is updated according to the content of the input operation.
When the pallet selection operation is performed, the input character type is switched according to the operation content, and a sheet corresponding to the changed character type is displayed on the foreground of the pallet 53 (step S15).

Subsequent to the above processing, it is determined whether or not the player has selected and operated the selection button 54 marked "Come to a friend" (step S16). Is created (step S17). In the process of step S17, a process of causing the player to input a destination is performed.

The transmission data is created, for example, in the form of an e-mail including a header, a message body, and attached information as shown in FIG. This transmission data corresponds to the item exchange data. The header includes information for specifying the sender, transmission date and time, destination, and the like of the mail. The message body is a string of character codes corresponding to the message displayed in the message window 52. The attached information includes information for specifying the item selected as the exchange target. For example, when the game program distinguishes items by assigning a unique item number to each item, an item number corresponding to the item selected as a replacement target is recorded as attached information. Note that the configuration in FIG. 7 is an example, and the mail exchanged between the players may be configured in various formats.

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S16, it is determined whether or not the player has selected and operated the select button 55 marked "Someone" (step S18), and the result is affirmed. Then, transmission data with an unspecified destination is created (step S19). The transmission data created in this case may have the same structure as that created in step S17. However, information indicating that the destination is unspecified is described in a portion of the header that specifies the destination.

When the transmission data is created in step S17 or S19, a process of transmitting the transmission data as mail to the server 34 is executed (step S2).
0). When the transmission is completed, the collected data in the RAM 13 is updated so that the item selected as the exchange target and transmitted is deleted from the possession range of the player (step S21), and then the processing in FIG. 6 is completed.

On the other hand, if a negative determination is made in step S18, it is determined whether or not the player has selected and operated the selection button 56 marked "Return to Hey" (step S22). Then, the process returns to step S12. If step S22 is affirmatively determined, a predetermined cancel process for canceling the mail creation is executed (step S23), and then the process of FIG. 6 is completed.

FIG. 8 shows a mail distribution process executed by the server 34 in response to the transmission of a mail from the transmitting game machine 1. It should be noted that the transmitting game machine 1 sends the server 34
To send an email to the game machine 1 and server 3
Processing such as establishment of a communication protocol and user authentication is performed between the server and the server 4, and the processing may be performed in the same manner as the processing of access between a server and a client in a normal network, and the details are omitted.

At the server 34 receiving the mail from the transmitting game machine 1, first, from the header of the transmitted mail,
It is determined whether a destination is specified in the mail (step S31). If the destination is unspecified, the destination is selected by the server 34 according to a predetermined condition (step S32). Then, the mail is stored in the mailbox specified by the transmission data or the mailbox selected by the server 34 (step S33), and then the processing in FIG. 8 ends. The mailbox is a mail storage area for each user secured on the recording device of the server 34, and corresponds to a storage location associated with the destination.

In step S32 described above, a destination is selected from one or more players registered as users in the server 34. The selection may be determined at random using, for example, a random number, or may be specified. May be determined with reference to the information of. For example, the server 34 records the number of transmissions of items for each player registered as a user, and the destination selection procedure may be set so that the player with a higher number of transmissions has a higher probability of being selected as a mail destination. With this setting, the player who transmits the item more frequently has an opportunity to receive the item from another player, so that the item exchange via the server 34 is actively used. In addition, data indicating the frequency of each player using the server 34 may be created from various viewpoints, and a destination may be selected based on the data so that use of the service via the server 34 is promoted. Data indicating the frequency with which the player has used the server 34 can be created in accordance with various information such as the number of accesses to the server 34, the total time of access, the number of times the server 34 has used services, and the like. When the server 34 provides a paid service, data indicating the frequency with which the player has used the server 34 may be created based on the usage amount of each player.

Next, the processing on the mail receiving side will be described.

When the player of the game machine 1 performs a predetermined mail browsing operation on the input device 4, a mail browsing screen 60 shown in FIG. The mail browsing screen 60 includes an item window 61, a message window 62, mail list windows 63 and 3
The selection buttons 64, 65, 66 are displayed. The selection button 64 is operated when accessing the server 34 and receiving a mail. When an e-mail is received, an image of an item (“Christmas boots” in the illustrated example) attached to the received e-mail is displayed in the item window 61, and a message attached to the item (FIG. in the "Hello" is displayed. select button 65 is intended to be operated to save the received mail. that is, the selection button 65
Is operated, the mail currently displayed in the windows 61 and 62 is stored in a predetermined storage destination (for example, the user memory 19).

An icon 63a corresponding to the stored mail is displayed in the mail list window (named "Taste Box" in the figure) 63. When a plurality of mails are stored, an icon 63a is displayed in one-to-one correspondence with each mail. Player is input device 4
By performing a predetermined mail selection operation on, a specific mail can be selected from the mail list window 63, and the items and messages attached to the mail can be displayed on the windows 61 and 62, respectively. At the lower part of the mail list window 63, an erase button 67 written "Erase" is displayed. Player has input device 4
When the delete button 67 is operated via, the mail selected at that time is deleted from the storage destination.

The selection button 66 is operated when returning to a predetermined initial screen (a screen representing the room of the player). In order to allow the player to determine the function assigned to each of the buttons 64 to 66, the select button 64 includes "go to go",
The selection button 65 includes “to the safety box” and the selection button 66
Has a character string of "Return to Heya".

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a mail receiving process executed by CPU 11 of receiving game machine 1 to receive a mail from server 34. This process is executed in response to the operation of the selection button 64 in FIG. In the mail receiving process, first, the player's mailbox set in the server 34 is accessed (step S41). At this time as well, processing such as establishment of a communication protocol and user authentication is performed between the receiving game machine 1 and the server 34 in the same manner as in the transmission of mail. The processing may be performed in the same manner as the access processing, and details are omitted.

When the access is completed, it is determined whether or not the mail has arrived at the next mailbox (step S4).
2). If the mail has arrived, the mail is received (downloaded) from the server 34 (step S).
43). Also at this time, the server 34 executes a process of transmitting an e-mail in response to a request from the receiving game machine 1, and its detailed procedure may be performed in the same manner as a general server-client download process. Details are omitted. After receiving the mail, the received mail is analyzed and the contents of the transmitted item and message are specified (step S44), and the item and message are displayed on the screen 60 (step S45). Then, the collected data is updated so that the received item is included in the possession range of the player (step S4).
6). Thus, the processing in FIG. 9 ends. Step S4
If it is determined in step 1 that there is no mail, the processing of step S42 and subsequent steps are omitted, and the processing of FIG. 9 ends.

The screen 60 shown in FIG. 5B does not display information for specifying the sender of the mail, but the header of the received mail contains information for specifying the sender. Therefore, it is desirable to add a reply function to the received mail using this information. For example, when a button for replying to the sender is added to the screen 60 in FIG. 5B and the button is operated, a reply mail addressed to the sender of the mail can be created and transmitted according to the procedure in FIG. It may be. That is, in the process of FIG. 6, a step for determining whether or not the reply button is operated is added, and when the step is affirmed, the sender of the mail is specified as the destination based on the header of the mail to be returned. Good. FIG. 10 shows an example of a process executed by the CPU 11 when the reply item exchange data is created. In this process, the sender is first identified from the header of the received mail (step S51). Next, the specified transmission source is designated as the destination (step S5).
2) Transmission data for the destination is created (step S53). The created transmission data includes the header of FIG. 7 including information specifying the source of the original mail as the destination.

When the reply mail can be transmitted to the mail sender in this way, the direct exchange of items between the players is realized. Players exchanging items are unlikely to know each other, so they can start communication by exchanging items, and they can deepen fellowship by using messages to teach contacts etc. .

However, even when the reply function as described above is not provided, the reply destination can be specified using a message, and an unknown player can exchange items through such a method. It is.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be implemented in various forms. For example, game machine 1
May be transmitted to the server 34, and the server 34 may create and distribute a mail based on the information.
Regarding creation of a message, input information of the message may be transmitted from the game machine 1 to the server 34, and data specifying the content of the message may be generated on the server 34.

The present invention is not limited to a portable game machine as a client, but is applicable to a game system using various terminals as game machines. For example, the game machine may be configured as a mobile phone, a personal computer, or the like.

[0074]

As described above, according to the present invention, a player who has no opponent to exchange items can fully enjoy the game by utilizing the item exchange function. It can be expanded to enhance the appeal of the game system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of a portable game machine constituting a game system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the game machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing an embodiment of a game system using the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing an example of a screen displayed on a monitor in association with item exchange in the game system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view showing another example of a screen displayed on the monitor in association with the exchange of items in the game system of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exemplary flowchart showing the procedure of mail transmission processing executed by the game machine of FIG. 1 when exchanging items.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the structure of a mail created as item exchange data by the processing of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary flowchart showing the procedure of a mail delivery process executed by the server of FIG. 3 when exchanging items.

FIG. 9 is an exemplary flowchart showing the procedure of a mail receiving process executed by the game machine of FIG. 1 when exchanging items.

FIG. 10 is an exemplary flowchart showing the procedure of reply data creation processing executed by the game machine of FIG. 1 when creating a reply mail for a received mail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Portable game machine 3 Monitor (display device) 4 Input device 5 Direction switch 6a-6d Pushbutton switch 10 Control device (computer) 18 ROM (storage medium) 34 Server 35 Storage device (storage medium) 40 Item box screen 50 Mail Creation screen 60 Mail reception screen

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A game machine comprising: a plurality of game machines; and a server connected to each of the game machines, wherein each of the plurality of game machines can play a game including an element for collecting items, and A game system in which the items can be exchanged between game machines by transmitting and receiving item exchange data including information for specifying an item to be exchanged via the server, wherein each of the plurality of game machines has Data creating means for creating item exchange data whose destination is unspecified, transmitting means for transmitting the created item exchange data to the server, and receiving means for receiving item exchange data created by another game machine When the destination receives unspecified item exchange data, the server exchanges the item. Item exchange, comprising: destination selection means for selecting an address for data from the plurality of game machines; and distribution means for distributing the item exchange data to a storage location corresponding to the selected address. Game system with functions. 2. The data creation means can create a message attached to information specifying the item as a component of the item exchange data according to a player's input operation via an input device of the game machine. The game system according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of game machines further includes a message display unit for displaying a message included in the item exchange data on a display device of the game machine. . 3. The data creation means can create the item exchange data so as to include information for specifying a transmission source, and when the item exchange data is received, receive the item exchange data. It is possible to further create item exchange data that specifies a transmission source by referring to information for specifying the transmission source game machine included in the item exchange data, and specifies the specified transmission source as a destination. And transmitting the item exchange data to the storage location corresponding to the specified destination when the item exchange data having the specified destination is transmitted. Or the game system according to 2. 4. The game system according to claim 1, wherein said destination selection means of said server randomly selects said destination from said plurality of game machines. 5. The game according to claim 1, wherein the destination selection means of the server selects the destination from the plurality of game machines based on predetermined selection reference information. system. 6. The server according to claim 5, wherein said server is provided with reference information creating means for creating information associated with a transmission frequency of item exchange data for each game machine as said selected reference information. The game system according to 1. 7. The distribution device according to claim 6, wherein the distribution unit selects the destination such that the frequency at which the item exchange data is transmitted more frequently is selected as the destination. Game system. 8. The server according to claim 5, wherein the server is provided with reference information creating means for creating information associated with the frequency of use of the server for each game machine as the selected reference information. Game system. 9. The game according to claim 8, wherein the distribution unit selects the destination such that the more frequently the game machine uses the server, the more frequently the destination is selected as the destination. system. 10. Each of the plurality of game machines includes:
A storage unit for storing collected data for specifying an item owned by a player is provided. The exchange data creating unit specifies the exchanged data in accordance with an instruction given from the player via an input device of a game machine. The selected player selects an item from items owned by the player, and creates information for identifying the selected item as information for identifying the item to be exchanged. The game system according to 1. 11. Each of the plurality of game machines includes:
While updating the collected data so that the item specified by the transmitted item exchange data is deleted from the range owned by the player, the item specified by the received item exchange data is owned by the player The game system according to claim 10, further comprising a data updating unit that updates the collected data so as to be included in the range. 12. A game machine comprising: a plurality of game machines; and a server connected to each of the game machines, wherein each of the plurality of game machines can play a game including an element for collecting items, and In the game system in which the items can be exchanged using the item exchange data including the information specifying the item to be exchanged between the game machines, an instruction from a player given via the input device of the game machine Data creation means for creating item exchange data whose destination is unspecified, and, when the item exchange data whose destination is unspecified, a destination for selecting the destination related to the item exchange data from the plurality of game machines. Selecting means; and distributing means for distributing the item exchange data to a storage location corresponding to the selected destination. A game system with an item exchange function. 13. A plurality of game machines connected to a plurality of game machines capable of playing a game including an element for collecting items, and exchanges item exchange data including information for specifying items to be exchanged among the plurality of game machines. A server for a game system functioning as an intermediary for transmitting and receiving the item exchange data when exchanging the item, and receiving the item exchange data having an unspecified destination from any of the game machines; A game system comprising: destination selection means for selecting a destination related to exchange data from the plurality of game machines; and distribution means for distributing the item exchange data to a storage location corresponding to the selected destination. Server for 14. A game in which an element for collecting items is included in a playable game, and item exchange data including information for specifying an item to be exchanged is transmitted or received via a predetermined server, so that the item is exchanged. In a game machine which is exchangeable, data creation means for creating item exchange data configured such that a destination is selected in the server, and transmission means for sending the created item exchange data to the server And a receiving means for receiving item exchange data created by another game machine. 15. An item exchange data including information for identifying an item to be exchanged between the plurality of game machines connected to a plurality of game machines which can play a game including an element for collecting items. A program used in a server functioning as an intermediary for transmitting and receiving the item exchange data when exchanging the item, wherein the program has a destination from any of the game machines. A destination selection unit that receives specific item exchange data and selects a destination related to the item exchange data from the plurality of game machines, and a distribution unit that distributes the item exchange data to a storage location corresponding to the selected destination. Computer readable, configured to operate the server Storage medium. 16. A game in which an element for collecting an item is included is playable, and item exchange data including information for specifying an item to be exchanged is transmitted or received via a predetermined server, so that the item is exchanged. Is a storage medium storing a program used in a computer of a game machine that can be exchanged, the program comprising: data for creating item exchange data configured to select a destination in the server The computer is configured to function as creation means, transmission means for sending the created item exchange data to the server, and reception means for receiving item exchange data created by another game machine. Characteristic computer-readable storage medium.