JP2005087770A - Game system and portable game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow player to play a network game without any increase in storage capacity of a portable game machine by downloading a program from another game machine even if a cartridge is not loaded in the portable game machine. <P>SOLUTION: When the power is applied to the portable game machine, a CPU thereof executes a starting program, and first detects the cartridge in the step S3. When the cartridge is not mounted and also the communication with another game machine is enabled, a request for the transfer of a program is given to a second game machine in the step S11 according to the starting program . The second game machine reads the program and transfers it to the portable game machine according to the transfer request. The portable game machine writes the transferred program to a work RAM in the step S13, performs authentication processing in the step S15, and then starts the execution of the written program written to the work RAM in the step S21 when the authentication result is OK according to the starting program. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system and a portable game machine, and more particularly to a game system in which a portable game machine and a video game machine are communicably connected and a portable game machine used therefor.

  For example, a portable game machine using a cartridge such as “Game Boy (trade name)” is well known.

  This type of portable game machine includes a boot ROM in which a boot program is stored. The boot program is a program for initializing the main body of the portable game machine (such as a process of writing zero to the memory cell) and starting execution of the game program mounted on the cartridge after the initialization. Therefore, the CPU of the portable game machine first executes the boot program when the main body power is turned on. The CPU executes the game program process after executing the initialization process by the boot program.

On the other hand, such a portable game machine has a communication port for communicating with other game machines and communication devices, and uses the communication port in the process of executing the cartridge game program by the CPU. Thus, game data, a game program, and the like can be acquired.
JP-A-4-116746

  A conventional portable game machine has an advantage that game data and game programs can be obtained from other game machines using a communication port, so that game data can be exchanged and a network game can be played.

  However, the communication port cannot be used unless a cartridge is mounted on the portable game machine. Therefore, in order to transmit / receive data between a plurality of portable game machines via the communication port, each portable game machine There is a problem that a cartridge must be prepared. In particular, in order to play a network game with a plurality of portable game machines, it is necessary to prepare a cartridge having a network game program for each portable game machine.

  For example, as in Patent Document 1, it may be possible to store auxiliary programs such as communication software in the portable game machine body in advance so that it is not necessary to prepare the same cartridge for each portable game machine. In this case, it is necessary to increase the storage capacity for the auxiliary program, which causes a problem of increasing the manufacturing cost of the portable game machine itself. In addition, in the case where the auxiliary program is stored in advance in the portable game machine in this way, when another device or game machine that can use the communication port is newly developed, the problem that the device or game machine cannot be supported. There is also. Furthermore, when there is a version upgrade of an auxiliary program due to bug fixes or function expansions, there may be a problem that communication between portable game machines storing different versions of the auxiliary program cannot be performed.

  Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a novel game system and a portable game machine.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a game system capable of data communication using a communication port without mounting the same type of cartridge on the portable game machine, and a portable game machine used therefor.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration. Note that reference numerals and figure numbers in parentheses indicate correspondence with the drawings in order to help understanding of the present invention, and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

In the first invention, the first game information storage medium (40) storing the game program is mounted, and the game space is displayed on the display means (24) by executing the game program in the game information storage medium. A first portable game machine (12A) that causes a player to play a game by operating a character appearing in the game space by operating means (28, 34, 36, etc.), and the same hardware as the first portable game machine It is a game system comprised by the 2nd portable game machine (12B) by which it is a hardware structure and the 1st game information storage medium is not mounted | worn. Each portable game machine has a mounting unit (38, etc.) for mounting the first game information storage medium, a communication port (16) for connecting another game machine so that communication is possible, and when the power is turned on An internal ROM (72) storing a startup program to be executed, the startup program stored in the internal ROM is executed in response to power-on, and the program designated by the startup program is executed A starting processor (66) and an internal RAM (70) for storing the auxiliary program transferred through the communication port in a writable / readable manner are provided. In the first portable game machine, the activation program causes the processor to execute processing for starting execution of the game program stored in the game information storage medium, and the game program polls for accepting the second portable game machine through the communication port. The communication battle program included in the game program is transmitted to the second portable game machine that is communicably connected by the polling, and the communication battle program is executed by the processing means of the second portable game. After being started, the processor is caused to execute a process of transmitting and receiving game data generated in association with the execution of the game program and synchronizing the progress of the game. On the other hand, in the second portable game machine, the activation program receives polling from the first portable game machine, connects to the first game machine through the communication port so as to be communicable, and then connects to the first game machine. A communication request program for requesting transfer of the communication battle program is transmitted to the internal RAM so that the communication battle program transferred through the predetermined communication port is stored in the internal RAM, and the communication battle program stored in the internal RAM is stored. The communication battle program causes the processor to execute a process of transmitting and receiving game data generated in association with the execution of the communication battle program and synchronizing the progress of the game. .

  In the second invention, the first game information storage medium storing the game program is mounted, and the game space is displayed on the display means by executing the game program stored in the game information storage medium, and appears in the game space. This is a portable game machine that allows a player to play a game by operating a character by operating means. This portable game machine includes a mounting means for mounting the first game information storage medium, a communication port for connecting another game machine so as to be communicable, and a startup program that is executed when the power is turned on. A stored startup program storage means, a processing means for executing a startup program stored in the startup program storage means in response to power-on, and starting execution of the program designated by the startup program; and And a readable / writable storage means for storing the auxiliary program transferred through the communication port in a writable / readable manner. When the first game information storage medium is attached to the attachment means, the activation program causes the processing means to start executing the game program of the first game information storage medium, and the attachment means stores the first storage medium. When another game machine that is not mounted and can communicate with the portable game machine is connected to the communication port, a transfer request command for requesting transfer of the auxiliary program to the other game machine is determined in advance. The auxiliary program transmitted through the communication protocol and transferred through the communication port is stored in the readable / writable storage means, and the execution of the auxiliary program is started.

  According to the present invention, when the information storage medium is mounted on the portable game machine, the program stored in the information storage medium is executed first, so that the game that is the main use in the portable game machine is started. There is no delay. On the other hand, when the information storage medium is not attached, the program is taken out from another game machine connected to the communication port, so that the portable game machine can have a function corresponding to the program.

  The above object, other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

<Example>
Referring to FIG. 1, a game system 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a portable game machine 12 and a video game machine 14. The communication port 16 of the portable game machine 12 and the communication port 18 of the video game machine 14 are connected by a communication cable 20.

  The portable game machine 12 has a game machine main body 22 having a size that can be held by hand, for example, a vertically long or horizontally long rectangular game machine. An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 24 constituting a display is provided on the upper surface of the main body 22. The LCD 24 displays a game space and game characters existing in the game space, and displays a necessary message. The communication port 16 is provided on the side of the main body. A controller 26 is disposed on the lower surface of the main body 22. The controller 26 includes five operation keys 28, 30, 32, 34 and 36 in this embodiment. These operation keys 28-36 are typically operated with the thumb of the hand of the game player holding the main body 22.

  The operation key 28 is a cross key that functions as a digital joystick. By pressing one of the four pressing portions, the operation key 28 indicates the moving direction of the game character displayed on the LCD 24 or moves the cursor. Can do. The operation key 30 is a select key composed of a push switch, and is used for selecting a game mode. The operation key 32 is a start key composed of a push switch, and is used for instructing the start of the game. The operation key 34 is an A button key composed of a push switch, and is used to perform an arbitrary action such as hitting, throwing, grabbing, riding on the game character on the LCD 24. The operation key 36 is a B button key composed of a push switch, and is used for changing the game mode selected by the select key 30 or canceling the action determined by the A button key 34.

  In the portable game machine 12, an insertion port 38 is formed at the upper end of the back surface of the main body 22. A game cartridge 40 as a first information storage medium is inserted into the insertion port 38. Although not shown, connectors are provided at the back of the insertion port 38 and at the front end of the game cartridge 40 in the insertion direction. When the cartridge 40 is inserted into the insertion port 38, the two connectors are electrically connected to each other. Accordingly, the cartridge 40 can be accessed by the CPU (FIG. 2) of the portable game machine 12.

  On the other hand, the video game machine 14 is a game machine that functions as “another game machine”, includes a flat rectangular main body 42, and the communication port 18 described above is disposed on the front surface of the main body 42. In this embodiment, four communication ports 18 are provided.

  A disk drive 44 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 42. In this embodiment, a DVD-ROM 46, which is a second information storage medium, is attached to the disk drive 44.

  An AV (audio video) terminal (not shown) is provided on the rear surface of the main body 42, and the AV terminal is connected to the AV terminal of the TV monitor 50 by the cable 48. However, the AV terminal may transmit a video signal and an audio signal as well as a modulation signal thereof.

  As described above, the communication cable 20 is connected to the communication port 18 provided on the front surface of the main body 42, and the controller cable 54 extending from the external controller 52 can also be connected to the communication port 18. The external controller 52 is for the video game machine 14 and includes a cross key 56, an analog joystick 58, a start key 60, and a push button key group 62 in this embodiment.

  The cross key 56 and the start key 60 have the same configuration and the same function as the cross key 28 and the start key 32 of the portable game machine 12, respectively. The analog joystick 58 includes an operation lever 64 that stands upright when released and tilts in a direction in which an external force is applied by a finger, for example. By tilting the operation lever 64 in an arbitrary direction, an arbitrary direction in a range of 360 ° is provided. Can be directed. Analog joystick 58 is used for moving the game character and moving the cursor, like cross key 56. In this embodiment, the push button key group 62 includes four push button keys that can indicate the up, down, left, and right directions in addition to the two keys corresponding to the A button key 34 and the B button key 36 of the portable game machine 12.

  The electrical configuration of the FIG. 1 embodiment is shown in FIG. The portable game machine 12 is provided with the CPU 66 as described above, and this CPU 66 controls the entire portable game machine 12. In other words, the communication port 16, the LCD 24, and the controller 26 described above are coupled to the CPU 66, and the cartridge 40 is coupled via the connector 68. In relation to the CPU 66, the portable game machine 12 is provided with a work RAM 70 made of, for example, SRAM and a boot ROM 72 made of, for example, a mask ROM. The work RAM 70 is used as a working area when the CPU 66 executes the game program, and the boot ROM 72 stores in advance a boot program (startup program) for initializing the portable game machine 12, that is, the work RAM 70, the registers of the CPU 66, and the like. Is done.

  The game cartridge 40 includes a ROM 74 such as a mask ROM and a RAM 76 such as an SRAM. The ROM 74 stores a game program as an example of a first program, and the RAM 76 stores backup data. Although not shown in FIG. 1, the portable game machine 12 is provided with a speaker 25, and an audio signal from the CPU 66 is given to the speaker 25. Therefore, sound can be output from the speaker 25.

  The video game machine 14 is also provided with a CPU 78, to which the four communication ports 18, the disk drive 44 and the TV monitor 50 are coupled. The CPU 78 is further coupled with a work RAM 80 and a boot ROM 82 similar to the work RAM 70 and the boot ROM 72 of the portable game machine 12.

  The memory maps of the boot ROM 72 of the portable game machine 12, the work RAM 70 of the portable game machine 12, and the ROM 74 of the cartridge 40 are shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, respectively.

  The boot ROM 72 of the portable game machine 12 has a relatively small capacity, such as 16 Kbytes, and includes an initialization program area 72a. As described above, the work RAM 70, the CPU register, and the like are included in this area 72a. An initialization program for initialization is stored. The initialization program area 72a includes an authentication code area 72b, and an authentication code such as image data (dot data or pixel data) representing the trademark “NINTENDO” is stored in the authentication code area 72b. Yes. This authentication code is preferably encrypted or data-compressed.

  The boot ROM 72 further includes a cartridge detection program area 72c. According to the cartridge detection program in this area 72c, the CPU 66 (FIG. 2) executes a cartridge detection operation that can be expressed by the flowchart of FIG. The communication port check program stored in the area 72d of the boot ROM 72 determines whether or not the communication cable 20 is connected to the communication port 16 of the portable game 12 and whether or not normal data exchange is possible through the communication port 16, that is, Check if the communication port 16 is available.

  The transfer request command issuing program stored in the area 72e of the boot ROM 72 is a program for issuing a transfer request to the CPU 78 (FIG. 2) of the video game machine 14, as will be described later. The error check program in the error check program area 72f is, for example, a CRC check program for executing an error check of transferred data (game data or program data).

  The authentication program stored in the area 72g of the boot ROM 72 is a program for executing authentication using the authentication code in the area 72b. The start program in the area 72h is a program for starting execution of the game program transferred to the work RAM 70 or the game program of the cartridge 40.

  The work RAM 70 of the portable game machine 12 includes an authentication code area 70a, a message area 70b, a download area 70c, and a game processing area 70d. The authentication code area 70a stores an authentication code read from the area 46Ba (FIG. 4B) of the DVD-ROM 46 when the authentication program is executed. The message area 70 b stores message data for transmitting various messages to the game player of the portable game machine 12 through the LCD 24. The download area 70c is an area for storing a game program downloaded from the video game machine 14 as described later. Although not shown, the work RAM 70 includes a working memory area used by the CPU 66 as necessary when executing the game program transferred to the download area 70c or the game program of the cartridge 40.

  The ROM 74 of the game cartridge 40 has an authentication code area 74a and a program data area 74b. In the authentication code area 74a, an authentication code for comparison with the authentication code stored in the area 70a of the work RAM 70 when the authentication program in the area 72g (FIG. 3A) is executed is stored in advance. Program data (character data or program data) is stored in advance in the program data area 74b.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the boot ROM 82 of the video game machine 14 is provided with an area 82a, and an initialization program is stored in this area 82a in advance.

  Further, the DVD-ROM 46 shown in FIG. 4B is roughly divided into two areas 46A and 46B. The area 46A is an area for storing a program for the video game 14, and the area 46B is an area for storing a program for the portable game machine 12. As is well known, the DVD-ROM 46 used in the embodiment has a large capacity, and therefore has a relatively large storage capacity, and there is no particular inconvenience in forming the portable game machine program storage area 46B. Although it depends on the data amount of the video game machine program and the portable game machine program, it may be the same if a CD-ROM is used instead of the DVD-ROM 46.

  The video game machine program storage area 46A includes a program data area 46Aa in which game data or game program data (including character data) for the video game machine 14 is stored.

  The portable game machine program storage area 46B includes an authentication code area 46Ba, a message area 46Bb, a download area 46Bc, and a program data area 46Bd. The authentication code area 46Ba stores an authentication code (for example, image data representing the trademark “NINTENDO”) for downloading to the area 70a of the work RAM 70 of the portable game machine 12. This authentication code is preferably encrypted or data-compressed.

  In the message area 46Bb, message data for downloading to the area 70b of the work RAM 70 of the portable game machine 12 is stored. The download area 46Bc is an area for storing a download program as an example of a second program or an auxiliary program for downloading the game program in the area 46Bd to the area 70c in the work RAM 70 of the portable game machine 12. The download program is a program for executing each process such as a detection process of the communication cable 20, a communication abnormality detection process, a data transfer process, an encryption process, an error process, and an authentication process. The area 46Bd stores program data to be downloaded to the portable game machine 12 by the download program.

  If the game for the portable game machine includes a plurality of (n) stages, the area 46Bd of the DVD-ROM 46 includes the first stage data together with the game basic processing program data as shown in FIG. , Second stage data,..., N stage data are stored, and the game basic processing program data and the necessary i stage data are stored in the data area 70d of the work RAM 70 of the portable game machine. Is done. Here, the game basic processing program is an indispensable program when the game program is executed on the portable game machine 12 and includes, for example, an auxiliary program for acquiring data or a state of the controller 26.

  That is, when the storage capacity of the area 46B (FIG. 4) of the DVD-ROM 46, which is the second information storage medium, is larger than the storage capacity of the work RAM 70 (read / write storage means) of the portable game machine 12, that is, from the DVD-RAM 46. When the amount of data to be downloaded to the portable game machine 12 exceeds the storage capacity of the work RAM 70 (for example, 256 Kbytes), the download program can be downloaded for each divided data section. However, even in this case, the game basic processing program needs to be downloaded first. Each stage data may be downloaded whenever necessary, that is, shifted in time. Note that when the area 70d of the work RAM 70 is overwritten every time it is downloaded, it is necessary to perform a process that does not erase the game basic process program or to download the game basic process program again when downloading each stage data. .

  However, when the amount of data to be downloaded is within the storage capacity of the work RAM 70 (for example, 256 Kbytes), it is a matter of course that all program data including the game basic processing program may be downloaded at once.

  When playing with the portable game machine 12 in the game system 10 of FIG. 1, the CPU 66 (FIG. 2) of the portable game machine 12 stores the initialization program stored in the area 72 a of the boot ROM 72 in the first step S <b> 1 of FIG. 6. Then, necessary initialization processing such as memory clear is executed.

  In step S3, the cartridge detection program stored in the area 72c of the boot ROM 72 is executed. This cartridge detection program is shown in FIG.

  In the first step S31 in FIG. 7, the CPU 66 outputs an address bus (not shown) with an address corresponding to the area 76a in which the authentication code is stored in the cartridge 40 in FIG. Both read data on a data bus (not shown). If the cartridge 40 is mounted, the data read at that time is an authentication code (dot data for displaying the trademark “NINTENDO”). If the cartridge 40 is not mounted, data is not read at that time.

  In the next step S32, an image corresponding to the data read in step S31 is displayed on the LCD 24 (FIG. 1). When the authentication code is read in step S31, an authentication code (trademark “NINTENDO”) character is displayed. If no data is read in step S31, in this step S32, as an example, an all black image is displayed in the portion where the character of the authentication code is displayed.

  In step S33, the CPU 66 compares the data read in step S31 with an authentication code preset in the area 72b of the boot ROM 72. In the embodiment, the checksums of the authentication codes are compared. If the cartridge 40 is not mounted, data is not read, so “NO” is determined in the step S34. Therefore, in step S35, a “no cartridge” flag (“0”) is returned to step S5 in FIG. When the cartridge 40 is inserted, the authentication code is read by the CPU 66 as described above, so that the two authentication codes match and “YES” is determined in the step S34. Therefore, in step S36, a “cartridge present” flag (“1”) is returned to step S5 in FIG.

  In this way, the cartridge 40 is detected in step S3. In step S5, it is determined whether there is a cartridge by referring to the cartridge flag returned from the subroutine of FIG. At this time, if the cartridge 40 is mounted, the start program of the area 72h of the boot ROM 72 is executed in step S7, and the program jumps to the start address of the game data area 74b (FIG. 3B) of the ROM 74 of the cartridge 40. . Therefore, in this case, the game is played according to the game program of the cartridge mounted on the portable game machine 12.

  If “NO” is determined in the step S5, the CPU 66 executes the program in the area 72c of the boot ROM 72 and checks the communication port in the next step S9. That is, the CPU 66 determines whether the cable 20 (FIG. 1) is connected between the communication port 16 of the portable game machine 12 and the communication port 18 of the video game machine 14, and is normal when the cable 20 is connected. Check whether data can be exchanged. When these two conditions are satisfied, “YES” is determined in step S9. When at least one of the two conditions is not satisfied, “NO” is determined in Step S9.

  If "YES" is determined in the step S9, the CPU 66 executes a program in the area 72e of the boot ROM 72 and issues a transfer request command to the video game machine 14 (the CPU 78) (step S11). For example, it is also called negotiation.) In response, the CPU 78 of the video game machine 14 transfers all the data in each area 46Ba, 46Bb and 46bc of the DVD-ROM 46 and at least a part of the data in the area 46Bd shown in FIG. Transfer to work RAM 70 of machine 12. Therefore, the data transferred from the video game machine 14 in this manner is stored in the work RAM 70 in step S13.

  Thereafter, in step S15, authentication processing similar to that in step S34 in FIG. 7 is executed. In this case, what is compared with the authentication code from the area 72 b of the boot ROM 72 is the authentication code transferred from the DVD-ROM 46 to the area 70 a of the work RAM 70. If the two authentication codes do not match as a result of the authentication processing in step S15, it is an authentication NG. In this case, in step S19, for example, the CPU 66 stops blinking the characters of the authentication code that has been blinked. Error display.

  If the two authentication codes match, authentication is OK, and “YES” is determined in step S17. Therefore, in step S21, the CPU 66 executes the start program in the area 72h of the boot ROM 72 and jumps to the start address of the program data transferred to the area 70d of the work RAM 70. Therefore, in this case, the game can be played on the portable game machine 12 in accordance with the program data transferred or downloaded from the DVD-ROM 46 to the portable game machine 12.

  When the program in the work RAM 70 is executed, the game based on the stage data is executed by executing the game basic processing program shown in FIG. 5 in step S41 of FIG. Then, the CPU 66 determines in step S42 whether or not the game stage being executed has been cleared in step S42. If "YES" is determined in the step S42, in the next step S43, the CPU 66 determines whether or not the final stage, that is, the n stage is cleared in the step S42.

  If “YES” is determined in the step S43, the game ends. If “NO”, the CPU 66 executes the download program transferred from the DVD-ROM 46 to the area 70c of the work RAM 70 in the step S44. Then, the next stage data is downloaded from the DVD-ROM 46. Then, each time the stage is cleared, step S44 is executed until “YES” is determined in step S43, and each stage data is sequentially downloaded to the area 70d of the work RAM 70. At this time, in step S45, message data such as “Downloading” or “Now Loading” is displayed on the LCD 24 using the message data output from the video game machine 14 in the message area 70b of FIG. You may do.

  In this embodiment, when the cartridge 40 is attached to the portable game machine 12, the program stored in the cartridge 40 is executed, so that the start of the game, which is the main use in the portable game machine 12, is delayed. There is nothing.

  On the other hand, since the program is taken out from another game machine 14 connected to the communication port 16 when the cartridge 40 is not attached, the portable game machine 12 can have a function corresponding to the program. Therefore, for example, if a program or data to be downloaded to the portable game machine 12 is changed, a single type of portable game machine can be easily adapted to the languages and various devices of each country. In this way, even if a large number of programs are not previously provided for each portable game machine, only a small amount of program such as a boot ROM can be used to transfer a necessary program from another game machine to the portable game machine. Can be supplied. If the above-mentioned auxiliary program is installed in the portable game machine in advance, in the case of a Japanese message, the portable game machine can be used only in the Japanese region. In addition, if an auxiliary program is sent as needed from another game machine to a portable game machine, it can be sold in any country by a single game software sold for another game machine in that language area. It can also be used with other portable game machines.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 1, a linked game between the portable game machine 12 and the video game machine 14 can be played. For example, a second high-speed program or an example of an auxiliary program for taking in the data of the controller 26 of the portable game machine 12 into the video game machine 14 is transferred from the video game machine 14 to the portable game machine in the same manner as the above game data. 12, since the video game machine 14 can acquire the information of the controller 26 through the cable 20, the portable game machine 12 (the controller 26) can be used in place of the controller 52 of the video game machine 14. In the conventional portable game machine, each key input is not accepted at all when the cartridge is not mounted. Further, if image data is sent from the video game machine 14 to the portable game machine 12 through the cable 20, the personal information of the game player such as a hand-held game in a mahjong game is displayed on the LCD 24 of the portable game machine 12. It can also be used as a sub-screen. At this time, the monitor 50 is used as a main screen for displaying the entire information.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 9, two or more portable game machines 12 can be communicably connected to a video game machine 14 to configure the game system 10. In this embodiment, two portable game machines 12 are connected to the video game machine 14, and no cartridge 40 (FIG. 1) is attached to any of them. Each portable game machine 12 receives program data downloaded from the video game machine 14 in the same manner as described above. Therefore, in this embodiment, the same network game can be played on a plurality of portable game machines 12. In that case, since each portable game machine 12 executes the same program, the program version of each portable game machine 12 can be easily unified, and a cartridge with a different version for each portable game machine as in the prior art. The inconvenience that arises when using it is eliminated.

  In the above embodiment, the video game machine is shown as “another game machine”. However, in the present invention, “another game machine” may be a game machine using an information storage medium in which an auxiliary program (the authentication code, message data, download program, etc. shown in FIG. 4B) is stored, Various game machines such as portable game machines and stationary video game machines are included. Here, the “information storage medium” means physical or electronic such as CD-ROM, semiconductor ROM, semiconductor RAM, hard disk, memory card, cartridge, etc. in addition to the DVD-ROM of the embodiment. It means any medium that can store information.

  FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in the case where a portable game machine is used as the “another game machine”. In this embodiment, a cartridge 40 incorporating a semiconductor memory is used as an “information storage medium”. The portable game machine 12A equipped with the cartridge 40 is used as a parent machine or “another game machine”. Then, the other portable game machine 12B not equipped with the cartridge 40 receives the program transfer from the parent portable game machine 12A. Accordingly, all (four in this embodiment) portable game machines 12A and 12B can play the same online battle game programmed in one cartridge 40 (one cartridge play).

  In the embodiment of FIG. 10, the ROM 40 is built in the cartridge 40 of the parent portable game machine 12A, and this ROM 74 includes three program storage areas 74a1, 74a2 and 74a3 as shown in FIG.

  The program storage area 74a1 stores a main program and a parent communication battle game processing program. This main program includes a grant program for transferring a program and graphics data from the parent portable game machine to the child portable game machine. The parent side communication battle game processing program is a program executed by the CPU 66 of the parent side portable game machine 12A for processing a communication battle type game.

  An auxiliary program is stored in the program storage area 74a2 of the ROM 74. In this embodiment, the auxiliary program is a demonstration screen display processing program, and this demonstration screen display processing program is a program for executing the demonstration screen display shown in FIG. 13 as described later. That is, the demo screen display processing program is in a program transfer state by image and / or sound to the game player of the child portable game machine 12B until the program transfer from the parent portable game machine 12A to the child portable game machine 12B is completed. This is a program for displaying a demonstration screen for informing the user. This demonstration screen display processing program is transferred from the parent portable game machine 12A to the child portable game machine 12B.

  The program storage area 74a3 stores a child communication battle game processing program that is similarly transferred to the child portable game machine 12B. The child-side communication battle game processing program is a program for processing the communication battle game by the CPU 66 of the child-side portable game machine 12B, similarly to the parent-side communication battle game processing program in the game program storage area 74a1 described above.

  The work RAM 70 of the parent portable game machine 12A is appropriately used by the CPU 66 (FIG. 2) of the parent portable game machine 12A. In addition, a boot program as shown in FIG. 3A is stored in the boot ROM 72 of the parent portable game machine.

  Furthermore, the work RAM 70 of the child portable game machine 12B is used for storing a demo screen display processing program and a child communication battle game processing program transferred from the parent portable game machine 12A. In addition, the boot ROM 72 of the child portable game machine 12B stores an activation program as shown in FIG. 3A, similar to the parent portable game machine.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the portable game machine that detects that the cartridge 40 is mounted by executing the activation program (FIG. 3A) stored in the boot ROM 72 is the parent portable game machine 12A. The portable game machine that operates and detects that no cartridge is mounted operates as the child portable game machine 12B. Then, the parent portable game machine executes the operation shown in FIG. 12B, and the child portable game machine executes the operation shown in FIG.

  Specifically, the parent portable game machine 12A in which the cartridge 40 is mounted executes the main program in the program storage area 74a1 of the ROM 74 built in the cartridge 40 in the first step S51. Then, the child portable game machine 12B and the parent portable game machine 12A execute negotiations with each other in steps S52 and S53, respectively, and establish a communication state using the communication port 16 (FIG. 2). In a state where data can be transferred in the direction. In accordance with such negotiation, since the program and data are transferred from the parent portable game machine 12A as described later, this step S52 is a transfer request from the child portable game machine 12B to the parent portable game machine 12A or Obviously, it functions as a transfer request command.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 10, communication cables as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 are connected between the communication ports 16 (FIG. 2) of the parent portable game machine 12A and the child portable game machine 12B. Is done. Therefore, negotiation and data transfer between the parent portable game machine 12A and the child portable game machine 12B are performed using the communication port 16 and the communication cable between them.

  When the communicable state is established as a result of the negotiation, in step S54, the parent portable game machine 12A loads the demo screen display processing program stored in the program storage area 74a2 (FIG. 11) of the ROM 74 in the child portable At the same time as transferring to the communication port 16 of the game machine 12B (transfer 1), in step S55, the child communication game process program stored in the program storage area 74a3 of the ROM 74 is transferred to the communication port 16 of the child portable game machine 12A. Transfer (Transfer 2).

  The child portable game machine 12B waits for data to be transferred to the communication port 16 in step S56 after the negotiation step S52. In step S56, when it is detected that data has been transferred to the communication port 16, the child portable game machine 12B (the CPU) transfers the data transferred to the communication port 16, that is, the demonstration screen display processing program. In addition to storing in the RAM 70 (step S57), in step S58, execution of the demonstration screen display processing program stored in the work RAM 70 is started. This demonstration screen display processing program displays a demonstration screen as shown in FIG. 13, for example.

  The demo screen shown in FIG. 13 is a demo screen that changes sequentially as shown in FIGS. 13A to 13D during the period of data transfer from the parent portable game machine 12A to the child portable game machine 12B. 13A and 13D is output from the speaker 25 (FIGS. 2 and 10), and data is being transferred to the game player of the child portable game machine 12B. Tell them that there is.

  In the child portable game machine 12B, the execution of the demonstration screen display processing program as shown in FIG. 13 is started in step S58 in FIG. 12, and in the subsequent step S59, the communication port 16 is transferred from the parent portable game machine 12A in step S55. The transferred child communication battle game processing program is stored in the work RAM 70 as shown in FIG. Then, when it is determined in step S60 that the transfer of the child side communication battle game processing program has ended, at that time, in step S61, the execution of the demo screen display processing program in the child side portable game machine 12B is ended.

  Then, the child mobile game machine 12B executes the child communication game processing program in step S62, and the parent mobile game machine 12A executes the parent communication game processing program in step S63, thereby A communication game on a plurality of portable game machines can be played by the cartridge 40 attached to the machine 12A.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the embodiment of FIG. 3A is a memory map showing the boot ROM of the portable game machine, FIG. 3B is a memory map showing the work RAM of the portable game machine, and FIG. 3C is a memory showing the ROM of the cartridge. It is a map. 4A is a memory map showing a boot ROM of a video game machine, and FIG. 4B is a memory map showing a DVD-ROM. FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing that the program data of the DVD-ROM is divided and transferred to the work RAM of the portable game machine. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing cartridge detection processing. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an operation for executing a game in accordance with the program data in the work RAM in the portable game machine. FIG. 9 is an illustrative view showing one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is an illustrative view showing a memory map of the parent portable game machine and the child portable game machine in the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the parent portable game machine and the child portable game machine in the embodiment of FIG. FIG. 13 is an illustrative view showing one example of a demonstration screen when the demonstration screen display processing program transferred from the parent portable game machine is executed on the child portable game machine in FIG. 10 embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Game system 12, 12A, 12B ... Portable game machine 14 ... Video game machine 16, 18 ... Communication port 20 ... Cable 40 ... Cartridge 44 ... Disk drive 46 ... DVD-ROM
66, 78 ... CPU
70, 80 ... work RAM
72, 82 ... Boot ROM

Claims (2)

A first game information storage medium storing a game program is mounted, and the game space is displayed on the display means by executing the game program stored in the game information storage medium, and characters appearing in the game space are operated by the operation means. A first portable game machine that causes the player to play a game, and a second portable game that has the same hardware configuration as the first portable game machine and is not equipped with the first game information storage medium A game system comprising a machine,
Each portable game machine is
A mounting portion for mounting the first game information storage medium;
A communication port for connecting another game machine so that communication is possible,
Internal ROM that stores a startup program that is executed when the power is turned on,
A processor for executing a startup program stored in the internal ROM in response to power-on and starting execution of the program instructed by the startup program, and the auxiliary transferred through the communication port An internal RAM for storing the program in a writable / readable manner;
In the first portable game machine,
The activation program causes the processor to execute processing for starting execution of the game program in the game information storage medium,
The game program performs polling for accepting the second portable game machine through the communication port, and the communication game program included in the game program is connected to the second portable game machine that is communicably connected by the polling. After the communication battle program is started to be executed by the processing means of the second portable game, game data generated in connection with the execution of the game program is transmitted and received to synchronize the progress of the game Causing the processor to perform processing;
In the second portable game machine,
The start-up program receives polling from the first portable game machine, connects to the first game machine through the communication port so as to be communicable, and then transfers the communication battle program to the first game machine. A process of sending a requested transfer request command, thereby storing a communication battle program transferred through the predetermined communication port in the internal RAM, and starting execution of the communication battle program stored in the internal RAM; Let the processor run,
Furthermore, the communication battle program causes the processor to execute processing for transmitting and receiving game data generated in connection with execution of the communication battle program and synchronizing the progress of the game. A first game information storage medium storing a game program is mounted, and the game space is displayed on the display means by executing the game program stored in the game information storage medium, and characters appearing in the game space are operated by the operation means. A portable game machine that allows players to play games,
A mounting means for mounting the first game information storage medium;
A communication port for connecting another game machine so that communication is possible,
A startup program storage means for storing a startup program to be executed when the power is turned on;
A processing means for executing a startup program stored in the startup program storage means in response to power-on, and starting execution of the program instructed by the startup program; and
Read / write storage means for storing the auxiliary program transferred through the communication port in a writable / readable manner,
The startup program is:
When the first game information storage medium is attached to the attachment means, the processing means starts execution of a game program stored in the first game information storage medium, and the first storage medium is stored in the attachment means. When another game machine that is not attached and is communicably connected to the portable game machine is connected to the communication port, a transfer request command for requesting the transfer of the auxiliary program is sent in advance to the other game machine. A portable game machine, which transmits an auxiliary program transmitted through a determined communication protocol and thereby stores the auxiliary program transferred through the communication port in the readable / writable storage means and starts execution of the auxiliary program.

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