JP2005143969A - Game system using communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system capable of reflecting data on the history of a game on a management server performing the operation and management of the game system if the game is played in a game machine which is not connected to a communication netwok. <P>SOLUTION: This game system using the communication network comprises a game machine connected to the communication network, with means for reading and writing a memory card, a game machine which is not connected to the communication network, with means for reading and writing the memory card, and the game management server connected to the communication network for operating and managing the game system. Each game machine has a means for recording the data on the history of the game the player plays on the memory card, while the game machine connected to the communication network has a means for transmitting the data on the history of the game played in the game machine and the data recorded in the memory card on the history of the game played in the game machine which is not connected to the communication network, to the game management server. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system including a game machine connected to a communication network such as the Internet and a game machine not connected to the communication network, and in particular, a player plays on a game machine not connected to the communication network. Even in such a case, the present invention relates to a game system in which game history data can be reflected on a game management server that manages and manages the game system.

  Conventionally, a game system has been proposed in which a plurality of game machines are connected to a communication network such as the Internet to execute game application software. A game system using such a communication network is constructed by connecting a game machine installed in a game center in each place and a game management server for managing and managing the play of these game machines to the communication network. ing. In a game system using such a communication network, for example, the game management server plays a score (score, number of wins / losses, etc.) and points acquired by a player registered as a member every month. Are collected for each game application software, and prizes and prizes are awarded to high scorers. In addition, it has been proposed that the ranking of scores obtained by a player is also disclosed via a Web page (homepage).

  Furthermore, as an operation mode of a game system using a communication network, a game in which a score obtained by playing with a plurality of game machines for specific application software competes with each other using a network, a so-called network game. There is an event competition (hereinafter referred to as event game). In this event game, the game management server counts the play results such as the scores given in each game machine during the event period, competes for ranking and win / loss, and announces top scorers and gives prizes and prizes Is. This event game is also held at one venue in a game center, when it is held in Japan via a communication network such as the Internet, or a game machine installed in a foreign country. It is possible to participate in As described above, when a game machine installed in a foreign country participates in an event game or the like, it is necessary to consider the time difference between the country and the region where the game machine is installed.

A game system is also proposed in which when a player registered as a member of the game system starts playing a game, the player is authenticated by causing the game machine to read a card storing the player's authentication information. Has been.
Many proposals have already been made for game systems using such communication networks. For example, the following patent documents have been proposed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-300130 (Specifications, pages 4 to 10, FIG. 1) Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-136747 (Specifications, pages 7 to 13, FIGS. 1 and 2)

  Patent Document 1 discloses a game system in which a game device and a game server device installed in an information center are connected via a communication line. And it is described that this game device includes means for optically reading the personal authentication card. Furthermore, since the personal information of each player is stored in the personal information database of the information center and managed centrally in Patent Document 1, the player can use any game center game device. It is described that the game can be continued from the previous game.

  In Patent Document 2, a management server installed in a gaming machine manufacturing company is connected to a hall computer installed in a game hall via the Internet, and this hall computer is provided for each gaming machine individually. A game system is disclosed in which the ID unit is connected, and the ID unit transmits the information of the gaming machine and the personal identification information of the gaming machine user to the management server via the hall computer and the Internet. Further, in Patent Document 2, the gaming machine information management system calculates a point corresponding to the identification information of the gaming machine user, and when it is determined that the point has exceeded a predetermined value, It describes that the data of the shipping instruction is transmitted to the server of the prize shipping company.

  The inventions described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 above are game systems in which a plurality of game machines are connected to a communication network, but are not connected to the communication network (hereinafter referred to as game machines not connected to the communication network). The means for transmitting game history data such as the points acquired and the number of wins and losses to the management server is not described. Currently, a large number of game machines are installed at game centers in various parts of the country. However, not all of these game machines are connected to the communication network. For this reason, when a player usually plays with a game machine connected to a communication network and plays with a game machine that is not connected to the communication network due to travel or the like, the history data of the game played with this game machine is: It is not reflected (transmitted) on the game management server that manages and manages the system. As a result, when a player who is a member of a game system using a communication network plays with a game machine that is not connected to the communication network, it becomes impossible to obtain a privilege as a member.

In addition, a player plays a role-playing game with a continuity (story) using a game machine connected to a communication network, stops playing this game on the way, When the continuation of this game is played on a game machine not connected to the communication network, there is a problem that the history data of the game after the game is resumed is not reflected (transmitted) on the management server.
Therefore, the conventional game system using the communication network is not an easy-to-use and friendly game system in consideration of the position of the player and the game center operator.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reflect the history data of a game on a management server that manages and manages the game system even when the game system using the communication network is played on a game machine not connected to the communication network. An object of the present invention is to provide a game system using a communication network.

The present invention relates to a game machine provided with a memory card reading means and a writing means and connected to a communication network, a game machine provided with a memory card reading means and a writing means and not connected to the communication network, and a game system connected to the communication network. A game system using a communication network equipped with a game management server for managing the operation of
The writing means to the memory card of each game machine comprises means for recording history data of the game played by the player on the memory card,
The game machine connected to the communication network includes means for transmitting history data of the game played by the player on the game machine to the game management server, and plays the game machine on the memory card not connected to the communication network. This is a game system using a communication network having means for transmitting recorded game history data to a game management server.

  Furthermore, the present invention is a game system using a communication network in which the above-described memory card has an area for recording whether or not transmission of game history data recorded on the memory card to the game management server is complete. .

  The above-mentioned game history data includes the access code recorded on the player's memory card, the number of points acquired by the player using the game system of the present invention, the number of wins / losses, the play The number of times, play time, game continuation information when a role-playing game is played, game ID for identifying the played game, game machine ID for identifying the played game machine, and the like.

  The game system using the communication network of the present invention has the following effects. (1) Game history data when a player plays a game machine not connected to a communication network is recorded in a memory card. Then, when the player plays the game machine connected to the communication network next time, the history data of the game played on the game machine not connected to the communication network can be transmitted to the game management server. Thereby, even when a player plays with a game machine not connected to the communication network, the player can provide a game system that can obtain a privilege as a member of the game system.

(2) According to (1) above, even in a game center or the like that owns a game machine that is not connected to a communication network, a player who is a member of the present system can enjoy the game with peace of mind. Thereby, it is possible to provide a game system that can contribute to an increase in sales for a game center or the like that owns a game machine that is not connected to a communication network.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a system configuration for carrying out the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1, 2, 3, 4 are game centers established in various places, and game centers 1, 2, 3, 4 have game machines 5a, 5b, 5c,..., 6a, 6b, respectively. , 6c, ..., 7a, 7b, ..., 8a, ... are installed. In the present invention, the game machine may include a game machine operated by an individual. In the present invention, the game centers 1, 2, 3, 4,... Can include game centers installed in foreign countries as well as in Japan.

  A game management server 9 manages and manages the game system of the present invention, and includes a workstation or a high-speed large-capacity personal computer (hereinafter referred to as a personal computer). An operator of the game management server 9 is a manufacturer of game machines or the like, or a game system management service provider using a network.

  Game machines 5a, 5b, 5c,..., 6a, 6b, 6c,..., 7a, 7b,. It is connected to a communication network 11 that is the Internet through a provider 10 established in various places. Further, the game machines 8 a installed in the game center 4 are not connected to the communication network 11. In the present invention, such a game machine not connected to the communication network 11 is also included in the system of the present invention. In the present invention, the communication network 11 may have a system configuration in which each game machine and the game management server 9 are connected using a dedicated communication line in addition to the above-described Internet communication network.

  A card vending machine 13 for selling the memory card 12 is installed in the game centers 1, 2, 3, etc. that own the game machines connected to the communication network 11. The memory card 12 includes an IC card having a recording unit capable of recording a large amount of data. This memory card 12 is used when a player registered as a member who can obtain a privilege (service) using the game system of the present invention plays a game using each game machine, In addition, it has the role of a membership card for recording game history data, which is the result of playing the game. Further, there is only one type of game that can be played using one memory card 12, and when the game is played for the first time after purchasing the memory card 12, a game ID for identifying the played game Is recorded in the recording unit.

  In the recording unit of the memory card 12, an access code having a predetermined number of digits is recorded at the time of manufacture or during a manufacturing request, and this access code is recorded on the front surface (back surface or back surface) of the memory card 12. The character that represents is printed. The access code indicates a unique number assigned to each memory card 12 in order to identify each manufactured memory card 12, and is composed of numerals or alphanumeric characters. In the game system of the present invention, when the player who is a member plays the game, the access code is used when the player and the game management server play the game by reading the purchased memory card 12 into the game machine. 9 becomes basic data linked to various management data tables managed and managed by 9. Further, the access code is used as an access number when accessing a Web page that the game system of the present invention makes available to members only from a personal computer using a mobile phone or the general Internet.

  14 is a mobile server (information center) operated by a telephone company, and 15a, 15b and 16c are mobile phones owned by players. As shown in FIG. 1, the mobile server 14 can perform data communication with the game management server 9 via the communication network 11. Note that the game management server 9 and the mobile server 14 may be connected using a dedicated communication line. As described above, the mobile server 14 may be used when a player accesses a web page of the game system using a mobile phone, or the player obtains a privilege using the game system of the present invention. When a registration application procedure is performed as a possible member, it is used as a relay means with the game management server 9, for example, an i-mode information center of “NTT DOCOMO”.

  Reference numeral 16 denotes a personal computer owned by a player connected to the communication network 11 via the provider 10 or a general person. Using this personal computer 16, a player can browse a Web page that the system opens for members. Further, a general person who is not a member may use this personal computer 16 to view a part of the Web page.

  Each game machine 5a, 5b, 5c, ..., 6a, 6b, 6c, ..., 7a, 7b, ..., 8a, ... has a display device and various operation devices for playing games. For the game machine main body, a card read / write device (not shown) for reading and writing data in the memory card 12 described above, and communication for data communication with the game management server 9 via the communication network 11 An interface circuit (not shown) is provided.

  When playing a game using each game machine 5a,... Constituting the system of the present invention, a cassette-like medium (hereinafter referred to as a ROM cartridge) 18 storing game application software in a ROM is set in the game machine body. Then, the game application software and various control programs are read into the RAM. One ROM cartridge 18 stores game application software 18a2 (shown in FIG. 2) which is one type of game software. The game application software stored in the ROM cartridge 18 is a fighting game, a mahjong game, a puzzle game, a role playing game, or the like that can be enjoyed on a conventional video game machine.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the ROM of the ROM cartridge 18, in addition to the game application software 18 a 2, a game machine operation control program 18 a 1 for controlling the operation of the entire game machine, and data recorded in the memory card 12 are stored. A memory card reading program 18a3 for performing a reading process, a memory card writing program 18a4 for performing a data writing process to the memory card 12, a network communication program 18a5 for performing a communication process with the game management server 9, and the like are recorded. . The card read / write device, the memory card reading program 18a3, the memory card writing program 18a4, and the like described above constitute the memory card reading means and writing means of the present invention. Each of the above programs can be developed using an assembler language, C language, or the like.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the game management server 9 that manages the operation of the game system includes a communication function unit 9a, a management function unit 9b that supervises the operation management, and records and stores various data necessary for the operation management. A management database 9c is provided. Among these, the communication function unit 9 a includes a logic circuit 9 a 1 that constitutes a communication interface (I / F) circuit for performing data communication with each game machine 5 a connected to the communication network 11.

  The management function unit 9b is composed of various programs that manage and manage the game system. As shown in FIG. 3, these programs include a system management program 9b1, a communication management program 9b2 for communication with the game machine 5a, etc., communication management, communication with the mobile server 14, and an event game tournament. And a Web information service program 9b3 for publishing a Web page for announcement of game results, a mail distribution program 9b4 for performing mail distribution processing, and the like.

  Further, the system operation management program 9b1 includes a server operation control program 9b11 for controlling the operation of the game management server 9, and member registration management for registering and authenticating members who play games using the game system of the present invention. Play record management program 9b13 that performs a process of tabulating game history data, which is a result of playing a game using the program 9b12, each game machine 5a,..., Determination of monthly top rankers and event game winners, prizes -Winner management program 9b14 for performing payment processing of prize money, game machine operation result management program 9b15 for collecting and managing operation results and sales information of each game machine, and memory for managing information on the memory card 12 manufactured and sold It consists of a card management program 9b16, etc. Each program constituting the management function unit 9b can be created by using a script language such as assembler language, C language, HTML, Perl.

  The management database 9c of the game management server 9 is composed of various databases (data tables) for recording and storing various data necessary for executing the programs of the management function unit 9b. These data tables are stored in an external storage device such as a hard disk device of the game management server 9 with file names. The management database 9c includes, for example, a user information management table t1, a user game-specific play result management table t2, a game machine operation result management table t3, and a memory card management table having a data structure as shown in FIGS. Each time game history data is transmitted from a game machine configured by t4, etc. and connected to the communication network 11, the recorded contents of the predetermined data items are updated.

  The user information management table t1 shown in FIG. 4 is created for each player (user) registered as a member who can obtain a privilege using the game system of the present invention, and a user ID for identifying this user , An access code, a name, a birthday, an address, an e-mail address, a game center ID for identifying a registered game center, a cumulative number of common points, and the like are recorded. Among these, the common point indicates the number of points given each time the game is played once, for example, when a user who has registered as a member plays a game using a memory card. Each time a new member of the game system is registered, new user data is added to the user information management table t1 by the processing of the member registration management program 9b12. And whenever a user plays a game with the game machine connected to the communication network 11, since the historical data of the game played is transmitted to the game management server 9, user information is obtained by the processing of the above-mentioned play record management program 9b13. The common point accumulated number in the management table t1 is added and updated.

  The user game-by-user game play record management table t2 shown in FIG. 5 is created for each game ID played for each user ID. In this table t2, the accumulated number of acquired points, the maximum number of acquired points, the minimum number of acquired points, the number of wins, the number of loses, the number of plays, the play time, etc. are recorded by the processing of the above-mentioned play record management program 9b13. The In addition, the above-described prizewinner management program 9b14 refers to the user game-by-game play record management table t2, and performs, for example, a process of determining higher rank players by game ID for each month. Although the details of the user ID will be described later, the user ID is an ID for identifying a player registered as a member of the game system, and is an identification code automatically set by the member registration management program 9b12. . The game ID is an identification code set in advance to identify each game application software 18a2.

  A game machine operation result management table t3 shown in FIG. 6 is created for each game machine connected to the communication network 11, and a game machine ID for identifying each game machine, an operator ID of the game machine, and a game Game ID for identifying game application software that can be played by storing a ROM cartridge in the machine, country / region where the game machine is installed, location information such as store, game center ID, last (latest) game play date , The number of plays, play time (minutes and seconds), game machine sales information, failure / maintenance information indicating game machine failure history, maintenance history, etc. are recorded respectively. This game machine operation result management table t3 is updated by processing such as the above-described play result management program 9b13.

  The memory card management table t4 shown in FIG. 7 is created for each access code recorded on the memory card in order to manage information on the memory card 12 that has been manufactured and requested to be sold to each game center. In the memory card management table t4, data relating to an access code, a card manufacturing date, a card ID, a user ID, a use start date, a use start game center ID, a takeover flag, a valid flag, and the like are recorded.

  A player who wants to obtain a privilege by playing a game using this game system must first join a billing site (mobile phone web information service) entrusted to the mobile phone company by the operator of this system. There is. Then, the player purchases the memory card 12 and accesses the web page of the cellular phone from his / her cellular phone, and then logs in to the game management server 11 by inputting the access code printed on the memory card 12. . Then, the Web information service program 9b3 operates the member registration management program 9b12, and when the user ID corresponding to this access code is not registered by referring to the memory card management table t4, the user having the predetermined number of digits described above. An ID is automatically issued, and this user ID is recorded in the user ID column of the memory card management table t4.

  The card ID means that a player purchases a memory card 12 and plays a game using the memory card 12, the access code is transmitted from the game machine to the game management server 9, and the member registration management program 9b12 This number is automatically set (issued) by the member registration management program 9b12 when it is determined that this access code is transmitted from the game machine for the first time. For example, an additional number of a predetermined number of digits is given to the memory card. It is stored in the card ID column of the management table t4. Accordingly, when the access code is transmitted from the game machine, the member registration management program 9b12 is not registered with the card ID corresponding to the access code transmitted with reference to the memory card management table t4, for example, a space is recorded. If it is, it can be determined that the access code is transmitted from the game machine for the first time.

  The user ID is a number composed of a predetermined number of digits or alphanumeric characters automatically set by the game management server 9. A player who wants to obtain a privilege by playing a game using this game system must first join a billing site (mobile phone Web service) entrusted to the mobile phone company by the operator of this system. is there. Then, the player purchases the memory card 12, accesses the web page of the cellular phone from his / her cellular phone, and subsequently inputs the access code printed on the memory card 12 to log in to the game management server. Then, when the user ID corresponding to this access code is not registered with reference to the memory card management table t4, the member registration management program 9b12 automatically issues the above-mentioned predetermined number of user IDs, and the memory card Processing to be stored in the user ID column of the management table t4 is performed.

  As described above, the memory card management table t4 of this game system is set for all manufactured memory cards 12 at the time when the memory card 12 is sold and used in the game, and the access code given at the time of manufacture. Since the card ID is recorded, the memory card management program 9b16 can immediately grasp the sales status of the memory card 12, the inventory status of each game center, and the like.

The memory card 12 used in the present game system has a preset number of times that the game can be played using one memory card 12 (usage limit number) and is recorded in the memory card 12. Each time the player plays the game, the usage limit count is subtracted and recorded. Therefore, when the usage limit count becomes 0, the memory card 12 can be used to play the game. become unable. Therefore, when the player wants to play a game further, it is necessary to purchase a new memory card 12. At this time, the player who is a member of this game system has simplified the operation for registering the player's attribute information such as name in the game management server 9 when the new memory card 12 is purchased. Is good. For this purpose, data such as a user ID recorded in the old memory card 12 needs to be stored (taken over) in the newly purchased new memory card 12.
The takeover flag recorded in the memory card management table t4 is information indicating whether or not the takeover of the old and new memory cards 12 has been completed. If it is completed, “1” is recorded.

  The valid flag recorded in the memory card management table t4 is information recorded to prevent unauthorized use even when the usage limit number of the memory card 12 is not zero. “1” is recorded, and “9” is recorded when it cannot be used.

  In the recording unit of the memory card 12, information on data items as shown in FIG. 8, that is, an access code, a user ID, a game ID, a use limit count, a common point cumulative count, and a game machine not connected to the network. The number of common points (total number of offline game machine common points) accumulated at the time of play, the total number of times played, the total play time, game history data as play results, and the like are recorded. Among these, the access code to the game ID shown in the A column in FIG. 8 is data unique to this card, and the data usage limit number to the total play time shown in the B column are updated and recorded every time the player plays the game. The data in the game history data column shown in column C are common game history data such as the play date, the number of times played, and the number of common points acquired when the game with the corresponding game ID is played. It is. Furthermore, the acquisition points, the number of wins / losses, the number of rises, the game continuation information, and the like shown in the column D are game history data recorded corresponding to the game ID. In this case, the number of wins / losses, the number of skills acquired, etc. are recorded, in the case of a mahjong game, the number of rises, the number of transfers, etc. are recorded. Game continuation information such as a clear surface is recorded.

  The data recording timing of each data item in the recording unit of the memory card 12 is, for example, the data item shown in the column A shown in FIG. 8 as initial data, and the access code is as described above when the memory card 12 is manufactured. For example, the user ID and the game ID are recorded under the control of the game machine operation control program 18a1 when the player plays the game for the first time. The data items shown in column B are updated (added or subtracted) and recorded when the player finishes the game, and the data items shown in C and D are the game history every time the player finishes the game. Although data is recorded, whether all the history data of these games are recorded or whether data for the past 20 times is recorded may be arbitrarily set in consideration of the recording capacity of the memory card 12.

  In the game system of the present invention, the game continuation information (column D in FIG. 8) is stored in the game history data recorded on the memory card 12. As a result, the player played a continuous game such as a role-playing game on a game machine connected to the communication network 11, and later played the subsequent game on a game machine not connected to the communication network 11. In this case, the card read / write device of the game machine can read the game continuation information recorded on the memory card 12 and play the subsequent game. In addition, since the history data of the game played on the game machine not connected to the communication network 11 is also recorded on the memory card 12, when the game machine connected to the communication network 11 is played later, The history data can be transmitted to the game management server 9.

  In the usage limit count column recorded in the memory card 12, when the player plays the game for the first time after purchasing the memory card 12, the maximum value is used for each game ID under the control of the game machine operation control program 18a1. The number of times, for example, 300 times is recorded as the initial value. As described above, every time the game is played, the use limit number is subtracted by 1 by the control of the game machine operation control program 18a1, and when this use limit number becomes “0”, this memory card is recorded. 12 cannot be used when playing the game. Therefore, the player purchases a new memory card 12 as described above when the usage limit number of his / her memory card becomes “0”.

  The transmission completion flag (data in column E shown in FIG. 8) recorded in the game history data column of the memory card 12 is the game history data recorded in the memory card 12 (A, B, C, This is information for identifying whether or not the data in column D) has been transmitted to the game management server 9. When the game machine connected to the communication network 11 is played, the game history data is transmitted to the game management server 9 under the control of the game machine operation control program 18a1 upon completion of the play. “1” is recorded in the flag. On the other hand, when playing with a game machine not connected to the communication network 11, the game history data cannot be transmitted to the game management server 9, so “0” is recorded in the transmission completion flag. Thereby, when a player plays with a game machine connected to the communication network 11 and this play is finished, the game machine operation control program 18a1 of the game machine checks the recorded content of the transmission completion flag, When “0” is recorded, a process of transmitting each data in the columns A to D shown in FIG. 8 to the game management server 9 is performed.

  Thus, since the memory card used in this game system is set with a transmission completion flag that is an area for recording whether or not game history data has been transmitted to the game management server, the player who is a member However, history data of a game played on a game machine not connected to the communication network 11 can also be transmitted to the game management server 9 from a game machine connected to the communication network 11. Thereby, this game system can provide the game system which does not give a disadvantage to a player.

Next, with respect to the game system using the communication network of the present invention having the above-described configuration, a procedure for the player to play the game and the processing content of the game system associated therewith will be described.
A player who wants to obtain a privilege by playing a game using this game system, as described above, is a charging site (mobile phone web information service) entrusted to a mobile phone company or the like by the operator of this game system. It is necessary to join. Then, after the player purchases the memory card 12 and plays the game, the player accesses the web page of the web information service from his mobile phone or the like, and then inputs the access code printed on the memory card 12 Then, by logging into the game management server, it is possible to apply for membership registration of the game system. An example of this procedure will be described with reference to FIG.

(Procedure 1)
The player purchases one memory card 12 by inserting a predetermined amount into the card vending machine 13. In the memory card 12 purchased by the player, the access code described above is recorded in the recording unit in advance, and characters corresponding to the access code are printed on the back surface or the front surface of the memory card 12.

(Procedure 2)
A player who has purchased the memory card 12 inserts the memory card 12 into a card read / write device of a game machine and reads it to play a game. At this time, the game machine operation control program 18 a 1 transmits the access code stored in the memory card 12 to the game management server 9. The member registration management program 9b12 of the game management server 9 refers to the memory card management table t4 for the transmitted access code, and checks whether the card ID and user ID for this access code have already been registered. In this case, since the card ID, the user ID, etc. are not set, it is determined that this access code is the first access code transmitted to the game management server 9, so a member registration application command is transmitted to the game machine. When the game ends, the game history data is transmitted to the game management server 9 and recorded in the memory card 12 under the control of the game machine operation control program 18a1.

(Procedure 3)
The game machine operation control program 18a1 of the game machine displays, on the display device, a message stating “please apply for membership registration” to the player based on the processing of the procedure 2. As described above, a player who wants to obtain a privilege by playing a game using the game system needs to join a Web information service (Web information service net using a mobile phone) that provides information about the game system. There is. As described above, this membership is performed using, for example, “i-mode” of the Internet connection service provided by “NTT DOCOMO” via a mobile phone network. For example, by registering the Web information service in the “i-mode” My Menu, the enrollment procedure for browsing information related to the game system via the mobile phone Web information service is completed. Subsequently, the player uses his / her mobile phone to access the web information service of the game system, and then inputs the access code printed on the memory card 12 purchased by the player as login data. By transmitting the information, it is possible to browse a Web page that is open to members only. This Web page includes a page for applying for membership registration.

(Procedure 4)
Subsequently, the player inputs and transmits the player's attribute information, such as name, date of birth, and mail address, in accordance with the display of the Web information service of the mobile phone. The player's own attribute information input by the player is transmitted to the game management server 9 via the mobile server 14. Then, the Web information service program 9b3 of the game management server 9 operates the member registration management program 9b12 to perform processing for registering the attribute information of the player transmitted as a new member in the user information management table t1.

(Procedure 5)
When the attribute information of the player is transmitted to the game management server 9 according to the procedure 4, the Web information service program 9b3 of the game management server 9 operates the member registration management program 9b12 as a new member in the user information management table t1. A process for registering the transmitted attribute information of the player is performed. When this registration process is completed, the mail distribution program 9b4 of the game management server 9 can also send a member registration application completion message to the player's mobile phone via the mobile server 14. Thereby, a player is registered as a member who can obtain the privilege of this game system.

  The above-described procedures 1 to 5 are procedures for applying for membership after the player purchases the memory card 12 and playing the game. After the player purchases the memory card 12, the player applies for membership registration. It is good also as a procedure which plays a game. Further, the player may perform the above-described procedure 1 to procedure 4 after joining a web information service that provides information related to the game system.

  The process of registering information about the player who has applied for membership registration in the user information management table t1 of the game management server 9 by the above-described procedure 3 to procedure 4 is performed on the game management server 9 on the web page of the mobile phone web information service. This is made possible by embeding the address and linking to the game management server 9 from the web page of the mobile phone.

  Next, a procedure in which a player who is a member of the game system plays a game using a game machine connected to the communication network 11 and processing contents of the game system will be described with reference to FIG.

(Procedure 11)
First, the player sets the ROM cartridge 18 storing game application software to be played in the game machine, inserts a coin (or medal) of a predetermined amount into the game machine, and presses the start button. Then, the boot program installed in the game machine is activated, and the game machine operation control program 18a1 stored in the ROM of the ROM cartridge 18 is started up.

(Procedure 12) (Procedure 13)
The game machine operation control program 18a1 performs a process of displaying “Please insert a memory card” on the display device of the game machine, and requests the player to insert his / her memory card 12 into the card read / write device. Do.

(Procedure 14)
When the game machine operation control program 18a1 confirms the insertion of the memory card 12 into the card read / write device, the game machine operation control program 18a1 operates the memory card read program 18a3 to read the data recorded on the memory card 12 into the RAM of the game machine. Process. Subsequently, the access code is extracted from the read data, and this access code is transmitted to the game management server 9 by the processing of the network communication program 18a5.

(Procedure 15)
When receiving the access code from the game machine, the server operation control program 9b11 of the game management server 9 refers to the memory card management table t4, extracts the card ID and user ID corresponding to this access code, stores them in the RAM, and then continues. Thus, attribute information such as the player's name corresponding to the user ID extracted with reference to the user information management table t1, and history data of the game so far, for example, the cumulative number of common points so far, the number of games won and lost Etc. are taken out and stored in the RAM. Subsequently, the server operation control program 9b11 operates the communication management program 9b2, and transmits the card ID, user ID, player attribute information, and game history data stored in these RAMs to the game machine that transmitted the access code. To do.

(Procedure 16) (Procedure 17)
When the game machine operation control program 18a1 receives the card ID, the user ID, the player's name, the game history data, etc. from the game management server 9, the game machine's name, the number of common points, etc. are displayed on the display device of the game machine. After the display, the game application software 18a2 is activated to start the game. The game proceeds according to the control of the game application software 18a2.

(Procedure 18) (Procedure 19)
When the player ends the game, the game machine operation control program 18a1 detects the end of the game, and the game machine ID, card ID, user ID, game ID, game history data, and the like that played the current game are stored in the game. It transmits to the management server 9. The history data of this game includes the number of common points acquired, the game time, the number of games, the number of points acquired in the game, the number of wins / losses, and in the case of role-playing games and puzzle games, cleared steps, clear surfaces, uncleared Game continuation information, sales information, etc.

(Procedure 20) (Procedure 21)
When the server operation control program 9b11 of the game management server 9 receives the history data of the game based on the above-mentioned procedure 19 from the game machine, the server management control program 9b11 operates the play record management program 9b13, the game machine operation record management program 9b15, etc. Update processing of game history data recorded in the game-by-game play record management table t2 and the game machine operation record management table t3 is performed. Then, the server operation control program 9b11 transmits an “update complete” command to the game machine when the update processing of the history data of the game is completed.

(Procedure 22)
When the game machine operation control program 18a1 of the game machine receives the “update end” command according to the procedure 21, the memory card writing program 18a4 is activated and the game transmitted to the game management server 9 in the process of the procedure 19 is executed. A process of recording history data or the like in the recording unit of the memory card 12 is performed. At this time, “1” indicating that the history data of the current game has been transmitted to the game management server 9 is recorded in the transmission completion flag column E of the memory card 12 shown in FIG. Further, in this process, data relating to the user ID, game ID, use limit count, common point count, etc. shown in columns A and B of FIG. The usage limit count is decremented by 1 every time the game is played once.

(Procedure 23) (Procedure 24)
The game machine operation control program 18a1 performs control to eject the memory card 12 from the card read / write device when the process of recording the game history data on the memory card 12 is completed. Then, when the player receives the memory card 12 ejected from the card read / write device, the series of game machines and game management server 9 program processing that accompanies the player's play ends.

  In the game system of the present invention, game history data is recorded in the memory card 12 even when a player plays with a game machine 8 a or the like not connected to the communication network 11. However, when a game machine 8a or the like that is not connected to the communication network 11 is played, the game history data cannot be immediately transmitted to the game management server 9 after the play is completed. Therefore, in the game system of the present invention, when this player plays next time on a game machine (game machine 7b in the example shown in FIG. 1) connected to the communication network 11, the game machine operation is performed as described above. The control program 18a1 performs processing for checking the transmission completion flag (E) recorded in the memory card. Then, if there is history data of a game in which “0” is recorded in the transmission completion flag (E), a process of transmitting the game history data to the game management server 9 in the above-described procedure 19 is performed. Thereby, the history data of the game played with the game machine 8a or the like that is not connected to the communication network 11 can also be transmitted to the game management server 9 with certainty, which gives a disadvantage to the player who is a member of this game system. Can be prevented.

  In the present invention, when the player plays the game machine 8a or the like not connected to the communication network 11, the processing contents of the program of the game machine 8a will be further described as follows.

(1) When a player plays with a game machine 8a or the like that is not connected to the communication network 11, the player's operation is the same as the procedure shown in FIG. 10, but the game machine a communicates with the game management server 9. Since it is impossible, the game machine operation control program 18a1 needs to control the execution of the network communication program 18a5 to automatically jump. For example, when the game machine operation control program 18a1 controls the communication process with the game management server 9 shown in step 14, the time of the communication response with the game management server 9 is monitored (for example, 5 seconds). If there is no response, the connection flag indicating that the game machine is not connected to the communication network 11 is set to “0”, and the following communication processing checks the value of this connection flag, This is made possible by adopting a process for jumping the communication program 18a5.

(2) Even when the game machine 8a or the like not connected to the communication network 11 is played, the history data of the game related to the data items as shown in FIG. 8 is stored in the memory card 12 by the control of the game machine operation control program 18a1. To be recorded. Then, the game machine operation control program 18a1 checks the recorded content of the connection flag, and when “0” is recorded in the connection flag, the transmission completion flag (E) of the recording unit of the memory card 12 is recorded. Records “0”.

(3) When the player plays with the game machine 7b or the like connected to the communication network 11, the game machine operation control program 18a1 on the game machine 7b side reads the data in the memory card 12 by the process of the above-described procedure 14. At that time, the value of the transmission completion flag is checked. In the process of the above-described procedure 19, when this value is “0”, the history data of the game of one record (data in columns A to D shown in FIG. 8) is also transmitted to the game management server 9, and the game When the update completion signal is received from the management server 9, “1” is recorded in the transmission completion flag (E).

  As described above, when means for automatically determining whether or not each game machine is connected to the communication network 11 is adopted by program processing, the game machine connected to the communication network 11 communicates with the game management server 9. Even when a failure occurs in the line, the game machine operation control program 18a1 records the game history data in the memory card 12 even if the player plays the game, and sets the transmission completion flag of the memory card 12 as the transmission completion flag. Can be controlled so that “0” is recorded. Since the game history data recorded in the memory card 12 can be transmitted to the game management server 9 by the processing of the game machine operation control program 18a1 when the communication line is restored, it is disadvantageous for the player. The effect which can prevent giving is also produced.

It is a figure which shows an example of the system configuration | structure of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the software mounted in the ROM cartridge used for this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of the game management server shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the data structure of the user information management table which comprises the management database of a game management server. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating an example of the data structure of the play performance management table classified by user game which comprises the management database of a game management server. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating an example of the data structure of the game machine operation performance management table which comprises the management database of a game management server. Similarly, it is a figure for demonstrating an example of the data structure of the memory card management table which comprises the management database of a game management server. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the data item recorded on the recording part of a memory card. It is a figure for demonstrating an example of the application procedure, when a player applies for membership registration of the game system of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the procedure when a player plays a game with the game system of this invention, and the operation content of a game machine and a game management server.

Explanation of symbols

1, 2, 3, 4: Game center 5a, 5b, 5c,...: Game machine (connected to communication network)
6a, 6b, 6c, ...: Game machine (connected to communication network)
7a, 7b, ...: Game console (connected to communication network)
8a, ...: Game machine (not connected to communication network)
9: Game management server 9a: Communication function unit 9a1: Communication interface circuit 9a2: Communication control program 9b: Management function unit 9b1: System operation management program 9b11: Server operation control program 9b12: Member registration management program 9b13: Play performance management program 9b14 : Winner management program 9b15: Game machine operation result management program 9b16: Memory card management program 9b2: Communication management program 9b3: Web information service program 9b4: Mail distribution program 9c: Management database 11: Communication network 12: Memory card 13: Card Vending machine 14: Mobile server 15a, 15b, 16c: Mobile phone 16: Personal computer 18: ROM cartridge 18a1: Game machine operation control Program 18a2: Game application software 18a3: Memory card reading program 18a4: Memory card writing program 18a5: Network communication program t1: User information management table t2: User game play results management table t3: Game machine operation results management table t4: Memory card management table

Claims (2)

A game machine provided with a memory card reading means and a writing means, connected to a communication network, a game machine provided with a memory card reading means and a writing means and not connected to the communication network, and a game system connected to the communication network A game system using a communication network equipped with a game management server for managing the operation of
The memory card writing means of each game machine comprises means for recording history data of a game played by a player on the memory card,
The game machine connected to the communication network includes means for transmitting history data of a game played by the player on the game machine to the game management server, and plays on the game machine not connected to the communication network. A game system using a communication network, comprising means for transmitting game history data recorded on the memory card to the game management server.   2. The communication network according to claim 1, wherein the memory card has an area for recording whether or not the history data of the game recorded on the memory card is transmitted to the game management server. Game system used.

Images