JP2008188137A - Game system allowing participation of spectator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system allowing participation of spectators by reading game information from exclusive cards of the spectators so that the characters used by the spectators also participate in the game when the spectators having the exclusive cards for the same game are present around game machines to make character information of the spectators who have the cards but do not play the game updatable whether the spectators recognize it or not. <P>SOLUTION: If the spectators around the many game machines 1a-1d in a game hall have RFID cards for the same game, the cards are recognized so that the characters used by the spectators participate in the game. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gallery participation game system that allows a user to participate in a game simply by being in the vicinity of a game housing without having to play the game if he / she has a dedicated card for the game.

There are a variety of games in which dedicated card information is read to recognize an individual and play using the personal data. For example, a battle game in which a player manipulates a unit that runs around the battlefield by moving the card after seeing the cards arranged on the game board (recognizing a card identifying a warlord on the touch panel, and proceeding with the arrangement of this card In addition, a game machine such as a racing game that races against a computer car or the like using data such as a player's race history recorded from a dedicated card is installed in a game center or the like.
These game machines can start playing by recognizing an individual by inserting a dedicated card into a slot of a predetermined game machine housing for recognition.

By the way, in addition to the case where a card is inserted into a predetermined slot and the individual is identified and played, the gallery is also played when the gallery not playing with the game machine has a game-only card. There is a request to be able to participate in.
In such a case, the game machine must communicate with the dedicated card of the gallery to read out the information.

The applicant of the present application has proposed a system in which a plurality of games can be played by a single game providing device as a game machine housing that communicates with a wirelessly communicable card to obtain player information (Patent Document 1). However, in this case as well, although the communication means uses an RFID card with a built-in transmitter for ID identification, the player who can play the game with the game providing device is only the player who made the game machine recognize the RFID card. is there.
JP 2005-73711 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide information indicating a specific character from a dedicated card of this gallery when a gallery having a dedicated card for the same game is located in the vicinity of the game machine other than a player who plays a game toward the game machine. , In addition to the player character of the game machine, the gallery character also appears in the game, so that the information of the gallery character that does not play the game and has a dedicated card for the same game is updated regardless of the person's recognition An object of the present invention is to provide a game system capable of participating in a gallery.

In order to achieve the above object, claim 1 of the present invention provides a plurality of game cards dedicated to a game storing game information including information indicating a specific character used by a game card owner and information related to the character, and the game card. A game card read / write means capable of reading and writing, and when the game information is read from the game card by the game card read / write means after the game is started, the game card having the highest received radio wave intensity is a game card storing a player character The determination means for determining and determining that the game card having a radio wave intensity of another size is a game card storing a gallery character, a memory unit storing the game information, and a player character of the game card determined by the determination means And gallery character games Read information from the memory unit, characterized in that a control means for executing a game.
A second aspect of the present invention is a game system comprising the server device and a plurality of game machines according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein each of the game machines includes the game card read / write means, determination means and control means. In addition, the server device includes the memory unit, and enables a battle game between the plurality of game machines.
Claim 3 of the present invention comprises a plurality of game cards dedicated to a game storing information indicating a specific character used by the game card owner and information relating to the character, and a mounting portion for the game card, When one of the game cards is attached to the attachment unit, the game card read / write means for reading and writing the game information in the game card and the game information in the game card at a position away from the game machine housing are read. When reading game information from a game card reading means for reading and a game card attached to an attachment portion of the game card read / write means, the attached game card is a game card storing a player character, and the game card lead When reading game information from the means, the game card reading means Game card determination means that the game card which stores gallery character reading, a memory unit for storing the game information,
The game information of the player character and the gallery character determined by the determination means is read from the memory unit, and control means for executing a game is provided.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game system comprising a server device and a plurality of game machines according to the third aspect of the invention, wherein each game machine includes the game card read / write means, game card read means, discrimination means, and Each of the server devices includes a control unit and the memory unit, and enables a battle game between the plurality of game machines.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second, third or fourth aspect, the game card is an RFID card, and the game card read / write means transmits and receives game information in the RFID card by radio waves. And

According to the above configuration, since characters (gallery) around the game case can participate in the game, the sense of unity between the players is enhanced particularly when a battle between stores using a network is performed.
Since the player's own character can participate in the game simply by going to the game center, the player of the corresponding game comes to actively go to the game center, and the effect of attracting customers can be expected.
If the game content is displayed on a display on a wall of a movie or a building as well as a dedicated case for the game, characters, names, etc. of people near the display can be displayed, and the advertising effect is improved. At the same time, users who want to give a name will join the game.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B are diagrams for explaining an outline of a game system capable of participating in a gallery according to the present invention.
A multiplayer game system is formed from a large number of game machines 1a to 1d in a store and a LAN line for communication between these game machines. The LAN line can access the public line 3 via the modem 2. Since the modems of other stores can also access the public line 3, it is possible to play a game between game machines in other stores.
A game server device 4 is connected to the public line 3, and game machines in each store communicate with the game server device 4 to exchange data necessary for the game with the game server device 4. be able to.

This example shows a state in which the players A to D play the game machines 1a to 1d by attaching their own RFID cards of the game to the RFID read / write portions of the game machines 1a to 1d.
Galleries E and F exist within a range in which the RFID read / write unit of the game machine 1a can communicate, and the galleries E and F have RFID cards 19e and 19f dedicated to the game of the game machine, respectively. Similarly, the gallery G exists within a range where the RFID read / write unit of the game machine 1b can communicate, and the gallery G has an RFID card 19g dedicated to the game of the game machine. Furthermore, the gallery H, I, and J exist within a range where the RFID read / write unit of the game machine 1d can communicate. have.

  (B) shows a list of characters appearing in the multiplayer game. Characters (which may be items) a to d in the RFID cards possessed by the players of the game machines 1 a to 1 d are operated by the respective players, and the game is played at the center in the game. The characters e to j of the gallery are displayed on the screen automatically in a certain scene by an algorithm in the game or by the operation of the players of the game machines 1a to 1d and play a certain role. While the game is in progress, the characters e to j in the gallery can grow, for example, according to the battle results, or acquire items.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining another configuration of the game system capable of participating in the gallery according to the present invention.
If this game system is in a store from 1F to 3F, there is a game machine 6 on the first floor, and there is a gallery with an RFID card of this game in the communicable range near this game machine 6, The character of the RFID card can be read and made to appear in the game. There are no game machines on 2F and 3F, only RFID card readers 7 and 8 are installed, and connected to the game machine 6 via a LAN line. When there is a gallery having an RFID card of this game in the communicable range in the vicinity of the 2F and 3F RFID card readers, the game system can read the characters of the RFID card and make it appear in the game It is. If you install a large display screen that displays multiplayer games on 2F and 3F, you can watch games where characters in your RFID card appear regardless of whether or not you are aware of the 2F and 3F galleries. .

FIG. 3 is an external view of a game machine constituting the game system according to the present invention.
The game machine has an image display unit 11 on the front surface of the main body 10, and operation units such as a joystick 13 and a button switch 15 are arranged on the front operation panel surface. An RFID card insertion portion 14 is provided on the right side of the operation panel. When an RFID card is inserted into this portion, the contents of the card can be read and written by the RFID card read / write portion. A coin insertion portion 12 is disposed at the right front end of the operation panel.

FIG. 4A is a circuit block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a circuit of an RFID card and a game machine.
The RFID card possessed by each individual in (a) includes a communication unit 22 including a transmission unit and a reception unit, a memory unit 20, and an induction unit 21 including a coil for inducing power by receiving radio waves from the communication unit of the game machine. ing.
Since the RFID card reader on the game machine side uses a transmission / reception antenna with a large transmission output level and a large transmission / reception capability, if the RFID card is within a certain distance (several meters) from the game machine, Can communicate.
The memory unit 20 stores an ID number for identifying an RFID card, game information (information indicating a character, information about the character (external shape, ability, item, etc.), and game history information). It can be read from the communication unit 25 of 1a to 1d. Writing is also possible.

In (b), the game machines 1a to 1d include a communication unit 25, a CPU 26, a RAM 27, a ROM 28, an operation unit 29, a sound circuit 30, a speaker 31, a coin slot 32, a coin detection unit 33, an image processing unit 34, and an image display unit. 11 and a bus 35.
The communication unit 25 includes an RFID card read / write unit 17a and an RFID card reader 16, and a LAN control unit that is connected to a LAN line and communicates with the game server device and other game machines.

FIG. 4B shows specific examples of the RFID card read / write unit 17 a and the RFID card reader 16.
The RFID card read / write unit 17a reads / writes data from / to the RFID card inserted by the player through the RFID card insertion unit 14, and a shield member for blocking radio waves from the outside is provided around the RFID card read / write unit 17a. Therefore, only the RFID card inserted from the RFID card insertion unit 14 is read / written. The RFID card reader 16 uses a transmission / reception antenna having a large transmission output level and a large transmission / reception capability as described above. Only the RFID card of the gallery existing within a predetermined range (several meters) of the game machine is used. Reading can be performed.
Input / output of the RFID card read / write unit 17a and the RFID card reader 16 is connected to a card determination processing unit 18a. The card determination processing unit 18a determines whether the RFID card is playing or the RFID card of the gallery based on the signal received from either of them, and sends the information to the CPU 26.

FIG. 4C is a diagram showing another RFID card read / write embodiment.
In this example, the RFID card read / write unit 17b supports reading and writing both of the RFID card of the player and the RFID card of the gallery. The card determination processing unit 18b determines whether the signal is from the RFID card of the player or the RFID card of the gallery based on the magnitude of the received radio wave, determines the highest level as the player's RFID card, and detects it at a level below that level. What is to be read is determined to be a gallery RFID card. The RFID card read / write unit 17b sends information to the RFID card read / write unit 17b by sending an instruction to select the RFID card having the ID number determined to be the highest level to the RFID card read / write unit 17b. Is what you do.

Returning to FIG. 4A, description of each component of the game machine will be continued.
The ROM 28 stores programs and data for controlling the game machine. The RAM 27 is loaded with player information (such as information on characters) and game programs sent from the game server device 4. It is also used as a work area for performing control.
The CPU 26 executes a game program and controls the entire game machine. The image processing unit 34 performs image processing in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 26 and displays the processed image on the image display unit 11.

  From the sound circuit 30, in response to an instruction from the CPU 26, a signal such as back music at the time of standby or background sound or voice at the time of game execution is output, and music or the like is output from the speaker 31. The player can play a multiplayer game using the joystick 13 of the operation unit 29 and the six button switches 15. When a coin is inserted into the coin insertion slot 32, it is detected by the coin detector 33, and the information is sent to the CPU.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a circuit of the game server device.
The game server device 4 includes a communication unit 23, a control unit 37, and a database 36. The communication part 23 communicates with the game machine of each store via a public line. The database 36 stores various information related to the game, and stores player information for ID information in the RFID card as a part thereof. The game history of the player, the character information of the player, the ability of the character, items, and the like.
The control unit 37 performs processing by the data transmission / reception control unit 37a, the team division processing unit 37b, and the like. The data transmission / reception control unit 37a performs data transmission / reception control with each game machine via the communication unit 23, and the team. The division processing unit 37b receives, for example, information from players from each game machine for a multiplayer game, and divides a team for each store, between stores, and for each country of characters used according to a predetermined rule. I do. It is also possible for all characters to fight alone.

6 and 7 are flowcharts for explaining the flow from the start to the end of the game system according to the present invention.
When the game machine is activated, each game machine displays a game demonstration screen on the image display unit 11 under the control of the CPU 26 (steps (hereinafter referred to as “S”) 001 and S002). Whether or not play is possible is displayed on the game demo screen, and if play is possible, the game can be started (S003, S004).
When a player who wants to play inserts an RFID card into the RFID card insertion unit 14 of the game machine and inserts a coin into the coin insertion unit 12, the CPU 26 confirms that a predetermined coin has been inserted, and the RFID card read / write unit 17a reads the RFID card of the player. Since the card determination processing unit 18a is reading from the RFID card read / write unit 17a, the ID information of the RFID card read is determined to be that of the player, and the ID read by adding a flag that can be recognized as the player is added. Information and game information are sent to the CPU 26 (S101).

The CPU 26 stores the ID information and game information in the RAM 27 and transmits the player ID information to the game server device 4 via the communication unit 25 and the LAN line. The control unit 37 of the game server device 4 receives the player ID information through the communication unit 23, reads game information corresponding to the player ID information from the database 36, and transmits the read game information to the game machine (S102). In the game machine, information indicating the character, information on the galactor, and game history information can be obtained by reading the game information from the RFID card, but the character in the RFID card has previously participated as a gallery character, This is because the game history information may be updated, and the update information is taken out from the game server device 4.
The CPU 26 of the game machine compares the game information in the RAM 27 with the game information sent from the game server device to determine whether or not there is battle record information when participating as a gallery (S103).

When there is no battle record information, the process proceeds to mode selection for selecting what type of battle is to be performed (S105). If there is battle record information, the game information is updated to information relating to the character in which the battle record information is also added (S104), and the mode shifts to mode selection (S105).
When the player does not select the battle mode in the mode selection, the game enters the single mode that is a single battle against the computer, and the battle ends without the participation of the gallery character (S108).
On the other hand, if the battle mode is selected and the gallery character exists, the process proceeds to the mode of S107 in which the gallery character is allowed to participate.
Here, the gallery character cannot be operated by the player, and if a gallery character exists at a predetermined place or timing in the game, it can appear in the scene and participate in the battle. It is a character.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the flow of the battle mode of the game system according to the present invention.
When the player selects the battle mode, the CPU 26 starts accepting the battle. In other game machines (in the same store or in other stores), if the player has launched a game and has selected the battle mode, a battle including that player can be played. A battle with another game machine can be determined.
Thereafter, the CPU 26 instructs the RFID card reader 16 to read (S201). When there is a gallery RFID card within a predetermined distance from the game machine, the RFID card reader 16 reads game information from all the existing RFID cards (S202).
When the gallery ID information and the game information are sent from the RFID card reader 16, the CPU 26 stores them in the RAM 27 and transmits the gallery card ID information to the game server device 4. The game server device 4 reads the game information from the database 36 based on the transmitted ID information of the gallery card and transmits it to the game device (S203).

The game information sent from the game server device 4 is the latest update information of the gallery card, and the CPU 26 stores it in the RAM 27. The player looks at this game information and operates the operation unit 29 to select characters to appear and to divide the team (S204).
Gallery teams can be divided as follows.
・ Randomly divide teams for in-store matches.
・ For a match between stores, make a team for each store.
・ Dividing teams for each character affiliation.
This team division can be performed not by the game machine side but by using the team division processing unit 37b of the game server device 4.
After the teams are divided in this way, the players of each game machine can start a battle (S205).

In the game progress, the CPU 26 monitors whether or not the character used by the gallery recognized now appears in the game progress scene (S206). If the scene appears, the character used by the gallery appears in the game (S207). This is displayed at a predetermined location on the screen based on the information indicating the character and the information related to the character, and a game battle process is performed (S208). If the scene does not appear, the process moves to the game battle process without causing the gallery character to appear.
Next, the CPU 26 monitors whether or not the battle has ended (S209). If the match has not ended, the process continues to return to S206 to advance the game. When the match is over, the player's battle record is written to the player's RFID card by the RFID card read / write unit 17a (S210). Next, the game results of the player and the gallery are transmitted to the game server device 4, and the game information of each RFID card in the database 36 is updated (S211).
As described above, the multiplayer game ends.

The battle record is, for example, a player character, an item obtained by a character used by the gallery, a sword, or the like. When these are next played in the game, the character will have a sword or items.
Although the above embodiment has shown an example in which a game character appears in the game, it is also possible to store an item other than the character, for example, an item in the RFID card, and bring it into the game.

  This is a multiplayer game machine installed at game centers and event venues.

It is a figure for demonstrating the outline | summary of the game system in which the gallery participation by this invention is possible. It is a figure for demonstrating the other structure of the game system in which the gallery participation by this invention is possible. It is an external view of the game machine which comprises the game system by this invention. It is a circuit block diagram for describing an embodiment of a circuit of an RFID card and a game machine. It is a figure which shows embodiment of RFID card reading / writing. It is a figure which shows other embodiment of RFID card reading and writing. It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of the circuit of a game server apparatus. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow until the start of the game system by this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow from the start of the game system by this invention to battle | competition mode. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the flow of the battle | competition mode of the game system by this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1a-1d, 6 Game console 2,5 Modem 3 Public line
4 game server devices
7, 8, 16 RFID card reader
10 Game console housing (main unit)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Image display part 12 Coin insertion part 13 Joystick 14 RFID card insertion part 15 Button switch 17 RFID read / write part 18 Card determination processing part 19 RFID card 20 Memory part 21 Inducing part 22, 23, 25 Communication part 26 CPU
27 RAM
28 ROM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 29 Operation part 30 Sound circuit 31 Speaker 32 Coin insertion part 33 Coin detection part 34 Image processing part 35 Bus 36 Database 37 Control part

Claims (5)

A plurality of game cards dedicated to a plurality of games storing information indicating a specific character used by the game card owner and game information including information on the character;
Game card read / write means capable of reading and writing to the game card;
When the game information is read from the game card by the game card read / write means after the game is started, the game card having the highest received radio wave intensity is determined as the game card storing the player character, and the radio wave intensity of other magnitudes. The determination means for determining that the game card is a game card storing a gallery character;
A memory unit for storing the game information;
Control means for reading out game information of the player character and gallery character of the game card determined by the determination means from the memory unit and executing the game;
A game system that allows you to participate in a gallery. A game system comprising a server device and a plurality of game machines,
Each game machine includes the game card read / write means, determination means, and control means, and the server device includes the memory unit,
The game system capable of gallery participation according to claim 1, wherein a battle game between the plurality of game machines is enabled. A plurality of game cards dedicated to a plurality of games storing information indicating a specific character used by the game card owner and game information including information on the character;
A game card read / write means for reading and writing game information in the game card when one of the game cards is mounted in the mounting unit;
Game card reading means for reading game information in a game card at a position away from the game machine housing;
When reading game information from a game card attached to the attachment portion of the game card read / write means, the attached game card is a game card storing a player character, and when reading game information from the game card read means, Determining means for determining that the game card read from the game card reading means is a game card storing a gallery character;
A memory unit for storing the game information;
Control means for reading out the game information of the player character and gallery character determined by the determination means from the memory unit and executing the game;
A game system that allows you to participate in a gallery. A game system comprising a server device and a plurality of game machines,
Each game machine includes the game card read / write means, game card read means, determination means and control means, and the server device includes the memory unit,
4. The game system capable of participating in a gallery according to claim 3, wherein a battle game between the plurality of game machines is enabled. The game card is an RFID card;
5. A game system capable of participating in a gallery according to claim 1, wherein said game card read / write means transmits and receives game information in an RFID card by radio waves.

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