JP2021118839A - Game system, and game control method thereof and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game system capable of increasing a performance effect of a game by effectively utilizing a waiting game machine.SOLUTION: In a game system including plural game machines 3 that are capable of communicating via a network, performance specification information required for specifying a performance to be executed in accordance with play in a linkage source game machine 3s is shared by the game machines 3s, 3d, and a linkage performance in which performances are linked between the linkage source game machine 3s and the linkage destination game machine 3d is executed by each of the linkage source game machine 3s and the linkage destination game machine 3d on the basis of the shared performance specification information when at least one game machine is set to the linkage source game machine 3s from among the game machines 3 in which a game is being played and one game machine in which at least no games are being played is set to the linkage destination game machine 3d from among other game machines.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a game system having a function of directing a game by using a plurality of game machines.

As a game system that directs a game using multiple game machines, when an event occurs on any of the game machines, a game system that displays a common production image that directs the event across multiple game machines is known. (See Patent Document 1). When a game is played on a part of a plurality of game machines, a game system is also known in which an effect called an attract is executed in synchronization with each other on a standby game machine in which the game is not played. (See Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 4662230 Japanese Patent No. 4476322

In the conventional game system, the effect performed by the game machine being played and the effect performed by the waiting game machine are executed separately from each other. Therefore, there is still room for consideration in order to enhance the effect of motivating the play, for example, the eye-catching effect of the game machine. The system of Patent Document 2 merely synchronizes the production (attract) of the waiting game machine so as not to interfere with the play, and the production of the game machine being played and the production of the waiting game machine. It does not try to enhance the synergistic effect with. The system of Patent Document 1 is intended to entertain the players of a plurality of game machines at the same time and increase the motivation to play by indicating to the players of a plurality of game machines that an event has occurred in one of the game machines, and is on standby. It is not intended to utilize the production in the game machine inside.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system or the like capable of effectively utilizing a waiting game machine to enhance the effect of producing a game.

The game system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of game machines capable of communicating via a network, a play control means for controlling game play on each game machine, and a production control for controlling production on each game machine. A game system including means, wherein the effect control means uses at least one game machine among the game machines on which the game is played as an interlocking source game machine, and other than the interlocking source game machine. It is necessary to specify the effect to be executed in response to the play in the interlocking source game machine when at least one game machine in which the game is not played is used as the interlocking destination game machine. The information sharing process for sharing the production specific information between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine, and the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine based on the shared production specific information. It is possible to execute the interlocking effect processing in which the interlocking effect is executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine.

The effect control method of the game system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of game machines capable of communicating via a network, and provides play control means for controlling game play on each game machine and effect on each game machine. It is an effect control method applied to a game system provided with an effect control means for controlling, and at least one game machine among the game machines in which the game is played is linked to the effect control means. Then, when at least one game machine in which the game is not played is set as the interlocking destination game machine among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine, the game is executed in response to the play in the interlocking source game machine. The information sharing process for sharing the effect specific information necessary for specifying the effect to be performed between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine, and the interlocking based on the shared effect specific information. The interlocking effect processing in which the interlocking effect in which the effect is interlocked between the original game machine and the interlocking destination game machine is executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine is executed.

The computer program of the game system according to one aspect of the present invention is a play control means for controlling the play of a game on each game machine, and a play control means for controlling the computer of the game system including a plurality of game machines capable of communicating via a network. A computer program of a game system configured to function as an effect control means for controlling an effect on each game machine, and at least one game of the game machines on which the game is played in the effect control means. When the machine is used as the interlocking source game machine and at least one game machine in which the game is not played is used as the interlocking destination game machine among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine, the interlocking source game machine is used. Information sharing processing for sharing effect specific information necessary for specifying an effect to be executed in response to play between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine, and shared effect specific information. Based on the above, the interlocking effect processing for causing each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine to execute the interlocking effect in which the effect is interlocked between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine is executed. It is configured to let you.

The figure which shows an example of the whole structure of the game system which concerns on one form of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the game machine. The figure which shows an example of the game image displayed on a game machine. The figure which shows an example of how a plurality of game machines execute interlocking effect. The figure which shows the example of the composition of the interlocking group at the time of executing the interlocking effect. The figure which shows another example of the structure of the interlocking group. The block diagram which shows an example of the structure of the control system of a game machine. The figure for demonstrating an example of the structure of interlocking production data. A flowchart showing an example of each procedure of the interlocking source setting process and the interlocking destination setting process executed by the effect control unit of the game machine. A flowchart showing an example of each procedure of the interlocking source effect processing and the interlocking destination effect process executed by the effect control unit of the game machine. A flowchart showing an example of each procedure of the play monitoring process, the interlocking source effect change process, and the interlocking destination effect change process executed by the effect control unit of the game machine. The figure which shows the composition example of a part of interlocking production data at the time of changing the production pattern according to the evaluation level. The figure which shows an example of the procedure of the level control processing which each production control part of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine executes according to the evaluation level. A flowchart showing another example of each procedure of the interlocking source effect processing and the interlocking destination effect process executed by the effect control unit of the game machine. The flowchart which shows the other example of each procedure of the play monitoring process, the interlocking source effect change process, and the interlocking destination effect change process executed by the effect control unit of a game machine.

(overall structure)
First, the overall configuration of the game system according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the game system 1 includes a server 2 and a plurality of game machines 3 capable of functioning as clients of the server 2. In the game system 1, a user terminal such as a smartphone may also be used as a client of the server 2, but the illustration thereof is omitted. The server 2 may be configured as one physical server using a single computer device, or may be configured as a logical server in which a plurality of computer devices are combined.

The game machine 3 is provided as a business-use game machine that allows a user to play a game in exchange for payment of a fee or provides a service related to the game to the user. The game machine 3 is installed in a store 6 as an example of a facility in which a business using the game machine 3 is run. Although two stores 6 are shown in FIG. 1, there are actually a large number of stores 6. The game machine 3 is not limited to a commercial facility such as a store 6, but may be installed in a public facility or other various facilities where the game machine 3 can be used. At least one game machine 3 is installed in each store 6. However, in the following, it is premised that a plurality of game machines 3 capable of playing the same game are installed in at least one store 6, and those game machines 3 function as target game machines 3 for which the effects are linked. Continue the explanation as. The content of the game provided by the game machine 3 may be appropriate. For example, a music game, a dance game, a board game such as mahjong, and various other games may be provided by the game machine 3.

The server 2 and the game machine 3 can communicate with each other via the network 7. The network 7 includes a LAN 7a for each store 6 configured to accommodate the game machine 3 in the same store 6, and a WAN 7b for connecting the LAN 7a and the server 2. WAN7b is, for example, the Internet. The LAN 7a is connected to the WAN 7b via a router 7c installed in each store 6. The server 2 may also be connected to the WAN 7b with an appropriate configuration.

(Game console configuration)
FIG. 2 shows an example of a specific configuration of the game machine 3. The game machine 3 includes a housing 10, and the housing 10 further includes a base portion 11 placed on the floor surface FL and a main body portion 12 provided on the base portion 11. The main body portion 12 is provided with a console portion 13 configured as a box-shaped structure having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The console portion 13 is provided so that the entire console portion 13 is tilted diagonally to the left when the housing 10 is viewed from the front side (state in FIG. 2). A display device 15 and an operation device 16 are provided on the upper surface side of the console unit 13. The display device 15 is, for example, a flat panel display. The operating device 16 is provided so as to overlap a part of the display surface 15a of the display device 15. The operation device 16 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons 16a that output operation signals corresponding to the push operation. The operation button 16a has transparency, and it is possible to visually recognize an image of the display surface 15a of the display device 15 behind the operation button 16a via the operation button 16a.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a game image 100 displayed on the display surface 15a of the display device 15 when playing a music game. The game image 100 displays an operation instruction image 101 that guides the time (hereinafter, may be referred to as an operation time) when the operation button 16a should be pressed down. The operation time is predetermined, for example, according to the music selected in the game. The control device of the game machine 3 determines whether or not the operation button 16a is pressed down according to the operation timing instructed by the operation instruction image 101, and the user's play is evaluated based on the determination result. ..

Returning to FIG. 2, a speaker device 18 for outputting musical sounds of music to be played during the game or outputting various sound effects is provided at an appropriate position of the game machine 3, for example, above the display device 15. Has been done. Further, an illumination device 19 is provided at an appropriate position of the game machine 3, for example, on the side surface and the front surface of the main body portion 12, and further above the main body portion 12. The illumination device 19 is provided to produce an effect using light. The illumination device 19 dynamically changes various elements that define a light emitting mode such as a light emitting color, a light emitting pattern (whether lighting or blinking, blinking interval, etc.), and a light emitting intensity independently for each installation location. Is possible.

(Outline of interlocking production)
Next, the outline of the interlocking effect in the game system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. In the interlocking effect, a plurality of game machines 3 interlock with each other to execute an effect that matches the game being played on any of the game machines 3. FIG. 4 shows, as an example, how four game machines 3 execute interlocking effects in the store 6. However, in FIG. 4, the difference in the light emission content is replaced with the difference in the fill. When a player who visits the store 6 selects one of the game machines 3 and plays a game, the game machine 3 is set as the interlocking source game machine. The interlocking source game machine is a game machine on which a game that serves as a reference for executing the interlocking effect is played. Further, at least one waiting game machine 3, that is, a game machine 3 in which the game is not played is selected as the interlocking destination game machine. Then, the interlocking effect is performed with the game machine 3 being played and the game 3 on standby as a set. For example, in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the leftmost game machine 3 is the interlocking source game machine and the other game machines 3 are the interlocking destination game machines. In FIG. 4, among the game machines 3, the interlocking source game machine has a reference code with a subscript s attached to the game machine 3s, and the interlocking destination game machine has a reference code with a subscript d added to the game machine 3d. In the same manner, game machines may be distinguished from each other in FIGS. 5 and 5 and below. Further, also in the following description, the subscripts s and d may be used to distinguish whether the game machine 3 is an interlocking source or an interlocking destination.

The interlocking effect is controlled according to the composition of the music played on the interlocking source game machine 3s. For example, in the intro of a musical piece, the illumination device 19 of the interlocking source game machine 3s and the interlocking destination game machine 3d emits light in the same manner. After that, as the music progresses to A melody, B melody, and chorus, the light emitting mode of each game machine 3 is differentiated from each other or matches again, and the music of the game being played on the interlocking source game machine 3s. Is a discipline, and the production of the game machine 3 is controlled. As a result, it is possible to give the audience around the game machine 3 the impression that the four game machines 3 are synchronously performing one effect. That is, the interlocking effect is compared with the case where the game machine 3 on which the game is being played and the game machine 3 on standby execute the effect independently of each other, and the game machine 3 being played and the game on standby This is a function implemented in each game machine 3 for the purpose of causing the machine 3 to execute effects associated with each other and thereby enhancing the eye-catching effect of the game machine 3. By performing the interlocking production based on the composition of the music, each game machine 3 is made to execute the production suitable for the composition of the music, and the production is more effectively or sensibly appealed to the audience to appeal to the audience. It can be attracted and the player of the game can play the game comfortably. Since the composition patterns such as the intro and the verse of the music have roles such as Kishōtenketsu, the individuality of the music is reflected in the production by executing the production according to those roles in conjunction with the plurality of game machines 3. be able to.

Although FIG. 4 shows an example of an effect using the illumination device 19, the sound may be taken in as an element of the interlocking effect by a method such as outputting an appropriate effect sound from the speaker device 18, for example, the sound of the audience who excites the game. .. The display device 15 may be used as a means for the effect by appropriately displaying an image for effect, for example, a still image, an animation, a promotion video, a moving image such as a music video, on the display device 15. Further, the game machine 3 may be provided with a physical effect mechanism that produces an effect, and the operation may be incorporated as an element of the interlocking effect. In the following, for the sake of simplification of the description, the description will be continued by taking as an example the case where the interlocking effect is executed by using the illumination device 19.

An appropriate mode can be assumed for the combination of the game machines 3 that execute the interlocking effect. For example, FIG. 5 shows some examples assumed when four game machines 3 are installed in one store 6. FIG. 5A is an example in which one interlocking source game machine 3s and three interlocking destination game machines 3d form a set of interlocking group LG. The interlocking group LG is a set of game machines 3 that execute interlocking effects. One interlocking group LG is configured to include at least one interlocking source game machine 3s and at least one interlocking destination game machine 3d. The interlocking group LG is divided into a plurality of production unit RUs, and each production unit RU includes at least one game machine 3. In Example 1, the interlocking group LG is divided into four production unit RUs, and one game machine 3 is assigned to each of the production unit RUs. The interlocking effect is realized by executing a designated effect pattern for each effect unit RU. That is, the effect unit RU is a unit that executes individual effect patterns constituting the interlocking effect. One interlocking group LG includes at least two production units RU. The production pattern will be described later.

FIG. 5B is an example in which the interlocking group LG is composed of three game machines 3 and the remaining one game machine 3 is excluded from the interlocking group LG. In FIG. 5, the game machine 3 excluded from the interlocking group LG is distinguished from the game machine 3 in the interlocking group LG by adding a subscript e to the reference code. In the following description, the game machine 3 excluded from the interlocking group LG may be referred to as an exclusion game machine 3e. For example, if there is a game machine 3 in which the game is being played in addition to the interlocking source game machine 3s included in the interlocking group LG, the game machine 3 is excluded from the interlocking group LG and stands by with the interlocking source game machine 3s. The interlocking group LG is composed of the two interlocking destination game machines 3d. However, the excluded game machine 3e is not necessarily limited to the game machine 3 being played. For example, the game machine 3 preset so as not to be included in the target of the interlocking effect may be the excluded game machine 3e.

FIG. 5C is an example in which two game machines 3 form an interlocking group LG, and the remaining two game machines 3 form another interlocking group LG. For example, when a game is played on one of the excluded game machines 3e shown in the example of FIG. 5C and the other game machine 3 is on standby, those game machines 3 By newly constructing the interlocking group LG in, the example of FIG. 5D can occur.

FIG. 6 shows a further example of the target of the interlocking effect. As described above, there are at least two production unit RUs in one interlocking group LG, but each production unit RU may include two or more game machines 3. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the game machine 3 may be assigned to each production unit RU so that a plurality of interlocking destination game machines 3d are included in at least a part of the production unit RUs. As shown in FIG. 6B, one production unit RU may include two or more interlocking source game machines 3s. The interlocking source game machine 3s is a game machine 3 in which the game that is the basis of the interlocking effect is played. For example, there is a game machine 3 in which players of a plurality of game machines 3 can participate and play a common game, and a common play can be selected. In the case of a music game, it may be possible to select a mode in which a plurality of players play the same song or cooperate with each other. When such common play is provided, each of the game machines 3 in which the common play is performed is assigned to the same production unit RU as the interlocking source game machine 3s, and at least one game in standby. The machine 3 may be assigned to another production unit RU as the interlocking destination game machine 3d. In the example of FIG. 6B, the production corresponding to the common play is originally performed in each of the interlocking source game machines 3s, but in addition to this, the interlocking production is also executed in the interlocking destination game machine 3d. Therefore, the effect of production can be enhanced.

(Control system configuration)
Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, an example of the configuration of the control system provided in the game machine 3 for realizing the above-mentioned game will be described. The configuration of the control system of each game machine 3 is equal to each other, and the configuration of the control system will be described below by taking one game machine 3 as an example. As shown in FIG. 7, the game machine 3 is provided with a control device 30 and a storage device 31. The control device 30 is configured as a computer unit including a microprocessor and an internal storage device necessary for its operation. The operation device 16 described above is connected to the control device 30 as an input device, and the display device 15, the speaker device 18, and the illumination device 19 described above are connected as output devices. Hardware devices such as an interface device and a drive circuit may be appropriately provided between the control device 30 and the devices 15, 16, 18, and 19, but their illustrations are omitted. Further, the control device 30 may be provided with an appropriate input device and output device other than those shown in the drawing. The storage device 31 is a storage device including a non-volatile storage medium such as a magnetic disk and a flash memory, and functions as an external storage device for the control device 30.

The game program Pg and the game data Dg are recorded in the storage device 31. The game program Pg is an application program for causing the control device 30 to execute arithmetic processing and operation control necessary for the game in cooperation with an operating system that controls the basic operation of the control device 30. The game data Dg is data that is appropriately referred to in the control of the game by the control device 30. The game data Dg includes music data Dm, sequence data Ds, and production data Dr. The music data Dm is data for each music prepared for playing the music. The sequence data Ds is data in which the position of the operation button 16a to be operated by the player with respect to the music selected in the game is described in association with the operation time. The position of the operation button 16a is specified by, for example, a button number uniquely set for the operation button 16a. The operation time is specified, for example, by associating the position in the song with the number of beats of the song. The operation time may be specified in association with the elapsed time from the start of playing the music. Sequence data Ds are prepared for each song included in the song data Dm. A plurality of types of sequence data Ds having different difficulty levels may be prepared for one piece of music.

The effect data Dr is data that defines the structure of the effect to be performed during the play of the game. The effect data Dr includes a single effect data Drs and an interlocking effect data Dr. The independent effect data Drs is data that defines an effect configuration when the game machine 3 in which the game is played independently executes the effect. The interlocking effect data Drl is data that defines an effect configuration when the interlocking effect is executed. Both the independent production data Drs and the interlocking production data Drl are prepared for each musical piece. Further, a plurality of types of interlocking effect data Drl are prepared according to the number of effect unit RUs in charge of interlocking effect (hereinafter, may be referred to as the number of units).

FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the interlocking effect data Drl. In the example of FIG. 8, the interlocking effect data Drl corresponds to the music X, and is prepared separately according to the number of units 2, 3, 4, .... Music (music X in the illustrated example) can be divided into multiple stages such as intro, verse, verse, ... chorus, ... interlude, ... C melody, ... outro, etc., based on their musical characteristics. be. The interlocking effect data Drl is configured to specify an effect pattern that the effect unit RU should be in charge of for each stage of the music X. FIG. 8 shows a configuration example when the number of units is 4, and the four production units RU are distinguished by unit numbers 1 to 4, and the production patterns to be in charge of each unit number according to the stage of the music X. Is specified in the interlocking effect data Drl. For example, in the intro stage of music X, all the production units RU of unit numbers 1 to 4 are in charge of production pattern 1, and in the verse, the production units RU of unit numbers 1 and 3 perform production pattern 2 and unit numbers 2 and. It seems that the production unit RU of 4 is in charge of each production pattern 3. The unit numbers may be distinguished from the appropriate point of view. For example, the unit number 1 may be unique to the interlocking source game machine 3s, and the unit number 2 or less may be the unit number to be assigned to the interlocking destination game machine 3d. In this case, the production configuration of the unit number 1 may be the same as that of the independent production data Drs corresponding to the same music. In this way, the interlocking source game machine 3s in which the game is played is made to execute the effect in the same manner as when the interlocking effect is not executed, and the interlocking destination game machine 3d is interlocked with the effect in the interlocking source game machine 3s. The production can be executed. In addition, since the interlocking source game machine 3s will be in charge of the production that can be established independently, the interlocking production will be canceled due to circumstances such as the game being started on the interlocking destination game machine 3d during the execution of the interlocking production. Even so, it is possible to naturally continue the continuous production of the interlocking source game machine 3s without interruption, and it is possible to smoothly switch the production from the interlocking production to the independent production.

When the interlocking effect is performed using the illumination device 19, the effect pattern is configured as information that specifies the light emitting mode of the illumination device 19. For example, the emission color, emission pattern, emission intensity, and the like of the illumination devices 19 provided in various places of the game machine 3 are specified for each illumination device 19. If the effect patterns are different, the light emission mode of the illumination device 19 is different, and if the effect patterns are the same, the light emission mode of the illumination device 19 is the same. In FIG. 8, the differences in the effect patterns are shown by distinguishing them by the numerical values of patterns 1, 2, 3 ... The effect pattern may be specified by directly describing the light emitting mode in the interlocking effect data Drl. Alternatively, a pattern file that specifies the light emission mode is stored in the storage device 31 in association with a unique pattern number for each pattern as data different from the interlocking effect data Drl, and the pattern number that specifies the pattern file is stored in the interlocking effect data Drl. May be specified by describing.

The production pattern may be configured as a dedicated pattern applied only to one piece of music X, or may be configured as a shared pattern that can be applied in common to a plurality of pieces of music. For example, as shown by hatching in FIG. 8, pattern 1 and pattern 8 are configured as a shared pattern, and other patterns are configured as a dedicated pattern. , The dedicated pattern and the shared pattern may be mixed. The shared pattern may be applied in common to, for example, a stage in which musical characteristics are similar among the stages of a plurality of songs. On the other hand, the dedicated pattern may be configured to give a unique effect according to the music. When the shared pattern and the dedicated pattern are used properly in this way, it is possible to suppress the increase in the number of effect patterns by applying the shared pattern and to give a unique effect according to the music by the dedicated pattern.

Although not shown in FIG. 8, when the number of units is other than 4, the interlocking effect data Drl can be configured by designating the effect pattern corresponding to each stage of the music for each effect unit RU. Regarding the independent production data Drs shown in FIG. 7, the production pattern for each production unit may be omitted, and the production pattern may be specified according to the stage of the music. That is, the independent production data Drs may be configured by designating the production pattern for each stage of the music in the same manner as the interlocking production data Dr with the number of units being 1.

In the case of the common play illustrated in FIG. 6B, for example, each game machine 3 in which the common play is played is in charge of the production pattern associated with the same production unit RU, so that the configuration example of FIG. 8 is performed. It is possible to apply. However, different production patterns may be appropriately shared by each of the plurality of game machines 3 in which the common play is played. The effect between the game machines 3 is performed on the game machine 3 in which the game is being played, and is distinguished from the interlocking effect using the waiting game machine 3. For example, in the example of FIG. 6B, the production data for common play is prepared in advance, and the production based on the production data is executed by each interlocking source game machine 3s distributed to the same production unit RU, and the like. The production unit RU of the above may execute an production based on the interlocking production data Drl. When a specific unit number in the interlocking effect data Drl, for example, unit number 1 is a unit number unique to the interlocking source game machine 3s, the effect configuration corresponding to the unit number is further subdivided and the interlocking source game. The production may be appropriately differentiated between the machines 3s.

Returning to FIG. 7, the game data Dg of the storage device 31 also includes images of various objects and the like to be displayed on the game image 100, sound source data such as sound effects to be played during the game, and the like. Good, but their illustrations are omitted. Further, the storage device 31 may record play data recording the play of the game by the user.

When the control device 30 executes the game program Pg recorded in the storage device 31, the control device 30 is provided with the game control unit 33, the effect control unit 34, and the communication control unit 35. The game control unit 33, the effect control unit 34, and the communication control unit 35 are logical devices realized by combining the hardware of the control device 30 and the game program Pg as software. The game control unit 33 functions as an example of play control means by being in charge of various arithmetic processes and motion control necessary for playing a music game. The game control unit 33 is provided with an operation instruction unit 36 and an operation evaluation unit 37 as further logical devices. The operation instruction unit 36 causes the display device 15 to display the game image 100 instructing the operation of the operation button 16a based on the sequence data Ds corresponding to the music to be played.

The operation evaluation unit 37 determines the operation of the operation button 16a by the player based on the output signal from the operation device 16, and evaluates the operation of the player by comparing the determined operation with the operation described in the sequence data Ds. By doing so, it functions as an example of the evaluation means. The evaluation by the operation evaluation unit 37 includes, for example, an individual evaluation for determining whether or not the player actually operates the operation button 16a specified in the sequence data Ds at the operation time specified in the sequence data Ds. In the individual evaluation, when the specified operation button 16a is operated, the deviation amount is based on the deviation amount between the operation time specified in the sequence data Ds and the time when the operation button 16a is actually operated. The smaller the value, the higher the evaluation of the operation. If the designated operation button 16a is not operated, or if the amount of deviation in the operation timing exceeds the permissible range, the player's operation is evaluated as a failure. The operation evaluation unit 37 may further perform a total evaluation including the results of individual evaluations. For example, the score of the player may be calculated as a total evaluation by quantifying the result of the individual evaluation so that the higher the evaluation is, the larger the value is, and integrating the evaluation values. Alternatively, even if the player's points (for example, values indicated by concepts such as hit points and life) are set at the start of playing the game, and the total evaluation is calculated so that the lower the individual evaluation, the larger the points are subtracted. good. The processing of the operation instruction unit 36 and the operation evaluation unit 37 may be the same as the processing in a known music game, and the detailed procedure of these processing will be omitted.

The effect control unit 34 is in charge of the process of directing the game play by controlling the operation of the illumination device 19 based on the above-mentioned effect data Dr. The effect control unit 34 functions as an example of the effect control means, and a specific example of the processing procedure will be described later. The communication control unit 35 is in charge of processing related to information communication with the server 2 and the other game machine 3 via the network 7 (FIG. 1).

(Processing of interlocking production)
Next, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, an example of the process executed by the control device 30 in connection with the interlocking effect will be described. In the following description, the notation of the interlocking source game machine 3s or the interlocking destination game machine 3d is appropriately used in order to distinguish whether the game machine 3 is the interlocking source or the interlocking destination. Further, the processes of FIGS. 9 to 12 are processes executed in parallel with the control of the game play by the game control unit 33 of the interlocking source game machine 3s. The control processing of the game by the game control unit 33, for example, the control processing related to the play such as the selection of the music to be played, the start of the play, the instruction of the operation during the play, or the evaluation of the operation is the same as that of the known music game machine. However, the details of those processing procedures will be omitted.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a processing procedure executed by the effect control unit 34 of each game machine 3 in order to prepare the interlocking effect. When the player performs a predetermined operation for starting the game play on any of the game machines 3, the effect control unit 34 of the game machine 3 starts the interlocking source setting process of FIG. When the interlocking source setting process is started, the effect control unit 34 first inquires the player whether or not to permit the interlocking effect, and whether the player permits the interlocking effect by referring to the output of the operation device 16 in response to the inquiry. Whether or not it is determined (step S101). If it is determined that the interlocking effect is not permitted, the effect control unit 34 ends the interlocking source setting process. In this case, the interlocking effect is not executed. The production based on the independent production data Drs may be performed on the game machine 3 on which the game is played. For example, a player who does not want to attract attention by the interlocking effect can avoid the execution of the unintended effect in advance by instructing the inquiry in step S101 not to allow the interlocking effect.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S101 that the interlocking effect is permitted, the effect control unit 34 determines that the own machine is the interlocking source game machine 3s, and determines that the other machine, that is, the other game machine 3 is the same. The communication control unit 35 inquires whether or not the game machine 3 can be used as the interlocking destination game machine 3d, and confirms the state of the other machine based on the reply from the other machine (step S102). In this case, the game machine 3 to be inquired may be all the game machines 3 installed in the same store 6 as an example. In response to the inquiry in step S102, the effect control unit 34 of the game machine 3 starts the interlocking destination setting process of FIG. 9. The interlocking destination setting process is a process executed by each of the game machines 3 to be inquired in step S102. The effect control unit 34 of the game machine 3 that has started the interlocking destination setting process in response to the inquiry determines whether or not the own machine can function as the interlocking destination game machine 3d, and determines whether or not the determination result is the interlocking source game machine. Reply to 3s (step S201). For example, when a game is being played on the own machine, it may be determined that the effect control unit 34 cannot function as the interlocking destination game machine 3d. Alternatively, regardless of whether or not the game is being played, if the game machine 3 is preset as a target of the interlocking effect, even if it is determined that the game machine 3 cannot function as the interlocking destination game machine 3d. good.

Next, the effect control unit 34 executing the interlocking destination setting process determines whether or not the own machine can execute the interlocking effect based on the determination result in step S201 (step S202). If it is in a state where it cannot function as the interlocking destination game machine 3d, step S202 is negatively determined, and the effect control unit 34 finishes the interlocking destination setting process. The game machine 3 for which the interlocking destination setting process has been completed in this way is excluded from the target of the interlocking effect. On the other hand, when the step S202 is affirmatively determined, the effect control unit 34 of the game machine 3 determines that the own machine is the interlocking destination game machine 3d, and acquires the effect specific information from the interlocking source game machine 3s. (Step S203).

When the production control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s confirms in step S102 whether or not each game machine 3 is in a state where interlocking production is possible, the game machine 3 to be included in the interlocking group LG is determined based on the confirmation result. It is determined, and the number of production unit RUs (number of units) in the interlocking group LG and which unit number each game machine 3 should be in charge of production is determined (step S103). In this process, for example, in the case of FIG. 8, for each production unit RU determined according to the number of units, such as determining which of the production configurations of unit numbers 1 to 4 should be handled by the game machine 3. This is a process of determining which of the production patterns of the game machine 3 should be in charge of. In other words, it may be regarded as a process of designating the unit number of each game machine 3.

When the number of units and the person in charge are determined, the production control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s determines the music selected by the player as the target music as the target music (step S104). For example, when the game play content is determined by the game control unit 33, the effect control unit 34 may acquire the target music from the game control unit 33.

When the target music is determined, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s is required to specify the effect to be executed in each game machine 3 in response to the play in the interlocking source game machine 3s. Generate specific information (step S105). The effect specific information is generated as information necessary for each game machine 3 to select the interlocking effect data Drl and determine which unit number of the selected interlocking effect data Drl should be in charge of the effect configuration. For example, the music information that specifies the target music determined in step S104 is recorded in the production specific information as information necessary for selecting the interlocking production data Drl. Further, the unit designation information for designating the unit number for each game machine 3 is recorded in the effect specific information.

When the effect specific information is generated, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s notifies the interlocking destination game machine 3d of the effect specific information (step S106). In this case, the unit number included in the effect specific information is set according to the person in charge determined in step S103. When this notification is acquired by the interlocking destination game machine 3d, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d acquires the effect specific information (step S203). By the processing of steps S106 and S203, the effect specific information is shared between the interlocking source game machine 3s and the interlocking destination game machine 3d.

When the effect specific information is shared, the effect control unit 34 of each game machine 3 selects the interlocking effect data Drl to be used in the interlocking effect based on the effect specific information, and any of the selected interlocking effect data Drl. It is determined whether or not the own machine should be in charge of the effect configuration of the unit number of (steps S107 and S204). After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s starts the interlocking source effect process (step S108), and the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d starts the interlocking destination effect process (step S205). As a result, the effect control unit 34 finishes the process of FIG.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the procedure of the interlocking source effect processing and the interlocking destination effect processing started in steps S108 and S205 of FIG. 9, respectively. In addition, the interlocking destination effect processing of FIG. 10 is an effect of all the game machines 3 prepared as the interlocking destination game machine 3d by executing the process of step S203 or lower in the interlocking destination setting process of FIG. It is executed by the control unit 34.

When the interlocking source effect processing of FIG. 10 is started, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s first determines whether or not the game play has started, and repeats the determination until the play is started (step S120). ). The start of play may be determined, for example, by acquiring information on the start of play from the game control unit 33. When the play is started, a process of setting synchronization regarding the progress of the play is performed between the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s and the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d (steps S121 and S221). ). This process is a process for uniformly identifying the position in the song of the music played on the interlocking source game machine 3s on the interlocking destination game machine 3d. For example, the interlocking source game machine 3s instructs the interlocking destination game machine 3d to start playing the music, and thereafter, each game machine 3 updates the position in the music according to the tempo of the music, so that the interlocking game machines 3 You may synchronize the position in the song with.

When the synchronization setting is completed, the production control unit 34 of each game machine 3 detects the current position in the song (steps S122 and S222), and interlocks the production pattern to be executed by the own machine according to the detected position. By specifying according to the data Drl and the unit number of the own machine (steps S123, S223) and controlling the light emitting mode of the illumination device 19 according to the specified effect pattern, the effect that the own machine should be in charge of is executed (steps S124, S224). ). By these processes, each of the interlocking source game machine 3s and the interlocking destination game machine 3d performs the effect according to the effect pattern designated for the own machine.

After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s determines whether or not the play is completed (step S125). For example, when the music is played to a predetermined end position, it may be determined that the play is finished. Alternatively, if the player can cancel the play in the middle of the play, it may be determined that the play is finished by receiving the cancel operation. Furthermore, if the player is given points at the start of play and the play progresses so as to subtract the points according to the evaluation of the operation, it is determined that the play ends when the points decrease beyond the predetermined limit. You may.

If it is not determined in step S125 that the play is finished, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s returns to the process of step S122, and thereafter, unless it is determined in step S125 that the play is finished, the processes of steps S122 to S124 are repeatedly executed. do. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S125 that the play has ended, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s notifies the interlocking destination game machine 3d of the end of play (step S126). After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s ends the effect (step S127).

After executing the effect in step S224, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d determines whether or not the end of play is notified from the interlocking source game machine 3s (step S225). If the end of play has not been notified, the process returns to step S222, and thereafter, unless it is determined in step S225 that the end of play has been notified, the processes of steps S222 to S224 are repeatedly executed. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S225 that the end of play has been notified, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d ends the effect (step S227). By the processing of steps S127 and S227, the interlocking source effect processing and the interlocking destination effect processing of FIG. 10 are completed.

According to the processes of FIGS. 9 and 10 described above, the game machine 3 in which the game is played is the interlocking source game machine 3s, and at least one game machine 3 in which the game is not played is the interlocking destination game machine 3d. Is selected as the above, and the production specific information is shared between the game machines 3. As a result, each game machine 3 causes the production pattern specified by the interlocking production data Drl corresponding to the target music to be shared according to the unit number assigned to each game machine 3 and executed in a timely manner according to the progress of the music. , Thereby, the interlocking effect can be realized.

While the interlocking effect is being executed, it may be possible to newly start playing the game on the interlocking destination game machine 3d. In that case, it is necessary to change the number of units of the production unit RU in the game machine 3 in which the interlocking effect is being executed, while the game machine 3 in which the game is newly played is separated from the interlocking group LG (FIG. 5). There is. In preparation for such a case, the game machine 3 is equipped with a function of monitoring the start of play on the interlocking destination game machine 3d and changing the interlocking effect being executed when the play is started. .. FIG. 11 shows an example of processing for realizing such a function.

In the example of FIG. 11, each effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d repeatedly executes the play monitoring process at a fixed cycle in parallel with the interlocking destination effect process of FIG. When the play monitoring process is started, the effect control unit 34 determines whether or not a new play of the game is started on the own machine (step S301). In this case, for example, it may be determined whether or not the player has executed a predetermined operation necessary for starting the play, or whether or not the game control unit 33 has started the processing necessary for the play. May be good. If it is determined in step S301 that the play is not started, the effect control unit 34 ends the play monitoring process this time. On the other hand, when it is determined that the play is started, the effect control unit 34 notifies the interlocking source game machine 3s that the interlocking effect in the own machine is stopped (step S302). Subsequently, the effect control unit 34 cancels the interlocking effect in the own machine (step S303), and then ends the play monitoring process. The game machine 3 whose interlocking effect has been canceled may execute the effect based on the independent effect data Drs according to the play of the newly started game, or the interlocking effect in which the own machine is the interlocking source game machine 3s is shown in FIG. You may try according to the procedure.

In response to the notification in step S302, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s starts the interlocking source effect change process of FIG. Based on the remaining interlocking source game machine 3s and interlocking destination game machine 3d, the number of units of the production unit RU and which unit number each game machine 3 should be in charge of production are determined (step S141). .. However, if the number of units does not decrease even if the game machine 3 is excluded from the interlocking group LG, the number of units and the person in charge as determined in step S103 of FIG. 9 may be maintained. Next, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s generates the effect specific information according to the number of units and the person in charge determined in step S141 (step S142), and the obtained effect specific information is used as the remaining interlocking destination game machine. Notify 3d (step S143).

Upon receiving the notification in step S143, each effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d remaining in the interlocking group LG starts the interlocking destination effect change process of FIG. 11, and outputs the effect specific information notified in step S143. Acquire (step S241). After that, the effect control unit 34 of the game machine 3 in the interlocking group LG selects the interlocking effect data Drl to be used in the subsequent processing of FIG. 10 based on the new effect specific information, and selects the interlocking effect. It is determined which unit number of the data Drl the own machine should be in charge of (steps S144 and S242). After that, in the process of FIG. 10, the effect is executed on each game machine 3 according to the interlocking effect data Drl selected in steps S144 and S242 and the determined unit number. As a result, even if a part of the game machines 3 is excluded from the interlocking group LG in the middle of the interlocking effect, the interlocking effect is continued according to the configuration of the interlocking group LG after the exclusion. However, if there is no change in the number of units and the person in charge in step S141, each game machine 3 continues to produce according to the same interlocking effect data Drl and unit number. After the processing of steps S144 and S242, the production control units 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s and the interlocking destination game machine 3d finish the processing of FIG.

According to the process of FIG. 11, when the game play is started on any of the interlocking destination game machines 3d during the execution of the interlocking effect, the game machine 3 is excluded from the interlocking group LG, and the remaining game machines are left. Update the number of units according to the number of units 3, reselect the interlocking effect data Drl according to the updated number of units, reset the unit number of each game machine 3, and continue the interlocking effect according to the setting. Is possible.

The processes of FIGS. 9 to 11 described above can be applied even when the common play is performed. For example, each of two or more game machines 3 that are the targets of common play is assigned to the same production unit RU as the interlocking source game machine 3s, and the production control unit 34 of any one of the interlocking source game machines 3s is shown in FIG. The interlocking source setting process, the interlocking source effect processing of FIG. 10, and the interlocking source effect change process of FIG. 11 may be executed to provide the interlocking source specific information to the interlocking destination game machine 3d. Between the interlocking source game machines 3s in which the common play is performed, for example, it is sufficient to take charge of the production configuration of the same unit number, and the identification of the music in that case does not necessarily depend on the production specific information, and at the start of the common play. The interlocking effect data Drl may be selected according to the implementation procedure of the common play such as sharing of the target music in. If the unit number that the interlocking source game machine 3s should be in charge of is fixed, for example, unit number 1, it is not necessary to exchange the production specific information between the interlocking source game machines 3s. Further, when a plurality of interlocking source game machines 3s exist, different effects may be appropriately executed between the interlocking source game machines 3s by differentiating the effect configuration according to the number of the interlocking source game machines 3s.

Next, some modifications relating to the interlocking effect will be described. In the above embodiment, each game machine 3 executes the effect of the effect pattern designated according to the stage of the music, but the interlocking effect may be further changed according to the evaluation by the operation evaluation unit 37. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, at least one effect pattern included in the interlocking effect data Drl is divided into a plurality of levels 1, 2, ... N, and different light emission modes are specified for each level. The evaluation result may be appropriately acquired from the operation evaluation unit 37 during the execution of the interlocking effect, and the effect may be executed by selecting the light emitting mode of the level according to the obtained evaluation result.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a processing procedure for realizing a change in the effect according to such an evaluation result. In the example of FIG. 13, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s starts the level control process at an appropriate cycle during the execution of the interlocking effect, and first acquires the evaluation result from the operation evaluation unit 37 (step S161). The evaluation result may be an individual evaluation or a total evaluation. Next, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s determines the effect level based on the acquired evaluation result (step S162). As an example, the production level is determined so that the better the evaluation result, the higher the production level. After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s notifies the interlocking destination game machine 3d of the determined effect level (step S163). Further, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s determines the effect pattern corresponding to the effect level determined in step S162 based on the interlocking effect data Drl (step S164), and then ends the process of FIG. ..

On the other hand, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d that received the notification in step S163 starts the level reflection process of FIG. 13, acquires the notified effect level (step S261), and corresponds to the obtained effect level. The effect pattern is determined based on the interlocking effect data Drl (step S262). After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d finishes the process of FIG. By specifying the effect pattern determined in steps S164 and S262 as an effect pattern in steps S123 and S223 of FIG. 10, it is possible to appropriately change the content of the interlocking effect according to the evaluation result of the operation. .. For example, the higher the evaluation of the operation, the more flashy the interlocking effect is, and the state of play can be reflected in the interlocking effect to further enhance the eye-catching effect. In addition to the above-mentioned effect change, the effect corresponding to the operation detected by the operation device 16 of the interlocking source game machine 3s may be appropriately executed.

In the above-described form, the production specific information includes information for discriminating the target music and the unit number, and each game machine 3 selects the interlocking production data Drl based on the production specific information, and the stage in the song. , And the effect pattern corresponding to the unit number in charge is executed, but the control of the interlocking effect is not limited to such an example. For example, the production control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s determines the production pattern that each production unit RU should be in charge of in a timely manner according to the progress of the music, and notifies each game machine 3 of the determined content as production specific information. By doing so, the interlocking effect may be executed. Hereinafter, an example of the processing in such an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14 and 15. In FIGS. 14 and 15, the same reference numerals are given to the processes common to those in FIGS. 9 and 10, and the differences will be mainly described below. Further, in the processes of FIGS. 14 and 15, the effect pattern specified by the interlocking effect data Drl is described in the pattern file associated with the unique pattern number for each effect pattern and recorded in the storage device 31. It shall be.

FIG. 14 shows the interlocking source setting process and the interlocking destination setting process executed by each game machine 3 of the interlocking group LG instead of FIG. When the effect control unit 34 of the game machine 3 from which the game play is started starts the interlocking source setting process, the processes of steps S101 to S104 are executed in the same manner as in the example of FIG. 9, and the other game machines 3 of the interlocking group LG Starts the interlocking destination process and executes the processes of steps S201 and S202. Up to this point, the process is the same as that in FIG.

On the other hand, after the processing of step S104, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s interlocks and produces the interlocking effect data Drl corresponding to the target music determined in step S104, instead of the processing of steps S105 to S107 of FIG. It is selected as the data to be used for (step S107A). After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s notifies the interlocking destination game machine 3d that the interlocking effect should be started (step S107B), and then proceeds to step S108 to perform the interlocking source effect process of FIG. Start. If the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d determines affirmatively in step S202, the process proceeds to step S203A, waits for the notification of the start of the interlocking effect from the interlocking source game machine 3s, and starts the interlocking destination effect process of FIG. do.

In the interlocking source effect processing of FIG. 15, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s determines the start of play in step S120 as in the example of FIG. 10, and when it is determined that the play has started, step S121 of FIG. Is omitted, and the position in the song is detected in step S122. After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s sequentially executes the processes of steps S123A to 123C instead of step S123 of FIG. In step S123A, the effect control unit 34 generates the effect specific information based on the charge of the number of units and the unit number determined in step S103 of FIG. 14 and the interlocking effect data Drl selected in step S107A. In this case, the effect specific information may be generated, for example, as pattern specification information for designating the pattern number of the effect pattern that each game machine 3 of the interlocking group LG should be in charge of at the present time. No information is required to specify the song.

In the following step S123B, the effect control unit 34 notifies the interlocking destination game machine 3d of the effect specific information generated in step S123A. In this case, the designated value of the pattern number of the effect pattern specified in the effect specific information may be changed according to the unit number of the game machine 3 to be notified (determined in step S103 of FIG. 14). Next, the effect control unit 34 specifies the effect pattern to be in charge of the own machine in step S123C based on the effect identification information generated in step S123A. After that, the processes of steps S124 to S127 are executed in the same manner as in the example of FIG.

On the other hand, when the production control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d starts the interlocking destination production processing of FIG. 15, the production specific information notified from the interlocking source game machine 3s is acquired (step S223A), and the obtained production identification is specified. The effect pattern of the pattern number specified in the information is specified as an effect pattern that the own machine should be in charge of (step S223B). After that, the effect control unit 34 of the interlocking destination game machine 3d executes the processes of steps S224 and S225 in the same manner as the process of FIG. 10, and processes steps S223A, S223B, S224, and S225 until the end of play is notified. On the other hand, when the end of play is notified, the production ends in step S227. With the above, the process of FIG. 15 is completed.

In the processing of FIGS. 14 and 15, in short, the production control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s determines the production pattern to be in charge of each production unit RU according to the interlocking production data Drl corresponding to the target music, and interlocks according to the determined content. Each game machine 3 of the group LG is sequentially instructed according to which effect pattern the effect should be executed. On the other hand, in the processing of FIGS. 9 and 10, which of the interlocking effect data Drl is used by each of the effect control units 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s and the interlocking destination game machine 3d to execute the interlocking effect. And which unit number the own machine should be in charge of is grasped at the stage of the start of play, and during the game play, the production control unit 34 of each game machine 3 autonomously refers to the interlocking production data Drl to produce the production pattern. Is specified and the production is executed. In addition, in the process of FIG. 15, the level control process illustrated in FIG. 13 may be executed together. Further, regarding the interlocking source effect change process and the interlocking destination effect process shown in FIG. 11, the interlocking source game machine 3s executes the process of step S141 to update the number of units and the person in charge, and thereafter the updated units. The effect control unit 34 of the interlocking source game machine 3s may execute the processes of steps S123A to S123C of FIG. 15 according to the number and charge.

In the embodiment and its modifications described above, the processes of steps S106 and S203 of FIG. 9 or the processes of steps S123B and S223A of FIG. 15 correspond to an example of the information sharing process, and steps S123 and S124 of FIG. , S223 and S224, or the processes of steps S123C, S124, S223B, and S224 in FIG. 15 correspond to an example of the interlocking effect process. Further, the effect control unit 34 functions as an example of the setting means by executing the process of step S101 of FIGS. 9 and 14.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and its modifications, and may be carried out in a form in which further modifications or modifications have been made. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the game machine 3 negatively determined in step S202 of FIG. 9 or FIG. 14 is excluded from the interlocking group LG, and the production specific information is not provided to the excluded game machine 3. However, regardless of whether or not it is included in the interlocking group LG, for example, whether or not to share the production specific information with all the game machines 3 in the same store 6 and execute the interlocking production based on the production specific information. Each game machine 3 may judge whether or not according to the convenience of its own machine.

It is not always essential to exclude the game machine 3 in which the game is played from the interlocking group LG among the game machines 3 other than the interlocking source game machine 3s. For example, it is possible to set at least one game machine 3 in which the game is played as the interlocking destination game machine 3d in the interlocking group LG, and execute the interlocking effect within a range that does not interfere with the play on the game machine 3. Is. For example, only with respect to the illumination device 19 above the housing 10 located out of the view of the player playing the game, he / she is in charge of a part of the interlocking effect in which another game machine 3 is the interlocking source game machine 3s. By adding a process such as controlling the light emitting mode, the game machine 3 in which the game is played may also be utilized as the interlocking destination game machine 3d. In short, in order to execute the interlocking effect by utilizing the standby game machine 3, at least one waiting game machine 3 may be included in the interlocking group LG as the interlocking destination game machine 3d.

In the interlocking source setting process of FIG. 9 or FIG. 14, whether or not to allow the interlocking effect is selected in step S101 based on the instruction from the player, but the permission or prohibition of the interlocking effect is not necessarily such. No need to set. For example, the effect control unit records whether or not the interlocking effect is permitted by the player in the play data saved in association with the player, and thereafter, whether or not the interlocking effect is permitted according to the information of the play data. It may be decided by 34. The play data information in that case may be appropriately updated by the player accessing the server 2 using, for example, a user terminal. Alternatively, permission or prohibition of the interlocking effect is performed in place of the selection based on the player's instruction, or in addition, in accordance with the instruction from an appropriate manager such as the operator of the game machine 3, the game machine 3 is used as a unit, or the store 6 is opened. It may be set as a unit. In addition, permission or prohibition of interlocking production may be set based on the instructions of the vendor of the game system 1 or another person. That is, the instructor who instructs the permission or prohibition of the interlocking effect is not limited to the player, but various persons who are supposed to be appropriate to grant the authority may be targeted.

In the process of FIG. 9, the production specific information is generated so as to include the music information for designating the music and the unit designation information for designating the effect pattern to be in charge of each game machine 3, and in the process of FIG. 15, each game machine 3 generates the effect specific information. The production specific information was generated so as to include the pattern specification information that specifies the production pattern to be in charge, but the production specific information includes the production that should be executed in response to the play on the interlocking source game machine 3s in the interlocking group LG. As long as each game machine 3 is composed of contents that can be specified, appropriate changes can be made. For example, when the interlocking effect data Drl is managed by assigning a unique data number to each data, the interlocking effect data Drl is determined by the interlocking source game machine 3s, and then the interlocking effect data Drl is used. The data number for which Drl is specified may be notified to the interlocking destination game machine 3d as the effect specific information. In the above embodiment, assuming that two or more game machines 3 are included in one production unit RU, the production pattern is specified while distinguishing the interlocking production data Drl by the unit number. A unique game machine number is assigned to each game machine 3, and the interlocking source game machine 3s determines which game machine number game machine 3 should be in charge of which production pattern based on the interlocking production data Drl, and the determination is made. By sharing the content as the effect specific information in the game machines 3 of the interlocking group LG, each game machine 3 may execute the effect according to the effect pattern assigned to the own machine. In any case, the effect specific information can be used so that each game machine 3 of the interlocking group LG can determine which of the effect patterns constituting the interlocking effect the own machine should be in charge of executing. It may be configured, and the configuration may be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the interlocking effect data Drl and the like.

The game machine 3 included in the interlocking group LG is not limited to the game machine 3 in the same store 6. An appropriate number of two or more game machines 3 connected via the network 7 may be included in the interlocking group LG. For example, if an environment is prepared in which the state of a plurality of stores 6 can be distributed as a video and the state of other stores 6 can be observed at each store 6, the game machines 3 of those stores 6 can be appropriately used. The interlocking effect may be executed across a plurality of stores 6 including the interlocking group LG. Alternatively, even within one store 6, the range of the game machines 3 that can be included in the interlocking group LG may be appropriately divided according to the installation form of the game machines 3, and the interlocking effect may be executed for each division.

In the above embodiment, the control device 30 of the game machine 3 is in charge of various processes required for the interlocking effect, but the server 2 may execute at least a part of the processes. For example, when executing the interlocking effect across a plurality of stores 6, it is convenient to centrally manage the execution of the interlocking effect on the server 2. Alternatively, the interlocking effect may be realized by appropriately sharing and executing the processes required for the interlocking effect by the plurality of game machines 3.

In the above embodiment, when the game machine 3 plays a music game, an example of controlling the interlocking effect according to the progress of the music being played has been described, but the game targeted for the interlocking effect is such an example. Not exclusively. Interlocking effects may be applied to various games other than music games.

Various aspects of the present invention derived from each of the above-described embodiments and modifications are described below. In the following description, in order to facilitate understanding of each aspect of the present invention, the corresponding components shown in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, thereby limiting the present invention to the illustrated form. It's not something.

The game system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of game machines (3) capable of communicating via a network (7), and a play control means (33) for controlling game play on each game machine, and each. A game system (1) including an effect control means (34) for controlling an effect on a game machine, wherein the effect control means controls at least one game machine among the game machines on which the game is played. When the interlocking source game machine (3s) is used and at least one game machine in which the game is not played is used as the interlocking destination game machine (3d) among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine, the interlocking is performed. Information sharing processing (S106, S203) for sharing the effect specific information necessary for specifying the effect to be executed in response to the play on the original game machine between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine. S123B, S223A) and the interlocking effect in which the effect is interlocked between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine based on the shared effect specific information, the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game. The interlocking effect processing (S123, S124, S223, S224; S12C, S124, S223B, S224) to be executed by each of the machines can be executed.

The effect control method of the game system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of game machines (3) capable of communicating via the network (7), and the play control means (33) for controlling the play of the game on each game machine. ) And the effect control method (1) provided with the effect control means (34) for controlling the effect on each game machine, wherein the game is played by the effect control means. At least one of the game machines is the interlocking source game machine (3s), and at least one of the other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine is the interlocking destination game. When the machine (3d) is used, the effect specifying information necessary for specifying the effect to be executed in response to the play in the interlocking source game machine is provided to the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine. An interlocking effect in which the effect is linked between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine based on the information sharing process (S106, S203; S123B, S223A) to be shared between the interlocking source game machines and the shared effect specific information. Is executed by the interlocking effect processing (S123, S124, S223, S224; S12C, S124, S223B, S224), which is executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine.

The computer program of the game system according to one aspect of the present invention uses the computer (30) of the game system including a plurality of game machines (3) capable of communicating via the network (7) to play a game on each game machine. A computer program (Pg) of a game system (1) configured to function as a play control means (33) for controlling the above and an effect control means (34) for controlling the effect on each game machine. As the effect control means, at least one game machine among the game machines on which the game is played is set as the interlocking source game machine (3s), and at least the game among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine is used. When one game machine that has not been played is set as the interlocking destination game machine (3d), the effect specific information necessary for specifying the effect to be executed corresponding to the play in the interlocking source game machine is described above. Based on the information sharing process (S106, S203; S123B, S223A) shared between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine and the shared production specific information, the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game With the interlocking effect processing (S123, S124, S223, S224; S12C, S124, S223B, S224) in which the interlocking effect in which the effect is interlocked with the machine is executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine. , Is configured to execute.

According to the above aspect, not only the game machine in which the game is played but also at least one waiting game machine in which the game is not played is used as a game machine for production, and the production corresponding to the game play is performed. Can be executed while interlocking between those game machines. Therefore, as compared with the case where the effect is executed only on the game machine in which the game is played, a synergistic effect is generated in the effect of each game machine, thereby utilizing the waiting game machine to produce the game. It is possible to enhance the effect.

The computer program according to one aspect of the present invention may be provided in a state of being stored in a storage medium. By using this storage medium, for example, by installing and executing the computer program according to the present invention on a computer, the system of the present invention can be realized by using the computer. The storage medium for storing the computer program may be a non-transient storage medium such as a CDROM.

In the above aspect, the effect control means executes the interlocking effect on at least one of the other game machines in which the game is played in parallel with the play of the game on the interlocking source game machine. You may exclude it from the target game machine. According to this aspect, when a game is played on at least one game machine among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine, the interlocking effect is produced by excluding the game machine from the interlocking destination game machine. However, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of inconveniences such as hindering the play of the game on the game machine, or the effect corresponding to the play of the game machine and the interlocking effect being impaired. be.

The play control means is configured to provide a common play in which players of two or more game machines play a common game, and the effect control means is a game machine in which the common play is performed in the information sharing process. Each of the above may be used as the interlocking source game machine to share the effect specific information. When common play is performed, it is possible to enhance the effect of common play by utilizing the waiting game machines while making those game machines function as interlocking source game machines.

The play control means selects a song to be played in the game from a plurality of songs as a target song, and instructs the player to perform an operation according to the target song while playing the selected target song during the play of the game. It may be configured to allow the player to play a music game to be played. According to this, regarding the production corresponding to the music game, it is possible to enhance the production effect by utilizing the waiting game machine.

In the information sharing process, the effect control means shares music information for determining the target music as the effect specific information, and in the interlocking effect process, a predetermined interlocking effect configuration for each song. Therefore, the interlocking effect configuration corresponding to the target music may be specified based on the music information, and the interlocking effect may be executed by the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine according to the specified interlocking effect configuration. .. According to this, since the configuration of the interlocking effect is determined in advance for each music, if the information of the music is shared between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine, it should be executed by each game machine. It is possible to discriminate the effect configuration and execute the interlocking effect. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the processing required for sharing the production specific information.

The interlocking effect configuration may be defined so that the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine each share and execute a plurality of effect patterns according to the music composition of the target music. According to this, the interlocking effect can be realized by each game machine selecting and executing the effect pattern to be shared by each game machine according to the music information included in the effect specific information.

The interlocking effect configuration may include a shared pattern that can be applied to at least two or more songs in common, and a dedicated pattern that can be applied to only one song. According to this, while suppressing an increase in the number of production patterns, it is possible to realize a unique production according to the target music by using a dedicated pattern and enhance the effect of the interlocking production.

An evaluation means (37) for evaluating the play of the game on the interlocking source game machine may be provided, and the effect control means may change the interlocking effect according to the evaluation of the evaluation means. According to this, the interlocking effect can be dynamically changed according to the evaluation of the play to further enhance the effect.

The effect control means includes setting means (34, S101) for setting permission or prohibition of the interlocking effect according to an instruction from a predetermined instructor, and the effect control means is the interlocking source game when the interlocking effect is permitted. The interlocking effect may be executed by the machine and the interlocking destination game machine, and when the interlocking effect is prohibited, the interlocking effect may not be executed by each game machine. According to this, the interlocking effect is executed such that the player does not want the interlocking effect, or a separate event or the like is performed in the environment where the game machine is placed and the interlocking effect is not suitable for the interlocking effect. When there are some circumstances that should not be done, it is possible to temporarily stop the interlocking effect by setting the prohibition of the interlocking effect.

1 Game system 3 Game machine 3s Interlocking source game machine 3d Interlocking destination game machine 3e Excluded game machine 6 Stores 7 Network 19 Illumination device 30 Control device (computer)
33 Game control unit (game control means)
34 Production control unit (Production control means, setting means)
37 Operation evaluation unit (evaluation means)
LG interlocking group RU production unit

Claims (11)

It is a game system including a plurality of game machines capable of communicating via a network, and having a play control means for controlling the play of a game on each game machine and a production control means for controlling the production on each game machine.
The effect control means
At least one game machine in which the game is played is used as an interlocking source game machine, and at least one game machine in which the game is not played among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine. Is used as the interlocking destination game machine, and the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine are provided with the effect specific information necessary for specifying the effect to be executed in response to the play in the interlocking source game machine. Information sharing process to be shared between
Based on the shared effect specific information, the interlocking effect in which the effect is interlocked between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine is executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine. Production processing and
A game system that is supposed to be executable. The effect control means is a game for which the interlocking effect is executed on at least one game machine in which the game is played in parallel with the play of the game on the interlocking source game machine among the other game machines. The game system according to claim 1, which is excluded from the machine. The play control means is configured to provide common play in which players of two or more game machines play a common game.
The game system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the effect control means shares the effect specific information with each of the game machines on which the common play is performed as the interlocking source game machine in the information sharing process. The play control means selects a song to be played in the game from a plurality of songs as a target song, and instructs the player to perform an operation according to the target song while playing the selected target song during the play of the game. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to allow a player to play a music game to be played. The effect control means
In the information sharing process, the music information for determining the target music is shared as the production specific information.
In the interlocking effect processing, the interlocking effect configuration corresponding to the target music is specified from the interlocking effect configuration predetermined for each music based on the music information, and the interlocking source game is specified according to the specified interlocking effect configuration. The game system according to claim 4, wherein the machine and the interlocking destination game machine execute the interlocking effect. The interlocking effect configuration is defined in claim 5 so that a plurality of effect patterns according to the music configuration of the target music are shared and executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine. The game system described. The game system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the interlocking effect configuration includes a shared pattern that can be applied to at least two or more songs in common, and a dedicated pattern that can be applied to only one song. An evaluation means for evaluating the play of the game on the interlocking source game machine is provided.
The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the effect control means changes the interlocking effect according to the evaluation of the evaluation means. A setting means for setting permission or prohibition of the interlocking effect according to an instruction from a predetermined instructor is provided.
The effect control means causes the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine to execute the interlocking effect when the interlocking effect is permitted, and when the interlocking effect is prohibited, each game. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the interlocking effect is not executed by the machine. It is applied to a game system including a plurality of game machines capable of communicating via a network, and having a play control means for controlling the game play on each game machine and a production control means for controlling the production on each game machine. It ’s a production control method,
For the effect control means
At least one game machine in which the game is played is used as an interlocking source game machine, and at least one game machine in which the game is not played among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine. Is used as the interlocking destination game machine, and the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine are provided with the effect specific information necessary for specifying the effect to be executed in response to the play in the interlocking source game machine. Information sharing process to be shared between
Based on the shared effect specific information, the interlocking effect in which the effect is interlocked between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine is executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine. Production processing and
A production control method for a game system that executes. A computer of a game system including a plurality of game machines capable of communicating via a network functions as a play control means for controlling game play on each game machine and a production control means for controlling production on each game machine. It is a computer program of a game system configured as
For the effect control means
At least one game machine in which the game is played is used as an interlocking source game machine, and at least one game machine in which the game is not played among other game machines other than the interlocking source game machine. Is used as the interlocking destination game machine, and the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine are provided with the effect specific information necessary for specifying the effect to be executed in response to the play in the interlocking source game machine. Information sharing process to be shared between
Based on the shared effect specific information, the interlocking effect in which the effect is interlocked between the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine is executed by each of the interlocking source game machine and the interlocking destination game machine. Production processing and
A computer program for a game system that is configured to run.

Images