JP3392833B2 - GAME SYSTEM, GAME DEVICE USED FOR THE GAME SYSTEM, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game in which data is linked between a plurality of game devices, for example, an arcade game device and a home game device, so that games executed by the devices can be associated with each other. Regarding the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As types of game devices, commercial (commercial) game devices that can be played only within a range corresponding to the economic value they have dropped, and a memory such as a CD-ROM in which game software is written. There is a home-use game machine that can be freely played over and over again by setting a medium. Then, as a game system capable of exchanging data between these game devices, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-242293 discloses that a role playing game or a simulation game is executed in a home game device to execute a game during the game. Grow the characters that appear,
A game system is disclosed in which data regarding the character's growth state is input as initial ability data of a character appearing in a game executed on an arcade game device.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-299596, the result of measuring the physical strength of a player by a physical strength measuring game device is recorded in an IC memory, and the data on the IC memory is referred to by the fighting fighting game device. There is disclosed a game system that determines the ability of a character operated by a player (for example, jumping power, kicking power, etc. in a game).

In the game industry, when a new game is provided on an arcade game machine, after a while, software that enables the same game to be played on a home game machine is sold by the same or a related company. Sometimes. On the contrary, software for home-use game machines may be sold first, and then commercial game machines that can play games of the same content may be provided. These acts are commonly referred to as "transplanting." When such porting is performed, since the game contents of the porting source and the porting destination are the same or similar, it is considered that the concept of data linkage as described in the above publication is relatively easy to introduce.

[0005]

However, in the game system described in the above publication, since the data itself that defines the ability of the character appearing in the competitive game is shared between the game devices, there are the following restrictions. is there.

Generally, the ability of a character is determined by a combination of a large number of parameters, and in order to share such data between different game devices, the handling of each parameter in the software of each game device is done in advance. You have to decide in detail. As a result, it is necessary to match the development schedules of the software for a plurality of game devices to be linked, or the software for another game device must be matched with the specifications of the software for a specific game device that was developed in advance. There is a constraint to develop. These constraints can make the linkage of data virtually impossible.

Recently, the player is instructed to perform a dance so as to operate an input device such as a step according to music, or a player plays a DJ (disc mug) or plays various musical instruments in a simulated manner. Music game devices are gaining popularity. This type of game device does not operate a specific character to advance the game.
Therefore, the linkage method described in the above-mentioned conventional publication cannot be used as it is. There have been no examples of data linkage for music games, and it is necessary to newly consider a data linkage system suitable for the game content.

Further, the linkage in the conventional game system is one-way with the main purpose being to input and play the data created by the home-use game machine into the arcade game machine, and the data in the opposite direction. Is not considered.

Therefore, the present invention provides a game system in which the linkage of data between a plurality of game devices can be more flexibly performed and its practicability and novelty are improved, and the linkage of data particularly suitable for a music game is provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game system that realizes.

[0010]

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

According to a first aspect of the invention, a predetermined program is used.
The first and second games in which the game is executed respectively.
It is equipped with a mobile device (2, 3) to enable information transfer between these game devices.
Information can be exchanged, and the first game device is
It is possible to play only within the range corresponding to the economic value dropped
The game device is for business use, and the second game device is
CD-RO in which the game software is written
Can be played repeatedly by setting a storage medium such as M
A game system (1) that is a home game device.
Thus, each of the first and second game devices
At least one means for executing the game
It has two operating members and corresponds to the operating state of the operating members.
An input device (30, 112) for outputting a signal,
Replay the same song on each of the first and second game devices.
Music data to generate and based on that music data
Guide the operation of the input device according to the song being played
A game memo in which the guide data necessary for playing is recorded.
Storage device (6, 7, 53, 103), memory for the game
Play a song based on the music data recorded in the device
Music reproducing means (51, 60, 56, 101, 106,
108) and the plan recorded in the game storage device
The music by the music reproducing means based on internal data
Instruct the player to operate the input device according to the playback of
Operation guide means (51, 54, 14, 101, 10 shown
4, 109), and the first game deviceTo
Refer to the play result on the first game device
The guidance data using the second game device.
Specific to allow editable edit mode
Determine if conditions are metAnd the result of the discrimination
And means for outputting, The second game device
In (3), according to the operation on the input device, the plan
Editing means (101) for creating internal data and its creation
Outputs information for specifying the content of the guidance data
Information output means (101) for performing the first game device
Output fromBased on the results of the determination regarding the specific conditions
Based on whether the edit mode is allowed or not.
If the edit mode is enabled,
Is the editing mode selected by the editing means
The guide data can be created and the edit mode
Mode is not allowed, select the edit mode described above.
Cannot be selectedAnd means for Re, The first game device
The operation guide means of the device is output from the second game device.
Information for specifying the content of the guidance data that has been input
It is possible to instruct the player to operate based on
And a game system characterized by

According to the present invention, in both the first game device and the second game device, a music game for enjoying the operation of the input device in accordance with music is executed. Since this music game is played mainly with songs and operation instructions in accordance with the songs, the same song can be played between game devices such as an arcade game device and a home game device having different appearances and processing capabilities. If the player can play and guide the same operation instruction to the player, there is a characteristic that the same play environment can be configured. Therefore, if the operation instruction is given to the other game device based on the content of the guidance data created by the one game device as in the present invention, the data created by the game devices having different configurations can be obtained. You can enjoy the same game by using. Especially, if the home-use game machine is set as the second game machine and the arcade game machine is set as the first game machine, a wide range of playing methods which cannot be obtained by a single game machine by utilizing these characteristics are provided. Can be provided to the player, and the value of the software of the arcade game device and the home game device that executes the music game can be significantly increased.

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the game system according to the first aspect, a medium for exchanging information between the first game device (2) and the second game device (3). The cooperation storage device (4, 5) functioning as the above is provided, and information for specifying the content of the timing data is transmitted from the second game device to the first game device via the cooperation storage device. It is characterized by being transmitted. Therefore, for example, when exchanging information between an arcade game device and a home game device, it is not necessary to bring the home game device to a place where the arcade game device is installed. Information can be easily exchanged with the device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the game system according to the first aspect, the information for specifying the content of the timing data is transmitted from the second game device to the first device via a predetermined communication medium. It is transmitted to the game device. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare a linkage storage device separately from the game device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the game system according to the first aspect, the guidance data includes timing data defining a timing for operating an operation member of the input device, and the editing is performed. The means is capable of creating the timing data. Therefore, the timing for operating the input device can be adjusted according to the player's preference.

In the game system according to claim 1, the operation guide means is a predetermined index (for example, 20).
4L), when the timing for operating the operation member of the input device comes, the index is displayed on the game screen (200).
The operation may be guided by relatively moving and displaying so as to reach a predetermined position inside (for example, a position overlapping the mark 203L) (claim 5). Then, the editing means can set the time when the index reaches the predetermined position according to the operation of the input device (claim 6). In this case, the timing of operating the input device is adjusted according to the player's preference. Further, the guidance data may include image data necessary for displaying the index, and the editing unit may be capable of creating image data necessary for displaying the index (claim) Item 7). In this case, the index displayed in the game screen can be adjusted according to the player's preference. If this index is created on a home-use game machine and used on an arcade game machine, the originality can be appealed to many spectators. As a result, both the willingness to play the arcade game device and the willingness to create an index using the home game device are stimulated, and the player's interest in both game devices can be further increased.

[0017]

[0018]

[0019]

[0020]

[0021]

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

[0025]

[0026]

[0027]

[0028]

[0029]

[0030]

[0031]

[0032]

[0033]

[0034]

[0035]

[0036]

According to the present invention of claim 8, a game can be executed in accordance with a predetermined program, can be played only within a range corresponding to the dropped economic value, and the game software is written in the CD-ROM. A game device for business use in which information can be exchanged with another game device for home use that can be repeatedly played by setting a storage medium such as, having at least one operation member, An input device (3 that outputs a signal corresponding to the operation state
0), music data for reproducing a predetermined music, and guidance data necessary for guiding the operation of the input device according to the music reproduced based on the music data. A storage device (6, 53), and music reproduction means (51, 60, 56) for reproducing the music piece based on the music data recorded in the game storage device,
Operation guide means (51, 54, 14) for instructing the player to operate the input device in accordance with the reproduction of the music by the music reproduction means, based on the guide data recorded in the game storage device. , Information receiving means (51, 80) for receiving information (F2) for specifying the content of the guidance data corresponding to the predetermined song prepared in the other game device, The game device for use refers to the play result on the commercial game device, and determines whether or not a specific condition for permitting the edit mode in which the guide data can be edited using the other game device is satisfied. And the result of the determination.
And a guide means for instructing an operation to the player based on the information received by the information receiving means. This game device can be used as a first game device in the game system according to claim 1.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the game apparatus according to the eighth aspect , the guidance data includes timing data defining a timing for operating an operation member of the input device, and the information is provided. The receiving means receives the information for specifying the content of the timing data. This game device can be used as the first game device in the game system according to claim 4.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the game apparatus according to the eighth aspect , when the operation guide means arrives at a predetermined index (for example, 204L) for operating the operation member of the input device. At the predetermined position in the game screen (for example, the position that overlaps the mark 203L)
It is characterized in that the display is relatively moved and displayed so as to reach the above condition, and the operation is guided. This game device can be used as the first game device in the game system according to claim 5.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the game apparatus according to the tenth aspect , the information receiving means relates to the time when the index reaches the predetermined position as the information for specifying the content of the guidance data. It is characterized by receiving information. This game device can be used as the first game device in the game system according to the sixth aspect.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the game system according to the tenth aspect , the guide data includes image data necessary for displaying the index, and the information receiving means includes: As information for specifying the content of the guidance data, information about image data necessary for displaying the index is received. This game device can be used as the first game device in the game system according to claim 7.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, a game can be executed in accordance with a predetermined program, and if a storage medium such as a CD-ROM in which the software for the game is written is set, the game can be repeatedly played, and the economy dropped. A home-use game machine (3) capable of exchanging information with another business-use game machine (2) that can be played only within a range corresponding to value, and has at least one operation member. ,
An input device (112) that outputs a signal corresponding to the operation state of the operation member, music data for reproducing a predetermined music, and operation of the input device according to the music reproduced based on the music data. A game storage device (103) in which guidance data necessary for guiding the player is recorded,
Music reproducing means (101, 10) for reproducing the music piece based on the music data recorded in the game storage device.
6, 108) and the guide data recorded in the game storage device, and operation guide means (101) for instructing the player to operate the input device in accordance with the reproduction of the music by the music reproduction means. , 104, 109)
An editing means (101) for creating the guidance data according to an operation on the input device, and an information output means (101) for outputting information for specifying the content of the created guidance data. , Information about whether or not a specific condition based on a play result in the other game device is satisfied, which is output from the other game device.
Based on the input information , it is determined whether or not the edit mode in which the guidance data can be edited using the home-use game device is permitted, and when the edit mode is permitted, the edit mode is determined. the select it possible to create the guide for data by the editing means, when the edit mode is not permitted means to be a means to not be selected the edit mode
The operation guide means has a predetermined index (for example, 204L), and when the timing for operating the operation member of the input device is reached, the index is displayed on the game screen (2
(00) is relatively moved and displayed so as to reach a predetermined position in (00) to guide the operation, and the guidance data includes image data necessary for displaying the index. Provides a game device capable of creating image data necessary for displaying the index. This game device can be used as a second game device in the game system according to claim 5.

[0043]

[0044]

[0045]

[0046]

[0047]

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, music data for reproducing a predetermined music piece, and an input device (3) of the game apparatus (2) adapted to the music piece reproduced based on the music data.
0) Guide data necessary for guiding the operation and a music game using the music data and the guide data on a computer of a game device for business that can be played only within a range corresponding to the dropped economic value. A computer-readable storage medium (6) having recorded thereon a program for executing the program, wherein the program stores the computer in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM in which the software for the music game is written ( Information receiving means for receiving information (F2) for specifying the content of the guidance data corresponding to the predetermined song prepared in the home-use game device (3) that can be repeatedly played by setting 7), And, based on the information received by the information receiving means, the player operates the input device in accordance with the reproduction of the predetermined song. Shimesuru operation instruction means, and with reference to the play result in the game device for the business, the specific conditions for permitting the possible edit mode editing the guide for data using a game device for the home is less than The present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that it is configured to function as a means for determining whether or not it has been performed. If the program recorded on the storage medium of the present invention is read by a computer and executed, the game device according to claim 8 can be configured.

[0049]

[0050]

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, music data for reproducing a predetermined music piece, and an input device (1) of the game device (3) adapted to the music piece reproduced based on the music data.
12) Guidance data necessary for guiding the operation,
A program for causing a computer of a home-use game device to execute a music game using the music data and the guidance data is recorded and set in the home-use game device to repeat the music game. A computer-readable storage medium (7) for enabling play, wherein the program causes the computer to reproduce music by the music data based on the music data, and based on the guidance data. An operation guide means for instructing a player to operate the input device in accordance with the reproduction of the music by the music reproducing means, an editing means for creating the guide data according to an operation on the input device, and the created guide information output means for outputting the information for specifying the contents of use data, and dropped the pair economic value Edit mode in which the guide data can be edited by using the home-use game device depending on whether or not a specific condition based on the play result in the professional-use game device that can be played only within the specified range is satisfied. When the edit mode is permitted, the edit mode is selected to enable the guide data to be created by the editing means, and the edit mode is not permitted. is configured so that the to function each <br/> a means of unselectable the edit mode, the operation guidance means, predetermined index (for example, 204L), the operating member of said input device When the operation timing comes, the index is moved to a predetermined position (for example, a position overlapping the mark 203L) in the game screen (200). In order to guide the operation by relatively moving and displaying so as to reach, the guidance data includes image data necessary for displaying the index, and the editing means displays the index. The present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium capable of creating image data required for the above. The game apparatus according to claim 13 can be constructed by reading and executing the program recorded in the storage medium of the present invention with a computer.

According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first and second game device (2, 3) for respectively executing a game according to a predetermined program, and information can be exchanged between these game devices. In addition, the first game device is a business game device that can be played only within a range corresponding to the dropped economic value, and the second game device is a CD in which the game software is written. −
A game system that can be played repeatedly by setting a storage medium such as a ROM (1)
The first and second game devices each have at least one operation member as means for executing the game, and an input for outputting a signal corresponding to an operation state of the operation member. A device (30, 112), music data for reproducing a predetermined song on each of the first and second game devices, and the input device according to the song reproduced based on the music data. A game storage device (6, 7, 53, 103) in which play data created in association with an operation is recorded, and music reproduction for reproducing a song based on the music data recorded in the game storage device. Means (51, 60, 56, 101,
106, 108) and the play data recorded in the game storage device, and operation guide means (51) for instructing the player to operate the input device in time with the reproduction of the music by the music reproduction means. , 54, 14, 1
And 01,104,109), comprising a, wherein the first game device, with reference to the play result in the first game device, editing the guidance data using the second game device A means for determining whether or not a specific condition for permitting a possible edit mode has been met, and the determination thereof.
Means for outputting another result is provided , and the second game device has an editing means (101) for creating the guidance data in accordance with an operation on the input device, and the created play data. Information output means (101) for outputting information for specifying the contents of the above, and whether or not the edit mode is permitted based on the result of the determination regarding the specific condition output from the first game device. When the edit mode is permitted, the edit mode is selected to enable the guide data to be created by the editing means, and when the edit mode is not permitted, the edit mode is not selected. possible and means for, is provided, wherein the first game device, using the play data output from the second game device There is provided a game system, characterized in that it is capable of executing the game Te. According to the present invention, the player can create at least a part of the play data created in association with the music data according to his / her preference, and enjoy the original play by using the data. In the invention of claim 16, the play data includes, for example, guidance data for performing operation guidance, and responds to the operation when the input device is operated in response to an instruction from the operation guidance means. It is possible to include data defining a staging effect to be generated. The editing means may be capable of creating data defining the effect (claim 17). Sounds and images can be used as the effect.

In the inventions according to the above claims, the storage device such as the linked storage device and the storage medium include various storage media such as a semiconductor memory, a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium and a magneto-optical storage medium. The communication medium may be, for example, a wired type using a network line or the like, or a wireless type using infrared rays or the like. Creation of the timing data includes both creation of new data and modification of existing data to create new data. The "same song" is a concept including a range in which at least a part of the melody can be recognized as the same, and may be included in the range of the same song as long as the same guidance data can be used even if the arrangement and tempo of the song are different. The guidance data is used to provide operation guidance, for example, data defining the timing for operating the input device, image data used for presenting the operating procedure defined by the timing data to the player, and the like. Various data may be included. The moving display of the index by the operation guide means may be one in which the index itself is moved within the game screen, or one in which the index is fixed and a reference position that should overlap the index is moved with respect to the index. That is, it is sufficient that the index and the predetermined position corresponding to the index relatively move within the game screen.

[0054]

1 is a diagram showing an outline of a game system to which the present invention is applied. The illustrated game system 1 includes an arcade game device 2, a home game device 3,
A memory card 4 and a PDA (Personal Digi) as a medium for exchanging data between the game devices 2 and 3.
tal Assistant) 5 and. The arcade game device 2 has a game execution unit 50 and a link control unit 80, the details of which will be described later. The memory card 4 has a built-in rewritable and storable semiconductor memory (for example, flash ROM). The storage area of the semiconductor memory is divided into an appropriate number (for example, 15) of blocks. One block is further divided into 64 sectors, and one sector has a storage capacity of 128 bits.

The memory card 4 is inserted into a card slot provided in each of the arcade game device 2 and the home game device 3, whereby the game devices 2 and 3 are inserted.
Electrically connected to. The PDA 5 is a CPU, a memory,
It is configured as a portable computer including a liquid crystal monitor, a speaker, etc., and can itself function as a portable home-use game device according to a program written in a built-in memory.

The PDA 5 is inserted into a card slot provided in the home-use game apparatus 3 and electrically connected to the apparatus 3. The PDA 5 has a built-in infrared communication device. For example, IrDA (Infrared Data Association)
The arcade game device 2 and the PDA according to the procedure based on the standard.
It is possible to communicate with 5. The PDA 5 can function as a storage medium equivalent to the memory card 4 by using the built-in memory. In the following, the description regarding the memory card 4 is also applied to the PDA 5 unless otherwise specified. In the game system 1 of the present embodiment, the game devices 2 and 3 mutually refer to the data recorded in the memory card 4, so that the game devices 2 and 3 are mutually referenced.
Although various kinds of cooperation can be achieved among the devices 3, the contents of the respective devices 2 and 3 will be described below on the assumption that the details of the cooperation will be understood.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the arcade game machine 2. This game device 2 is configured for the purpose of enjoying a dance in accordance with music, and has a game machine body 10 and a stage 30 mounted in front of the game machine body 10. The game machine main body 10 has a housing 11 configured by combining wooden panels and the like, and speakers 12 and 12 for heavy bass are installed on both sides of the front surface of the housing 11. A coin slot 13 is provided between the speakers 12, 12.
Is provided. A monitor 14 using a CRT is installed on the upper surface of the housing 11, and a pair of columns 15, 15 having a truss structure is provided on the side of the monitor 14. Speakers 16, 16 for music reproduction are provided at the upper ends of the columns 15. Is attached. A pair of operation input sections 17, 17 is provided at the lower end of the monitor 14, and a predetermined number (three in the figure) of push button switches 18 ... 18 are attached to each operation input section 17. These push button switches 18 are used, for example, for selecting a game mode.

A card insertion section 19 is provided between the operation input sections 17, 17. A card slot 20 into which the memory card 4 can be inserted and a PDA 5 are inserted in the card insertion portion 19.
Infrared communication unit 2 for performing infrared communication with
1 and are provided.

The stage 30 is specially prepared as an input device dedicated to a dance game, and has a pair of left and right play parts 31, 31. Each play section 31 has an area sufficient for one player to freely dance, and the center thereof is set as the player's home position 31a. Then, foot switches 32F, 32B, 32 that output a predetermined signal in response to a player's stepping operation are provided to each play section 31.
L and 32R (which may be represented by reference numeral 32) are arranged in a cross shape in front, rear, left and right. Further, a handrail 33 is provided at the front end of each play portion 31.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the game execution unit 50 provided in the game device 2. The game execution section 50 is a section that executes a dance game in accordance with a game program recorded in the CD-ROM 6 as a storage medium.
The game executing unit 50 can be configured by directly using a general-purpose control system provided in a general arcade game device.

The game execution section 50 shown in FIG. 3 is composed of a CPU 51 mainly composed of a microprocessor, a ROM 52 and a RAM 53 as storage devices for the CPU 51, and an image output and a sound output according to an instruction from the CPU 51. It has a graphics processing unit (GPU) 54 and a sound processing unit (SPU) 56 that execute processing necessary for the purpose. An operating system as a program necessary for controlling the overall operation of the game apparatus 2 is written in the ROM 52. A program and data for a game read from the CD-ROM 6 are recorded in the RAM 53 as needed. The GPU 54 receives image data from the CPU 51, draws a game screen on the frame buffer 55, converts the drawn image into a predetermined video reproduction signal, and outputs the video reproduction signal to the monitor 14 at a predetermined timing. The SPU 56 reproduces data such as voices and musical tones read from the CD-ROM 6 and recorded in the sound buffer 57, sound source data, etc., and outputs them from the speakers 12, 16.

Further, the CPU 51 has a system bus 58.
CD-ROM reader 60, PCMCIA interface 61, peripheral device control board (SUB PC
B) 62, serial interface 63 and input device interface 64 are connected. CD-R
The OM reading device 60 follows the C instruction according to the instruction from the CPU 51.
The program or data recorded on the D-ROM 6 is read and a signal corresponding to the read content is output.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the CD-RO
In M6, a program necessary for executing a predetermined dance game by the game device 2 and music data D1 for reproducing music (song) used in the game,
Image data D3 for displaying on the monitor 14 a dance scene or the like in accordance with the music reproduced based on the timing data D2 and the music data D1 which define the procedure of depressing the foot switch 32 in accordance with the music.
And are recorded. A plurality of music data D1 are prepared, and image data D3 are prepared for each music. These are managed with a code for each song. A plurality of sets of timing data D2 are prepared for one piece of music data D1 by changing the difficulty level or play mode, for example. The play mode will be described later. The set of timing data D2 is further divided into data blocks for each bar of the corresponding song. Each data block has a corresponding foot switch 3 when the corresponding measure is decomposed into a predetermined number of beats, for example, 4 or 8 beats.
2 contains information specifying which beat should be operated.

The music data D1 is, for example, a CD-DA or a CD.
-Recorded in ROM XA format. CD
The ROM reading device 60 can decode predetermined music data recorded in the CD-ROM 6 according to an instruction from the CPU 51 and directly supply the decoded music data to the SPU 56 without passing through the bus 58. The SPU 56 D / A-converts the data sent from the CD-ROM reading device 60, and the speaker 1
2, 16 to play predetermined music. The correspondence between the performance position of the music reproduced based on the music data D1 and the operation timing defined by the step data D2 is, for example, the number of beats of each bar of the music and the CD-R.
The determination is made based on the table in which the sector numbers on the OM 6 are associated with each other.

The PCMCIA interface 61 is for exchanging data with a so-called PC card. The peripheral device control board (SUB PCB) 62 is
CPU 51 and various peripheral devices provided in the game device 2
And are connected to control data communication between them. To the peripheral device control board 62, the lighting device 65, the coin discriminating device 66, and the stage 30 are connected. Illumination device 65
Includes a decorative lamp, a halogen lamp, and the like provided in each part of the game device 2. The coin discriminating device 66 discriminates the authenticity or the inserted amount of the coin inserted from the coin insertion portion 13, and outputs a signal corresponding to the determination result to the CPU 51. The outline of the stage 30 is as described above, and the output signal from each foot switch 32 is guided to the CPU 51 via the SUB PCB 62. Serial interface 6
Reference numeral 3 is for performing communication with the link control unit 80. The serial interface 63 is a JVS (Japan Video S) that is a general-purpose communication standard for arcade game machines.
tandard) standard. The input device interface 64 is for connecting a general-purpose input device 68, which is generally included in the arcade game apparatus 2 such as a joystick, to the CPU 51. Here, the push button switch 18 of the operation input unit 17 shown in FIG.
4 is connected.

FIG. 4 shows the details of the link controller 80. The link control unit 80 is provided for linking data using the memory card 4 between the arcade game device 2 and the home game device 3, and is viewed from the game executing unit 50 described above. Functions as one of the peripheral devices. If it is not necessary to link data with the home-use game machine 3, the link controller 80 need not be attached to the arcade game machine 2.

As shown in FIG. 4, the link controller 80
Is a microprocessor unit (MPU) 8 for control.
Have one. The MPU 81 is a BOOT-ROM that stores a program for the activation processing of the link controller 80.
82, a work RAM 83 as a temporary storage device for the MPU 81, a serial interface 84 for performing serial communication conforming to the JVS standard between the game executing unit 50, and the memory card slot 2
The interfaces 85 and 86 for the 0 and infrared communication units 21 and the interface 87 for the security IC mounting board 90 are connected. In addition,
The MPU 81, the ROM 82, the RAM 83, and the interfaces 85, 86, 87 are integrated on a common printed wiring board and are integrally attached to and detached from the game device 2.

As an initialization process when the game device 2 is started, the MPU 81 confirms the operation of each part of the link control part 80 and prepares the communication protocol of the serial interface 82 according to the program recorded in the BOOT-ROM 82, and then executes the game. It waits until a call is made from the CPU 51 of the section 50. Memory card 4 and PDA 5
The communication control program necessary for communicating with the game execution unit 50 is serially communicated with the work RAM.
It is transferred to 83 and executed by the MPU 81. BOO
The T-ROM 82 does not have these communication control programs installed therein. This is because the BOOT-ROM 82 does not need to be rewritten for future version upgrades due to changes in the communication algorithm with the memory card 4 and the infrared communication algorithm. This is to enable the correspondence. Therefore, the card interface 85 and the infrared communication (IrDA) interface 86 are composed of programmable devices, for example, FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The security IC mounting board 90 refers to the individual ID of the software recorded on the CD-ROM 6 in cooperation with the link control unit 80 to determine whether the software is illegally copied or not. A security IC for doing so is installed.

After the above initialization processing, the link controller 80
The procedure until data can be read from and written to the memory card 4 is as follows. When the game apparatus 2 is powered on and the above-described initialization processing is executed, the link control unit 80 enters a waiting state for transferring the communication control program from the game execution unit 50 described above, and the game execution unit 5
Wait for a call from the CPU 51 of 0. After that, the CPU 51 of the game execution unit 50 confirms the activation status of the link control unit 80 via the JVS standard serial communication line, and subsequently verifies the consistency of the security IC. At this time, if the security IC assumed by the game execution unit 50 is not mounted on the security IC mounting board 90, the monitor 14 displays that there is no consistency, and the subsequent processing is interrupted. For example, when the CD-ROM 6 is illegally copied or when the security IC mounting board 90 is a counterfeit product, the software on the CD-ROM 6 and the security IC cannot maintain consistency. , Unable to start the game.

On the other hand, if the security confirmation is successful,
The communication control program for the memory card 4 is transferred from the game execution unit 50 to the work RAM 83. In parallel with this, a program for causing the devices to function as the interfaces 85 and 86 is transferred to the programmable device that constitutes the card interface 85 and the infrared communication interface 86.

When the transfer of the program is completed, the MPU8
1 starts control based on the program transferred to the specific address of the work RAM 83. In the control, first, the circuit information is transferred to a programmable device (FPGA), and the circuits functioning as the interfaces 85 and 86 are initialized. After that, the MPU 81 controls the interfaces 85 and 86 according to an instruction sent from the CPU 51 via the serial communication line to read / write data from / to the memory card 4 or the PDA 5.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system of the home-use game machine 3. The home-use game machine 3 executes a predetermined game in accordance with a game program recorded in a CD-ROM 7 as a storage medium, and its basic configuration is the same as that of the game execution section 50 of the arcade game machine 2. Is. That is, the game device 3 includes a CPU 101 mainly composed of a microprocessor and its CPU 1.
ROM and RA as storage devices for 01
M103, a graphics processing unit (GPU) 104 and a sound processing unit (SPU) 106 for image processing and audio processing, buffers 105 and 107 for these units, and a CD
A ROM reader 108. GPU10
4, SPU 106, and CD-ROM reader 108
Are the same as the GPU 54, the SPU 56, and the CD-ROM reader 60 in FIG. 3, and the details are omitted. It should be noted that the monitor 109 is a home television receiver, and the speaker 110 is
In general, the built-in speaker of the television receiver is used.

Further, the communication control device 111 is connected to the CPU 101 via the bus 100, and the memory card 4 and the PDA 5 described above are connected to the C 101 via the device 111.
It is connected to the PU 101. Furthermore, the communication control device 1
A controller 112 as an input device is connected to 11. The controller 112 is provided with an operation member that receives an operation by the player. For example, a cross key 112a for inputting the up, down, left, and right directions and push button switches 112b ... Are provided as operating members. The communication control device 111 scans the operation states of the operation members 112a and 112b of the controller 112 in a constant cycle (for example, 1/60 seconds), and outputs a signal corresponding to the scan result to the CPU 1
Output to 01. The CPU 101 determines the operation state of the controller 112 based on the signal. The controller 112 may be a general-purpose controller, but may be replaced with a dedicated controller having four foot switches like the stage 30 and the play section 31 of the arcade game device 2.

In the CD-ROM 7, together with a program necessary for executing a dance game similar to the above-described dance game executed on the arcade game device 2 on the home game device 3, music used in the game. There are recorded music data for reproducing and the timing data defining the procedure for operating the controller 112 in accordance with the music. Music data is prepared for multiple songs,
At least a part of them is common with the music piece of the music data recorded in the CD-ROM 6. Music data is CD-ROM6
As in the case of, for example, CD-DA or CD-ROM XA
It is recorded in the format, and the CD-ROM reading device 108 follows the instruction from the CPU 101 to read the CD-R.
The predetermined music data recorded in the OM 7 can be decoded and directly supplied to the SPU 106 without passing through the bus 100. These points are the same as the example of the CD-ROM 6 shown in FIG. Although the programs and data on the CD-ROMs 6 and 7 differ depending on the differences in the configurations of the game devices 2 and 3, they are conveniently handled as common in the following in order to avoid duplicate description.

FIG. 7 shows an example of the game screen displayed on the monitor 14 or 109 during the play of the dance game executed according to the program recorded on the CD-ROMs 6, 7. Although there may be differences in the details of the game screen between the arcade game device 2 and the home game device 3,
Here, it is assumed that the same screen is displayed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the game screen 200 is
It includes a background image 201 and gauges 202L and 202R (both of which may be represented by reference numeral 202) displayed so as to be superimposed on both ends of the background image 201. The background image 201 is generated based on the image data D3 of FIG. 6, and for example, the character CL,
A moving image of the CR dancing is represented in the background image 201. The gauges 202L and 202R are images for instructing the player to perform an operation in accordance with music. On the upper ends of the gauges 202L and 202R, the screen 200
Reference marks 203F, 203B, 203L, 203R (hereinafter,
It may be represented by reference numeral 203. ) Are displayed side by side in a line. In the case of the arcade game device 2, the reference mark 203F is located on the front foot switch 32F of the home position 31a, and the reference mark 203B is located on the rear foot switch 32B of the home position 31a.
The reference mark 203L corresponds to the left foot switch 32L of the home position 31a, and the reference mark 203R corresponds to the right foot switch 32R of the home position 31a.

When the general-purpose controller 112 is used in the home-use game machine 3, each reference mark 203 is used.
F, 203B, 203L, and 203R are respectively associated with different operation members. As an example, the controller 1
When the push button switches 112b are arranged in a cross shape in the up, down, left, and right directions on the above 12, the upper and lower push button switches are regarded as the front and rear foot switches 32F and 32B, and the left and right push button switches are regarded as the left and right foot switches 32L and 32R. The push button switch 112b and the reference mark 203 can be associated with each other.

Reference marks 203F, 203B, 203
Timing marks 20 are provided below L and 203R, respectively.
4F, 204B, 204L, 204R (hereinafter sometimes represented by reference numeral 204) are displayed. The display of the timing mark 204 is the timing data D2 of FIG.
Is controlled as follows. Although the following description is for the arcade game device 2, the same applies to the home game device 3. Marks 203 and 204
The image data for displaying is stored in the CD-ROMs 6, 7 as a part of the image data D3.

When the reproduction of music is started, the CPU 51 causes a part of the timing data D2 (for example, corresponding to two measures of a music piece).
Is set as a display target range in the gauge 202, and foot switches 32F, 32B, 32L included in the range are set.
Each operation timing of 32R is detected. Then, the image data of the gauge 202 is created by replacing the detected timing with the timing mark 204. At this time, the reference marks 203F, 203B, 20
Corresponding timing marks 2 below 3L and 203R
The display position of the timing mark 204 is calculated so that 04F, 204B, 204L, and 204R are arranged in time series.

The image data of the gauge 202 created is
Background image 2 created based on the image data D3 of FIG.
01 data is passed to the GPU 54. GPU5
4 draws on the frame buffer 55 the game screen 200 in which the given background image 201 and the image of the gauge 202 are combined, and outputs the drawn screen 200 to the monitor 14 at a predetermined timing for display.

The above processing is repeatedly executed at a predetermined cycle. The head of the display target range is associated with the performance position of the music at the time of the processing, and the display target range is shifted from the head of the music to the end by a predetermined amount each time the processing is performed.
As a result, the timing mark 20 is displayed on the gauge 202.
4 gradually moves upward as the song progresses. Then, when the timing mark 204 overlaps the reference mark 203, the operation timing of the foot switch 32 associated with the reference mark 203 comes. Below the reference mark 203, the timing marks 204 corresponding to the operation timing coming after the present are arranged in chronological order, and the player can easily grasp future operations.

In the dance game executed on the game devices 2 and 3, one player uses one gauge 20
Choose from 1P mode, which plays according to the instructions of 2L or 202R, 2P mode where two players play according to the instructions of gauges 202L and 202R respectively, and double mode where one player plays according to the instructions of gauges 202L and 202R. It is possible. Timing data D2 is for 1P mode for one song, 2
P mode and double mode are prepared respectively,
The display of the gauge 202 is controlled based on the timing data D2 corresponding to the mode selected by the player. 1
When the P mode is selected, the gauges 202L, 2L
Only one of 02R is displayed and the other is not displayed. For example, in the arcade game device 2, when the player selects the 1P mode for the left play portion 31, the gauge 202R on the right side of the screen is not displayed.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing an outline of the game processing executed by the arcade game machine 2. When the player inserts a predetermined amount of coins into the coin insertion portion 13, a coin start device 66 outputs a game start signal, and the CPU 51 receives the signal and starts the process of FIG. In the case of the home-use game machine 3, the controller 112
A signal corresponding to a predetermined start operation for is treated as a start signal.

In the processing of FIG. 8, first, the play condition is set according to the instruction from the player (step S1).
The setting of the play condition includes, for example, 1P mode, 2P mode, double mode selection, difficulty level selection, and song selection. When the play condition is set, each part of the game apparatus 2 is instructed to start playing (step S2). As a result, the data of the selected music is passed from the CD-ROM reading device 60 to the SPU 56 and the reproduction thereof is started, and at the same time, the CPU 51 starts the drawing process of the game screen 200, that is, the background image 201 and the gauge 202. To be done. Hereinafter, the drawing process is repeated until the game ends. In order to synchronize the screen display and music playback, the device 2
There may be a time lag in the instruction to start playing with respect to each unit.

After the start of play, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the present time is the evaluation time, based on the current performance position and the timing data D2 (step S3). The evaluation time is set to have a predetermined width before and after the operation timing defined by the timing data D3. For example, when the length of one beat of the music being played is X, the range of X / 2 is set as the evaluation time before and after the operation timing.
As an example, when the third beat of the Nth bar of the music being played is specified in the timing data D2 as the operation timing of the foot switch 32F, it is 1/2 before and after the third beat.
A period having a width of each beat is set as an evaluation time of the foot switch 32F.

When it is determined in step S3 that the evaluation time has come, a process of detecting the operation of the foot switch 32 within the evaluation time is performed (step S4). And
An evaluation operation for evaluating the detected operation is executed (step S5). The operation of the foot switch 32, which is the same as the foot switch 32 determined to be the evaluation time in step S3, is detected, and the operation timing of the foot switch 32 is deviated from the operation timing defined by the timing data D2. The smaller the amount, the higher the evaluation of the operation. For example, when the shift amount is 0, 100
0 when the point and the amount of deviation correspond to 1/2 of the evaluation period width
As a point, a score (score) according to the shift amount is calculated. When the operation of the foot switch 32 is not detected within the evaluation period or only the operation of the different foot switch 32 is detected, the evaluation becomes the lowest rank. When the evaluation timings of the plurality of foot switches 32 overlap, the evaluations are performed in parallel for each foot switch 32. The calculated evaluation is stored in the RAM 53. Also,
In the evaluation calculation, the total score from the start of playing the song is also calculated. The total score is calculated, for example, based on the sum of the scores recorded from the start of performance to the present. When a score below a certain level is calculated, the total score up to that point may be deducted by the score equivalent amount.

When the evaluation calculation is completed, information corresponding to the calculation result is displayed to the player (step S6).
In this case, the score may be displayed on the screen 200 as it is, or a score between 100 and 0 may be classified into an appropriate number of ranks.
The rank to which the calculated score belongs is "GREAT",
It may be displayed on the screen 200 by replacing it with a word such as “POOR”. Note that the evaluation and the display thereof are not limited to each operation timing, and may be performed at each appropriate section (for example, one bar).

When the display of the evaluation ends, the CPU 51 determines whether or not the play is ended (step S7). For example, it is determined that the play ends when one song ends, the total performance drops below a certain level, and the like. Even when it is determined in step S3 that it is not the evaluation time, the processing in step S7 is performed. If it is determined that the play has not ended, the process returns to step S3. On the other hand, if it is determined that the play has ended, a comprehensive evaluation of the entire play is performed based on the evaluation result stored in the RAM 53 (step S8),
Information corresponding to the evaluation result is displayed to the player (step S9). As the comprehensive evaluation, for example, the sum of the scores calculated in step S5 for each operation can be used. The total rating may be changed in consideration of the number of highest-ranked or lowest-ranked evaluations.
When the display of the evaluation ends, a predetermined end process (step S1
After 0), the game processing for one song ends. If the above-mentioned total score is kept above a certain level until the end of one song, the song is cleared and the game is advanced to the next song.

Next, details of the cooperation between the game devices 2 and 3 will be described. In the game system 1 of the present embodiment, the following types of linkage are prepared. (1) When a specific condition is satisfied in a game of one game device, a hidden element (hidden song or hidden mode) occurs in the other game device. (2) As a hidden mode, an edit mode in which the player can edit the timing data using the home-use game device 3 is prepared, and the timing data created in the edit mode is loaded into the arcade game device 2 and played. it can. (3) The game result (for example, high score) in the arcade game device 2 is stored in the memory card 4 and can be displayed on the monitor 109 of the home game device 3. (4) When a new song is added on the arcade game device 2,
Information related thereto is stored in the memory card 4 and can be displayed on the monitor 109 of the home-use game apparatus 3. (5) An arbitrary message created by the arcade game device 2 is saved in the memory card 4 and can be displayed on the monitor 109 of the home game device 3.

The data, processing, etc. for realizing these linkages will be described below.

FIG. 9 shows files recorded on the memory card 4, particularly those related to the linkage between the game devices 2 and 3. As is clear from this figure, a system file F1 and an edit data file F2 are recorded on the memory card 4. Each file F1,
Each F2 consumes the storage area of the memory card 4 one block at a time. The system file F1 is divided into an AM area AR1 used as a writing area by the arcade game apparatus 2 and a CS area AR2 used as a writing area by the home-use game apparatus 3. The arcade game device 2 cannot write data in the CS area AR2, and the home game device 3 cannot write data in the AM area AR2.
It is not possible to write data to 1. However, there is no such limitation in reading data, and each device 2,
3 can also refer to the data in the writing area on the other side.

The flag data D1 is stored in the AM area AR1.
1, high score data D12, additional song data D13 and message board data D14 are recorded, and flag data D21 and play result data D22 are recorded in the CS area AR2. As shown in FIG. 10, flag data D11
Includes a flag relating to hidden songs X, Y, Z, an edit mode flag, a high score flag, a message flag and a specification change flag. The hidden music X, Y, Z and edit mode flags are set to "1" when predetermined conditions set in the arcade game device 2 in association with the respective flags are satisfied. The high score flag is set to "1" when the high score data D12 is written, and the message flag is set to "1" when the message board data D14 is written. The specification change flag is
Even if the specifications of the arcade game device 2 are not determined at the end of the development of the software for the home game device 3,
It is provided on the software of the home-use game apparatus 3 so as to correspond to its specifications. For example, when it is undecided whether a specific mode is installed in the arcade game device 2 at the end of the development of the software for the home game device 3, the home game device 3 determines whether the mode is present or not. It is possible to correspond. Then, when the memory card 4 is attached to the arcade game device 2, the specification change flag is changed according to whether or not the particular mode is adopted, and the home game device 3 side according to the flag. Switch the correspondence.

The high score data D12 is used for referring to the high score recorded in the arcade game machine 2 in the home game machine 3. As shown in FIG. It contains information about the total high score recorded by the player and the high score for each song. The total high score is calculated, for example, based on the total score when a plurality of songs are continuously played. The additional song data D13 is for dealing with a case where a new song is added to the arcade game device 2 after the development of the software for the home-use game device 3 is completed, and as shown in FIG. Contains information about numbers and tracks. The information on the number of additional pieces of music also serves as flag information for determining whether or not there is an additional piece of music. If the number of pieces of music is "0", there is no additional piece of music. Indicates that there is.

The message board data D14 corresponds to character information prepared in advance in the arcade game device 2 or character information input by an operator of the device 2 using the character input function provided in the arcade game device 2. This is a string of character codes to be used. The character code used here complies with the character code set used in the home game apparatus 3.
Therefore, by reading the character code string written in the message board data D14 with the home-use game apparatus 3, the character string written in the memory card 4 by the arcade game apparatus 2 can be displayed on the monitor 109. As a result, it is possible to display an advertisement of a store, a notice of an event such as a game tournament, or the like on the player of the home-use game apparatus 3 so as to differentiate from other stores and improve customer service.
Note that the title of the additional song data D13 is also the home game device 3
Created using a character code that conforms to the character code set used in.

Character input by the arcade game device 2 is performed, for example, in the following procedure. First, in response to a predetermined input start operation on the input device 68, a message input screen 210 as shown in FIG. 13A is displayed. The message input screen 210 is provided with a character selection window 211, a message input window 212, and a menu selection window 213. Each of the windows 211, 212, 2 is operated according to the operation of the input device 68 or the foot switch 32.
It is possible to switch between 13 as an input target. In the menu selection window 213, selection candidates displayed in the character selection window 211 can be selected from hiragana, katakana, alphanumeric characters, and fixed form, and the end of character input itself can be selected. Character selection window 2
In 11, a character type selected in the menu selection window 213 is displayed. FIG. 13A is an example when hiragana is selected.

When the character selection window 211 is selected as an input target, a cursor 214 is displayed inside it. The cursor 214 is moved between characters according to the operation of the input device 68 or the foot switch 32. When a predetermined determination operation is performed on the input device 68 or the like, it is assumed that the character surrounded by the cursor 214 at that time is selected and the character is displayed at the position indicated by the cursor 215 in the message window 212. A desired message can be created by repeating this operation. When a template is selected in the menu selection window 213, a plurality of template phrases prepared in advance are displayed in the character selection window 211 as shown in FIG. 13B. As the fixed phrase, a character string expected to be frequently input by the operator of the game apparatus 2, such as “game”, “event”, “taikai”, and “kaisai”, is prepared in advance. The fixed phrase is displayed on the selection window 211 by operating the input device 68 or the foot switch 32.
It is possible to scroll up and down within. When the determination operation is performed, the fixed phrase surrounded by the cursor 214 is displayed in the message input window 212. By preparing the fixed phrases in this way, the time and effort for inputting each word can be saved, and the labor required for creating a message can be reduced.

The message input screen 210 and the input method described above are merely examples. The character input method may be variously changed. For example, the infrared communication unit 21 is used to perform communication with a character string input device, typically a personal computer, and the character string created on the personal computer is loaded into the RAM 53 of the arcade game device 2 and stored in the home. The converted data may be converted into data conforming to the character code of the game device 3, and the converted data may be written in the memory card 4.

The high score data D12 described above,
The additional song data D13 and the message board data D14 are both created by the game device 2 and stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 53. When writing these data to the memory card 4, it is first required to confirm to the player whether or not the writing is permitted, and the writing is executed only when the writing is permitted. A specific example of the writing procedure will be described later.

The flag data D21 of the CS area AR2 shown in FIG. 9 is the hidden music X, like the flag data D11.
It is a set of flags for determining whether or not the appearance of Y, Z and the hidden mode is permitted. In addition, the play result data D22 includes information about a play result in the home-use game apparatus 3, for example, a high score, a play condition when the high score is issued, the number of plays, and the like.

Details of the edit data file F2 will be described below with reference to FIGS. The edit data file F2 is created in the edit mode prepared as one of the hidden elements in the home-use game apparatus 3. This edit data file F2
If the game device 2 or 3 is loaded, the same gauge 202 can be displayed on the monitors 14 and 109 when the same song is played on each device 2 or 3, so that the device 2 or 3 can effectively display the same gauge 202. The same play environment is obtained.

FIG. 14 shows the structure of the edit data file F2. As is clear from this figure, the edit data file F2 includes a set of data information D31 and edit data D32. Data information D
The reference numeral 31 includes information for specifying the song corresponding to the edit data D32 and the player mode (either 1P, 2P or double mode).

FIG. 15 shows the details of the edit data D32. As is clear from this figure, the edit data D32 includes an edit name D41, type data D42, link data information D43, and link timing data D45. Edit name D
Reference numeral 41 is data corresponding to a character string input as a file name by the player who created the edit data D32, and has a size of 8 bytes in ASCII code, for example.

The type data D42 includes information on the resolution of the timing data D45 and the timing data D4.
5 includes information for determining whether or not there is a portion defined to operate three or more operating members at the same time. The resolution of the timing data D45 is
One beat in the timing data D45 is the data D4.
It is a value indicating a fraction of one bar of the music piece associated with No. 5. However, edit data D3
In the case of 2, the resolution is fixed at 16 beats per bar. That is, the minimum unit of the timing data D45 corresponds to the 16th note of the music.

FIG. 16A shows an example of the timing data D45. The timing data D45 is binary data in which one beat has a size of 1 byte. Since the resolution of the timing data D45 is 16 beats per measure as described above, a continuous 16-byte set constitutes a data block corresponding to one measure. Each bit of 1-byte data is associated with one of the reference marks 203F, 203B, 203L, and 203R of the gauges 202L and 202R. The data "0" of each bit means that it is not the operation timing, and the data "1" means that it is the operation timing. In the edit mode, the value of each bit of the timing data D45 is set according to the instruction from the player. The details of the edit mode will be described later.

Here, the lower 4 bits of FIG. 16A correspond to the gauge 202R on the right side of the game screen 200, and the upper 4 bits to the gauge 202L on the left side of the game screen 200, respectively. Is the reference mark 203
2nd and 6th bits of R are reference marks 203F
The 3rd and 7th bits are the reference mark 203B,
It is assumed that the 4th bit and the 8th bit correspond to the reference mark 203L, respectively. Then, when the upper end of the data in FIG. 16A is set to the head and all the data “1” included in a certain range on the lower side is replaced with the timing mark 204 and plotted on the gauges 202L and 202R, FIG.
It becomes like (b).

The resolution of the edit data D45 is set to 16 beats per bar as described above, but when it is used by the devices 2 and 3, it is not limited to 16 beats but is treated as data of 8 beats or 4 beats. You can also For example, in FIG.
If the data of 6 (a) is thinned out and read by 1 byte at a time, the edit data D45 can be treated as data of 8 beats per bar. The number of beats of the edit data D45 to be treated is designated in the edit mode described later, and information for specifying the designation is recorded in the link data information D43 of FIG. By referring to this information, the game devices 2 and 3 correctly determine how many beats of the edit data D45 should be treated.

In the data of FIG. 16 (a), the lower 4 bits of the data of the sixth beat (A part in the figure) counted from the top include three data "1", and the data of FIG. There are three timing marks 20 on the corresponding portion of the gauge 202R shown in FIG.
4 are lined up. As long as the foot switch 32 is operated by a foot, it is difficult for the player to deal with such a place where three or more timing marks 204 are arranged in a line. Therefore, the information for determining the presence or absence of such a place is shown in FIG.
5 is included in the type data D42.

Next, the processing for linking using the above data will be described with reference to FIGS. Figure 1
7 and FIG. 18 are processes in the arcade game device 2, and FIGS. 19 and 21 are processes in the home game device 3.

FIG. 17 shows an example of a process for loading the link timing data D45 on the memory card 4 into the arcade game device 2 for playing. This processing is executed by the CPU 51, for example, as the play condition setting processing in step S1 of FIG. First step S
At 101, it is determined whether or not the memory card 4 is inserted into the card slot 20. When it is inserted, the internal data is searched (step S102),
It is determined whether or not the edit data file F2 exists (step S103). If it is written, the player is asked to confirm whether or not the file F2 is entered into the game device 2 (step S104). At this stage, a data entry item may be provided as one of the many options presented on the monitor 109, and whether to enter data or use existing data may be selected on the monitor 109. May be.

When the player permits the data entry, the edit data file F is written from the memory card 4.
2 is loaded into a predetermined area of the RAM 53 (step S
105). Then, the loaded data is converted into data of the same format as the timing data D2 of FIG. 6 (step S106). This completes the entry of the edit file data F2 from the memory card 4 to the arcade game device 2. The process of step S106 is performed because the data format on the memory card 4 and the format of the timing data D2 handled by the arcade game device 2 are different, and the edit data file F2 is directly transferred to the arcade game device 2. It can be omitted if it can be used.

After the data conversion, the process proceeds to step S107,
Play conditions are set based on the entered timing data D2. As a result, the edit data D
The song associated with 32 (FIG. 14) is automatically selected, and the gauge 202 associated with the timing data D45 is displayed on the monitor 14 after the game starts. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S101 that the memory card 4 does not exist, it is determined in step S103 that the edit data file F2 does not exist, or if the entry is rejected in step S104, step S1
The process proceeds to 08. In this case, the game device 2
From the play conditions prepared in advance, specific play conditions are set according to the player's instructions. After the processing of step S107 or S108, step S2 of FIG.
The process proceeds to.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a process of writing data from the arcade game device 2 to the memory card 4. This process is executed by the CPU 51 as part of the end process of step S10 of FIG. 8 only when the memory card 4 is inserted in the card slot 20. However, when the progress to the next song is permitted at the time of step S10, the process is not performed, and when the last song is completed or the progress to the next song is not permitted, the process is completely prohibited. When the game ends, the processing of FIG. 18 is performed.

In the first step S151, it is determined whether or not the hidden element generation condition is satisfied, with reference to the play result at the end of the game. For example, if a score above a certain level is recorded, if a specific task song is given an evaluation of a certain level or above, or if the number of cleared songs reaches a certain number, it is judged that the occurrence condition is satisfied. To be done. The generation condition may be changed for each hidden element.

If the occurrence condition is satisfied, "1" is set to the flag of the hidden element in the flag data D11 corresponding to the satisfied occurrence condition (step S15).
2). Then, the process proceeds to step S153.
When the generation condition is not satisfied, step S152 is omitted. In step S153, the player is asked to confirm whether or not to save the high score data D12 recorded in the RAM 53 in the memory card 4 (step S153). The high score data D12 referred to here is related to the high score recorded as a result of the player who inserts the memory card 4 into the card slot 20 playing on the arcade game device 2. If the saving of the high score data is rejected, FIG.
Processing ends.

When the player requests the storage of the high score data D12, the additional music data D13 is stored in the memory card 4.
Or, the information to be written as the message board data D14 is R
It is determined whether or not the AM 53 exists (step S1).
54). If the information exists, the process proceeds to step S155, and if the information does not exist, the process proceeds to step S156. In steps S155 and S156, writing of the high score data D12 to the memory card 4 is executed, but particularly in step S155, information corresponding to the additional music piece data D13 or the message board data 14 is also written. When the writing of the data D12 to D14 is executed in steps S155 and S156, "1" is set to the corresponding flag in the data flag D11. When the writing of data is completed, the processing of FIG. 18 ends.

FIG. 19 shows a display control procedure of the menu screen executed by the CPU 101 at the start of the game in the home-use game machine 3, and FIG. 20 shows an example of the menu screen displayed on the monitor 109 according to the processing. There is.

On the menu screen 220 of FIG. 20, selectable modes "ARCADAE MODE GAME" and "ARRANGE MO
"DE GAME", "TRAINING", "RECORDS", "OPTION",
Seven modes of "EDIT" and "INFORMATION" are displayed. The player can operate the controller 112 to select an arbitrary mode from the menu screen 220, and the CPU 101 of the game apparatus 3 executes a process according to the selected mode.

“ARCADA E MODE GAME” or “ARRANGE M
When "ODE GAME" is selected, the game starts in the procedure according to each mode. If "TRAINING" is selected, the game starts in practice mode. "RE
When “CORDS” is selected, the play result such as the high score recorded by the player in the past is displayed on the monitor 109. At this time, the flag data D11 of the memory card 4
At the flag indicating the presence of the high score data D12 at "1"
Whether or not is set is determined by the CPU 110, and when "1" is set, the record of the high score data D12 is also displayed on the monitor 109. As a result, the player can refer to not only the high score recorded by the home-use game machine 3 but also the high score recorded by the arcade game machine 2. When the number of additional songs in the additional song data D13 is other than "0", the information (for example, song name) of the added song can be displayed on the monitor 109 when "RECORDS" is selected.

When "OPTION" is selected, the reference mark 203 for each operating member of the controller 112 is selected.
A play environment such as allocation of F, 203B, 203L, and 203R (so-called key configuration) can be set according to an instruction from the player. When "EDIT" is selected, the edit mode starts and "INFORMATIO
When "N" is selected, the information written in the message board data D14 is displayed on the monitor 109. Additional song data D13
The information written as may be displayed here. Select “EDIT” and “INFORMATIO” on the menu screen 220.
Whether or not "N" appears depends on the state of the flag data D11 described above. The process of FIG. 19 is these "EDIT".
Also executed to switch the display of "INFORMATION".

In the process of FIG. 19, it is first determined whether or not the memory card 4 is inserted in the card slot (step S201). If it is not inserted, the process proceeds to step S206, and the basic menu is displayed on the monitor 109. The basic menu is screen 22 in FIG.
0 to "EDIT" and "INFORMATION" omitted. In this case, "EDIT" and "INFORMATIO
Players cannot select any of the N modes.

When the memory card 4 is inserted in step S201, the flag data D11 is determined in step S202. And the edit flag is "
It is determined whether or not the edit mode is permitted by 1 "(step S203). If not permitted, the process proceeds to step S204, and if permitted, the process proceeds to step S205.
In S4 and S205, it is determined whether or not the message flag is set to "1". Step S204,
When the message flag is determined to be "0" in S205, the process proceeds to step S206 or S208. If the message flag is determined to be "1", the process proceeds to step S207 or S209. In step S207, "INFORMAT" is added to the basic menu described above.
The menu screen with "ION" added is displayed, and step S
At 208, a menu screen in which “EDIT” is added to the above-mentioned basic menu is displayed. Then, step S209
Then, the menu screen 220 of FIG. 20 in which “EDIT” and “INFORMATION” are added to the basic menu is displayed. When the menu screen of any of steps S206 to S209 is displayed, the process corresponding to the item selected from the menu is executed. Therefore, when the menu screen is displayed in step S207, the edit mode cannot be selected, and when the menu is displayed in step S208, the message board message does not exist.

On the menu screen described above, “ARCADAE MODE
When “GAME”, “ARRANGE MODE GAME” or “TRAINING” is selected, the play is started according to the procedure of FIG. 8 described above. In this case, the play condition of step S1 is set according to the procedure of FIG. In short, this process changes the selection according to the hidden music flag or the edit data file F2 included in the flag data D11 of FIG.

In the processing of FIG. 21, first, step S251.
At, it is determined whether or not the player has operated the controller 112 to call the edit data file F2. When there is a calling operation, the play condition is set so that the game play is performed according to the timing data D45 of the edit data file F2 (step S259). In this case, the player plays the game based on the timing data created by himself.

If the edit data file F2 is not called up in step S251, the controller 11
Player type (1P, 2
A process of selecting P or the double mode) is performed (step S252), and then a process of selecting the difficulty level according to the operation on the controller 112 is performed (step S253). When the difficulty level is selected, the hidden data X, Y, and
It is judged whether "1" is set in the Z flag,
When both are "0", only the basic songs that do not include hidden songs are displayed as selection candidates on the monitor 109 (step S).
255). On the other hand, if "1" is set in the flag of any of the hidden songs, the song including the hidden song corresponding to the flag and the basic song described above is selected as a selection candidate by the monitor 109.
It is displayed above (step S256).

In the next step S257, step S2
It is determined whether or not the player has selected a song from the selection candidates displayed in 55 or S256. When a song is selected, play conditions are set according to the player type, the difficulty level, and the result of the song selection (step S25).
8). When the play condition is set in step S258 or step S259, the process proceeds to step S2 in FIG.

According to the above processing, when the arcade game device 2 sets the hidden music flag to "1", the number of songs selectable on the home game device 3 correspondingly increases. Become.

It is not always necessary to determine whether or not to make the hidden music or the hidden mode appear depending on only the flag data D11 of the AM area AR1 of the memory card 4. When a flag relating to the appearance of a hidden song or a hidden mode is set in the flag data D21 recorded in the CS area AR2 of the memory card 4 and the play result in the home-use game apparatus 3 satisfies a predetermined condition. The flags may be rewritten, and thereafter, even if the flag data D11 of the AM area AR1 is "0", the appearance of the hidden element may be permitted. For example, the edit mode may appear when the number of times the game is played by the home-use game apparatus 3 exceeds a certain number. Flag data D11 and D21
Additional hidden elements may appear when each of the states constitutes a particular combination. In this way, the condition for causing the hidden element to appear may be freely set in the home-use game apparatus 3. With the arcade game device 2,
Just set the flags as specified in advance,
It is not necessary for the software of the arcade game device 2 to know how to switch the hidden element on the side of the home game device 3 based on the flag. Therefore, even if there is a gap in the progress of the software development of the game devices 2 and 3, the limitation that occurs in relation to the data linkage is small.

In the processing of FIG. 21, the game can be played on the home-use game apparatus 3 based on the edit data file F2, but the play on the edit data file F2 can be performed only on the arcade game apparatus 2. May be limited to In the home-use game apparatus 3, the edit data fill F2 may be usable only in the "TRAINING" mode.

Next, the edit mode will be described.
22 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the edit processing executed by the CPU 101 when the edit mode is selected in the home-use game apparatus 3, and FIGS. 23 to 25 show screens displayed on the monitor 109 during the edit. Here is an example.

From the menu screen 220 of FIG. 20, "EDIT"
When is selected, the edit screen 230 shown in FIG. 23 is displayed on the monitor 109. The edit screen 230 includes an edit window 231 and a command selection window 232. The windows 231 and 232 are alternatively selected as input targets according to the operation of the controller 112.

In the command selection window 232, "NEW DATA" and "MEMORY CAR" are available as selectable commands.
"D", "PLAYER", "TEST PLAY", "GUIDE" and "EXIT" are prepared, and these are the controller 11
It is alternatively selected by a predetermined operation for 2. "NE
"W DATA" starts editing new edit data, and "ME
"MORY CARD" can be used to operate the memory card 4 by clicking "PLAY
"ER" corresponds to the selection of the player type, "TEST PLAY" corresponds to the reproduction of the edit data being edited, "GUIDE" corresponds to the calling of the guide of the editing operation, and "EXIT" corresponds to the end of the editing operation.

In the command selection window 232, "NEW
When "DATA" is selected, the edit process shown in FIG. 22 is started. In this process, first, a target music piece for creating the edit data file F2 is selected (step S301). At this time, a menu for selecting the target song is displayed instead of or overlaid on the editing screen 230. The target song is switched according to the player's instruction given via the controller 112, and when a predetermined determining operation is performed, the song selected at that time is determined as the target song.

In the next step S302, a process of selecting a player type in response to an instruction from the player is performed. When a song and player type are selected, the CD-
The player is asked to confirm whether or not to load the existing timing data D2 prepared on the ROM 7 into the RAM 103 (step S303). When the player gives an instruction to use the existing data, the instructed data is loaded into the RAM 103 in step S304.
Then, as shown in FIG. 24, the timing mark 204 corresponding to the operation timing included in the predetermined range of the loaded data is displayed in the edit window 231 (step S306). In this case, the player edits the operation timing defined by the existing timing data D2 according to his / her preference. The title of the selected song is displayed at the upper end of the edit window 231.

If loading of existing data is not instructed in step S305, the process proceeds to step S305, and the process of setting the number of beats per bar is performed in accordance with the instruction from the player. The number of beats set here is 1
It specifies how many beats of data should be created per bar. The resolution of the edit data D45 is set to 16 beats per bar as described above, but when using it, not only 16 beats but 8 beats or 4 beats can be selected. This point is as described above. After the process of step S305, the process proceeds to step S306. In this case, since no operation timing has been defined yet, the edit window 231 remains in the state where the timing mark 204 does not exist as shown in FIG.

In the next step S307, an operation of editing the timing data D45 shown in FIG. 16A is performed according to the operation on the controller 112. This work
When the player operates the controller 112 to scroll the image in the edit window 231 up and down, the cursor 23 in the edit window 231
1a is changed, and when the cursor 231a comes to a desired position, one of the operation members corresponding to the marks 204F, 204B, 204L, and 204R on the controller 112 is operated to change the editing position. The timing mark 204 is added or deleted. When the addition of the timing mark 204 is instructed, the bit corresponding to the addition position of the timing data D45 is rewritten to "1", and when the deletion of the timing mark 204 is instructed, the corresponding bit is rewritten to "0". To be The timing data 204 at this time is stored in a predetermined work area of the RAM 103. Note that the relationship between the scroll direction of the image of the timing mark 204 in the edit window 231 and the front and rear of the song is such that the editing position on the cursor 231a shifts to the rear side of the song as the image is scrolled upward. This point is consistent with the operation of the timing mark 204 on the gauge 202.

The editing position designated by the cursor 231a is changed by a predetermined scroll operation on the controller 112 as described above. The minimum movement unit at this time is the number of beats designated by the data loaded in step S304, or the step Varies according to the number of beats specified in S305. That is, when 16 beats are designated, the position pointed by the cursor 231a is 1/16 of one bar.
Move one by one. Cursor 2 when 8 beats are specified
The position indicated by 31a moves by 1/8 of one bar,
When the beat is designated, the position designated by the cursor 231a is moved by 1/4 of one bar. This gives 16
When the beat is designated, all bits of the timing data D45 can be edited, but when 8 beats are designated, the editable area and the non-editable area of the byte are alternated in the timing data D45. Occurs. When four beats are further specified, a 1-byte editable area and a 3-byte non-editable area are alternately repeated. It is possible to visually grasp which beat number is currently specified. As an example, when the screen shown in FIG. 24 is actually a color screen, the display color of the cursor 231a is changed according to the designated number of beats.

In the editing work, a jump operation for changing the display range of data in the window 231 by an integer multiple of the minimum movement unit (for example, one bar) is also possible. When the data editing for the 2P mode or the double mode is selected, the timing marks 204 are displayed on both the 1P side (left side) and the 2P side (right side) of the edit window 231, as shown in FIG. In this case, one of the 1P side and the 2P side is alternatively selected as the editing target.

In order to facilitate editing work, area operation is also possible in the edit mode.
For area operation, the timing mark 2 included in the predetermined range
It is possible to collectively select 04 and collectively delete, copy, and move the marks 204 included in the selected range. Area operation is performed, for example, in the following manner.

First, when the player performs a predetermined area selection operation on the controller 112, in response thereto, the area selection mark 233 is displayed at the editing position of the edit window 231. Next, when the player changes the edit position and then performs the same area selection operation again, the second area selection mark 233 is displayed at the edit position at that time. The area sandwiched between the pair of marks 233 is selected as the area operation target range 234, and the range 234 is displayed in a manner different from other areas due to a change in display color or the like. Controller 112 in this state
When a predetermined menu call operation is performed on the area selection menu 23 in the edit window 231.
5 is displayed. In the menu 235, "copy", "paste", "cutout", and "delete" are displayed as processes that can be performed by area operation. When "Cancel" is selected, the area operation is canceled. The menu 235 is closed by ending or canceling the area operation.

When the player operates the controller 112 to select “copy” or “cutout” from the menu 235, the data corresponding to the arrangement of the timing marks 204 included in the target range 234 is stored in the RAM 103 in a predetermined cut. It is recorded in the buffer. Target range 2 if "Crop" or "Delete" is selected
The timing marks 204 displayed at 34 are collectively erased. When "paste" is selected, the timing mark 204 corresponding to the data recorded in the cut buffer at that time is pasted in the area above the editing position on the cursor 231a. This operation is performed in the range 2 that was the target of "copy" or "cutout" immediately before.
This corresponds to the operation of copying or moving the timing mark 204 in 34 to the editing position.

When the editing work is completed, the process proceeds to step S308. In step S308, it is stipulated in the created timing data D45 that three or more timing marks 204 are designated to be aligned at the same position on the same gauge 202, that is, three or more operating members are operated at the same time. It is determined whether or not there is an open portion (see the portion A in FIG. 16A). If such a portion exists, a predetermined message is displayed on the monitor 109 (step S309), and it is determined whether or not the player has selected reediting (step S310). When reediting is selected, the process returns to step S307.

On the other hand, if reediting is not selected, the process proceeds to step S311. Even when the determination in step S308 is negative, the process proceeds to step S311. In step S311, a predetermined name input screen 2
40 (see FIG. 25) is displayed on the monitor 109, and the process of causing the player to input the edit name is performed.
The name can be input in the same way as the character string input of a general game, and the details are omitted.

When the input of the name is completed, the player is asked to confirm whether or not to save the created data in the memory card 4 (step S312), and when the save is selected, the data is saved in the memory card 4. (Step S
313). When saving the data determined to be affirmative in step S308, the information is written in the link data information D43 of FIG. In addition, step S301
Information for discriminating the song name selected in step S1 and the player type selected in step S302 is also shown in FIG.
No. 4 data information D31 is recorded together with the memory card 4. The editing process ends when the data is saved. If the save is not selected in step S312, the edit process ends without saving the data in the memory card 4.

Note that the memory card 4 can be saved during editing. When the player selects “MEMORY CARD” in the command selection window 232 of FIG. 24,
As shown in the window 236 of FIG. 25, "SAVE",
"LOAD", "RENAME" and "EDIT MENU" are displayed, and if "SAVE" is selected, saving is executed even while editing. When "LOAD" is selected, existing edit data can be selectively loaded and re-edited.

From the window 232 of FIG. 24, "TEST PL
When the “AY” mode is selected, the timing mark 204 displayed in the edit window 231 is scrolled from the bottom to the top based on the edit data being edited as described above, and the mark 20 based on the data being edited is displayed.
The player can visually confirm the arrangement of 4. If the timing mark 204 can be added or deleted according to the operation from the controller 112 during the scrolling, the workability of editing is further improved.

Next, a specific example of the edit process will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 26 shows a plan view (a) and a front view (b) of a general-purpose controller used in the home-use game apparatus 3. The controller 112A has a handheld main body MB, and four pushbutton switches PB1 to PB8 are provided on each of the left and right of the upper surface of the main body MB. The push button switches PB1 to PB4 on the left side function as so-called direction indicating keys for instructing the up, down, left, and right directions, respectively. Although the push button switches PB1 to PB4 are independent from each other in FIG. 26, a single operation switch that can be operated in any direction may be used instead. Two push button switches PB9 to PB12 are provided on the left and right of the front surface of the main body MB.

Appropriate markers are provided on the push button switches PB5 to PB12 or around them in order to visually distinguish the push button switches. In the illustrated example, the symbols ◯, Δ, □ and × are displayed on the push button switches PB5 to PB8, respectively. The number 1 is on the pushbutton switches PB9, 11.
However, the number 2 is displayed on the push button switches PB10 and PB12, respectively, and the letter L is displayed above the push button switch PB9.
The letter R is displayed above the push button switch PB11. As a result, the switch PB5 is the Δ button, the switch PB6 is the X button, the switch PB7 is the □ button, the switch PB8 is the ◯ button, the switch PB9 is the L1 button, the switch PB10 is the L2 button, and the switch PB11.
Is called an R1 button, and the switch PB12 is called an R2 button. Further, push button switches PB13 and PB14 are provided at the center of the upper surface of the main body MB. The push button switch PB13 functions as a select button, and the push button switch PB14 functions as a start button.

FIG. 27 shows each push button switch PB1 to PB1 when the editing process is performed by using the controller 112A.
The correspondence between the PBs 12 and the operations assigned to them is shown. Further, FIG. 28 shows a procedure for performing an edit operation using the controller 112A. Note that, in the process of FIG. 28, after “NEW DATA” is selected from the items in the command selection window 232, the target song for creating the edit data D45 is selected, and further, the number of beats (resolution) is selected (FIG. 22 steps S301 to S
306), or from the window 232 "MEMORY CAR
This is a process executed after a command is selected in the order of “D” → “LOAD” to load data for creating the edit data D45 into a predetermined work area of the RAM 103. More specifically, this is executed when the 1P or 2P area of the edit window 231 is selected as the target area for editing work.

The outline of the processing shown in FIG. 28 is that the player operates the controller 112A by arranging the timing marks 204, scrolling, arranging the area marks 233, calling the area selection menu 235, changing the position information, or the work target. Whether or not the switching operation is performed is sequentially determined (steps S351 to S356), and when any operation is performed, the process corresponding to the operation is executed (steps S360 to S371). As is clear from FIG. 27, the timing mark 20
The arrangement operation of 4 is the operation of the Δ button PB5, the × button PB6, the □ button PB7 or the ○ button PB8, and the scroll operation is the operation of the up key PB1 or the down key PB2 (however, the simultaneous operation with the R1 button PB11 is included. ),
The operation of arranging the area mark 233 is the operation of the L2 button PB10, the operation of calling the area selection menu 235 is the operation of the start button PB14, the operation of changing the position information is the operation of the select button PB13, and the operation of switching the work object is the left and right direction keys PB3, PB4. Each corresponds to an operation. The processing corresponding to each operation is as follows.

If it is determined in step S351 that the timing mark placement operation has been performed, the timing mark 204 corresponding to one of the operated push button switches PB5 to PB8 is designated by the cursor 231a in the edit window 231. Are placed at different positions (step S360). However, when the same mark 204 is already placed at the position designated by the cursor 231a, the mark 204 is deleted. For example, when the Δ button PB5 is pressed while the 1P side of the edit window 231 is selected as an object for editing work, the upward arrow-shaped mark 204F (see FIG. 7) is designated by the cursor 231a. It is displayed at the position. When the mark 204F is already displayed at that position, the mark 204F is deleted (erased). In addition, cursor 2
31a is displayed at the left end of one of the 1P side and 2P side areas of the window 231, which is selected as the work target area.

When the mark 204 is arranged or deleted,
Correspondingly, the value of the corresponding bit of the edit data D45 is updated (step S361). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S352.

If it is determined in step S352 that a scroll operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S362, and the screen displayed in the edit window 231 depending on which of the up / down direction keys PB1 and PB2 is pressed. Scrolls up or down. In order to realize a feeling that the cursor 231a moves toward the beginning of the music when the up key PB1 is pressed and the cursor 231a moves toward the end of the music when the down key PB2 is pressed. , The screen is scrolled downward by the operation of the up key PB1, and the screen is scrolled by the operation of the down key PB2. Further, the unit of scrolling at this time changes according to the number of beats per bar set for the edit data D45 being edited. That is, when 16 beats are selected, the screen is scrolled by 1/16 measures, when 8 beats are selected, the screen is scrolled by 1/8 measures, and when 4 beats are selected, 1 screen is scrolled. The screen scrolls by / 4 bars. When the up key PB1 or the down key PB2 and the R1 button PB11 are simultaneously operated, the unit of scrolling becomes large. For example, the screen is scrolled one bar at a time.

In the following step S363, it is determined whether or not the scroll operation is completed. If not completed, the process returns to step S362 to continue the scrolling, and if completed, the scrolling is stopped in step S353.
The process proceeds to.

If it is determined in step S353 that the area mark arranging operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S364, at which point the area mark 233 is displayed at the position designated by the cursor 231a. When the area mark 233 is already displayed, the area mark 233 is deleted (erased). Then, the position of the area mark 233 is stored in the RAM 103 in association with the position of the music (for example, what beat of what measure).
365), and then the process proceeds to step S354.

Area selection menu 2 in step S354
If it is determined that the calling operation of 35 is performed, the process proceeds to step S366 and the area selection menu 235 shown in FIG. 24 is displayed. Subsequently, a process of accepting the selection of the command displayed in the area selection menu 235 and a process of executing the selected command are performed (steps S367 and S368). The commands selectable from the menu 235 and the contents of the processing corresponding to each command are as described above. If the area mark 233 is not set at two places, the range of “copy”, “cutout” or “delete” cannot be specified. In this case, the "copy", "cutout", and "delete" commands are not selectable, and those commands are displayed in a lighter color than other commands or not displayed. When the process of step S368 ends, the process proceeds to step S355.

If it is determined in step S355 that the position information changing operation has been performed, a process of switching the bar number or time displayed in the edit window 231 is performed (step S369). That is, FIG.
And as shown in FIG. 24, the edit window 2
31 is provided with an information display unit 237 so as to be sandwiched between areas corresponding to the 1P side and the 2P side, respectively.
The bar numbers “01”, “02”, “03” ... Are displayed there. When the player operates the select button PB13, the bar number is changed to the elapsed time from the beginning of the song. On the contrary, when the player operates the select button PB13 while the time is displayed on the information display portion 237, the time is changed to the bar number. Thereby, the player can grasp the position in the song by either the bar number or the elapsed time according to his / her preference. When the process of step S369 ends, the process proceeds to step S356.

If it is determined in step S356 that the work target switching operation has been performed, the process proceeds to step S370. In step S370, switching of the work target from the 1P side of the edit window 231 to the 2P side,
Alternatively, it is determined whether the opposite switching is instructed. For example, when the 1P side is selected as the current editing target, the player presses the right direction key PB4 1
When the push-down operation is performed, it is determined that an instruction to switch the work target to the 2P side has been given. On the contrary, when the player presses the left direction key PB3 once while the 2P side is selected as the target of the current editing work, the command selection window 2 is changed from the edit window 231.
It is determined that switching to 32 has been instructed.

Then, switching from the 1P side to the 2P side,
Alternatively, when it is determined that the switching is to be performed in the opposite direction, the work target area is switched from the 1P side to the 2P side or vice versa (step S371), and then the process is returned to step S351. On the other hand, if step S370 is denied, it is determined that the work target is switched from the edit window 231 to the command selection menu 231, the processing of FIG.
Processing associated with each selection item 2 such as RAM 1
A process of saving the edit data D45 on 03 in the memory card 4 is performed. Command selection window 2
When the work target is changed again from 32 to the edit window 231, the processing of FIG. 28 is restarted.

FIG. 29 shows the command selection window 232.
Shows a procedure of test play processing executed by the CPU 101 when “TEST PLAY” is selected. In addition,
This process can be executed only when the timing mark 204 is displayed in the edit window 231, that is, when the timing data D45 being edited exists in the work area of the RAM 103 when the editing work is performed.

In the processing of FIG. 29, first, the player is asked to confirm, for example, through the message window 238 shown in FIG. 30, whether or not to set the timing mark 204 during play (step S401). The “arrow object” means the timing mark 204. Then, when the setting of the timing mark 204 is requested, the information indicating the setting permission (for example, a 1-bit flag) is written in the RAM 103 in step S402. In the following step S403, the display of the mark 204 in the window 231 is updated so that the current playing position (see FIG. 31) indicated by the cursor 231a in the edit window 231 and the start position of the test play match. The start position is the command selection window 232
This is the position corresponding to the bar number (“01” in FIG. 24) displayed in the “START” portion of “TEST PLAY” of. The bar number (“11” in FIG. 24) displayed in the “END” part corresponds to the end position of the test play. The start position and the end position can be freely changed by the player by an appropriate operation on the controller 112A. However, the process may be changed at any time before the process of FIG. 29 is started, and the process of FIG. 29 may be provided with a step of setting the start position and the end position.

In the following step S404, the test play is started. That is, the scroll toward the end position of the screen displayed in the edit window 231 is started, and the music corresponding to the edit data D45 is reproduced from the position corresponding to the start position in synchronization with the start of the scroll. . The scroll speed may be set slower or faster than the tempo of the music. In this case, since the progress of the music and the scroll are not synchronized, the reproduction of the music is omitted.

After the start of the test play, step S405
Then, it is determined whether or not the player has performed the operation of inputting the mark 204, that is, the timing mark arrangement operation in the above-described processing of FIG. When it is determined that the operation has been performed, it is determined whether or not the setting of the timing mark 204 is permitted (step S
406). If permitted, the timing mark 204 corresponding to the operation is displayed in the edit window 23.
1 (step S407), and the edit data D45 is updated according to the arrangement (step S4).
08). The timing mark 204 on the 1P side of the edit window 231 can be set only by the controller 112A connected to the CPU 101 for 1P, and the timing mark 204 on the 2P side is set to the CPU 101.
To the controller 112A connected for 2P
Can only be set with. For example, the Δ button PB5 of the controller 112A to which the player is connected for 1P
If you press down, the edit window 23
A timing mark 204F indicating an upward arrow is added to a position corresponding to the operation timing on the 1P side of 1 and the bit of the timing data D45 corresponding to the added timing mark 204F is changed to "1". When the placement operation is performed overlapping the position where the timing mark 204 is already placed, the timing mark 204 is not erased, unlike the processing of FIG. 28.

When the processing in step S408 ends,
Alternatively, if a negative determination is made in step S405 or step S406, the process proceeds to step S409. In step S409, it is determined whether or not a test play interruption operation has been performed. The interruption operation corresponds to, for example, a pressing operation of the start button PB14. If there is no interruption operation, it is determined whether or not the scroll is performed until the predetermined position in the window 231 and the end position of the test play match (step S410), and if the result is negative, the process proceeds to step S405. Will be returned. When step S409 or S410 is positively determined, step S
The process proceeds to 411, and scrolling of the screen in the window 231 is stopped. This ends the test play.

As described above, if the edit data D45 can be edited even during the test play, the player can add the mark 204 at a desired position while checking the data edited by himself, so that the editing work can be performed more efficiently. Can be done In the above example, the mark 204 during the test play
Although only the addition of is allowed, the deletion may be made possible.

In the game system 1 of the above embodiment, the following additions and changes can be made.

When the play result of the home-use game apparatus 3 satisfies a predetermined condition, the flag of the hidden element of the flag data D21 is rewritten, and the arcade game apparatus 2 discriminates the flag and a hidden song or a hidden mode appears. You can also let it. However, it is not appropriate for the arcade game device 2 to have a time-consuming edit mode appear. Therefore, as the hidden mode in the arcade game device 2, for example, a mode in which the play content itself is changed from an ordinary one, such as a mode in which the difficulty level is specially increased, may be prepared. Of course, these hidden elements may be added to the home-use game apparatus 3.

When a player clears a specific mode prepared for the arcade game device 2, a "password" is displayed on the screen, and the notification of the password is used as a qualification to compete for a high score ranking on a specific home page on the Internet. Although the event is actually carried out, the password or high score may be written in the memory card 4 as the message board data D14. This eliminates the need for the player to copy the password displayed on the screen to a notebook or the like.

The timing data entered by the player may be stored in the RAM 53 so that another player can select it. In this case, the number of times the entered timing data is selected by the arcade game device 2 may be recorded, and the popularity ranking of the timing data may be created and disclosed depending on the number of times.

When the edit mode is executed in the home-use game machine 3, the player-related information (for example, name and initials) is also input, and when the edit data is entered into the arcade game machine 2, the information is also included. It may be read into the device 2. The read information can be used to manage data such as play history for each player. When making edit data play by another person, it can be disclosed as creator information of the data. In addition,
Each PDA 5 may have a different identification number (ID). In that case, the ID unique to the PDA 5 can be read by the arcade game device 2 to be useful for data management. The data management method is arbitrary, but as an example, the arcade game device 2 reads the ID of the PDA 5 and records the history, and the same ID is read many times in the same arcade game device 2, that is, If it is determined that the same player has played many times on the arcade game device 2, the PDA
There is a configuration in which the flag data D11 in 5 is rewritten or a specific message is written in the message board data D14.

Further, the PDA 5 can send and receive data to and from the PDA 5 by the infrared communication function of the PDA 5 itself, or to / from another device having an infrared receiving function. The timing data created by the player may be exchanged by transmitting and receiving at. in addition,
When the timing data is transmitted and received a predetermined number of times or more, the flag data D1
1 may be rewritten.

The additional music piece data D13 and the message board data D14 written in the memory card 4 are used as the home game apparatus 3
When the game is executed at, the monitor 109 may be automatically displayed at a timing that does not hinder the flow of the game. For example, when reading necessary data from the CD-ROM 7 when playing one song and proceeding to the next song,
By using the waiting time required for reading, the monitor 10
A message corresponding to the message board data D14 or information corresponding to the additional song data D13 may be displayed on the screen 9.

When the additional music data D13 is recorded, the data necessary for playing it is the CD-RO.
Since the memory card 4 does not exist in M7 and the capacity of the memory card 4 is insufficient for recording such data, in the above-described embodiment, it is recorded in the memory card 4 having only the music title of the additional music and the data is recorded on the monitor 109. However, if a recording medium, such as a magneto-optical storage medium or a small-sized hard disk storage device, having a sufficient storage capacity in view of general music data can be used for data exchange between the devices 2 and 3. If
The additional music may be played by transferring the music data and the timing data of the additional music to the recording medium in the arcade game device 2 and setting it in the home game device 3. Alternatively, another CD-ROM 7 in which music data and timing data of additional songs are recorded is sold and
The player may be notified by the additional song data D13 or the message board data D14 that the additional song can be played by using the D-ROM 7. It is also possible to use the infrared communication unit 21 to transfer only the timing data D2 to the PDA 5 and display the gauge 202 on the screen so that the user can play without music. In this case, the PDA 5 can be effectively utilized as a play practice device in the arcade game device 2 or the like.

The message board data D14 is not limited to character information,
It may include image data. Arbitrary information is recorded in a storage medium (CD-ROM, etc.) that can be read by the home-use game apparatus 3, and the storage medium having the information recorded is distributed to households as an appendix of a magazine and read from the storage medium. The information may be displayed on the monitor 109 when the “INFORMATION” mode in FIG. 20 is selected, for example.

The functions realized by the linkage of the present invention are not limited to those according to the above embodiments. For example, the reference mark 203 and the timing mark 204 displayed on the game screen 200 are edited by the home-use game device 3 and recorded in the memory card 4, which is read by the arcade game device 2 and displayed on the monitor 14. Good. An embodiment relating to such cooperation will be described below.

FIG. 32 shows the mark 2 on the home-use game machine 3.
It shows an embodiment of a paint process executed by the CPU 101 to edit (draw) 03, 204. The painting process is performed by, for example, "PAINT" as a mode for drawing the marks 203 and 204 in the menu screen 220 of FIG.
Can be added to execute when the item is selected by the player. "PAINT" item is also "EDI
It may be set as a hidden element like “T” and the like, and may appear when a certain requirement is satisfied. Whether or not to cause "PAINT" to appear as a hidden element can be determined by using the flag data D11 or D21 of FIG. 9 and the same procedure as that of FIG. Controller 1 of home-use game machine 3
When a specific command is entered using 12, "PA
The appearance of "INT" may be permitted.

When the paint process of FIG. 32 is started, first, the initialization necessary for executing the paint process is performed (step S501). For example, the menu mode is selected as the initial setting from the two modes of the menu mode and the drawing mode prepared for the paint process. Next, it is determined whether or not the player has operated the controller 112 (step S502), and when there is no operation, the determination is repeated until there is an operation. Controller 112
When the operation is performed on, it is determined whether the operation is a mode switching operation (step S503). If it is determined that the operation is not the mode switching operation, it is determined whether or not the operation is an end operation for the painting process (step S504). When the operation is not the end operation, processing corresponding to the operation detected in step S502 is performed (step S505), and then the processing is returned to step S502. Step S50
A specific example of the process executed in 5 will be described later. Step S5
When it is determined that the operation is the ending operation in 04, the processing necessary to end the painting processing is performed (step S50).
6) After that, the painting process ends.

If it is determined in step S503 that a mode switching operation has been performed, the process is switched to the drawing mode (step S511). Next, the controller 112
It is determined whether or not an operation has been performed on (step S
512), if there is no operation, the determination is repeated until there is an operation. When an operation is performed on the controller 112, it is determined whether the operation is a mode switching operation (step S513). If it is not a mode switching operation, a process corresponding to the operation detected in step S512 is performed (step S514), and then the process returns to step S512. A specific example of the process executed in step S514 will be described later. If it is determined in step S513 that the operation is a mode switching operation, the processing is switched to the menu mode (step S515), and then step S5.
The process is returned to 02.

FIG. 33A shows the operation and the step S for the controller 112 (FIG. 26) in the menu mode.
The relationship with the processing executed in step 505, (b) shows the relationship between the operation on the controller 112 (FIG. 26) in the drawing mode and the processing executed in step S514. 34 and 35 show an example of the drawing screen 250 displayed on the monitor 109 during the paint processing, and FIG. 34 shows the screen in the menu mode, and FIG.
Reference numeral 5 is a screen in the drawing mode.

As apparent from FIGS. 34 and 35, the drawing screen 250 has a menu 251 and a mark panel 25.
2, a campus 253, a color palette 254, a confirmation panel 255, and a reference panel 256 are displayed. The menu 251 is divided into blocks of 3 rows and 4 columns.
A command selectable in the menu mode is assigned to each block, and an icon symbolizing the command is displayed on the block.

The campus 253 has marks 203 and 204.
An image (called an object) to be displayed as is set as an area drawn by the player. Mark panel 25
2 is divided into four blocks on the left and right on the 1P side and 2P side, and a foot switch 32 is provided in each block.
Objects 300F, 300B, 300L, and 300R (hereinafter, referred to as F, 32B, 32L, and 32R)
It may be represented by reference numeral 300. ) Is displayed (see FIG. 35). In the color palette 254, color selection candidates for the objects 300 drawn on the campus 253 are displayed side by side. In the drawing mode, the block corresponding to the selected color is displayed larger than the blocks corresponding to other colors, and the color number (unique number assigned to each color) is displayed inside it. It

On the confirmation panel 255, the campus 25
3 is displayed in the state in which the object 300 being drawn on 3 is actually displayed in the gauge 202. Reference panel 25
An official mark 310 is displayed on the screen 6. The official mark 310 mentioned here is an arrow object prepared in advance for displaying on the gauge 202 as the marks 203 and 204, and is recorded as image data on the CD-ROM 7.

Further, as apparent from FIG. 34, in the menu mode, the message window 257 is displayed so as to overlap the campus 253 and the like. Also,
As shown in FIG. 35, an arrow-shaped cursor CR is displayed in the campus 252 in the drawing mode. Then, the information display portion 258 below the color palette 254 displays the coordinates indicated by the tip of the cursor CR and the color number assigned to the coordinates. A color number display area 259 appears below the reference panel 256, and the color number currently selected from the color palette 254 is displayed inside the color number display area 259.

Next, the relationship between the operation of the controller 112 in each of the menu mode and the drawing mode and the processing executed corresponding thereto will be described.

First, the processing in the menu mode will be described. As is apparent from FIG. 33A, in the menu mode, the direction keys PB1 to PB4 of the controller 112 are used.
Is operated, one block of the menu 251 is selected, and when the ◯ button PB8 is pressed, the command assigned to the block selected at that time is executed. In FIG. 34, the block at the upper left end of the menu 251 is selected, and the selected block is displayed larger than the other blocks so that the player can understand the selected state. The commands assigned to each block of the menu 251 are as follows.

With respect to the upper block of the menu 251, from the left to the right, switching to the drawing mode, turning on / off the grid display on the campus 253, moving the image (object 300) displayed on the campus 253, and Left-right inversion of the same image is assigned respectively. The grid is displayed so as to divide the campus 253 into a grid pattern. The movement of the object 300 is executed by, for example, operating the direction keys PB1 to PB4 while pressing the O button PB8 of the controller 112 and designating the moving direction.

Next, regarding the middle block of the menu 252, the images displayed on the campus 253 are rotated 90 ° in the clockwise direction from the left to the right, and the campus 253 is rotated in the clockwise direction.
Select the sample image displayed on the screen, discard (delete) the image displayed on the campus 253, campus 253
A set of images is respectively assigned to a designated position (position designated by the cursor CR) inside. Several sample images are prepared in advance on the CD-ROM 7, and a desired image can be selected and displayed on the campus 253 by a predetermined operation on the controller 112.

Further, regarding the lower block of the menu 252, in order from left to right, the image of the designated position in the campus 253 is acquired, and the data (paint data) of the object 300 created by the painting process is transferred to the memory card 4. Is recorded, the paint data is read from the memory card 4, and the painting process is completed.

If the leftmost block in the upper row is selected and the determination operation is performed among the above commands, an affirmative decision is made in step S503 in the process of FIG. 32, and the process advances to step S511. If the lower right block is selected and the determination operation is performed, an affirmative decision is made in step S504 in the processing of FIG. 32, and then the processing proceeds to step S506. If any other operation is performed, a negative determination is made in step S504, and the process assigned to each block is executed as the process of step S505. As is apparent from FIG. 33A, when the start button PB14 is pressed, the process switches to the drawing mode regardless of the selection of the menu 251. In this case as well, in the process of FIG. 32, a positive determination is made in step S503, and the process proceeds to step S511.

On the other hand, in the case of the drawing mode, the processing shown in FIG. 33B is performed in response to the operation of the controller 112. First, when the direction keys PB1 to PB4 are operated,
The cursor CR moves in the direction corresponding to the operated direction. For example, when the up key PB1 is operated, the cursor CR continuously moves upward while the key is pressed. When the △ button PB5 is operated, the cursor position (the position designated by the tip of the cursor CR)
The predetermined range is colored from the color palette 254 as a base point. The predetermined range in this case is equal to the range of Mc * Mc in the vertical and horizontal directions, where Mc is the minimum amount of movement of the cursor CR in the vertical and horizontal directions. Hereinafter, this range is referred to as the minimum drawing range. When the × button PB6 is operated, the minimum drawing range based on the cursor position is changed to the color corresponding to the color number 0. Color number 0 is the background color of the campus 253, for example. When the button PB7 is operated, the color number at the cursor position is the CPU
The color acquired by 101 and selected from the color palette 253 is changed to the color corresponding to the acquired number. When the button PB8 is operated, the minimum drawing range based on the cursor position is the color palette 2
It is colored in a color selected from 54.

When the L1 button PB9 is operated, the color selected from the color palette 254 is changed to the color corresponding to the previous color number. When the R1 button PB11 is operated, the color selected from the color palette 254 is changed to the color corresponding to the next color number. When the L2 button PB10 is operated, the official mark 310 displayed on the reference panel 256 is actually the gauge 2
The animation is displayed in the same manner as when it is displayed in 02. When the R2 button PB12 is operated, the mark (object) being drawn on the campus 253 is displayed in animation according to a predetermined procedure. For example, the color of the object 300 is changed stepwise according to a predetermined procedure.

Further, when the select button PB13 is operated, the guide screen 270 shown in FIG. 36 is displayed. On the guide screen 270, an upper window 271 in which information (for example, the name of the member) for specifying the operation member on the controller 112 is displayed, and the upper window 27.
There is provided a lower window 272 in which commands assigned to the operation members displayed in 1 are displayed. Each window 2 according to the operation of the controller 112
The information displayed on 71 changes. By referring to this, the player can grasp the processing in the drawing mode. For example, the select button PB1 of the controller 112
When 3 is operated, the guide screen 270 is closed and the edit screen 250 of FIG. 35 is displayed.

The above processing is executed as the processing in step S514 in FIG. On the other hand, when the start button PB14 of the controller 112 is operated in the drawing mode, the mode is switched to the menu mode. In this case, in the process of FIG. 32, step S513 is positively determined and the process returns to step S502.

In the above paint processing, the mark panel 25 is operated by a predetermined operation on the controller 112.
A desired object can be selected from the objects 300 displayed in No. 2 and displayed on the campus 253, and this can be edited according to the player's preference in the drawing mode.
3 can freely draw an image and register it in a desired block in the mark panel 252. The image data created by the paint process is used as paint data in the memory card 4 by selecting the second block from the lower left of the menu 251 in the menu mode and executing the command assigned thereto as described above. Can be recorded.

The paint data recorded on the memory card 4 may be used by either the home-use game machine 3 or the arcade game machine 2. For example, in the home-use game apparatus 3, when “TRAINING” is selected from the menu screen 220 of FIG. 20, the memory card 4 is searched to determine whether paint data is present. Inquires whether or not it can be used, and if the player wishes to use paint data, CD-ROM
Marks 203 and 204 based on the object specified by the paint data instead of the object recorded in FIG.
Can be displayed. Also in the arcade game device 2, the gauge 202 is similarly used by using the paint data.
The marks 203 and 204 can be displayed. To use the paint data in the arcade game device 2, it is sufficient to handle the paint data in the same manner as the edit data in the processing of FIG. Note that FIG. 37 shows an example in which the gauge 202 is displayed using paint data.

The linkage of the present invention can be implemented in other forms. For example, the data to be edited on the home-use game machine and passed to the arcade game machine is not limited to data relating to the timing of operating the operation members and the mark displayed on the gauge, but is used to guide the player to the operation. Various data may be editable.

It is also possible to generate effect effects such as sound effects and images when the input devices 30 and 112 are operated in accordance with instructions given from the gauge 202. In this case, the effect data for further producing effect is added to the data shown in FIG.
It is also conceivable to have the player edit the effect effect data and use it on the arcade game device. As an example of the case where a sound effect is generated in response to an operation of the input device, the sound source data for reproducing the sound effect and which sound effect is assigned to each operation defined by the timing data are It is possible to prepare the sound effect allocation data to be defined and make the sound effect allocation data editable by the player so that the player can allocate a desired sound.

The play history (for example, the number of plays) in the arcade game device 2 or the home game device 3 is recorded in the memory card 4, and the game screen of the arcade game device 2 or the home game device 3 is displayed based on the recording. The displayed image may be changed.

The present invention can be applied to a music game other than the dance game, and can also be applied to a game system for a game other than the music game. That is, the fact that the hidden element of the other game appears in accordance with the play result of one game can be applied to the game system for games of other genres. Even when a game of a different genre is executed between a plurality of linked game devices, the linkage of hidden elements can be applied. The medium for exchanging information between the pair of game devices may be a semiconductor memory, as long as it can be used in the home game device 3, and may be replaced with a magnetic storage medium, a magneto-optical storage medium, or the like. . Modems, terminal adapters, and dial-up routers are installed on both the arcade game device 2 and the home game device 3, and the game devices 2 and 3 are connected via a specific server on the Internet or an intranet using a public telephone line. It may be possible to exchange data.

The input device is not limited to a foot-operated type, but may be a type that uses a hand. An input device imitating various musical instruments such as a keyboard, a guitar, and a drum may be provided. The operation instruction to the player may be a selection instruction regarding selection of an operation target that indicates which of the plurality of operation members should be operated, and an instruction regarding operation timing of the instructed operation member. You may separately provide the operation member selectively operated and the operation member which should be operated according to the instructed timing. For example, when a guitar-type input device is used, the player may be instructed regarding an instruction regarding the selection of the fret of the guitar and an instruction regarding the timing of the picking operation to be executed in accordance with the fret operation.

[0200]

As described above, according to the present invention, data created by oneself can be used even between game devices having different configurations.
You can enjoy the same game using the game. That
Therefore, by utilizing these characteristics, it can be obtained with a single game device.
You can provide players with a wide range of ways to play
Game device for playing games and home game device
Can significantly increase the value of your software. In the game executed on the first game device, the second game device determines whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied and changes the game content. Therefore, there is a restriction on the development schedule of the game to be linked. This alleviates the need for more flexible and easy coordination between a plurality of game devices.
As a result, it is possible to improve the feasibility of linking data between a plurality of game devices. In particular, when software so-called porting is performed between the first game device and the home-use game device, the cooperation can be performed flexibly and easily,
It is possible to enhance the interest in the game by providing the player with a novel way of playing that cannot be obtained in a single game.

Further, particularly in the case of a music game, it is possible to control the appearance of the edit mode of the data relating to a specific song or operation instruction by a linkage to realize a novel linkage that has not existed in the games up to now. Further, by transmitting the information regarding the edited timing data between the game devices, it is possible to provide a substantially same play environment even when the hardware environment is different, such as an arcade game device and a home game device. It is possible to attract players' interests evenly to each device and mutually enhance their value. Further, it is possible to evaluate the game results and the like from the arcade game device to the home game device, distribute the message, etc., and it is possible to expand the elements that can be realized by the cooperation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of an arcade game machine included in the game system of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a game execution unit provided in the arcade game device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a link control unit provided in the arcade game device.

5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home-use game machine included in the game system of FIG.

6 is a diagram showing the concept of data recorded in the CD-ROM of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a game screen in a dance game executed on an arcade game device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a basic processing procedure of a CPU for executing a dance game on an arcade game machine.

9 is a diagram showing an outline of data recorded on a memory card included in the game system of FIG.

10 is a diagram showing the contents of flag data recorded in the AM area of FIG.

11 is a diagram showing the contents of high score data recorded in the AM area of FIG. 9. FIG.

12 is a diagram showing the contents of additional music data recorded in the AM area of FIG.

13 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a monitor when creating message board data recorded in the AM area of FIG.

14 is a diagram showing the contents of an edit data file recorded in the AM area of FIG.

15 is a diagram showing the contents of the edit data of FIG.

16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the specific structure of the timing data for link in FIG. 15 and the display of a gauge corresponding to it.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a play condition setting process executed by the CPU of the arcade game device to enable play using the edit data file shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 18 is a CPU of an arcade game device for writing the flag data, high score data, etc. of FIG.
5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a data writing process executed by the.

19 is a flowchart showing a procedure in which the CPU of the home-use game apparatus switches the display contents of the menu illustrated in FIG. 20 according to the flag data in FIG.

20 is a diagram showing an example of a menu screen displayed by the processing of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the procedure of a play condition setting process executed by the CPU of the home-use game apparatus before the game starts.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of an edit mode executed by a home-use game machine.

23 is a diagram showing an initial state of an edit screen displayed according to the processing of FIG.

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing an example of an editing screen during editing work.

FIG. 25 is a view showing a screen for inputting an edit name in the edit mode.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing an example of a controller used in a home-use game machine.

FIG. 27 is a view showing a correspondence relationship between each operation member on the controller of FIG. 26 and an operation assigned to them.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU during edit work.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the CPU during test play.

FIG. 30 is a diagram showing a display example of a screen when executing a test play.

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing another screen displayed during the test play.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart showing a procedure for allowing a player to create a mark used for guiding an operation.

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a correspondence relationship between an operation performed on the controller and a process executed by the CPU corresponding thereto while the process of FIG. 32 is being performed.

34 is a diagram showing an edit screen when the menu mode is selected in the paint process of FIG. 32. FIG.

FIG. 35 is a diagram showing an edit screen when a drawing mode is selected in the paint process of FIG. 32.

FIG. 36 is a diagram showing an example in which a guide screen is displayed in the paint process of FIG. 32.

FIG. 37 is a diagram showing an example in which a gauge is displayed using the image data created by the painting process of FIG. 32.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Game System 2 Commercial Game Device 3 Home Game Device 4 Memory Card 5 PDA 10 Game Machine Main Body 14 Monitor 17 Operation Input Section 18 Push Button Switch 19 Card Insertion Section 20 Memory Card Slot 21 Infrared Communication Unit 30 Stage 31 Play Section 32F, 32B, 32L, 32R Foot switch 50 Game execution unit 51 CPU 80 Link control unit 101 CPU 109 Monitor 112 Controller 200 Game screen 202L, 202R Gauge 203F, 203B, 203L, 203R Reference mark 204F, 204B, 204L, 204R Timing mark (index) ) 210 message input screen 220 menu screen 230 edit screen 235 area selection menu 240 name input screen

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Hirotaka Ishikawa 3-25, Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. (72) Inventor Akinori Tamura 3-25, Kanda-Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Address Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (72) Inventor Yumi Takase 3-25, Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (72) Inventor Takashi Nishihori Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 3-25, Konami Computer Entertainment Co., Ltd. Tokyo (72) Kei Nagaoka 3-25, Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (72) Inventor Kazu Yoshiko Ta, 3-25, Kanda Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. (72) Inventor Yumi Yoshida 3-25, Kanda-Jinbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (56) References JP-A-8-241426 (JP, A) JP-A-11-19335 (JP, A) Amusement Industry October 1998 Issue, Japan, Amusement Industry Publishing Co., Ltd., September 26, 1998, 27th Volume October issue, volume 321, page 114 (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 13/00-13/12 A63B 69/00

Claims (17)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first game device and a second game device, each of which executes a game according to a predetermined program,
Information can be exchanged between these game devices, and
The first game device is an arcade game device that can be played only within a range corresponding to the dropped economic value,
The second game device is a game system that is a home game device that can be repeatedly played by setting a storage medium in which the game software is written. The first and second game devices are provided. An input device that has at least one operating member and that outputs a signal corresponding to an operating state of the operating member, as means for executing the game; and the first and second game devices. Storage device for storing the music data for reproducing the same music in each of the above and the guide data necessary for guiding the operation of the input device according to the music reproduced based on the music data. A music reproducing means for reproducing a music piece based on the music data recorded in the game storage device; and a music reproduction device recorded in the game storage device. Based on the serial guidance data, anda operation guide means for instructing the player to the operation of the input device with the playback of the music by the music reproduction unit, the first game device, the first referring to the play result in the first game device, the specific conditions for permitting the possible edit mode editing the guidance data to determine whether or not filled using the second game device
Means and means for outputting the discrimination result are provided , and the second game device is provided with editing means for creating the guidance data in response to an operation on the input device, and the created guidance data. Information output means for outputting information for specifying the content of the data, and output from the first game device.
Based on the determination result for the force has been the specific condition, by the editing means to select the edit mode when the edit mode is judged whether it is allowed, the edit mode is permitted Means for making it possible to create the guidance data and making the edit mode unselectable when the edit mode is not permitted, wherein the operation guide means of the first game device is the Two
A game system capable of instructing an operation to the player based on information for specifying the content of the guidance data output from the game device. 2. A storage device for linkage, which functions as a medium for exchanging information between the first game device and the second game device, and the guide is provided via the storage device for linkage. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the information for specifying the content of the game data is transmitted from the second game device to the first game device. 3. The information for specifying the content of the guidance data is transmitted from the second game device to the first game device via a predetermined communication medium. The game system described in. 4. The guide data includes timing data defining timing for operating an operating member of the input device, and the editing means can create the timing data. The game system according to claim 1. 5. The operation guide means relatively displays a predetermined index so that the index reaches a predetermined position in the game screen when the operation member of the input device is to be operated. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the game system guides the operation. 6. The game system according to claim 5, wherein the editing means sets a time when the index reaches the predetermined position according to an operation of the input device. 7. The guide data includes image data required to display the index, and the editing means can create image data required to display the index. The game system according to claim 5, wherein: 8. A game can be executed according to a predetermined program, can be played only within a range corresponding to the dropped economic value, and if a storage medium in which the software for the game is written is set, the game is repeated. An arcade game device capable of exchanging information with another playable home game device, the input device having at least one operation member, and outputting a signal corresponding to an operation state of the operation member. Device and music data for reproducing predetermined music, and game memory in which guide data necessary for guiding operation of the input device in accordance with music reproduced based on the music data is recorded A device, a music reproducing means for reproducing the music piece based on the music data recorded in the game storage device, and the music recording device recorded in the game storage device. Corresponding to the operation guide means for instructing the player to operate the input device according to the reproduction of the music by the music reproduction means based on the internal data, and the predetermined music prepared in the other game device Information receiving means for receiving the information for specifying the content of the guidance data to be referred to, referring to the play result in the business game device,
Means for determining whether or not a specific condition for permitting the edit mode in which the guidance data can be edited using the other game device is satisfied , and the determination result is output.
Comprising means, wherein the operation guidance means, a game apparatus, wherein the information receiving means is capable instructing operation to the player based on the information received is. 9. The guide data includes timing data defining a timing for operating an operating member of the input device, and the information receiving means includes information for specifying the content of the timing data. The game device according to claim 8, wherein the game device is received. 10. The operation guide means displays a predetermined index,
When the operation member of the input device is to be operated, the index is relatively moved and displayed so as to reach a predetermined position in the game screen to guide the operation. Item 9. The game device according to item 8. 11. The game according to claim 10, wherein the information receiving means receives, as information for specifying the content of the guidance data, information regarding a time when the index reaches the predetermined position. apparatus. 12. The guidance data includes image data necessary for displaying the index, and the information receiving means uses the information as the information for specifying the content of the guidance data. The game device according to claim 10, wherein the game device receives information about image data required to display the index. 13. A game can be executed according to a predetermined program, and can be repeatedly played by setting a storage medium in which the software for the game is written, and
A home-use game machine capable of exchanging information with another business-use game machine that can be played only within a range corresponding to the dropped economic value, the game machine having at least one operation member. An input device that outputs a signal corresponding to the operation state of the member, music data for reproducing a predetermined music, and guidance for the operation of the input device that matches the music reproduced based on the music data A game storage device in which necessary guidance data is recorded, a music reproducing unit for reproducing the music piece based on the music data recorded in the game storage device, and the game recording device in the game storage device. Operation guide means for instructing the player to operate the input device in accordance with the reproduction of the music by the music reproducing means, based on the guide data; Editing means for creating the guide data, an information output means for outputting information for specifying the content of the created guide data, and a specific condition based on a play result in the other game device is satisfied. Information about whether or not
Based on the information output from the other game device, it is determined whether the edit mode in which the guidance data can be edited using the home-use game device is permitted, and the edit mode is permitted. is it possible to create the guide for data by the editing means to select the edit mode when you are, you and means to impossible selecting the edit mode when the edit mode is not allowed, the The operation guide means relatively moves and displays a predetermined index so that the index reaches a predetermined position within the game screen when the operation member of the input device is to be operated, and guides the operation. However, the guide data includes image data necessary for displaying the index, and the editing unit displays the index. Game apparatus which is a possible to create an image data required to. 14. Music data for reproducing a predetermined music, and guidance data necessary for guiding the operation of the input device of the game device in accordance with the music reproduced based on the music data, and dropping. Computer-readable storage medium having recorded thereon a program for causing a computer of an arcade game machine that can be played only within a range corresponding to the economic value to execute a music game using the music data and the guidance data. The program is a guide corresponding to the predetermined song prepared in a home-use game device that can be repeatedly played by setting a storage medium in which the software for the music game is written in the computer. Information receiving means for receiving information for specifying the content of the data for use, based on the information received by the information receiving means. There, the operation instruction means for instructing an operation of the input device with the playback of the predetermined tracks to the player, and with reference to the play result in the game device for the work, using a game device for the home A computer-readable storage medium configured to function as means for determining whether or not a specific condition for permitting an edit mode in which the guidance data can be edited is satisfied. 15. Music data for reproducing a predetermined music, and guidance data necessary for guiding the operation of the input device of the game device in accordance with the music reproduced based on the music data, and the data. A program for causing a computer of a home-use game device to execute a music game using music data and guidance data is recorded,
A computer-readable storage medium for enabling the music game to be played repeatedly by being set in the home-use game machine, wherein the program causes the computer to operate based on the music data. Music reproducing means for reproducing the music, operation guide means for instructing the player to operate the input device in accordance with reproduction of the music by the music reproducing means, based on the guidance data, and operation for the input device Editing means for creating the above-mentioned guidance data, information output means for outputting information for specifying the content of the created guidance data, and for business use that can be played only within a range corresponding to the economic value of the investment. Game device for home use depending on whether or not a specific condition based on a play result in the game device is satisfied. Is used to determine whether or not the edit mode capable of editing the guidance data is permitted, and when the edit mode is permitted, the edit mode is selected and the editing means is used for the guidance. data to enable creating, as a means wherein when the edit mode is not permitted to unselectable the edit mode, is configured so that to function respectively, the operation guidance means, a predetermined index, wherein When the timing for operating the operation member of the input device arrives, the index is relatively moved and displayed so as to reach a predetermined position in the game screen to guide the operation, and the guide data includes the index. The image data necessary for displaying the index is included, and the editing means can create the image data necessary for displaying the index. Computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that there. 16. A game machine, comprising: first and second game devices, each of which executes a game according to a predetermined program, information can be exchanged between the game devices, and the first game device comprises: A business-use game device that can be played only within a range corresponding to the dropped economic value, and the second game device can be repeatedly played by setting a storage medium in which the game software is written. A game system configured as a game device for use, wherein each of the first and second game devices has at least one operation member as a means for executing the game, and an operation of the operation member An input device for outputting a signal corresponding to the state, and music data for reproducing a predetermined song on each of the first and second game devices, And a game storage device in which play data created in association with an operation of the input device in accordance with a song played based on the music data is recorded, and the music data recorded in the game storage device A music reproducing means for reproducing a music piece based on the above, and an instruction to the player to operate the input device in accordance with the reproduction of the music piece by the music reproducing means based on the play data recorded in the game storage device. comprising an operation guidance means, which, wherein the first game device, with reference to the play result in the first game device, editable said guidance data using the second game device specific condition is determined whether or not met to allow the edit mode
Means and means for outputting the discrimination result are provided , and the second game device is provided with editing means for creating the guidance data in response to an operation on the input device, and the created guidance data. Information output means for outputting information for specifying the content of data, and output from the first game device
Based on the determination results for by said specific condition,
It is determined whether or not the edit mode is permitted, and when the edit mode is permitted, the edit mode is selected so that the guide data can be created by the editing means, and the edit mode is permitted. And a means for disabling the edit mode when the game mode is not selected, the first game device executes the game by using the play data output from the second game device. A game system characterized by being possible. 17. The play data includes data defining a staging effect to be generated in response to an operation of the input device when the input device is operated in response to an instruction from the operation guide means. The game system according to claim 16, wherein the editing means is capable of creating data defining the effect.