JP5051209B2 - Photo shooting game device and other game devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a photography game device such as a photo sticker creation device that shoots a user with a camera, synthesizes an image based on the user's operation with the photographed image and outputs it as a photo sticker, and other game devices. .

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a photo sticker creation device that takes a picture of a user with a camera, combines the shot image with an image selected or input based on a user operation, and outputs the composite image as a photo sticker. Yes. Since such a photo sticker creating apparatus is highly gameable or entertaining, an image to be synthesized with a photographed image (hereinafter referred to as “additional image”) is prepared in a variety of ways according to the user's preference. The user can select from various background images and foreground images, or can freely draw using a pen-type input unit such as a touch pen. In addition to this, some of the captured images themselves are configured so that the shooting conditions such as the shooting direction and the lighting conditions can be adjusted in order to match the user's preference.

  If a customer wants to use the photo sticker creating apparatus and the photo sticker creating apparatus is in use, the customer waits until the current user finishes creating the photo sticker. That is, there is a waiting order for using the photo sticker creating apparatus.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to suppress such waiting in a game apparatus that allows a player to play a game in response to the insertion of a coin, such as a photo sticker creating apparatus.

One aspect of the present invention is a photography game device that provides a game for generating a composite image obtained by combining a captured image and a predetermined editing image,
Photographing means for photographing a user;
Editing means for editing a photographed image photographed by the photographing means;
When a predetermined amount of payment is detected, a plurality of processes for providing the game are executed in a predetermined order, and each of a part of the plurality of processes that require an operation input by the user Control means for setting the length of the permissible time during which the processing is allowed based on the operating status of the photography game device,
It is characterized by providing.

Another aspect of the present invention is a game device that allows a game for a predetermined play time when a predetermined amount of money is detected,
Control means for setting the length of the game time based on the operating state of the game device;
The control means includes a timer for controlling the execution of the game, and sets the length of the game time by changing the length of the unit time in the timer.

According to the one aspect of the present invention, a user operation among a plurality of processes executed in a predetermined order to provide a game for generating a composite image obtained by combining a captured image and a predetermined editing image. For each of some processes that require input, the allowable time length for which the process is allowed to be executed is set based on the operating status of the photography game apparatus. Therefore, for example, the turnover rate of the customer (user) can be improved by shortening some of the plurality of processes based on the operation status.

According to the other aspect of the present invention, the length of the game time is set by changing the length of the unit time in the timer for controlling the execution of the game. Therefore, for example, the rotation rate of the customer (user) can be improved by shortening the unit time of the timer based on the operating status of the game device.

  Other aspects and effects of the invention according to the present application will be apparent from the description of the above-described invention, its effects, and the embodiments of the invention described later, and will not be described here.

1 is a side view of a photo sticker creating apparatus according to a basic form (basic form) of an embodiment of the present invention. Sectional drawing in the XX of FIG. The top view of the photograph sticker production apparatus which concerns on the said basic form. The top view (a) and side view (b) of the floor surface illuminating device in the said basic form. The front view (a), top view (b), and side view (c) of the imaging device in the said basic form. The side view (a) of the holding | maintenance mechanism of the imaging device in the said basic form, a front view (b), and a bottom view (c). The figure for demonstrating the setting of the imaging | photography position and imaging | photography direction by the holding mechanism of the imaging device in the said basic form. The functional block diagram of the photo sticker production apparatus which concerns on the said basic form. The flowchart which shows the process sequence for photo sticker preparation by the said basic form. The flowchart which shows the process sequence for photo sticker preparation by one Embodiment of this invention. The functional block diagram which shows the structure of the game device which has a customer rotation rate up function. The flowchart which shows the process sequence for providing a game with the said game device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
<1. Basic form>
<1.1 Overall configuration>
FIG. 1 is a side view of a photo sticker creating apparatus according to a basic form of an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “basic form”), and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 3 is a plan view of this photographic sticker producing apparatus. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the overall configuration of the photo sticker creating apparatus according to the present basic embodiment will be described.

  This photo sticker creating apparatus includes a photographing room 2 in which a user U enters and a main body 4 that generates a composite image including a photographed image of the user U and outputs it as a photo sticker.

  The photographing room 2 includes a photographing device 10 including a camera for photographing the user U, and a holding mechanism that holds the photographing device 10 in a movable and variable photographing direction by the movable holding portion 12 and the suspension holding portion 14. ing. The movable holding part 12 holds the photographing apparatus 10 so that the photographing apparatus 10 can be moved up and down and the photographing direction is variable, and is suspended by the suspension holding part 14 so as to be movable back and forth. The suspension holding unit 14 is located above the user U in the photographing room 2 (position corresponding to the ceiling of the photographing room 2) so that the photographing device 10 can be moved upward and photographing can be performed from above the user U. Is arranged. That is, the suspension holding part 14 is constructed between the front beam member 202 attached above the main body part 4 and the rear beam member 204 attached above the rear part of the imaging room 2. In addition, a floor surface illumination device 16 that includes a light-transmitting plate-like member that forms the floor surface F and emits light upward as a surface light source to illuminate the user U from below is provided in the lower part of the photographing room 2. It has been.

  The main body unit 4 is configured mainly by a computer and incorporates a control device that controls each unit and performs image processing, a printer, a main display device, and the like, and the display screen 22 of the main display device is arranged to face the user U. The size is such that at least the face or upper body of the user U can be accommodated when the user U is displayed in a life-size manner. Light pens 18L and 18R are provided on both sides of the display screen 22, and the user U operates the light pens 18L and 18R to display captured images displayed on the display screen 22. An image to be added can be input. An operation panel 20 is also provided on the front surface of the main body 4, that is, the surface facing the user U, and this operation panel 20 is used to select a captured image constituting a composite image to be output as a photo sticker. It includes selection operation means, designation means for designating a background image or foreground image as an image (additional image) to be added to a captured image when generating a composite image, and the like. Further, the main body 4 includes an illumination device (hereinafter referred to as “front illumination device”) 24 and a coin insertion slot 26 on the front surface, and a photographic sticker outlet 28 on the side surface.

<1.2 Configuration of floor lighting device>
FIG. 4A is a plan view of the floor illumination device 16 in the basic form, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the floor illumination device 16. As shown in these drawings, the floor illumination device 16 in the present basic configuration is configured by arranging four flat rectangular parallelepiped illumination units 16a to 16d. Each of the lighting units 16a to 16d has a configuration in which an annular fluorescent lamp (hereinafter referred to as “circle fluorescent lamp”) 162 is accommodated together with a lighting circuit (not shown) in a cabinet 164 having an open top surface. A cover 166 that forms the floor surface F of the photographing room 2 is attached to the upper surface. The cover 166 is a diffuse transmission plate. For example, a semi-transparent plastic plate is used as the cover 166. In the basic mode, the floor lighting device 16 is configured by the four lighting units 16a to 16d, but the number of lighting units is not limited to four.

  In this basic mode, the floor illumination device 16 configured as described above emits diffused light upward from the floor surface F as a surface light source, thereby illuminating the user U as a subject from below.

  Although the floor illumination device 16 shown in FIG. 4 is configured as a surface light source, this is merely an example, and instead of this, for example, a straight tube fluorescent lamp is used on the left and right sides of the floor F in the photographing room 2. It is good also as a structure arrange | positioned along the edge. Also by this structure, the user U can be illuminated by the light upward from the floor surface F.

<1.3 Configuration of photographing apparatus>
5A is a front view of the photographing apparatus 10 according to the present basic embodiment, FIG. 5B is a perspective plan view of the photographing apparatus 10, and FIG. 5C is a perspective side view of the photographing apparatus 10. It is. As shown in these drawings, the photographing apparatus 10 according to this basic form includes a camera 106, a liquid crystal display panel (hereinafter abbreviated as “LCD”) 108, a flash 110, and a circle fluorescent lamp 112 accommodated in a disk-shaped case 102. Thus, a transparent cover 104 is attached to the front surface of the case 102. Then, the light from the circle fluorescent lamp 112 and the flash 110 illuminates the user U through the transparent cover 104, the camera 106 takes a picture of the user U, and the user U sees a photographed image displayed on the LCD 108. The camera 106, the flash 110, the circle fluorescent lamp 112, and the LCD 108 are fixedly disposed in the case 102 so as to be able to do so. In addition, a switch for activating a process (hereinafter referred to as “capture process”) for capturing an image captured by the camera 106 as an image file in the control device in the main body unit 4 and temporarily storing it as an image file is provided above the case 102. As shown, two push buttons 114 are provided. Further, the case 102 is provided with gripping portions 102a and 102b as flat portions protruding in both directions. These gripping portions 102a and 102b are gripped by the user U when the position and direction of the photographing apparatus 10 are adjusted to set the camera position (hereinafter also referred to as “photographing position”) and the photographing direction.

  In the photographing apparatus 10, the camera 106 photographs the user U existing on the floor surface F in the photographing room 2 and outputs an image signal representing the photographed image. Typically, a digital camera that generates a digital image signal using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used as the camera 106. The LCD 108 is configured to display an image represented by the image signal, and is used for confirming a captured image obtained by the camera 106. The circle fluorescent lamp 112 is an illuminating means for illuminating the photographing direction of the camera 106, and is always lit during the operation of the photo sticker creating apparatus. When the push button 114 is pressed, the flash 110 flashes in the shooting direction of the camera 106 after a predetermined time of about several seconds elapses. When a flash is emitted from the flash 110, an image signal representing an image captured by the camera 106 of the user U illuminated by the flash is transferred to the control device in the main body unit 4 and temporarily stored as an image file. Is done.

<1.4 Structure of holding mechanism of photographing apparatus>
6A is a side view of the holding mechanism of the photographing apparatus 10 according to the present basic embodiment, FIG. 6B is a front view of the holding mechanism, and FIG. 6C is a bottom view of the holding mechanism. is there. As described above, the holding mechanism of the photographing apparatus 10 in this basic form includes the movable holding portion 12 and the suspension holding portion 14.

  The movable holding unit 12 includes an expandable tube member 121, an attachment member 122 for attaching the photographing apparatus 10 to the lowermost portion (tip portion) of the expandable tube member 121, and a flexible wire whose tip is connected to the attachment member 122. It is comprised from the roll spring 123 containing. And the expansion-contraction pipe member 121 consists of several pipe parts which can be fitted in the lower part to the upper part, and contains the slide rail 121b inside. With the telescopic tube member 121 and the roll spring 123, the photographing apparatus 10 can be moved in the vertical direction within a predetermined range determined by the telescopic tube member 121 and stopped at an arbitrary position. The photographing apparatus 10 can be rotated about a horizontal axis extending in the left-right direction (hereinafter referred to as “horizontal axis rotation”), and can be rotated about the optical axis of the camera 106 in the photographing apparatus 10. (Hereinafter referred to as “optical axis rotation”) is attached to the attachment member 122 so as to be possible.

  The suspension holding unit 14 includes a rail 142 that extends horizontally in the front-rear direction with respect to the user U in the photographing room 2, and a carriage 146 having wheels 144. The wheels 144 ride on the rail 142, and the carriage 146 is a rail. It is comprised so that it can guide to 142 and can move to the front-back direction. The carriage 146 is attached with the upper end portion of the telescopic tube member 121 and the roll spring body in the movable holding portion 12. Thereby, within the predetermined range determined by the rail 142 of the suspension holding part 14, the imaging device 10 can be moved in the front-rear direction together with the movable holding part 12 and stopped at an arbitrary position.

  According to the holding mechanism configured as described above, the user U in the photographing room 2 holds the photographing device 10 and moves it in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. ) As shown in FIG. Thereby, a camera position (photographing position) can be set at a desired position within a predetermined range. Further, the user U in the photographing room 2 holds the photographing device 10 and sets the photographing direction Dp of the camera 106 to a desired direction as shown in FIG. 7B, or as shown in FIG. 7C. It is also possible to rotate the camera 106 around the optical axis. Therefore, for example, it is possible to shoot from the top of the user U, and it is possible to obtain both vertically and horizontally captured images.

  Note that the configuration of the holding mechanism described above is merely an example, and the imaging apparatus 10 is held so as to be movable up and down and in the front-rear direction with respect to the user U in the imaging room 2 and capable of rotating the horizontal axis and the optical axis. Any other holding mechanism may be employed as long as it is a mechanism that performs the above. For example, in the movable holding part 12, it may replace with the expansion-contraction pipe member 121, and the structure which moves the attaching part 122 along the rail extended in an up-down direction may be used.

<1.5 Functional configuration of essential parts>
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the main part of the photo sticker creating apparatus according to the present basic mode as viewed from the functional aspect. The main parts of this photo sticker creating apparatus are functionally the camera 52, the confirmation display unit 54, the video distribution unit 56, the capture control unit 58, the image processing unit 60, the main display unit 62, and the photograph. A seal output unit 64, a coin input unit 66, an operation unit 68, an illumination unit 70, an I / O control unit 72, a pen input unit 74, a pen input control unit 76, and a main control unit 80. Is done.

  In this configuration, the camera 52 and the confirmation display unit 54 correspond to the camera 106 and the LCD 108 in the photographing apparatus 10, respectively. The video distribution unit 56 is realized by hardware included in the control device in the main body unit 4 and is an image (referred to as a “through image”) of the shooting direction Dp captured by the camera 52 until the push button 114 is pressed. ) Is distributed to the confirmation display unit 54 and the capture control unit 58. As a result, the through image is displayed on the confirmation display unit 54 and also displayed on the main display unit 62 via the capture control unit 58 and the image processing unit 60. The capture control unit 58 is realized by hardware included in the control device and software executed by a computer in the control device, and executes a capture process. That is, when the push button 114 is pressed for photographing the user U, an image signal output from the camera 52 is directly output as a signal representing the photographed image of the user U based on an instruction from the main control unit 80. Received (without going through the video distribution unit 56) and temporarily stored in the image processing unit 60 as an image file. The image processing unit 60 is realized by hardware included in the control device and software executed by a computer in the control device, and based on an instruction from the main control unit 80, a captured image represented by an image file stored therein And a background image or foreground image specified by the operation panel 20 and / or an image input by handwriting with the light pens 18L and 18R (hereinafter referred to as “handwritten image”) to generate a composite image. The main display unit 62 corresponds to a main display device in the main body unit 4 and displays a composite image generated by the image processing unit 60. The photo sticker output unit 64 corresponds to a printer built in the main body unit 4, and outputs the composite image generated by the image processing unit 60 as a photo sticker based on an instruction from the main control unit 80.

  The coin input unit 66 is realized by the coin insertion slot 26 in the main body unit 4 and hardware in the control device, detects a coin inserted into the coin insertion slot 26, and outputs a coin signal indicating the inserted coin. To do. The operation unit 68 corresponds to the operation panel 20 in the main body unit 4 and the push button 114 in the photographing apparatus 10. When the operation panel 20 or the push button 114 is operated by the user U, an operation signal indicating the operation content is displayed. Output. The lighting unit 70 corresponds to the floor lighting device 16 and the front lighting device 24 in the main body unit 4 and the circle fluorescent lamp 112 in the photographing device 10, and is adjusted by the I / O control unit 72 based on an instruction from the main control unit 80. Light and on / off are controlled. The I / O control unit 72 is realized by hardware in the control device, controls the illumination unit 70 based on an instruction from the main control unit 80, and receives a coin signal from the coin input unit 66 and an operation unit 68. The operation signal is transferred to the main control unit 80. The pen input unit 74 corresponds to the light pens 18L and 18R in the main body unit 4, and when operated by the user U, outputs a pen input signal indicating the operation content. The pen input control unit 76 is realized by hardware included in the control device and software executed by a computer in the control device. The pen input control unit 76 receives pen input signals from the light pens 18L and 18R and is based on the operation content of the user U. A signal representing an image is generated and transferred to the main control unit 80 as a handwritten image signal. Here, when the two light pens 18L and 18R are operated simultaneously by two users U, the pen input control unit 76 receives the pen input signal from the left light pen 18L and the right light pen 18R. A pen input signal is alternately received, and a handwritten image signal based on each pen input signal is generated. As a result, two handwritten images are input in parallel according to the simultaneous operation on the two light pens 18L and 18R.

  The main control unit 80 is realized by the software in the computer in the control device, and instructs each unit as described above to control each unit based on the coin signal and operation signal input as described above. Put out. When a handwritten image signal is received from the pen input control unit 76, it is transferred to the image processing unit 60 as a signal of an additional image to be combined with the captured image. In addition, the computer in the control device has a timer function, and the main control unit 80 uses this timer function to calculate the time from when the push button switch 114 is pressed until the capture process is started, The time for allowing capture processing and the time for allowing input of handwritten images by the light pens 18L and 18R are managed.

<1.6 Operation>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for creating a photo sticker according to this basic mode.

  When activated, the photo sticker creating apparatus according to the present basic mode waits for the insertion of coins into the insertion slot 26 (step S10). In this standby state, the camera 52 and the confirmation display unit 54 operate, but the main control unit 80 ignores the operation signal from the operation unit 68 and the handwritten image signal from the pen input control unit 76. As a result, even if the push button 114 in the photographing apparatus 10 is pressed, the capture processing by the capture control unit 58 is not executed, and even if the operation panel 20 or the light pens 18R and 18L are operated, the image processing unit 60 or The photo sticker output unit 64 does not operate. In this standby state, when a coin is inserted, a coin signal indicating the coin is input to the main control unit 80 via the I / O control unit 72, and the main control unit 80 is inserted based on the coin signal. Calculate the amount of coins. When a plurality of coins are subsequently inserted, the main control unit 80 adds up the amounts of those coins. When the amount of one coin or the total amount of a plurality of coins inserted subsequently reaches a predetermined amount, the photographing process is started (step S12).

  When the photographing process is started, first, the main control unit 80 sets a timer so as to time out when a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as “photographing time”) elapses, and starts the timer. Thereafter, it is checked by an operation signal whether or not the push button 114 as the operation unit 68 is pressed until time-out occurs. When the push button 114 is pressed during this time, the main control unit 80 informs the user of the start of shooting on the screen of the main display unit 64, and after the elapse of a predetermined time of about several seconds, the main control unit 80 sends a shooting signal (shutter). Signal). Accordingly, the flash 110 emits flash in synchronization with the shutter operation of the camera 52, and the capture control unit 58 starts the capture process. That is, the capture control unit 58 directly receives an image signal output from the camera 52 as a signal representing a photographed image of the user U illuminated by the flash from the flash 110 and stores the image signal in the image processing unit 60 as an image file. To do. In this way, the capture process is executed each time the push button 114 is pressed for a predetermined shooting time, and the shot image is temporarily saved as an image file. When the shooting time elapses, a time-out occurs and the shooting process ends. Even before the shooting time has elapsed, if an operation for instructing the operation panel 20 to end the shooting process is performed, the shooting process ends.

  When the shooting process is finished, the main control unit 80 starts a picture selection process (step S14). In the photo selection process, based on an instruction from the main control unit 80, captured images (usually a plurality of images) represented by the image file stored in the image processing unit 60 in the capture process in the previous shooting process are displayed on the main display unit 62. Is done. Then, based on an operation by the user U who has seen this, one of the captured images represented by the image file is selected. When the photographed image is selected in this way, the main control unit 80 starts a process for inputting a handwritten image based on an operation by the light pens 18L and 18R (hereinafter referred to as “graffiti process”) (step S16). .

  When the scribing process is started, the main control unit 80 first sets a timer so that a time-out occurs when a predetermined time (hereinafter referred to as “graffing time”) elapses, and starts the timer. The main control unit 80 ignores the handwritten image signal from the pen input control unit 76 until the graffiti processing is started, but when the graffiti processing is started, the main control unit 80 outputs from the pen input control unit 76 until a time-out occurs. The received handwritten image signal is received and transferred to the image processing unit 60. The image processing unit 60 synthesizes the image represented by the handwritten image signal with the captured image selected in the photo selection process (hereinafter referred to as “selected captured image”). The composite image obtained in this way is displayed on the main display unit 62. In this way, each time one of the left and right light pens 18R, 18L is operated for a predetermined graffiti time, a handwritten image based on the operation is sequentially combined with the selected photographed image, and the combined image is displayed on the main display. Is displayed on the part 62. By the way, the display screen 22 of the main display device corresponding to the display unit 62 is arranged so as to face the user U, and at least the user U's face or upper body fits when the user U is displayed in a life-size manner. It has a size like this. For this reason, the user U displays his / her life size on the display screen 22 and draws an image corresponding to makeup on the screen 22 with one or both of the left and right light pens 18R and 18L. You can enjoy the experience of doing. When the writing time elapses and the timeout occurs, the main control unit 80 ignores the handwritten image signal output from the pen input control unit 76. Thus, the handwritten image is not combined with the selected photographed image after the graffiti time has elapsed.

  When printing is instructed by an operation on the operation panel 20 after the lapse of the graffiti time or before the lapse of the graffiti time, the main control unit 80 starts print processing (step S18). That is, when the main control unit 80 receives the operation signal indicating the print instruction, the main control unit 80 outputs the composite image displayed on the main display unit 62 at that time via the image processing unit 60 based on the operation signal. 64. As a result, the printer as the photo sticker output unit 64 outputs the composite image as a photo sticker. Thereby, the printing process is completed. The outputted photo sticker is taken out by a user U from an outlet 28 provided on the side surface of the main body 4.

  When the printing process is completed, the process returns to step S10, and a standby state is entered until a coin corresponding to a predetermined amount is newly inserted into the coin insertion slot 26. In this standby state, when a coin corresponding to a predetermined amount is newly inserted, the same processing (steps S12 to S18) as described above is executed, and then the process returns to step S10 again.

<1.7 Effect>
In this basic form, the camera 106, the LCD 108, the circle fluorescent lamp 112, and the flash 110 are integrated as a photographing apparatus 10 as shown in FIG. The photographing apparatus 10 is movable in the front-rear and up-down directions with respect to the user U in the photographing room 2 by the holding mechanism including the movable holding part 12 and the suspension holding part 14, and the horizontal axis is rotated and rotated. The optical axis is held rotatably. For this reason, the user U can arbitrarily set the photographing position (camera position), the photographing direction, and the like within a predetermined range by changing the position and orientation of the photographing apparatus 10 by hand. Moreover, even if the shooting position, shooting direction, etc. are arbitrarily set, the shooting direction is illuminated by the circle fluorescent lamp 112, and the shot image can be confirmed on the LCD 108 in the shooting device 10, so that the user U can be shot easily and satisfactorily. can do.

  In addition, since the floor illumination device 16 is provided in the photographing room 2 and the user U is illuminated upward from the floor F, an unprecedented illumination effect can be obtained. This lighting effect, combined with the high degree of freedom in setting the shooting position and shooting direction, enables shooting with a novel effect.

  Furthermore, the suspension holding part 14 is arranged above the user U in the photographing room 2, and the movable holding part 12 having an upper end attached to the suspension holding part 14 is configured to be extendable in the vertical direction. ing. For this reason, it is possible to obtain a high degree of freedom with respect to the shooting position and the shooting direction while effectively using the limited space of the shooting room 2. In addition, this high degree of freedom enables novel shooting in combination with the lighting effect of the floor illumination device 16. For example, it is possible to photograph from the overhead of the user U while giving a backlight effect by the floor illumination device 16. Furthermore, since the movable holding part 12 is configured to be vertically extendable and retractable, a wide space for operating the light pens 18L and 18R and the operation panel 20 is secured by placing the photographing apparatus 10 upward after photographing. can do.

<1.8 Modification>
In the above basic form, the movable holding part 12 is suspended by the suspension holding part 14 so as to be movable back and forth, but instead, the movable holding part 12 (the uppermost part of the telescopic tube member 121 and the roll spring 123) is suspended. You may attach to the ceiling part of the mounting | wearing holding | maintenance part 14 or the imaging room 2 fixedly. In this case, the position of the photographing apparatus 10 cannot be changed in the front-rear direction, but it can be moved in the vertical direction and the photographing direction can be arbitrarily set. Therefore, a high degree of freedom can be obtained with respect to the photographing position and the photographing direction. It is also possible to take a picture from the overhead of the user U.

<2. Embodiment>
If a certain customer wants to use the photo sticker creating apparatus according to the above basic form and the photo sticker creating apparatus is in use, the customer waits until the photo sticker creation by the current user is completed. That is, there is a waiting order for using the photo sticker creating apparatus. The photo sticker creating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has a function of suppressing the occurrence of such a waiting order. This suppression of the occurrence of waiting for a turn reduces the time (hereinafter referred to as “game time”) from the start of the shooting process (see step S10 in FIG. 9) to the end of the print process (see step S18 in FIG. 9). This is realized by the function of improving the rotation rate of the customer (user of the photo sticker photographing apparatus) (hereinafter referred to as “customer rotation rate increasing function”). Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.

  The configuration of the present embodiment is basically the same as that of the basic mode (see FIGS. 1 to 8). However, in this embodiment, the content of the software that implements the main control unit 80 (see FIG. 8) is different from that in the basic mode, and a photo sticker is created according to the procedure shown in FIG. Is done. Therefore, hereinafter, a processing procedure for creating a photo sticker according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, about each component of this embodiment, the same referential mark as the corresponding component in the said basic form is attached | subjected, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, when the photo sticker creating apparatus is activated, first, the main control unit 80 initializes the customer waiting rank Rw to “0” (step S20), and the customer waiting determination time Tw is the initial value Tw0. (Step S22). Thereafter, the customer waiting counter value Cw is initialized to “0” (step S24). Here, the customer waiting rank Rw, the customer waiting determination time Tw, and the customer waiting counter value Cw are variables introduced in order to realize the above-described rotation rate increasing function. More specifically, the customer waiting determination time Tw is introduced to determine the occurrence status of the above-described waiting for the turn (also referred to as “customer waiting”) based on the idle time of the photo sticker creating apparatus. The waiting counter value Cw is introduced to measure the idle time of the photo sticker creating apparatus. The initial value Tw0 of the customer waiting determination time is set in advance as a counter value Cw corresponding to the upper limit of idle time when customer waiting occurs. The “idle time” is the time from the end of use (printing process) of the photo sticker creating apparatus to the start of use (photographing process) of the photo sticker creating apparatus by a new user, that is, the photo sticker. It means the time from when the creation operation is inhibited until the next photo sticker creation operation is permitted.

  When the customer waiting counter value Cw is initialized, the main control unit 80 determines whether or not the customer waiting counter value Cw is equal to the customer waiting determination time Tw (step S26). Since Cw = 0 at the beginning, it is determined that Cw ≠ Tw, and the process proceeds to step S32 to increase the customer waiting counter value Cw by “1”. Thereafter, the main control unit 80 determines whether or not a coin corresponding to the predetermined amount has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 26 based on the coin signal from the coin input unit 66 (step S34), and the coin corresponding to the predetermined amount. If is not input, the process returns to step S26. Thereafter, unless a predetermined amount of coins is inserted, steps S26 → S32 → S34 are repeatedly executed. During this time, when the customer waiting counter value Cw becomes equal to the customer waiting determination time Tw, unless the customer waiting rank Rw is “0”, the customer waiting rank Rw is decreased by “1” and the customer waiting determination time Tw is updated (step) S26-S31). In updating the customer waiting determination time Tw, a value obtained by adding ΔT to the customer waiting determination time Tw is set as a new customer waiting determination time Tw (step S31). Here, ΔT is a positive value determined in advance, and determines the decreasing rate of the customer waiting rank Rw. After the customer waiting determination time Tw is updated, the customer waiting counter value Cw is increased by “1” in the same manner as described above, and then it is determined whether or not a coin corresponding to a predetermined amount has been inserted into the coin insertion slot 26 (step S32, S34), if no coin corresponding to the predetermined amount has been inserted, the process returns to step S26.

  By executing steps S26 to S34 as described above, the customer waiting rank Rw decreases as the time until a predetermined amount of coins is inserted, that is, as the idle time increases. However, the customer waiting rank Rw does not become smaller than “0”. If a predetermined amount of coins is inserted while steps S26 to S34 are executed in this way, the process proceeds to step S36.

  In step S36, the main control unit 80 determines whether or not the value of the customer waiting counter value Cw is larger than the initial value Tw0 of the customer waiting determination time. As a result, if Cw ≦ Tw0, it is assumed that the customer waiting is occurring, the customer waiting rank Rw is increased by “1” (step S38), and then the process proceeds to step S40. If Cw> Tw0, the customer waiting is received. Without proceeding to step S40 without changing the customer waiting rank Rw.

  In step S40, the main control unit 80 sets the shooting time T1 and the graffiti time T2 according to the customer waiting rank Rw (step S40). At this time, if the customer waiting rank Rw is large, the shooting time T1 and the writing time T2 are set to be short.

  After the shooting time T1 and the scribing time T2 are set in this manner, the shooting process (step S42), the photo selection process (step S44), the same as the basic mode (steps S12 to S18 in FIG. 9), The scribing process (step S46) and the printing process (step S46) are sequentially executed. At this time, the time allowed for the shooting process (shooting time T1) and the time allowed for the graffiti process (graffiti time T2) become shorter as the customer waiting rank Rw increases.

  When the printing process ends, the photo sticker creation operation corresponding to the insertion of a predetermined amount of coins ends, and the process returns to step S22. Thereafter, steps S22 to S48 are repeatedly executed.

  According to the present embodiment as described above, the customer waiting counter value Cw representing the time (idle time) from when the photo sticker creation operation (steps S42 to S48) is completed until a predetermined amount of coins is newly inserted. If the initial value Tw0 of the customer waiting determination time has not been reached, step S30 is not executed and step S38 is executed, so that the customer waiting rank Rw increases by "1" each time the photo sticker creation operation is started. . As the customer waiting rank Rw increases, the shooting time T1 and the writing time T2 become shorter. This means that the shooting time T1 and the writing time T2 become shorter as the idle time becomes shorter, that is, as the degree or possibility of waiting for customers increases. Therefore, when the degree or possibility of waiting for customers increases, the time allowed for photo sticker creation is shortened, the customer turnover rate is improved, and waiting for customers is suppressed. On the other hand, when the customer waiting counter value Cw representing the idle time exceeds the customer waiting determination time Tw, step S30 is executed and step S38 is not executed. Therefore, the customer waiting rank Rw decreases according to the length of the idle time (step). S26 to S31). This means that the longer the idle time, the longer the shooting time T1 and the writing time T2. Accordingly, when waiting for customers does not occur (or when the possibility thereof decreases), the time allowed for photo sticker creation becomes longer.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the shooting time T1 and the graffiti time T2 are adjusted based on the customer waiting rank Rw so that the time allowed for the photo sticker creation (game time) has a positive correlation with the idle time. (Step S40). As a result, when waiting for the turn for using the photo sticker creation device occurs, the waiting time of customers waiting for the turn can be shortened, and when there is little or no possibility of waiting for the turn, a long time, Customers can enjoy creating photo stickers. In other words, according to the present embodiment, the occurrence of waiting for waiting is automatically suppressed, so that customer dissatisfaction due to waiting for waiting can be alleviated. Can be increased.

<3. Game device with customer turnover function>
The method of automatically suppressing the occurrence of turn waiting by the customer turnover function as in the above embodiment is generally applicable to game devices that allow a player to play a game in response to coin insertion. Hereinafter, a game apparatus having such a customer turnover function will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of this game apparatus. This game apparatus is composed of hardware and software corresponding to the contents of a game provided by the game apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “target game”) and a computer that executes the software. , A coin input unit 202, an operation unit 204, an I / O control unit 206, and a main control unit 208. The game apparatus body 200 is realized by hardware and software corresponding to the content of the target game. The coin input unit 202 is realized by a coin slot inserted to start the target game and hardware for detecting the coin inserted, and outputs a coin signal indicating the inserted coin. The operation unit 204 is realized as hardware operated by a player according to the content of the target game, and outputs an operation signal indicating the operation content. The I / O control unit 206 is realized by hardware and software, and transfers a coin signal from the coin input unit 202 and an operation signal from the operation unit 204 to the main control unit 208. The main control unit 208 is realized by software executed by a computer, and controls the game apparatus body 200 according to a coin signal and an operation signal.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for providing a game by the game device configured as described above. In this flowchart, step S200 is used instead of step S40 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, and step S202 is used instead of steps S42 to S48. The other steps are the same as those in the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, and therefore the corresponding steps are denoted by the same step numbers.

  In this game device as well, in the same manner as in the above embodiment, the main control unit 208 takes the time from when the game is finished until the next game is permitted (until a predetermined amount of coins is newly inserted). A certain idle time is represented by a customer waiting counter value Cw, and based on this, a customer waiting rank Rw indicating a customer waiting state is set (steps S20 to S38).

  In the present embodiment, the main control unit 208 sets a game time, which is a time allowed for the target game, according to the customer waiting Rw set as described above (step S200). At this time, if the customer waiting rank Rw is large, the game time is set to be short. Thereafter, the main control unit 208 starts a game control process (step S202). That is, the game apparatus body 200 is controlled in accordance with an operation signal from the operation unit 204. Thus, the target game is allowed during the game time. That is, the player can enjoy the target game in the game device for the game time. After the game time has elapsed, the process returns to step S20, and thereafter, steps S24 to S38, S200, and S202 are repeatedly executed.

  According to this game device, the game time is adjusted so that the game time has a positive correlation with the idle time, as in the above embodiment. For this reason, if the degree or possibility of waiting for a game device is increased, the game time is shortened and the customer turnover rate is improved, and if the turn is no longer waited (or the possibility is reduced), the game time is increased. Becomes longer. Therefore, since the occurrence of waiting for waiting is automatically suppressed, customer dissatisfaction due to waiting for waiting can be alleviated, and the game time is lengthened in a situation where waiting for waiting does not occur, so that customer satisfaction can be improved.

  Note that the setting (adjustment) of the game time in this game apparatus can be performed by changing the sequence and speed in the game control in accordance with the customer waiting rank Rw. The game time can also be adjusted by replacing “1 second” in the second timer used in the game control with, for example, “0.9 seconds” or “0.8 seconds”. Furthermore, the timer setting itself for determining the game time in the game control may be changed according to the customer waiting rank Rw.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Shooting room 4 ... Main-body part 10 ... Imaging device 12 ... Movable holding part 14 ... Suspension holding | maintenance part 16 ... Floor illumination device 18L, 18R ... Light pen 20 ... Operation panel 22 ... Display screen 26 of a main display apparatus 26 ... Coin Slot 28 ... Photo sticker outlet 52 ... Camera 54 ... Confirmation display (LCD)
58 ... Capture control unit 60 ... Image processing unit 62 ... Main display unit (main display device)
64 ... Photo sticker output unit (printer)
66 ... Coin input part 68 ... Operation part (operation panel, push button)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 70 ... Illumination part 74 ... Pen input part 80 ... Main control part 102a, 102b ... Grasping part 106 ... Camera 108 ... LCD
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 110 ... Flash 112 ... Circle fluorescent lamp 114 ... Push button 200 ... Game apparatus main body 202 ... Coin input part 204 ... Operation part 208 ... Main control part Dp ... Shooting direction U ... User

Claims (7)

A photography game apparatus that provides a game for generating a composite image obtained by combining a captured image and a predetermined editing image,
Photographing means for photographing a user;
Editing means for editing a photographed image photographed by the photographing means;
When a predetermined amount of payment is detected, a plurality of processes for providing the game are executed in a predetermined order, and each of a part of the plurality of processes that require an operation input by the user Control means for setting the length of the permissible time during which the processing is allowed based on the operating status of the photography game device,
A photography game device characterized by comprising: The partial processing includes a photographing process for acquiring the photographed image by the photographing unit, and a graffiti process for receiving an editing operation on the photographed image by the editing unit,
2. The photographic game device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit sets the length of time for executing the shooting process and the length of time for executing a graffiti process as the allowable time. The control means sets the allowable time to be shorter as the number of times the plurality of processes are executed without the idle time of the photography game device being longer than a predetermined time. The photography game apparatus according to 1 or 2. 4. The photographic game device according to claim 3, wherein the control means does not decrease the allowable time when the idle time is longer than the predetermined time. 5. The photographic game device according to claim 3, wherein when the idle time is longer than the predetermined time, the control unit sets the allowable time to be longer as the idle time becomes longer. . The control means includes a timer for controlling execution of the game, and sets the length of the allowable time by changing the length of the unit time in the timer. The photography game device according to any one of 5 to 5. A game device that allows a game for a predetermined play time when a predetermined amount of money is detected,
Control means for setting the length of the game time based on the operating state of the game device;
The game device characterized in that the control means includes a timer for controlling the execution of the game, and sets the length of the game time by changing the length of the unit time in the timer.

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