JP5198808B2 - game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine.

Conventionally, arcade game machines have their own operation units such as operation sticks and push buttons installed on the game machine. In these game machines, it is common to operate the operation unit to play a game. is there. For example, Patent Documents 1 to 4 show examples of game machines having an installed operation unit.
JP-A-8-828 JP-A-10-156040 JP 2002-282529 A JP 2006-346001 A

  However, the operation method of a specific operation unit such as an operation stick or a push button installed in the game machine cannot be changed by the user. Further, the operation method is not necessarily the same as a general operation tool used in a home video game. Therefore, even if it was difficult for the user to use it, it had to be adapted to the specification.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine that is easy for a user to operate.

  The present invention solves the above problems by the following means. In addition, in order to make an understanding easy, although the code | symbol corresponding to embodiment of this invention is attached | subjected and demonstrated, it is not limited to this.

The invention of claim 1 includes a play control device, an operation unit substrate detachably connected to the play control device by a connector, and an operation tool substrate detachably connected to the operation unit substrate by a connector, A game machine installed in a game facility, wherein the operation unit substrate is connected to a specific operation unit, and an operation unit substrate control unit that outputs an operation signal of the operation unit to the play control device. The operation tool board includes a general- purpose connector for detachably connecting a general-purpose operation tool, and an operation tool board for outputting an operation signal of the operation tool to the play control device via the operation unit board. A control unit, wherein the play control device selects one of the unique operation unit and an operation tool connected to the general-purpose connector as an operation input unit. 23 24) and an operation accepting means (21) for accepting an operation by the operation tool instead of the specific operation part when the operation tool is selected by the operation part selecting means (21, 22, 23, 24). , 22, 23, 24).

The invention of claim 2 is the game machine according to claim 1, wherein the operation receiving means (21, 22, 23, 24) is a combination of at least two of the plurality of operation members provided on said operating member The game machine can be used in the same manner as at least one operation member of the unique operation unit.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the first or second aspect , the operation unit selecting means (21, 22, 23, 24) is based on an output of the operation tool board control unit. When it is determined that the general-purpose operation tool is connected to a general-purpose connector, the operation tool is selected as an operation input unit.
A fourth aspect of the present invention is the game machine according to the third aspect , further comprising a fee storage unit (18), wherein the operation unit selection means (21, 22, 23, 24) stores a fee in the fee storage unit. The game machine is characterized in that a process of selecting the operation tool as an operation input means is performed during a period from the start to play .

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) The present invention provides an operation pad that a user is accustomed to using with a personal computer, a home video game machine, etc., as well as a specific operation unit such as an operation stick and a push button installed on the game machine. But you can use it. Therefore, users of personal computers, home video games, etc. who have avoided business video games due to the difference in operational feeling can easily enjoy the business game machines.

(2) Since the present invention can use the operation pad of the home video game machine only when an additional fee is paid, the user of the home video game machine can be taken in for the game center manager. New revenue opportunities can be secured.
(3) Since the present invention provides an operation tool connection section that can be connected by providing a connection terminal in the game machine, and associates the operation section of the game machine with the operation of the operation tool, various operations currently on the market Pads, especially the widely used USB operation pads, are available.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine that is easy for a user to operate. The game machine has a unique operation unit, an operation tool connection unit for detachably connecting the operation tool, a unique operation unit, When the operation tool is selected by the operation unit selection means, the operation unit selection means for selecting any of the operation tools connected to the operation tool connection section as the operation input means, instead of the specific operation section, This is realized by including an operation accepting means for accepting an operation by the operation tool.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This is merely an example, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to this.

[Overview of game console]
FIG. 1 is an overview of the game machine 10. In addition to the operation stick 11 and the push buttons 12 to 14 as the unique operation unit 35, a display 16 such as a liquid crystal display device for displaying the progress of the game, speakers 17-1 to 17-4 for outputting game sounds, coins A charge storage unit 18 for inserting a game, and a game start button 19 for starting a game. Further, a USB connector 42 for connecting a USB (Universal Serial Bus) operation pad, which will be described later, is installed so as to be exposed on the front surface of the game machine 10. The game machine 10 is a large-sized device installed in a game center or the like. For example, the game machine 10 is a video game machine that performs a role-playing game in which a player operates a character to fight a virtual enemy.

[Game console configuration diagram]
FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of the game machine 10.
The main unit 20 of the game machine 10 is a computer, and is an information processing apparatus including a control unit 21, a calculation unit 22, a ROM 23, a RAM 24, an input / output unit 25, and a board connector 26.

  The control unit 21 realizes various functions according to the present invention in cooperation with the hardware described above. The calculation unit 22 reads a program stored in the ROM 23 and performs calculation processing. The control unit 21 and the calculation unit 22 are composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like. The ROM 23 is a read-only memory in which a game program is stored in addition to the management program. The ROM 23 stores a table to be described later. The RAM 24 is a semiconductor memory capable of writing and reading data at any time, and is used as a work area when the arithmetic unit 22 executes arithmetic processing. The input / output unit 25 inputs data from the charge storage unit 18 and outputs data to the display 16 and the speaker 17. The board connector 26 is a connector for connecting the I / O board 30 and the main unit 20 of the game machine 10. In the present embodiment, communication is performed between the main unit 20 of the game machine 10 and the I / O board 30 based on the JVS standard (JAMMA VIDEO STANDARD). The JVS standard is a standard standardized by each game maker regarding the connection between a video game machine board and peripheral devices.

The I / O board 30 is an electric board for receiving an input from the specific operation unit 35 and transmitting a signal to the main unit 20 of the game machine 10. The I / O board 30 includes a control unit 31, a dedicated connector 32, and board connectors 33 and 34. Composed.
The control unit 31 controls communication performed through the dedicated connector 32 and the board connectors 33 and 34. The dedicated connector 32 is a connector that receives an operation signal from the specific operation unit 35. The board connector 33 is connected to the board connector 26 of the main unit 20 of the game machine 10, and performs communication between the main unit 20 of the game machine 10 and the I / O board 30. The board connector 34 is connected to the board connector 43 of the I / O board 40, and performs communication between the I / O board 30 and the I / O board 40. The I / O board 30 is a JVS standard electric board, and has board connectors 33 and 34 for connection between boards as a standard. The unique operation unit 35 constitutes a part of the game machine 10 and performs an operation when the user plays a game.

The I / O board 40 receives an input of a commercially available USB operation pad 50 used in a device such as a personal computer or a home video game machine, and sends a signal to the main unit 20 of the game machine via the I / O board 30. This is an electric board for transmitting the signal, and includes a control unit 41, a USB connector 42, and board connectors 43 and 44.
The control unit 41 controls communication performed via the USB connector 42 and the board connector 43. The USB connector 42 is an input-side connector that receives an operation signal from the USB operation pad 50. The board connector 43 is connected to the board connector 34 of the I / O board 30 and performs communication between the I / O board 30 and the I / O board 40. The board connector 44 can also be connected to other I / O boards, but in this embodiment, it is subjected to terminator processing and is not connected to other I / O boards. The I / O board 40 is also a board of JVS standard, and has board connectors 43 and 44 for connection between boards as a standard. The I / O board 40 is obtained by replacing the dedicated connector 32 of the I / O board 30 with a USB connector 42 and performing control by the control unit 41. The USB operation pad 50 is a commercially available operation pad having a USB connection terminal used in a personal computer, a home video game machine, and the like. As will be described later, the USB operation pad 50 is connected to the USB connector 42 so that the user can operate the game. I do.

[Operation section]
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the unique operation unit 35. The unique operation unit 35 constitutes a part of the game machine 10 and is installed on the game machine 10 and cannot be attached or detached unless a tool or the like is used. Therefore, the user (player) cannot remove it. In FIG. 3A, an example composed of the operation stick 11 and the push buttons 12-14, and in FIG. 3B, an example composed of the operation stick 11 and the push buttons 12-14, 36, 37. Show. The operation stick 11 can tilt 360 degrees in all directions, and its movement is decomposed and recognized in four directions j, k, m, and n in the front, rear, left, and right directions, and input to the dedicated connector 32 as a signal.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the USB operation pad 50. The operation unit of the USB operation pad 50 includes a cross key 51 and push buttons 52 to 55. The cross key 51 can be operated in 360 degrees in all directions, and its movement is decomposed and recognized in four directions j, k, m, and n in the front, rear, left, and right directions, and input to the USB connector 42 as a signal. The USB operation pad 50 further includes a cable 57 provided with a USB connection terminal 56 for detachably connecting to the USB connector 42.

[table]
FIG. 5 is an operation correspondence table between the USB operation pad 50 and the specific operation unit 35, and is stored in the ROM 23. FIG. 5A shows the correspondence between the operation 100 of the USB operation pad 50 and the operation 101 of the unique operation unit 35 when the unique operation unit 35 has the configuration of FIG. In this case, since the number of push buttons of the unique operation unit 35 is smaller than the number of push buttons of the USB operation pad 50, the operation of the D push button (push button 55) of the USB operation pad 50 is invalidated.

  FIG. 5B shows the correspondence between the operation 110 of the USB operation pad 50 and the operation 111 of the unique operation unit 35 when the unique operation unit 35 has the configuration of FIG. In this case, since the number of push buttons of the specific operation unit 35 is larger than the number of push buttons of the USB operation pad 50, the push button A (push button 52) and the push button B (push button 53) of the USB operation pad 50 are used. ) At the same time is made to correspond to the operation when the Y push button (push button 37) of the unique operation unit 35 is pushed. In this way, the game can be operated even when the number of unique operation units 35 and the number of push buttons on the USB operation pad 50 are different. Further, even when the unique operation unit 35 is composed of an operation unit different from the operation stick 11 and the push buttons 12 to 14, 36, 37, etc., signals for operations that can be performed using these operation units are provided. , Corresponding to a combination of operations using the cross key 51 and the push buttons 52 to 55 of the USB operation pad 50 (for example, pressing the push button 52 and the push button 53 while pushing the cross key 51 in the direction of j). Thus, the same processing can be performed.

[Processing flow]
Next, processing of the game machine 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
When a fee is charged in the fee storage unit 18, the control unit 21 (operation unit selection means) first selects the operation of the specific operation unit 35 to be effective (S1000). Then, the control unit 21 monitors whether or not the game start button 19 has been pressed (S1010). When the game start button 19 is pressed, the control unit 21 starts the game (S1010: Yes). Until the game start button 19 is pressed (S1010: No), the control unit 21 (operation unit selection means) monitors whether or not the USB operation pad 50 is connected to the USB connector 42 (S1020). If the game start button 19 is pressed (S1010: Yes) before the USB operation pad 50 is connected (S1020: No), the control unit 21 starts the game. When the control unit 21 (operation unit selection means) detects that the USB operation pad 50 is connected to the USB connector 42 before the game start button 19 is pressed, based on a signal from the I / O board 40 (S1020: Yes). ), The control unit 21 (operation unit selection means) selects the subsequent operation to enable the USB operation pad 50 in place of the specific operation unit 35 (S1030). Specifically, processing such as providing a flag in the RAM 24 and turning on the flag is performed. Thereafter, the control unit 21 (operation receiving means) starts a process of replacing the operation by the USB operation pad 50 with the operation signal by the specific operation unit 35 according to the correspondence table (FIG. 5) (S1040). Then, the control unit 21 waits for the game start button to be pressed (S1050), and when the game start button is pressed (S1050: Yes), starts the game.

  In this way, the arcade game machine can be used not only for operation sticks and push buttons that are installed in the game machine, but also for operation pads that users are accustomed to using with personal computers, home video game machines, etc. But you can use it. Therefore, a user such as a personal computer or a home video game machine who has avoided the arcade game due to the difference in operation feeling can easily enjoy the arcade game machine. Further, since the operation pad 50 having the USB connection terminal 56 can be connected to the game machine 10, a commercially available USB operation pad 50 can be used as it is.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described.
In the second embodiment, the operation unit selection means changes the conditions for selecting the USB operation pad 50 to be valid instead of the unique operation unit 35.
Note that, in the following description and drawings, the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals are given to the portions that perform the same functions as those in the first embodiment described above, and overlapping descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

Since the second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except for the processing flow of the game machine 10, only the processing flow will be described with reference to FIG.
After detecting that the USB operation pad 50 is connected to the USB connector 42 (S1020: Yes), the control unit 21 (operation unit selection means) does not immediately activate the USB operation pad 50, and the charge storage unit 18 It is monitored whether or not an additional fee has been charged (S1025). When the control unit 21 (operation unit selection unit) detects that an additional fee has been input to the fee storage unit 18 based on a signal from the fee storage unit 18 (S1025: Yes), the same processing as in the first embodiment is performed. Processing is performed (S1030 to S1050).
In addition, if the control part 21 (operation part selection means) detects that the additional charge was thrown into the charge storage part 18 (S1025: No), if the game start button 19 is pressed (S1010: Yes). The control unit 21 starts the game. In this case, the USB operation pad 50 is not effective.

  As described above, the game machine according to the second embodiment allows a game center manager to find a new revenue opportunity by allowing only the paying user to use the USB operation pad 50.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible, and they are also in the scope of the present invention. In addition, the effects described in the embodiments are merely a list of the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are not limited to those described in the embodiments. In addition, although embodiment mentioned above and the deformation | transformation form mentioned later can also be used in combination as appropriate, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

(Deformation)
In the above embodiment, the example in which the USB connector 42 is provided on the I / O board 40 and the USB operation pad 50 is connected has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and interface standards other than USB may be used. The feature of the present invention is that, in the arcade game machine, in addition to the inherent operation unit installed, a removable operation tool can be connected.
In the above embodiment, the example in which the USB operation pad 50 is connected to the USB connector 42 with a cable has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and infrared communication such as IrDA (Infrared Data Association: a communication standard for transferring data using infrared rays) or wireless communication using electromagnetic waves may be used. By making the connection method wireless, the operation pad can be freely operated without being distracted by the cable management.
In the above embodiment, the example in which the operation unit of the USB operation pad 50 includes the cross key 51 and the push buttons 52 to 55 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. An operation unit such as an operation stick or a handle may be provided. In this case, if a correspondence table of operations between the operation unit and the specific operation unit 35 is provided, processing can be performed in the same manner, and pads corresponding to various operations can be provided.

1 is an overview of a game machine 10 according to an example of the present embodiment. It is a lineblock diagram of game machine 10 concerning an example of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific operation part 35 which concerns on an example of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the USB operation pad 50 which concerns on an example of this embodiment. 4 is an operation correspondence table between a USB operation pad 50 and a specific operation unit 35 according to an example of the present embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the process of the game machine 10 which concerns on an example of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the flowchart of the process of the game machine 10 which concerns on an example of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game machine 11 Operation stick 12-14, 36, 37, 52-55 Push button 16 Display 17 Speaker 18 Charge storage part 20 Game machine main body 21, 31, 41 Control part 22 Calculation part 23 ROM
24 RAM
25 I / O section 30, 40 I / O board 26, 33, 34, 43, 44 Board connector
32 Dedicated connector 35 Unique operation part (operation stick + push button)
42 USB connector 50 USB operation pad 51 Four-way controller 56 USB connection terminal 57 Cable

Claims (4)

A play control device;
An operation unit board detachably connected to the play control device by a connector;
An operation tool board detachably connected to the operation part board by a connector;
A game machine installed in a game facility,
The operation unit substrate is
A unique control unit is connected,
An operation unit board control unit that outputs an operation signal of the operation unit to the play control device;
The operation tool substrate is:
A general- purpose connector for detachably connecting a general- purpose operation tool ;
An operation tool substrate control unit that outputs an operation signal of the operation tool to the play control device via the operation unit substrate;
The play control device
An operation unit selecting means for selecting any one of the unique operation unit and an operation tool connected to the general-purpose connector as an operation input means;
When the operation tool is selected by the operation unit selection unit, an operation receiving unit that receives an operation by the operation tool instead of the unique operation unit;
A game machine comprising: The game machine according to claim 1 ,
The operation accepting unit can be used in the same manner as at least one operation member of the unique operation unit by combining and operating at least two of the plurality of operation members provided on the operation tool. Machine. In the game machine according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The operation unit selection means selects the operation tool as an operation input means when it is determined that the general-purpose operation tool is connected to the general-purpose connector based on the output of the operation tool board control unit. A game machine characterized by this. The game machine according to claim 3 ,
It has a charge storage section,
The operation unit selecting means performs a process of selecting the operation tool as an operation input means after a fee is stored in the fee storage unit until a play is started .
A game machine characterized by

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