JP7007906B2 - Game device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game device.

Conventionally, a so-called online game has been performed in which a plurality of players operate a game device to play a game by using a server connected via a network and a plurality of game devices. In such an online game, for the purpose of preventing fraud of the player, a plurality of game devices competing against each other transmit a moving image (including an image) generated by imaging the player to each other. Each game device may display the moving image received from the other game device.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes a game device including an image pickup unit, a transmission / reception unit, and a display unit. The transmission / reception unit transmits the video of the own player captured by the imaging unit to the other party's game device, and receives the video of the other party's player from the other party's game device. The display unit displays the received video of the other player.

International Publication No. 2015/173962

By the way, since video data generally has a large capacity, a delay occurs in a configuration in which a video is transmitted from a game device, which is a client, to a game device of the other party, which is another client, via a server, resulting in a real-time game. Sex is impaired. Therefore, in an online game as described above, a configuration in which game devices perform P2P (Peer to Peer) communication and video is transmitted and received between game devices is often adopted.

However, when the P2P communication configuration is adopted in this way, if a player who is disadvantaged in the situation illegally disconnects the communication and commits an illegal act such as ending the game, the data as evidence is sent to the server side. It was difficult to verify whether it was a fraudulent act because it did not remain.

The present invention has been made to solve such a problem, and an object thereof is a case where there is a possibility that the player has cheated while avoiding the delay of the moving image by P2P communication. The purpose is to provide a game device capable of reliably preserving evidence data for verification of fraudulent activity.

The game device according to the present invention is a game device connected to a server and another game device via a communication network, and is generated by imaging the surroundings of a storage unit, a display unit, and the other game device. A predetermined video transmission condition is satisfied with a receiving unit that receives a moving image, a storage processing unit that stores the moving image received by the receiving unit in the storage unit, a display processing unit that displays the moving image received by the receiving unit on the display unit, and a predetermined moving image transmission unit. A determination unit that determines whether or not the game has been played, and a first transmission unit that transmits at least a part of the moving image stored in the storage unit to the server when the determination unit determines that the predetermined video transmission condition is satisfied. It is characterized by having.

According to the present invention, there is provided a game device capable of reliably preserving evidence data for verification of fraudulent activity when there is a possibility that the player has committed fraudulent activity while avoiding video delay by P2P communication. can do.

It is a network block diagram which shows an example of the game system 1 which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a server 10. It is a schematic external view of the game apparatus 20. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of a game apparatus 20. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation sequence which concerns on the matching process and the game progress process by a game system 1. It is a figure which shows an example of a game screen. It is a figure which shows an example of the operation flow which concerns on the moving image transmission processing by a game apparatus 20.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, it should be noted that the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to those embodiments and extends to the inventions described in the claims and their equivalents.

(1) Configuration of Game System 1 FIG. 1 is a network configuration diagram showing an example of a game system 1. The game system 1 is a system for executing a darts game as an example of an online game. The game system 1 has a server 10 and a plurality of game devices 20 connected to each other by a communication network 2 such as the Internet. The plurality of game devices 20 are installed in different stores, for example. The plurality of game devices 20 may be installed in the same store.

(2) Configuration of Each Device (2-1) Configuration of Server 10 FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the server 10. The server 10 is an information processing device for executing a process related to player matching and a process related to the progress of a darts game. The server 10 includes a server communication unit 11, a server storage unit 12, and a server processing unit 13.

The server communication unit 11 includes a communication interface circuit for connecting the server 10 to the communication network 2, and communicates with the communication network 2. The server communication unit 11 supplies the data received from the game device 20 and the like to the server processing unit 13. Further, the server communication unit 11 transmits the data supplied from the server processing unit 13 to the game device 20 and the like.

The server storage unit 12 includes, for example, at least one of a magnetic tape device, a magnetic disk device, and an optical disk device. The server storage unit 12 stores operating system programs, driver programs, application programs, data, and the like used for processing in the server processing unit 13. For example, the server storage unit 12 stores, as an application program, a program for executing a matching process for matching a plurality of players as opponents, a program for advancing a darts game, and the like. The computer program may be installed in the server storage unit 12 from a computer-readable portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM using a known setup program or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be installed in the server storage unit 12 by being downloaded from another information processing device via the communication network 2 or the like.

The server processing unit 13 includes one or more processors and peripheral circuits thereof. The server processing unit 13 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the overall operation of the server 10 in an integrated manner. The server processing unit 13 controls the operation of the server communication unit 11 and the like so that various processes of the server 10 are executed by an appropriate procedure based on the program and the like stored in the server storage unit 12. The server processing unit 13 includes a matching processing unit 131, a game progress unit 132, and a moving image reception unit 133. The matching processing unit 131 executes, for example, a matching process of matching a plurality of players as opponents. The game progress unit 132 executes, for example, a process related to the progress of the darts game. The video receiving unit 133 receives, for example, a video transmitted by the game device 20.

(2-2) Configuration of Game Device 20 FIG. 3 is a schematic external view of the game device 20. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the game device 20. The game device 20 is a game device for a player to play a darts game. The game device 20 includes a game device communication unit 21, a game device storage unit 22, an operation unit 23, a display unit 24, a card slot CS, a card RW unit 25, a dartboard DB, a detection unit 26, and the like. It includes a coin insertion unit 27, an image pickup unit 28, and a game device processing unit 29. In the darts game, the player throws darts toward the dartboard DB from a field appropriately set in front of the game device 20.

The game device communication unit 21 includes a communication interface circuit for connecting the game device 20 to the communication network 2, and communicates with the communication network 2. The game device communication unit 21 supplies data received from the server 10 and other game devices 20 and the like to the game device processing unit 29 via the communication network 2. Further, the game device communication unit 21 transmits the data supplied from the game device processing unit 29 to the server 10 and other game devices 20 via the communication network 2.

The game device storage unit 22 includes, for example, at least one of a magnetic tape device, a magnetic disk device, or an optical disk device. The game device storage unit 22 stores operating system programs, driver programs, application programs, data, and the like used for processing in the game device processing unit 29. For example, the game device storage unit 22 stores a program for advancing a darts game or the like as an application program. Further, for example, the game device storage unit 22 stores a moving image received from another game device 20 via the communication network 2 or the like. The computer program may be installed in the game device storage unit 22 from a computer-readable portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM using a known setup program or the like. Alternatively, the computer program may be installed in the game device storage unit 22 by being downloaded from the server 10 or another information processing device via the communication network 2 or the like.

The operation unit 23 is for the player to perform various operations, and is realized by, for example, an operation button provided on the operation panel. The operation unit 23 receives the operation of the player and transmits a signal corresponding to the operation to the game device processing unit 29 or the like.

The display unit 24 may be any device as long as it can display an image, an image, or the like, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, or the like. The display unit 24 may be integrated with the operation unit 23 by, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel display. The display unit 24 displays an image or a moving image according to the data supplied from the game device processing unit 29.

The card slot CS is an insertion slot for inserting a game card owned by the player. The game device 20 is provided with four card slots CS so that a maximum of four players can play a game. In addition, a card slot CS having more than four cards may be provided so that a game match can be played with more than four players.

The card RW unit 25 can read the card ID or the like recorded on the game card owned by the player, or write the information or the like obtained from the game result on the game card.

The dartboard DB is a board that is the target of a darts game. The dartboard DB is divided into a plurality of target areas, and a large number of small holes are provided in each of the target areas. The tip of the darts thrown by the player is received by one of a number of holes provided in the target area.

The detection unit 26 is provided with a membrane switch provided corresponding to each of the target areas to detect that the darts are stuck in the target area, and to detect that the thrown darts have deviated from the target area. It has a vibration sensor. The detection unit 26 detects where the darts stabbed / not stabbed in the target area based on the signals of the membrane switch and the vibration sensor, and transmits the detection signal to the game device processing unit 29.

The coin insertion unit 27 includes an insertion slot for inserting coins and a sensor for detecting coins inserted from the insertion slot. In the game device 20, a predetermined number of coins are inserted from the coin slot by the player, so that the game can be played. In the game device 20, the game may be playable without inserting coins from the coin slot.

The image pickup unit 28 is composed of, for example, a video camera or the like, generates a moving image by imaging the surroundings of the game device 20, and outputs the moving image to the game device processing unit 29. Here, the moving image means at least one image that is continuous in time series, and is used as including a single image. The image pickup unit 28 images, for example, a player, a field of a darts game, a game device 20, and the like around the game device 20. The image pickup unit 28 may perform imaging while zooming or panning under the control of the game device processing unit 29.

The game device processing unit 29 includes one or a plurality of processors and peripheral circuits thereof. The game device processing unit 29 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the overall operation of the game device 20 in an integrated manner. The game device processing unit 29 controls the operation of the game device communication unit 21 and the like so that various processes of the game device 20 are executed in an appropriate procedure based on the program and the like stored in the game device storage unit 22. ..

The game device processing unit 29 includes a matching request unit 291, a game progress unit 292, a reception unit 293, a storage processing unit 294, a display processing unit 295, a determination unit 296, a first transmission unit 297, and a second. It includes a transmission unit 298 and an instruction reception unit 299. Each of these parts is a functional module realized by a program executed by the processor included in the game device processing unit 29. Alternatively, each of these parts may be mounted on the game device 20 as firmware. The matching request unit 291 transmits, for example, a matching request from the player received by the game device 20 to the server 10 via the communication network 2. The game progress unit 292 executes, for example, a process related to the progress of the darts game. The receiving unit 293 receives, for example, a moving image received from another game device. The storage processing unit 294 stores, for example, the moving image received by the reception unit 293 in the game device storage unit 22. The display processing unit 295, for example, synthesizes data and / or other moving images related to the progress of the darts game received by the receiving unit 293 and displays them on the display unit 24. The determination unit 296 determines, for example, whether or not a predetermined moving image transmission condition is satisfied. The predetermined moving image transmission condition is, for example, that the reception of the moving image by the receiving unit 293 is blocked. The first transmission unit 297 transmits, for example, at least a part of the moving image stored in the game device storage unit 22 to the server 10. The second transmission unit 298 transmits, for example, the moving image generated by the image pickup unit 28 to another game device. The instruction receiving unit 299 receives, for example, a user's instruction.

(3) Operation of the game system 1 Next, the operation of the game system 1 will be described. In the following, it is assumed that the player A and the player B become opponents of each other by matching, the game device operated by the player A is referred to as a game device 20A, and the game device operated by the player B is referred to as a game device 20B. Further, as appropriate, a reference numeral "A" is added to the end of each configuration included in the game device 20A, and a reference numeral "B" is added to the end of each configuration included in the game device 20B.

(3-1) Matching Process and Game Progress Process FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation sequence related to the matching process and the game progress process by the game system 1. This operation sequence is mainly based on the programs stored in the server storage unit 12, the game device storage unit 22A, and the game device storage unit 22B in advance, and is mainly used for the server processing unit 13, the game device processing unit 29A, and the game device processing unit. The unit 29B executes the operation in cooperation with each element of the server 10, the game device 20A, and the game device 20B.

(Step S101)
First, the operation unit 23A of the game device 20A accepts the operation of the matching request by the player A. For example, the player A inputs information such as the ID of the player A and the type of the desired game as the information included in the matching request.

(Step S102)
Next, the matching request unit 291A of the game device 20A transmits the matching request received in step S101 to the server 10.

(Step S103)
Similar to step S101, the operation unit 23B of the game device 20B accepts the operation of the matching request by the player B.

(Step S104)
Next, the matching request unit 291B of the game device 20B transmits the matching request received in step S103 to the server 10.

(Step S105)
Next, the matching processing unit 131 of the server 10 performs matching processing. Here, it is assumed that the player A and the player B are matched as opponents of each other by the matching process.

(Step S106)
Next, the matching processing unit 131 of the server 10 transmits to each of the game device 20A and the game device 20B a battle decision notification which is information indicating that the player A and the player B have become opponents of each other.

(Step S107)
Next, the server 10, the game device 20A, and the game device 20B execute the progress processing of the darts game. At this time, the score, the number of rounds, and other data (game data) related to the progress of the darts game are transmitted and received between the server 10, the game device 20A, and the game device 20B, respectively. Further, the moving image data of the game device 20A and the game device 20B are transmitted and received between the game device 20A and the game device 20B, respectively.

Specifically, the game progress unit 292A of the game device 20A assigns the score of the player A to each of the server 10 and the game device 20B based on the detection signal generated by the detection unit 26A when the player A throws darts. Etc. are transmitted. Further, the image pickup unit 28A of the game device 20A generates a moving image by imaging the surroundings of the game device 20A (player A, the field of the darts game, the game device 20A, etc.) and outputs the moving image to the game device processing unit 29A. .. Then, the second transmission unit 298A of the game device processing unit 29A transmits the moving image of the periphery of the game device 20A to the game device 20B. Further, the display processing unit 295A of the game device 20A synthesizes the data related to the progress of the darts game received from the server 10 and the game device 20B and the moving image of the surroundings of the game device 20B received from the game device 20B. Then, the game screen described later is displayed on the display unit 24A.

Similarly, the game progress unit 292B of the game device 20B can be used to the server 10 and the game device 20A, respectively, based on the detection signal generated by the detection unit 26B when the player B throws darts. Send data showing the score etc. Further, the image pickup unit 28B of the game device 20B generates a moving image by imaging the surroundings of the game device 20B (player B, darts game field, game device 20B, etc.) and outputs the moving image to the game device processing unit 29B. .. Then, the second transmission unit 298B of the game device processing unit 29B transmits the moving image of the periphery of the game device 20B to the game device 20A. Further, the display processing unit 295B of the game device 20B synthesizes the data related to the progress of the darts game received from the server 10 and the game device 20A and the moving image of the surroundings of the game device 20A received from the game device 20A. Then, the game screen described later is displayed on the display unit 24B.

Here, an example of the game screen 500 displayed on the display unit 24A of the game device 20A and the display unit 24B of the game device 20B will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the game screen 500 includes a game data area 501, a moving image area 502A, and a moving image area 502B. In the game data area 501, the scores, the number of rounds, and other data related to the progress of the darts game are displayed for each of the player A and the player B. In the moving image area 502A, a moving image generated by the imaging unit 28A taking an image of the surroundings of the game device 20A (player A, the game device 20A, etc.) is displayed. In the player B moving image area 502B, a moving image generated by the imaging unit 28B taking an image of the surroundings of the game device 20B (player B, the game device 20B, etc.) is displayed.

(3-2) Video Transmission Processing FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an operation flow related to the video transmission processing by the game device 20. The operation flow is executed mainly by the game device processing unit 29 in cooperation with each element of the game device 20 based on the program stored in the game device storage unit 22 in advance. In the operation flow, the determination unit 296 of the game device 20 determines whether or not the reception of the moving image transmitted from the other game device by the reception unit 293 is blocked. Then, when it is determined that the video is blocked, the first transmission unit 297 of the game device 20 transmits at least a part of the moving image to the server 10.

Hereinafter, when a darts game is being executed between the game device 20A and the game device 20B, an example in which the game device 20A transmits a moving image of the surroundings of the game device 20B to the server 10 will be described. ..

(Step S201)
First, the determination unit 296A of the game device processing unit 29A resets the count value N when the darts game is started (N → 0).

(Step S202)
Next, the determination unit 296A determines whether or not the reception unit 293A has received the moving image from the game device 20B.

(Step S203)
When it is determined in step S202 that the receiving unit 293A is receiving the moving image from the game device 20B (step S202; Yes), the determination unit 296A resets the count value N (N → 0).

(Step S204)
Next, the storage processing unit 294A stores the moving image received by the receiving unit 293A from the game device 20B in the game device storage unit 22A. Then, the process returns to step S202.

(Step S205)
On the other hand, when it is determined in step S202 that the receiving unit 293A has not received the moving image from the game device 20B (step S202; No), the determination unit 296A increases the count value N by 1 (N → N +). 1).

(Step S206)
Next, the determination unit 296A determines whether or not the count value N is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. If it is determined in step S206 that the count value N is not equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (step S206; No), the process returns to step S202. Here, a predetermined threshold value can be arbitrarily set. By setting a predetermined threshold value, the game device 20A can be set to transmit the moving image to the server 10 when the receiving unit 293A has not received the moving image for a predetermined time continuously. ..

(Step S207)
When it is determined in step S206 that the count value N is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value (step S206; Yes), the first transmission unit 297A is a moving image around the game device 20B stored in the game device storage unit 22A. At least a part is transmitted to the server 10. At this time, the first transmission unit 297A may transmit all the moving images stored in the game device storage unit 22 to the server 10. Alternatively, the first transmission unit 297A may transmit a part of the moving image stored in the game device storage unit 22 to the server 10. At this time, a part of the moving image transmitted by the first transmitting unit 297A may be a part of the moving image stored in the game device storage unit 22 that is the latest in time series, or a part that is not the latest. You may. When the instruction receiving unit 299 receives the user's instruction, the first transmitting unit 297A transmits at least a part of the moving image around the game device 20B stored in the game device storage unit 22A to the server 10. May be good. This completes the video transmission process.

As described above, the determination unit 296 of the game device 20 determines whether or not the reception of the moving image transmitted from the other game device by the reception unit 293 is blocked. Then, when it is determined that the video is blocked, the first transmission unit 297 of the game device 20 transmits at least a part of the moving image to the server 10. Then, the server 10 receives the moving image transmitted from the game device 20 via the moving image receiving unit 133 or the like. The server 10 can identify the cause of the communication failure based on the moving image. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to reliably preserve evidence data for verification of fraudulent activity when there is a possibility that the player has committed fraudulent activity while avoiding video delay by P2P communication. Become.

In the above-described embodiment, the predetermined moving image transmission condition determined by the determination unit 296 is that the reception of the moving image by the receiving unit 293 is blocked, but the present invention is not limited to this. The predetermined video transmission condition may be, for example, that the video received by the receiving unit 293 includes a predetermined fraudulent act by the player. Here, the predetermined fraudulent activity and the configuration provided in the determination unit 296 for determining the predetermined fraudulent activity are not particularly limited. For example, the predetermined fraudulent act includes an act of the player covering the image pickup unit 28 with a hand or the like to interfere with the image pickup. In that case, the determination unit 296 may have an arbitrary configuration for determining that the moving image received by the reception unit 293 includes the disturbing act. For example, the determination unit 296 recognizes and recognizes a predetermined object registered in advance (a player's hand, fingerprint, face or other part of the player's body, a dedicated or general-purpose accessory worn by the player, etc.). It may be provided with means for determining whether or not the predetermined object has a size equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold in the image frame constituting the moving image, or whether or not the predetermined object cannot be recognized in the moving image. .. With this configuration, the game device interferes with the image pickup of the moving image by the image pickup unit 28, so that the player approaches the image pickup unit 28 to a distance that is not expected in normal play, and the place where the player should be present in normal play. It becomes possible to send a moving image to the server device when the player disappears. Alternatively, the determination unit 296 may be information that indicates the brightness of the image frame constituting the moving image (information calculated based on information such as the brightness of each pixel included in the image frame, and is included in a predetermined period. A means for calculating (including information calculated based on a plurality of image frames) and determining whether or not the calculated information indicating the brightness is less than a predetermined threshold value may be provided. With this configuration, the game device can transmit the moving image to the server device when the moving image becomes dark to some extent when the player covers the imaging unit 28 with a hand or the like.

Further, the predetermined video transmission condition may be, for example, that the video received by the receiving unit 293 does not include a predetermined normal play action by the player. Here, the predetermined normal play action can be arbitrarily set according to the type of the game. For example, in the case of a darts game, the predetermined normal play act may be an act such as throwing darts by the player. Then, the determination unit 296 may be provided with means for determining whether or not the moving image received by the reception unit 293 includes the predetermined normal play action, depending on the mode of the predetermined normal play action. For example, when the predetermined normal play action is throwing darts, the determination unit 296 detects the speed of the player's hand or darts by analyzing the moving image, and if the detected speed is equal to or higher than the predetermined threshold value. , It may be provided with a means for determining that the darts have been thrown as a normal play act. Further, the determination unit 296 may be provided with means for calculating a period during which a predetermined normal play action is not recognized and determining whether or not the calculated period is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. With this configuration, the game device can transmit the moving image to the server device when the player's action normally assumed in the game has not been performed for at least a predetermined fixed period.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the gist of the present invention. For this reason, the above embodiments are merely examples in all respects and are not to be construed in a limited manner. For example, the above-mentioned processing steps can be arbitrarily changed in order or executed in parallel within a range that does not cause a contradiction in the processing contents. Further, another step may be added between each processing step. Further, the step described as one step may be executed by dividing it into a plurality of steps, or the step described by dividing it into a plurality of steps may be grasped as one step.

1 ... Game system, 10 ... Server, 11 ... Server communication unit, 12 ... Server storage unit, 13 ... Server processing unit, 131 ... Matching processing unit, 132 ... Game progress unit 133 ... Video reception unit, 20, 20A, 20B ... Game device, 21 ... Game device communication unit, 22 ... Game device storage unit, 23 ... Operation unit, 24 ... Display unit, 25 ... Card RW unit, 26 ... Detection unit, 27 ... Coin insertion unit, 28 ... Imaging unit, 29 ... Game device processing unit, 291 ... Matching request unit, 292 ... Game progress unit, 293 ... Reception unit, 294 ... Storage processing unit, 295 ... Display processing unit, 296 ... Judgment unit, 297 ... First transmission unit, 298 ... 2nd transmitter, 299 ... instruction reception, CS ... card slot, DB ... darts board

Claims (6)

A game device that is connected to a server and other game devices via a communication network.
Memory and
Display and
A receiver that receives a moving image generated by imaging the surroundings of the other game device, and a receiver.
A storage processing unit that stores the moving image received by the receiving unit in the storage unit, and a storage processing unit.
A display processing unit that displays the moving image received by the receiving unit on the display unit, and a display processing unit.
A determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined video transmission condition is satisfied, and a determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined video transmission condition is satisfied.
When the determination unit determines that the predetermined video transmission condition is satisfied, the determination unit includes a first transmission unit that transmits at least a part of the video stored in the storage unit to the server. A game device. The game device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined moving image transmission condition is that reception of the moving image by the receiving unit is blocked. The predetermined video transmission condition includes that the video received by the receiver includes a predetermined fraudulent act by the player, or that the video received by the receiver includes a predetermined normal play act by the player. The game device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the game device is not provided. An imaging unit that captures the surroundings of the game device,
13. The game device according to any one of the items. The game device according to claim 4, wherein the display processing unit displays a moving image generated by the image pickup unit taking an image of the surroundings of the game device on the display unit. It also has an instruction reception unit that accepts player instructions.
The first transmission unit is characterized in that, when the instruction reception unit receives a player's instruction, at least a part of the moving image stored in the storage unit is transmitted to the server, according to claim 1. The game device according to any one of up to 5.

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