JPH0370993B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an arcade game device, and particularly to an arcade game device in which a plurality of players can play simultaneously in the same game space.

[Background Art] With the spread of video games, various types of game machines have been developed and put into practical use today. However, most conventional game machines are designed as single-player types in which games are played within a completely independent game space. For this reason, even if a plurality of the same game machines are installed, each player or one player can only play a game against a computer.

Therefore, for example, when multiple driving game machines are installed, it is impossible to play a game in which multiple players use these game machines to compete together in driving techniques in the same game space. The problem was that it was difficult to do so, and it lacked interest.

Focusing on these points, various multiplayer game machines have been developed.

This multiplayer game machine is designed so that multiple players can play together in the same game space at the same time, making the game even more interesting.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a conventional multiplayer game machine, in which objects A, B, and C to be operated by a plurality of players are displayed on the same screen. Each player can play together in the same game space by operating each of the operation units 100A, 100B, and 100C provided on the panel.

As a multiplayer game machine like this,
For example, there is "Gauntlet" manufactured by Atari.

Further, FIG. 14 shows an example of another multiplayer game machine, and this game machine has an independent display section corresponding to each operation section 100A, 100B, and 100C. The game screen is configured to display a game screen representing a common game space.

An example of such a game machine is Nintendo's ``VS Tennis.''

However, in such a conventional multiplayer game machine, each operation section 100A, 100B, 100
C is integrated into the same game machine. Therefore, the number of people who can play in the same game space is limited to the number of people who can play in the same game space.
It is limited by the number of C's. Therefore, for example, in the multiplayer game machines shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, only a maximum of three players can play the game, and if more players want to play in the same game space. The problem was that it was not possible to do so, and it lacked flexibility.

Further, such conventional game machines are formed as machines exclusively for multiplayer games, and a plurality of operation units 100A, 100B, 1 are provided in one game machine.
00C and a display section are provided. For this reason, the cost per machine is much higher than that of a single-player type game machine, and there is a problem that the number of machines installed at a game hall cannot be easily increased.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its purpose is to use a plurality of independent game machines that can independently play single-player games, and to An object of the present invention is to provide an arcade game device that can play a multiplayer game together in a game space, and in particular, allows each game device to start a multiplayer game at the same time.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the arcade game device of the first invention according to the present application includes a plurality of independent game machines including the components described in the following a to g. are connected via a data transmission line so that they can exchange game data with each other, and a plurality of game machines simultaneously start playing games in the same game space.

a; Player input means through which the player inputs a game start instruction signal.

b; Timer means for starting the game.

c; When a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means in the attract mode,
The first calculation means drives the timer means, switches its own calculation mode from the attract mode to the game start mode, and transmits a game ready signal to other game machines.

d; When the timer means times up in the game start mode, the second calculation means switches its own calculation mode from the game start mode to the game mode, and transmits a game start signal to another game machine.

e; Third computing means that switches its own computing mode from the attract mode to the game ready mode when a game ready signal is input from another game machine during the attract mode.

f; A fourth calculation means that switches its own calculation mode from the game ready mode to the game start mode when a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means in the game ready mode.

g; Fifth computing means that switches its own computing mode from the game start mode to the game mode when a game start signal is input from another game machine in the game start mode.

Further, the arcade game device of the second invention according to the present application connects a plurality of independent game machines including the components described in the following a to f through a data transmission line to mutually exchange game data. It is characterized in that it is formed so that it can be given and received, and that a plurality of game machines can start playing games in the same game space at the same time.

a; Player input means through which the player inputs a game start instruction signal.

b; Timer means for starting the game.

c; When a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means in the attract mode,
The first calculation means drives the timer means, switches its own calculation mode from the attract mode to the game start mode, and transmits a game ready signal to other game machines.

d; Second calculation means that switches its own calculation mode from the game start mode to the game mode when the timer means times up in the game start mode.

e; Third calculation means that drives the timer means and switches its own calculation mode from the attract mode to the game ready mode when a game ready signal is input from another game machine during the attract mode.

f; A fourth calculation means that switches its own calculation mode from the game ready mode to the game start mode when a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means at the time of game ready.

[Example] Next, a preferred example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred example of the arcade game device according to the present invention, and the device of the embodiment includes a plurality of independent game machines 10-a, 10-b...10.
-h are connected in a loop via the data transmission line 12.

Game machines 10-a, 10-b...10- of the present invention
h is configured to be able to play single-player games independently, and by sending and receiving game data to and from each other via the transmission line 12, it can simultaneously play multi-player games together with other game machines within the same game space. It is characterized in that it is also configured to allow players to play games.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the transmission line 12
Various types can be used, and in this embodiment, a two-wire baseband type with a transfer rate of about 1 Mbps is used.

FIG. 3 shows a game machine 1 used in this embodiment.
A specific configuration of 0 is shown.

The game machine 10 of the embodiment includes a calculation control section 20, a display section 22, a communication interface 24, an I/O interface 26, a player input section 28, and a coin insertion section 30.

The arithmetic control section 20 then controls the player input section 2.
8. Performs various calculations based on signals input from the coin insertion unit 30 via the I/O interface 26 and game data transmitted/received with other game machines via the communication interface 24. The game screen is displayed on the display unit 22.
By the way, in order to play a multiplayer game using a plurality of independent game machines 10, it is necessary to perform group settings to specify the game machines 10 that will participate in the multiplayer game before starting the game.

For this reason, the calculation control section 20 of the embodiment includes a group setting section 20-1 that performs the group setting, and a game calculation section 20-2 that starts the game after setting the group and performs the game calculation.

A second feature of the present invention is that the group setting section 20-1 is used to enable a plurality of game machines participating in multiplayer to start playing the game at the same time.

FIG. 1 shows a specific configuration of the group setting section 20-1, and the group setting section 20-1 of the embodiment includes a first calculation section 40, a second calculation section 42, a second calculation section 42, and a second calculation section 42. 3 arithmetic unit 44, a fourth arithmetic unit 46,
It is formed using a fifth calculation section 48 and a timer 50.

Here, the timer 50 is formed using a timer counter that counts down at predetermined time intervals and times up when the count reaches ten.

Further, the first calculation unit 40 is configured to execute a flow 100-1 shown in FIG. 5.

That is, when the game calculation section 20-1 is set to the attract mode and a game start instruction signal is input from the player input section 28, the timer 50 is driven. At the same time, the first calculation section 40 switches the calculation mode of the game calculation section 20-2 from the attract mode to the game start mode, and also transmits the game ready signal to other players via the communication interface 24 and the transmission line 12. The data is transmitted to the game machine 10 of.

Further, the second calculation unit 42 is configured to execute a flow 100-2 shown in FIG. 5.

That is, when the timer 50 times up while the game calculation unit 20-2 is set to the game start mode, the game calculation unit 42 changes the calculation mode of the game calculation unit 20-2 from the game start mode to the game start mode. Control the mode. At the same time, for other game machines 10,
A game start signal is transmitted via communication interface 24 and transmission line 12.

Further, the third game calculation section 44 is configured to execute a flow 100-3 shown in FIG. 5.

That is, when the game calculation unit 20-2 is set to the attract mode and a game ready signal is input from another game machine 10, the third calculation unit 44 performs the operation of the game calculation unit 20-2. Controls the calculation mode by switching it from attract mode to game ready mode.

Further, the fourth calculation section 46 is formed to execute a flow 100-4 shown in FIG. 5.

That is, when the game calculation unit 20-2 is set to the game ready mode and the game start instruction signal is input from the player input unit 28, the fourth calculation unit 46 starts the game calculation unit 20-2.
The second mode is switched from the game ready mode to the game start mode.

Further, the fifth calculation unit 48 is formed to execute a flow 100-5 shown in FIG. 5.

That is, when the game calculation unit 20-2 is set to the game start mode and a game start signal is input from another game machine 10, the fifth calculation unit 48 activates the game calculation unit 20-2.
The calculation mode of is switched from game start mode to game mode.

The present invention has the above configuration, and its operation will be explained below.

First, each game machine 10-a, 10 shown in FIG.
-b...10-h is turned on, each game machine 10 runs a self-test program and informs other game machines via the transmission line 12 whether or not its own game machine is operational. At this time, the game machine 10 that is malfunctioning or is not powered on is automatically bypass-connected to the data input section and output section by a changeover switch (not shown).

As a result, even if there is a device that is not working,
The system as a whole becomes operational.

Such a check as to whether the device is operable or not is performed periodically even after the power is turned on.

Here, all game machines 10-a, 1
The explanation will be given assuming that 0-b...10-h are operable.

Next, after each game machine 10 is powered on,
Three players come, 10-a, 10-b, 10
-h three game machines.
At this time, these game machines 10-a, 10-b, and 10-h are all controlled to the attract mode,
On the display unit 22, a calculation game screen by a computer is displayed as an attraction game screen.

At this time, it is assumed that the player of the game machine 10-a inserts a coin and inputs a start instruction signal from the input unit 28. As a result, the game machine 10a switches from the attract mode to the game start mode, and the timer 50 built into the game machine 10-a starts counting. Here, the game start mode means a standby state for starting the game.

At the same time, from the game machine 10-a,
A game ready signal is outputted to other machines via the transmission line 12.

Therefore, all the remaining game machines 10-b, 10
-c...10-h is controlled to switch from the attract mode to the game ready mode, and the display section 22 displays a confirmation message asking whether or not to play a multiplayer game together with the game machine 10a, as shown in FIG. Displayed as a ready screen.

Therefore, while the game ready screen is being displayed, the remaining two players insert coins into their own game machines 10b and 10-h, and input a game start instruction signal from the input section 28. Then, each of these game machines 10-b and 10-h is controlled to switch from the game ready mode to the game start mode, so that the game can be started at the same time in the same game space as the game machine 10-a. Become.

Note that the game starts when the timer 50 of the game machine 10-a counts down to 0, so the players of the game machines 10-b and 10-h must insert coins before the countdown ends. However, unless a game start instruction signal is input, the multiplayer game cannot be started at the same time as the game machine 10-a.

And each game machine 10-a, 10-b, 10
-h are all set to the game start mode, the timer 50 of the game machine 10-a counts down to 0, and at the same time, a game start signal is transmitted from the game machine 10-a to the other game machines, and these Each game machine 10-a, 10-b, 1
0-h will start the game at the same time.

In this manner, according to the present invention, game machines 10-a, 10-b, and 10-h operated by three players start a multiplayer game simultaneously in the same game space.

For this reason, each of these game machines 10-a, 10-
The players b and 10-h can start a multiplayer game under the same conditions in the same game space, making the game even more interesting.

When the game starts, these three game machines 10-a, 10-b, and 10-h transmit and receive game data to and from each other via the transmission line 12. Therefore, for example, if there are cars operated by game machines 10-b and 10-h near a car operated by game machine 10-a, it is natural that the game machine 10-a
- Those cars are displayed on the display screen of a.
Therefore, each player can compete with each other's driving techniques and enjoy the game even more.

Note that the screen of a video game is usually updated every 1/60th of a second, so in synchronization with this, the game data of each game machine 10 is transmitted through the loop-shaped transmission line 12.
It is preferable that the data be transmitted in one round.

Next, while the three game machines 10-a, 10-b, and 10-h were in operation, three other players came and played the three game machines 10-d, 10-e, and 10-f. Let's assume that you want to start playing a game using a game console.

At this time, for example, when the player of the game machine 10-d inserts a coin and inputs a start instruction signal from the input section 28, the player of the game machine 10-d, which is currently not in use, inserts a coin and inputs a start instruction signal from the input section 28.
The same game ready screen as described above is displayed on the display units 22 of the display units c, 10-d, 10-e, 10-f, and 10-g.

Therefore, when players of the game machines 10-e and 10-f insert coins and input a start instruction signal, the three game machines 10-d, 10-e, and 10-f play the same game. A multiplayer game will be started simultaneously within the game space.

In this way, in the game device of this embodiment,
A plurality of different groups within the same game system can play a multiplayer game under the same conditions for each group.

Further, if a player who comes by himself then starts a game on the vacant game machine 10-c, he will be able to play a single-player game in his own group.

In this way, with the device of this embodiment, a single player game can be played using only one game machine 10-c.

Also, the first 10 game consoles that played games
When the games 10-a, 10-b, and 10-h are finished, four game machines 10-a, 10-b, 10-c, and 10-h are vacant, but in this example, In this way, the device can play the game again in the same way using the vacant game machine.

In this way, according to the device of this embodiment, arbitrary groups can be formed within the plurality of game machines 10-a, 10-b...10-h, and games in the same space can be played simultaneously within each group. You can start.

Therefore, with the device of this embodiment, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the operating rate of the game machines 10, and the game machines 10 set as a group can simultaneously start games in the same space. Therefore, for example, in a driving game, the game can be made even more interesting within the same group.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, a plurality of independent game machines 10 are simply connected to each other via transmission lines 12. Therefore, the number of game consoles 10 can be arbitrarily increased or decreased as needed, and the optimal number of game consoles 10 can be installed in consideration of the size of the game venue and other conditions to enjoy multiplayer games. be able to.

FIG. 6 shows another example of the group setting section 20-1, and FIG. 7 shows a flowchart showing the group setting operation.

The characteristics of this embodiment are that the second calculation unit 42,
The flow 100 shown in FIG.
-2, 100-3.

That is, in this embodiment, the second calculation unit 42 activates the timer 5 when the game calculation unit 20-2 is set to the game start mode.
When 0 times up, the game calculation section 20-2
Controls switching of the calculation mode from game start mode to game mode.

Further, when a game ready signal is input from another game machine 10 when the own game machine is set to the attract mode, this third calculation unit 44 drives the timer 50 and activates the own game machine. It is formed to control switching from attract mode to game ready mode.

By doing so, in this embodiment, groups that start multiplayer games simultaneously in the same game space can be set without using the fifth calculation unit 48 that was required in the first embodiment. be able to.

In the above embodiment, the case where a plurality of independent game machines 10 are connected in a loop via the transmission line 12 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to other devices as necessary. Various networks can be configured using the transmission line 12.

For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of game machines 10 can be connected in a star configuration via a central station 60.

In addition, FIG. 9 shows a plurality of independent game machines 10.
Figure 10 shows a network when multiple game machines are connected in a mesh pattern, and Figure 11 shows a network when multiple game machines are connected in a mesh pattern.
The figure shows an example of a network in which a plurality of game machines are connected via a bus, and FIG. 12 shows an example of a network in which a loop type and a star type are combined.

Further, the present invention can be applied to various multiplayer games, such as driving games, multiplayer games in which multiple players cooperate and compete in various sports, and certain game spaces. The present invention can be applied to various games such as role-playing games in which a plurality of players chase, hide, or shoot at each other.

In this embodiment, the player input section 28 and the coin insertion section 30 are used in combination as player input means, and when the player input section 28 is operated after inserting a coin into the coin insertion section 30, a game start instruction signal is generated. is configured so that it is output. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the player input means can have various configurations as necessary. For example, in coin-inserted game machines,
It is also possible to use the coin insertion section 30 itself as a player input means so that the game start instruction signal is output simply by inserting a coin. In addition, in a game machine that uses cards instead of coins, a card input section and a player input section 28 are used in combination as player input means, and after setting a card, the player input section 28 is used as a player input means.
It is sufficient that the game start instruction signal is output when 8 is operated.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a plurality of independent single-player game machines are connected via a data transmission line and mutually transmit and receive game data, thereby allowing a plurality of games to be played. When a multiplayer game is played in the same game space using multiple game machines, each game machine calls out to other game machines via a transmission line to participate in the multiplayer game before starting the game. This has the effect of allowing you to set up a group of game machines and enjoy multiplayer games.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a preferred first embodiment of the arcade game machine according to the present invention, FIG. Figure 3 is a block circuit diagram showing the specific configuration of each game machine shown in Figure 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on the display unit of a game machine controlled to the game ready mode, FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the operation of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. The figure is a block circuit diagram of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are explanatory diagrams of conventional multi-player game machines. 10...Game machine, 12...Data transmission line, 20...Calculation control section, 20-1...Group setting section, 20-2...Game calculation section, 22...Display section, 24...Communication interface , 28... Player input section, 40... First computing section, 42... Second computing section, 44... Third computing section, 46... Fourth computing section, 48... Fifth computing section, 50... timer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Includes a plurality of independent game machines connected via data transmission lines so as to be able to exchange game data with each other, and each of the game machines includes the components described in the following a to g. a group setting unit that performs group settings with other game machines, and a game calculation calculation unit that exchanges game data and performs game calculations between the other game machines that have been set as a group, A commercial game device characterized in that a plurality of game machines set in a group are configured to play games in the same game space. a; Player input means through which the player inputs a game start instruction signal. b; Timer means for starting the game. c; When a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means in the attract mode,
The first calculation means drives the timer means, switches its own calculation mode from the attract mode to the game start mode, and transmits a game ready signal to other game machines. d; When the timer means times up in the game start mode, the second calculation means switches its own calculation mode from the game start mode to the game mode, and transmits a game start signal to another game machine. e; Third computing means that switches its own computing mode from the attract mode to the game ready mode when a game ready signal is input from another game machine during the attract mode. f: Fourth calculation means that switches its own calculation mode from game ready mode to game start mode when a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means during game ready mode. g; Fifth computing means that switches its own computing mode from the game start mode to the game mode when a game start signal is input from another game machine in the game start mode. 2.Includes a plurality of independent game machines connected via data transmission lines so as to be able to exchange game data with each other, and each of the above game machines includes the components described in the following a to g, and is connected to other game machines. a group setting unit that performs group settings between the game consoles and the game calculation unit that exchanges game data and performs game calculations between other game machines that have been set as a group; A commercial game device characterized in that the machines are configured to play games within the same game space. a; Player input means through which the player inputs a game start instruction signal. b; Timer means for starting the game. c; When a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means in the attract mode,
The first calculation means drives the timer means, switches its own calculation mode from the attract mode to the game start mode, and transmits a game ready signal to other game machines. d; Second calculation means that switches its own calculation mode from the game start mode to the game mode when the timer means times up in the game start mode. e; Third calculation means that drives the timer means and switches its own calculation mode from the attract mode to the game ready when a game ready signal is input from another game machine during the attract mode. f; A fourth calculation means that switches its own calculation mode from the game ready mode to the game start mode when a game start instruction signal is input from the player input means in the game ready mode.