JPH07171268A - Game machine having message board - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve effective utilization of a game machine and a player gathering capacity therefor by providing the game machine with a message conveying function to diversify the game machine. CONSTITUTION:This game machine is provided with an input means 10 to serve for operation of a game and conveying a message concurrently. a mode switching means 14 between a game mode and a message conveying mode, a game control means 12 to execute a game receiving a game mode switching signal from the mode switching means, a message conveying control means 13 to execute a message conveying mode receiving a message conveying mode switching signal from the mode switching means and a display means 11 to display a game screen in a game mode and a screen of a message conveying board in a message conveying mode. The message conveying control means 13 is provided with a message writing means 17 to write a message into the display means 11, a message preserving means 18 to preserve the message written. a message reading means 19 to display the message preserved on a display means 2 and an message deletion means 20 to delete the message.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine installed in a game center or the like, and more particularly to a game machine having a message board function in addition to the original function of the game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a game machine installed in a game center or the like can play one type or a plurality of types of pre-installed games. On the game console, a display for displaying the image of the game,
A control lever and operation buttons for playing the game are provided.

[0003]

By the way, this type of game machine is called an arcade game machine and is intended for an unspecified number of users. Therefore, one game machine is shared by several users at different times. But,
An arcade game machine that many people use at different times and a game machine that has a function adapted to the characteristics of the game center in which it is installed have not been proposed. Also, with this type of game machine, the time used for the game is not constant, there is also a time when only the demonstration of the game is displayed without anyone using it, and it is said that it is effectively used I can't say. Therefore, effective use of this type of game machine has been desired. It is also desired to improve the ability of this kind of game console to attract customers to the game center, but in the past, only introducing new games was done and people were actively promoted to the game center. It was impossible to call into.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. By providing a game machine with a message function, the game machine has variety, The first purpose is to effectively use and improve the ability to attract customers to game machines. A second object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily select a message board function by a menu. A third object of the present invention is to detect the coin insertion and automatically switch the message board function and the game function. A fourth object of the present invention is to realize a game machine having a message board function by using a conventional general game machine control panel as it is.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a game machine having a message board function according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an input means for both game operation and message operation, and a game mode and a message mode. A mode switching means, a game control means for executing a game by receiving a game mode switching signal from the mode switching means, a message control means for executing a message mode by receiving a message mode switching signal from the mode switching means, and a game The game screen is displayed in the mode, and the message board screen is displayed in the message mode; and message writing means and message writing means connected to the message control means and writing a message to the display means according to a signal from the input means. Message saving means for saving the saved message, message reading means for displaying the message saved in the message saving means on the display means, Characterized in that it includes a message erase means for erasing a message stored in the pre-message storage means.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the game control means comprises menu display means. According to a third aspect of the present invention, the mode switching means includes coin insertion detecting means, and the message mode is switched to the game mode by a signal from the coin insertion detecting means. In the invention of claim 4, the input means is
It is characterized in that it is composed of a control lever and an operation button, and in the message mode, the control lever is used as a pen for drawing characters and figures on the display means.

[0007]

In the invention of the first aspect having the above-mentioned structure, the message can be written on the screen of the display means by using the input means for game operation provided in the game machine. Further, by switching one game machine between the game mode and the message mode, the two functions of the game and the message board are exhibited. In this case, switching between the two modes is performed by automatically switching to the game mode by the mode switching means or by selecting the menu displayed on the screen of the display device by the input means. In the message mode, a message is written by using the message writing unit, a message written in the saving unit is saved, and a message saved by the reading unit is displayed on the display unit in accordance with a signal from the input unit. Further, the erasing means reads out the message and makes it unnecessary, or erases a message after a certain period of time.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, each function of the message board can be easily used by selecting various functions of the message board using the menu displayed on the menu display means.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when a coin is inserted into the coin slot to start the game, the coin mode is detected and automatically switched to the game mode. Therefore, the operation for selecting the game mode is simplified. Become.

According to another aspect of the invention, the control lever for operating the character in the game mode is
By using it as a pen for writing characters or figures in the message mode, even complicated characters or figures can be easily displayed on the display without using a dedicated means.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to FIG. (1) Configuration of Embodiment FIG. 1 is a front view of a game machine of the present invention and an enlarged view of a control panel. In FIG. 1, 1 is a housing of a game machine, 2 is a display provided on the front surface thereof, 3 is a control panel, and 6 is a coin slot. As an example, the control panel 3 is provided with a pair of left and right control levers 41 and 42, and six operation buttons 51 to 56 provided therebetween.

When the game machine of this embodiment is in the game mode, the control levers 41 and 42 control the movement of the character and the aim, and the operation buttons 51 to 56 are used for jumping and attacking the character. It is used to execute an action, and a predetermined different operation is executed each time each operation button is operated alone or in combination. On the other hand, when the game machine of this embodiment is used in the message mode, the left and right control levers 41 and 42 are used as pens for writing a message on the display 2, and the right control lever 41 is used. Is a right-handed pen and the left control lever 42 is a left-handed pen. The operation buttons 51 to 56 are for selecting the color of the pen. For example, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 1, six operation buttons are assigned black, blue, yellow, green, red, and white. In the menu mode, the control lever 4
1, 42 are used as levers for moving a cursor for selecting a menu. In addition, menu selection is
It is also possible to use the operation buttons 51 to 56.

The game machine of this embodiment having such an appearance has an internal mechanism as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2 as an example. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 is an input means composed of the control levers 41 and 42 and operation buttons 51 to 56, and 11 is a display means composed of the display 2. These input means 10 and display means 11 are connected to the following respective means configured by a computer. First, game control means 12 for executing a game in the game mode,
A message control means 13 for executing each operation of the message board in the message mode is connected to the input means 10 and the display means 11. The game control means 12 and the message control means 13 are connected to a mode switching means 14, and one of the control means 1 is controlled by a signal from the mode switching means 14.
2 or 13 is activated.

A coin insertion detecting means 15 is connected to the mode switching means 14. This coin insertion detecting means 1
Reference numeral 5 is a signal for outputting a game mode switching signal to the mode switching means 14 when a coin for starting a game is inserted into the coin slot 6 of FIG. A game end detecting means 16 is connected to the mode switching means 14. The game end detection means 16 detects that the game by the game control means 12 has ended, and outputs a switching signal to the message switching mode to the mode switching means 14.

The message control means 13 includes the input means 10 described above.
In accordance with the signal from, a message writing unit 17 for writing a message on the display unit 11, a message saving unit 18 for saving the message written by the message writing unit 17, and a message saved in the message saving unit 18 are displayed on the display unit. A message reading means 19 and a message erasing means 20 for erasing the message stored in the message storing means 18 are provided. Further, a menu display means 21 for selecting each of these means 17, 19 and 20 is provided. Further, a timer 22 is provided for determining the writing point and the erasing point of the message.

(2) Operation of the Embodiment Next, the operation of the game machine of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The game machine of this embodiment is set to the message mode when no coin is inserted (N in S1). In the message mode, the menu display means 21 displays menus such as message writing, message reading, and message deletion on the display 2 (S2).
The cursor for menu selection is moved by using 1, 42 to select a menu for writing or reading a message (S3).

When the message writing menu is selected (Y in S3), the left and right control levers 41 and 42 and the operation buttons 51 to 56 are set to a message writable state by a command from the message writing means 17. ,
A desired message is written on the display 2 using these levers and buttons (S4). In this case, a simple menu or icon may be displayed on the display 2 in order to help writing a message. When the message entry is completed, the writing means inquires of the user whether to save or rewrite. If the saving is OK (Y in S5), the content of the message is saved in the storage means ( S6). At the same time, the counting of the timer 22 indicating the writing time is started (S7), and then the process returns to the coin insertion detection step of step 1. Also,
When rewriting (N of S5), it returns to the message writing step of step 4 again.

When the message reading menu is selected in the menu display (N in S3), the message reading means 19 reads the list of already stored messages from the storing means 18 and displays it on the display 2. Is displayed on the screen (S8), the user selects a desired message from the selected message and reads the content (S9a, S9b). In this case, a password or the like may be set when writing a message so that only the person who wants to transmit the message can read it. An inquiry is made as to whether or not the message that has been read is erasure OK, and if the message is erasure OK (S1
(Y of 0), the erasing means 20 erases the corresponding message stored in the storing means 18 (S11), and when the erasure is impossible (N of S10), the message is stored for reading again. It will be as it is.

If there is a message that is not read within a certain time from the time of writing, that is, if there is a message that the count of the timer 22 started in step 7 at the time of writing has expired (Y of S12), The erasing means 19 erases the corresponding message stored in the storing means 18 (S13).

In the menu mode, when a coin is inserted from the insertion slot (Y in S1), the coin insertion detecting means 15 detects the control lever and the mode switching means 14 switches from the message mode to the game machine mode. Output a signal. As a result, the game machine of the present embodiment is switched to the game mode, and the game pre-installed in the device is executed by the game control means 12 in the same manner as the normal arcade game machine (S14). When the game end detection means 16 detects the end of the game (S1
5) The mode switching means 14 operates in response to the signal from the game end detecting means 16 to switch to the message mode menu display of step 2 again.

(3) Other Embodiments The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and in addition to the function of the message board, introduction of a new game or the like can be incorporated in the menu. Also, as a message function, you can write and read messages for a fee,
In that case, a menu for selecting a game and a message may be displayed after detecting insertion of a coin. In addition, you can set a password and delete everything that you read once.By connecting multiple game machines to the network, you can read and delete messages written on game machines of other game centers. Is also possible. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the left and right control levers 4
Although the characters and figures are drawn directly on the display by means of 1, 42, the characters may be selected from the Japanese syllabary displayed on the display. Further, by combining and pressing the operation buttons, a simple word processor function can be achieved.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the game machine can be used as a message board except when the game is being played, and can be effectively used as the game machine.
In particular, when the game machine of the present invention is used as an arcade game machine, since it is often installed in a place where people gather, such as a game center, it is also suitable as a place for installing a message board.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a game machine having a message board function of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a game machine having a message board function of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the game machine of the embodiment of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Input means 11 ... Display means 12 ... Game control means 13 ... Message control means 14 ... Mode switching means 15 ... Coin insertion detection means 16 ... Game end detection means 17 ... Writing means 18 ... Saving means 19 ... Readout means 20 ... Erase Means 21 ... Menu display means 22 ... Timer

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claims: 1. Input means for both game operation and message operation; mode switching means for game mode and message mode; game control means for executing a game in response to a game mode switching signal from the mode switching means. A message control means for receiving a message mode switching signal from the mode switching means to execute a message mode; a display means for displaying a game screen in the game mode and a message board screen in the message mode; A message writing unit for writing a message to the display unit according to a signal from the input unit, a message storing unit for storing the message written by the message writing unit, and a message reading for displaying the message stored in the message storing unit on the display unit. And a message erasing means for erasing the message stored in the message storing means. Game machine having a message board function to be. 2. A game machine having a message board function according to claim 1, wherein the game control means includes a menu display means. 3. The message board according to claim 1, wherein the mode switching means includes coin insertion detection means, and the message mode is switched to the game mode in response to a signal from the coin insertion detection means. A game machine with functions. 4. The input means comprises a control lever and an operation button, and in the message mode, the control lever is used as a pen for drawing a character or a graphic on the display means. A game machine having a message board function according to claim 1.