JPH08830A - Television game device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve game enjoyability by separating data stored in memory for backup individually and freely setting it. CONSTITUTION:A housing means 22 in which a game content is housed and a variable storage means 23 which stores conversion data that becomes reference to change the start-up force of a character are connected to a processing means 25 which displays a game video and progresses a game corresponding to input by a player. Also. a first storage part 24 provided with a character data area 24a for the character, a game progression data area 24b and a relating data area 24c individually is connected to the processing part, and the game can be started by storing, reading out or combining character data and the game progression data appropriately.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a video game device having a backup memory for storing a game state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a conventional video game device. The video game device 11 shown in FIG.
A CD on which a game program is recorded on the main body 12
ROM (Compact Disc Read Onl
y Memory 13 and ROM cassette 14 are interchangeable, and two input pads 16a and 16b are connected. Also, a TV monitor 17 is connected to the main body 12.

The main body 12 is a CPU (Central P
processing unit) etc.,
The game program in the CD-ROM 13 or the ROM cassette 14 is read, arithmetic processing is performed, and the game is executed. To execute the game, the video signal output from the main body 12 is displayed on the TV monitor 17, and the input pads 16a and 16b are input.
The game progresses according to the input control signal from and the time.

Among such video game devices, there is one in which an appearing character grows as the game progresses and is stored in a backup memory at the end of the game to increase the character.

In this case, the ROM cassette 14 has a nonvolatile RAM (Random A) for recording game data.
A memory for backup such as access memory) is installed. In addition, this backup memory,
In addition to the data during the game progress, data such as the characteristics of the characters appearing in the game in advance are also registered and stored by the player before the game starts.

The power and ability of the character increase and decrease according to the character and the like of the character as the game progresses. At the end of the game, the backup memory has the character type and character characteristics (power and ability depending on the degree of growth). , Save the date and place data at the end of the game all at once.

[0007] The restart of the game is performed according to the initial state of the game (another character) or the type and characteristics of the character at the time and place of the game progress based on the data recorded in the backup memory.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned save is performed in the backup memory each time the game ends in the progress of the game, and the game is restarted from the save point except starting over from the initial state. Therefore, the game is completed. When the game is completed by starting from the collectively saved state, there is a problem that interest is easily lost and the same game cannot be played again.

Further, the above-mentioned saved character data can be applied only to the game, and there is a problem that the empathy to the character is reduced and the playability cannot be improved.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a video game apparatus in which data recorded in a backup memory is individually separated and freely set to improve playability. To do.

[0011]

FIG. 1 shows the principle of the present invention. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the game image is displayed, the game progresses in response to the input from the player, and the mobility of the predetermined character that appears changes.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 22 is a storage means for storing the game contents to be displayed as an image.

Reference numeral 23 is a variable storage means, which holds variable data as a reference for changing the mobility of the character.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a first storage means, which corresponds to the character, at least an area 24a for storing character data of the mobility of the character, an area 24b for storing game progress data, and the character data. Each area 24c for storing association data for associating with the game progress data is individually provided.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a processing means which reads out the game contents of the storage means 22 and displays the image, and performs processing for changing the mobility based on the variable data of the variable storage means 23 according to the action of the character. The first one
The game is started with a combination of the character data and the game progress data stored in the storage means 24, which is appropriately selected by the input from the player.

In the second aspect, the storage means 22 and the first storage means 24 are detachably and collectively provided in the apparatus main body including at least the processing means 25.

In the third aspect, the first storage means 24
Is applicable to the storage means 22 or other related game content storage means independently of the storage means 22,
It is detachably attached to the apparatus main body including at least the processing means 25.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect, the second storage means having the same storage area as the first storage means 24 and capable of data transfer with the first storage means 24 is the same as the first storage means 24. The storage means 22 is collectively provided.

[0018]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, at least the character data, the game signal data and the association data are stored in each area of the first storage means, and the character data and the game progress data are appropriately selected. Start the game in combination. As a result, the character having the changed mobility can be set in various scenes in which the progress of the game is reversed, and the playability can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the storage means and the first storage means can be attached to and detached from the main body of the apparatus including the processing means. As a result, even in the case of the cartridge type, the character is set at any time during the progress of the game, and the playability can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the first storage means is independent of the storage means and is attachable to and detachable from the apparatus main body. As a result, the game contents can be made to appear in the game of the apparatus main body provided with another storage unit having different series of game contents, and the playability can be improved.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the first storage means and the second storage means capable of data transfer are collectively provided in the storage means. As a result, it is possible to coexist with other characters in other storage means and improve playability.

[0022]

1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention. 2A is a block configuration diagram, and FIG. 2B is a diagram showing a storage area of the first storage unit.

In the video game device 21 shown in FIG. 2A, a controller 31 including a CPU for performing arithmetic processing.
ROM that stores programs for device startup, etc.
32 and a RAM 33 for temporary storage are connected to form a processing unit.

Further, the controller 31 is connected to a variable memory section 23 which is a variable storing means and a display driver 34 including a video RAM, a video processor and the like, and these constitute a main body 41 of the apparatus. A TV monitor 35 is connected to the display driver 34 to display a game video.
Further, the controller 31 is connected with a predetermined number of input pads 36 for the player to perform an input operation on the game.

On the other hand, a ROM cartridge 42 is prepared in the apparatus main body 41 in a detachable manner. ROM cartridge 42
Is the program R that stores the program of the game contents
The storage means 22 includes an OM 22a and a video data ROM 22b in which video data for managing the dot data on the screen of the TV monitor 35 is stored.
Further, the ROM cartridge 42 includes a first storage unit 24 which is a first storage unit configured by a non-volatile memory.

When the ROM cartridge 42 is mounted on the apparatus main body 41, the program ROM 22a,
The video data ROM 22b and the first storage unit 24 are connected to the controller 31 (the interface is omitted).

As shown in FIG. 2B, the first storage section 24 is an area (character data area) for storing character data of mobility of each character corresponding to a predetermined number of characters appearing in the game. ) 24a, a region (game progress data region) 24b for storing game progress data of the game progress situation, and at least a region (association data region) 24c for storing data for associating character data with game progress data.

Here, the mobility of the character means the power gained or lost depending on the action of the character during the game progress,
Ability, weapons, money, etc. The game progress data refers to the date and time and place obtained at a predetermined game progress time or the like in the game progress. The association data refers to data for associating the predetermined mobility of the character in the character data with the date / time and place in the game progress data.

Then, these character data areas 24
In the a, game progress data area 24b, and association data area 24c, each piece of data is independently stored and read out. That is, the character data and the game progress data can be appropriately selected and combined by the input from the input pad 36.

The change in the mobility of the character (pros and cons)
According to the points that the controller 31 obtains by the action of the character, the variable data of the variable memory unit 23 is read to change (grow) the mobility of the character.

Therefore, FIG. 3 shows an operation flowchart of the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, when the power is turned on,
The controller 31 loads the program from the ROM 32, expands it in the RAM 33 (which may be a cache memory included in the CPU), and starts up the apparatus main body 41 (step (S) 1).

When the apparatus main body 41 is started up, the game program is read from the program ROM 22a of the ROM cartridge 42, the video data is read from the video data ROM 22b and expanded in the RAM 33, and the player is made to select a character from a plurality of characters (S2). ).

Further, the contents of the first storage unit 24 are read, and it is judged whether or not there is data in each of the areas 24a to 24c (S3). If there is, the data in the first storage unit 24 is used for the game. Ask the player whether to start (S
4). When the player has selected that the game should be started based on the data in the first storage unit 24, the first
The character data, the game progress data, and the association data are read from the respective areas 24a to 24c of the storage section 24 and are expanded in the RAM 33.

If there is no data in the first storage section 24, and if there is data but the data does not start the game, the initial data is read from the ROM 32 (S6). Then, the game is started from the step S5 or S6 (S7).

When the game is started, the player is asked whether or not to reload the character data and the game progress data (S8). When reloading is selected, the player selects the mobility of the character, the date and time of the game situation, and the location (S9).

In other words, the player can set the character of the mobility increased up to that time to the date and time when the mobility was obtained and to the arbitrary date and time reversed from the place.

Then, the game is executed (S10), and the player is asked every predetermined time whether or not to save the character's mobility at the present time (S11). When saving, the character data area 24a of the first storage unit 24
In addition to storing the character data of the mobility point obtained in step 1, the date and time at that time are stored in the game progress data area 24b, and their associated data is also stored in the associated data area 24c (S12).

Then, if the game is not saved in S11 or after the game is completed in S12, the player is asked whether or not the game is to be completed (S13). If the game is not finished, the process returns to S8, and if it is finished, the game is over.

As described above, by using the ROM cartridge 42, it is possible to transfer and set the character of the mobility obtained during the progress of the game in the same game content to various scenes in which the progress of the game is reversed. The state of progress is increased and the playability can be improved.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention. The video game device 21 shown in FIG. 4 excludes the first storage section from the ROM cartridge 42 as shown in FIG. 2 (the second storage section indicated by the broken line will be described later), and externally serves as the first storage means. An external memory 37 having the same configuration as the first storage unit 24 (FIG. 2B) is provided.
The external memory 37 is detachably attached to the apparatus main body 41, and a memory driver 38 for storing or reading the external memory 37 is provided. This memory 37
And the memory driver 38 for the first in the second embodiment.
It constitutes a storage means of.

The external memory 37 in the video game device 21 is, for example, a 16-bit backup ROM.
The cartridge functions as the first storage section in FIG. 3, but has a significance in being separated from the ROM cartridge 42.

That is, even if another ROM cartridge having a program ROM of the game content related (series) to the game content in the program ROM 22a of the ROM cartridge 42 is attached to the apparatus main body 41, the same. By using the external memory 37, the characters up to that point can be transferred to another game that has been made into a series, so that the game nature is expanded and the playability is improved.

By the way, the broken line indicates the ROM cartridge 4.
The second storage unit 39, which is the second storage unit, is collectively provided in item 2. This second storage unit 39, like the external memory 37, has a character data area for each character as shown in FIG.
An associated data area and the like are provided.

By providing the second storage section 39, data can be transferred to and from the external memory 37 and different (series) characters can coexist in the same game, and the game property is further expanded. Therefore, the playability can be improved.

The ROM is used in the first and second embodiments.
Although the case where the cartridge 42 is used is shown, a CD-ROM which is built in the apparatus body 41 or driven by the apparatus body 41
This is applicable even when using a ROM.

[0046]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, at least the character data, the game progress data, and the association data are stored in each area of the first storage means, and the character data and the game progress data are stored. By starting a game with a combination selected as appropriate, it is possible to set a character having a changed mobility in various scenes in which the progress of the game is reversed, so that playability can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the storing means and the first storing means can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body provided with the processing means in a lump, so that the game is in progress even if the cartridge type is used. In either case, the character is set and the playability can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first storage means is independent of the storage means and is attachable to and detachable from the main body of the apparatus, so that the main body of the apparatus is provided with another storage means having different series of game contents. It is possible to make it appear in the game, and the playability can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 4, the first storage means and the second storage means capable of data transfer are collectively provided in the storage means, whereby another character in the other storage means is provided. It becomes possible to coexist with and improve playability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a principle diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conventional video game device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 21 video game device 22 storage means 22a program ROM 22b video data ROM 23 variable storage means (variable memory section) 24 first storage means (first storage section) 241a character data area 24b game progress data area 24c association data area 25 Processing means 31 Controller 32 ROM 33 RAM 34 Display driver 35 TV monitor 36 Input pad 37 External memory 38 Memory driver 39 Second storage unit 41 Device main body 42 ROM cartridge

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. In a video game device in which a game image is displayed, the game progresses in response to an input from a player, and the mobility of a predetermined character that appears changes, the content of the game to be displayed as an image is stored. Storage means, variable storage means for holding variable data serving as a reference for changing the mobility of the character, and an area for storing character data of at least the mobility of the character according to the character, game progress data And a first storage unit having an area for storing association data for associating the character data with the game progress data, and a game content read out from the storage unit for video display. A process of changing the mobility based on the variable data of the variable storage means according to the action of the character is also performed. And processing means for starting a game with a combination of the character data and the game progress data stored in the first storage means, which are appropriately selected by an input from the player. Video game device. 2. The video game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the storage means and the first storage means are detachably and collectively provided in an apparatus main body including at least the processing means. 3. The device, wherein said first storage means is applicable to said storage means or other related game content storage means independently of said storage means, and comprising at least said processing means. The video game device according to claim 1, wherein the video game device is detachably provided on the main body. 4. A second storage means having the same storage area as the first storage means and capable of freely transferring data with the first storage means is collectively provided in the storage means. The video game device according to claim 3, wherein the video game device is a video game device.