JPH10192483A - Communication pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform the play of a new machine at any time by accessing a host computer by use of communication, and downloading and storing the data of the new machine. SOLUTION: A soft cartridge 20 contains a modem, so that pachinko machine data such as nail position data, prize port data, big prize port data, digital rotating display data and data for flow of ball can be downloaded through the model from the outside by a wire means such as telephone 4 or a wireless means. The content of a pachinko game can be renewed on the basis of this downloaded pachinko machine data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communication pachinko game machine, and more particularly to a communication pachinko game machine which can play a new pachinko game at any time by accessing a host computer and downloading new data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional pachinko game machine, a game is played using pachinko game software stored in a ROM.

[0003]

However, such a pachinko game machine has a drawback that the user may be bored with a model whose game content is old. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to play a new machine at any time by accessing a host computer using communication and downloading data of a new machine of the pachinko machine to a communication pachinko game machine and storing it.

[0004]

According to the present invention, a pachinko game stored in a storage section of a soft cartridge is displayed on a display, and an operation section corresponding to a handle of the pachinko machine is operated to control the pachinko game. Used for pachinko game machines. New equipment data of pachinko machines such as nail position data, winning opening data, big winning opening data, digital rotation display data, data on ball flow, etc. of the new pachinko machines can be downloaded from the outside by wired means such as telephones or wireless means, The contents of the pachinko game can be updated based on the new stand data of the pachinko machine. In another invention, a modem function is added to the soft cartridge to make it easier to download new stand data.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiment 1 of the Invention Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a communication pachinko game machine 1
The game machine includes a game machine main body 10 to which a soft cartridge 20 is detachably mounted. The game machine main body 10 is connected to a television receiver as a display device 2 essential for a game and a pad controller 5. Soft cartridge 20
Is connected to an external host computer 6 via a modular jack 3 via a communication line as a wired means of the telephone 4. The pad controller 5 is an operation panel provided with a direction key 5A, a selection key 5B, a start execution key 5C, buttons 5D, 5E and the like corresponding to a joystick.

FIG. 2 shows a configuration of main circuits inside the game machine 1 according to the first embodiment. In this figure, 10 is a circuit of the game machine main body, and 20 is a circuit of the soft cartridge. In the game console 10, the internal bus 11
U12, RAM 13, image processing unit 14, video
The memory 15 is connected.

Further, the game machine body 10 has an interface section 17a for extending the internal bus 11 to the outside.
The interface 17b of the soft cartridge 20 is connected to the interface 17a. Thereby, these interface units 17a,
The expansion bus 21 of the soft cartridge 20 is connected to the internal bus 11 of the main body 10 via 17b.

In the soft cartridge 20, a modem 1 is connected to an expansion bus 21 connected to the interface 17b.
The modem 16 includes a modem circuit 22 and a network control unit (NCU) 23.

The modem 22 demodulates the analog signal received from the modular jack 3 connected to the communication line into a parallel bit digital signal conforming to the code system of the game machine body 10 at the time of reception and receives the demodulated signal.
To the CPU 12. Conversely, at the time of transmission, the parallel bit digital signal from the CPU 12 is serially (for example, R
The signal is converted into a digital signal of S-232C standard), modulated to an analog signal, and transmitted to the modular jack 3 connected to the communication line.

The NCU 23 is a device for performing switching control for connecting the modulation / demodulation circuit 22 to the modular jack 3 connected to the communication circuit, has an automatic transmission / reception function, and has an extension bus 21 and interface units 17a, 17b. Via the internal bus 11 in the game machine main body 10
Exchanges control signals with the CPU 12.

The software ROM 19 contains software package system information and the like. The system information includes opening information for playing a pachinko game, game progress flow information, ball information (graphics, ball movement), and the like. Graphic information of nails, band decoration information, underframe lamps, windmills, underframes, etc.

With such information, a pachinko board 31 is displayed on the display device 2 as shown in FIG. The pachinko board 31 has a nail 31a, a winning opening 31b, and a winning opening 31.
c, digital rotation display 31d, general winning opening 31e, pachinko ball 31f, and band decoration 31g are displayed. However, it is not possible to actually play the new stand only with this system information. Therefore, transmission data is downloaded from the host station via a modular jack connected to the communication circuit.

The transmission data includes gauge board graphic data, liquid crystal digital section data (probability, graphic,
Position), position data of the nail 31a, each winning opening 31b, 31
There are positions and graphic data of c, 31d, and 31e, data describing how to operate and play the new stand, and others. That is, the pachinko game of the new unit is displayed on the display device 2 by the system information stored in advance and the communication data on the new unit.

When the user purchases the soft cartridge 20, the ROM 19 also contains data of individual basics (several units) of the pachinko game, and the user can play the software alone. The game system data includes game opening, game ending, game progress flow information, ball information (graphics,
Ball movement) is also included.

The downloaded transmission data is stored in the memory RAM 13 connected to the expansion bus 11 of the game machine body 10. Here, since system information is stored in the ROM 19 of the cartridge 20 in advance, graphic information of a screen can be stored in the RAM 13 of the game machine body 10.

It is not necessary to download the data by communication immediately after the purchase, but only by downloading the communication after the pachinko machine becomes tired. It is inconvenient if the data of each pachinko machine is stored in the ROM 19 because it cannot be erased. However, by storing the data of each pachinko machine in the RAM 13, there is a merit that the data can be freely deleted.

The ROM 19 of the soft cartridge 20
Further stores an ID number and a telephone number of an access point, and the user determines which access point to connect to and connects. Registration of pachinko game members is done by online sign-up, and data such as address, name, age and the like are transmitted.

This data is confirmed on the host side, and a password is issued to the user. By entering this password, the user can log in to the host and receive various services. Here, sign-up refers to sending information such as name, age, and address to a host via a communication line online. Further, the password is word information used by the host to authenticate the user (operation for confirming the user by using a combination of an ID and a password for confirming whether the user is actually using the user). Also, login means that the user is correctly authenticated on the host side and the user is ready to receive services.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the soft cartridge 20 is inserted into the socket (not shown) of the game machine main body 10, the modem circuit 22, the NCU 23, and the modem 16
Is connected to the internal bus 11 of the game machine main body 10 via the interface 17 on the cartridge 20 side and the interface 17 on the main body side. The R
The AM 13 can store user-created programs, data, game programs obtained from a communication network, animation data, and the like.

Accordingly, the new device can be displayed on the display device 2 only by distributing the data relating to the new device of the pachinko machine as the transmission data of the present invention. Just do it. Since the modem 16 is built in the soft cartridge 20, the ID number is attached to the storage unit when the soft cartridge 20 is purchased, so that when the new platform software is distributed,
Since the delivery can be performed after confirming the ID number, the delivery confirmation becomes easy. Moreover, since the type of software of the software cartridge 20 can be determined, it is possible to prevent the same software from being erroneously distributed.

Embodiment 2 of the Invention FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the communication pachinko game machine according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, the soft cartridge 20
, A backup RAM 24 and a battery 25 are additionally provided. The backup RAM 24 is connected to the expansion bus 21 and stores various data processed by the CPU 12.

The RAM 24 stores the soft cartridge 2
0 is a battery backup type memory that is backed up by a battery 25 incorporated in the memory. When the game machine 1 is powered on, the RAM 24
The driving voltage is received from a power supply circuit (not shown).

During this time, the battery 25 is charged with the drive voltage as the charging voltage. When the power switch is turned off and the output of the power circuit stops, the battery drive voltage from the battery 25 is supplied to the RAM 24. This allows
The information stored in the RAM 24 is retained even after the power is turned off.

Further, the above-mentioned transmission data downloaded from the host computer 6 is stored in the backup RAM 24. Therefore, by using the communication to access the host computer to download and save the data of the new unit, the new unit can be played at any time. As a recording medium to be stored, a backup type RAM 24 in the soft cartridge 20 or a memory cartridge inserted into an expansion bus provided separately from the game machine body is used.

Therefore, graphic data and jackpot probability data of the pachinko game machine may be stored in a backup RAM built in a separately added cartridge. This allows erasure. Of course, compression is applied when data is transmitted from the host computer to each terminal. The soft cartridge 20 also has a function of decompressing the compressed file in that case.

Further, the present invention is not limited to downloading new pachinko machine data via a wired means, but may use wireless means to download. Also, the soft cartridge 20 is described as taking in the software of the new pachinko game via the line of the telephone 4, but the soft cartridge 20 is provided with an insertion port for a connection terminal of a dedicated line so that the software can be taken in from the dedicated line. It may be. Further, the modem unit is not limited to a hardware configuration, and may be a software configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a communication pachinko game machine according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of the communication pachinko game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a screen of the communication pachinko game machine according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an overall block circuit diagram of a communication pachinko game machine according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Communication pachinko game machine 2 Display device 3 Modular jack 4 Telephone 5 Pat controller 6 Host computer 5A Direction key 5B Selection key 5C Execution key 5D button 10 Main body 11 Internal bus 16 Modem 17 Interface section 19 Soft ROM 20 Soft cartridge 22 Modulation / demodulation circuit 23 Network control unit (NCU) 24 Backup RAM 25 Battery

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A pachinko game machine wherein a pachinko game stored in a storage unit of a soft cartridge is displayed on a display, and an operation unit corresponding to a handle of the pachinko machine is operated to control the pachinko game. It is possible to download pachinko machine new stand data such as nail position data, winning opening data, big winning opening data, digital rotation display data, ball flow data, etc. of the new stand pachinko machine from the outside by wired or wireless means such as A communication pachinko game machine characterized in that the contents of the pachinko game can be updated based on the pachinko machine data obtained. 2. The communication pachinko game machine according to claim 1, wherein a modem function is added to the soft cartridge, and the pachinko machine new stand data is downloaded via the modem function.