JPH11290552A - Game system using portable communication information terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable games to be freely played at various places and also to make such games rich in content to give an operator pleasure. SOLUTION: This game system is composed of a network 1 containing a host computer 2, and a portable communication information terminal 5 having at least one game function capable of linking to the network 1. The host computer 2 changes the contacts of a game by executing an adding process based on the data from the portable communication information terminal 5. Either or the both of commercial use game machine 3 and home machine 4 can be incorporated into the network 1 so that various games can be enjoyed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a portable telephone, a PH
The present invention relates to a game system using a portable communication information terminal such as S (Personal Handy-Phone System).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art At present, games using game machines are widely performed. Examples of this type of game machine include an arcade game machine installed in a game center, an amusement facility, and the like, and a home game machine installed in each home.

An arcade game machine has a relatively large housing that cannot be easily carried by a single person.
It is configured by installing a display device such as a display, an operation input device such as a joystick, a coin processing device, a game control device having a built-in ROM or the like storing a game program, and the like. The contents are calculated and the operator can enjoy the game.

A home-use game machine is generally formed in a size and weight that can be carried by a person in a hand, and a ROM cassette or a CD-RO storing a game program.
By mounting a storage medium such as M at a predetermined location of the home game machine, the game content is calculated and the operator can enjoy the game.

[0005] In recent years, a device in which a PHS has a game function is known. PHS is a portable communication device originally developed for the purpose of exchanging voice information between people. However, by adding a game function to this PHS, the convenience of a game operator and a caller can be improved. To improve the performance.

[0006]

With respect to a game mode using an arcade game machine, a relatively large computer and a large capacity memory having a high processing speed and a large processing capacity can be used, so that complicated game contents and You can enjoy the game under complicated image display. However, since the operator cannot carry the arcade game machine, the operator has to go to a game facility such as a game center in order to enjoy the game.

On the other hand, with respect to a game mode using a home game machine, there is the convenience that the user can enjoy the game while staying at home without going to a game facility.
However, ordinary home game machines are considered to be more transportable than arcade game machines, but it is difficult to carry them at all times. It is difficult to enjoy.

Some home game machines include a game control circuit including a CPU, a small display device such as a liquid crystal display, a button switch, and the like in a housing large enough to be put on the palm of a human hand. There are also game machines which are excellent in portability and have a structure in which various devices such as a simple operation input device are incorporated. According to this type of game machine, although there is an advantage that the game machine can be carried to various places and a game can be enjoyed at those places, the game contents that can be played by one game machine are the game contents. The game is limited to the game content of the machine, so that the user cannot enjoy a variety of games.

[0009] Further, when the PHS is used as a game machine, the convenience between a game applicant and a call applicant may be improved, but in terms of the game itself,
After all, the game contents that can be played by one game machine are limited to the game contents possessed by the game machine, so that a variety of games cannot be enjoyed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to make it possible to freely play a game in various places, and to change the contents of the game to be played in such a manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game system that can perform the game.

[0011]

(1) In order to achieve the above object, a game system according to the present invention provides a network including a host computer and at least one portable communication information terminal capable of entering the network. Wherein the portable communication information terminal has a game function, and the host computer performs additional processing based on data input from the portable communication information terminal.

In the above configuration, the “network” is
A communication network that can transmit data using telephone lines, leased lines, communications, etc., and is usually a communication network that transmits data between multiple terminals under a certain switching function or a certain protocol. is there. Also, "portable communication information terminal"
A terminal device that can transmit various types of information to other devices by communication, such as a mobile phone and a PHS.

The “additional processing” executed by the host computer includes, for example, a game result transmitted from each portable communication information terminal when a plurality of portable communication information terminals are connected to the host computer via a network. When a target value is achieved in a game played on a portable communication information terminal and a signal to that effect is transmitted to the host computer, the content of the game played on the portable communication information terminal is determined. Processing such as increasing the difficulty level or changing the game content may be considered.

According to the game system having the above-described structure, the game function is incorporated in a portable communication information terminal such as a portable telephone, so that the user can enjoy the game in any place as long as the terminal can be carried. Can be. In addition, the terminal is connected to a host computer through a network, and the host computer has a function of performing additional processing based on data transmitted from the terminal. Can be added.
As a result, when playing a game using one portable communication information terminal, the operator enjoys a game that is rich in change, particularly a game in which the content changes in response to the progress of the game. be able to. In particular, when a plurality of portable communication information terminals are connected to a host computer via a network, a common game character can be shared among a plurality of operators operating individual portable communication information terminals.

(2) Regarding the above game system,
The network can include arcade game machines. In this way, a common game can be enjoyed between the portable communication information terminal and the arcade game machine via the host computer, and therefore, the game world can be spread through one portable communication information terminal. be able to. Also,
For example, a single operator can call the same game character from both the portable communication information terminal and the arcade game machine on different days to continuously play a series of games.

(3) Further, with regard to the above-mentioned game system, a home-use game machine can be incorporated in a network to which a portable communication information terminal is connected. Alternatively, a home game machine can be further incorporated in a network to which both the portable communication information terminal and the arcade game machine are connected. According to this configuration, via the host computer, between the portable communication information terminal and the arcade game machine, between the portable communication information terminal and the home game machine, and between all the element devices. A common game can be enjoyed, and thus the game world can be further expanded through one portable communication information terminal.

[0017]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a game system according to the present invention. This game system includes a host computer 2, an arcade game machine 3, a home game machine 4, and a mobile phone 5 as a portable communication information terminal connected to each other by a network 1.

The host computer 2 is a computer managed by the game organizer. The arcade game machine 3 is a relatively large game machine installed in a game facility such as a game center and having excellent processing capability. The home game machine 4 is a relatively small and simple game machine provided in each home. The home game machine 4 includes a game machine configured using a personal computer.

The portable telephone 5 has a casing 6 having an external shape as shown in FIG. 3, for example. In the casing 6, a transmitting / receiving antenna 7, a speaker 8, a liquid crystal display 9, a button switch 11, and a microphone 12 are incorporated. A control device for controlling a telephone function and a game function is built in an appropriate place inside the casing 6, and the control device includes a CPU for executing various arithmetic processing as indicated by reference numeral 13 in FIG. (Central processing unit)
14, a memory 15, an image ROM 16 storing character images and the like used in a game, a transmitting device 17 for transmitting telephone signals and game signals, and a receiving device 18 for receiving telephone signals and the like from other mobile phones and the like. And a video control device 19 for controlling the operation of the liquid crystal display 9 to display a visible image on the liquid crystal display 9 (see FIG. 3).

The memory 15 has a ROM (Read Only Memory).
y), an internal memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), and in some cases, an external memory such as a memory card. When a memory card is used, a mounting slot is prepared in an appropriate place of the casing 6 (see FIG. 3) in order to mount the memory card. Both the telephone function program in which a series of instructions for achieving the telephone function is written and the game function program in which a series of instructions for achieving the game function are written are stored in appropriate storage locations in the memory 15. Is stored.

The CPU 14 performs arithmetic processing based on either the telephone function section program or the game section program according to an external command, and as a result, selectively executes the telephone function or the game function. The speaker 8, the liquid crystal display 9, the button switch 11, and the microphone 12 shown in FIG. 3 are connected to the CPU 14 through the input / output interface 21.

Returning to FIG. 1, the communication line 22a between the host computer 2 and the consumer game machine 4 is constituted by, for example, a subscriber telephone line. Host computer 2
A communication line 22b between the game machine 3 and the arcade game machine 3 is constituted by, for example, a telephone line, a dedicated line, or the like. The communication line 22c between the host computer 2 and the mobile phone 5 is
It is configured by wireless communication for normal wireless telephone communication.
A connection 2 between the mobile phone 5 and the home game machine 4
2d can be realized by various connection methods such as direct connection using a cable, wireless communication, or a cartridge such as a memory card. Further, the connection 22e between the mobile phone 5 and the arcade game machine 3 can be realized by a cartridge or the like.

The operation of the game system having the above configuration will be described below. In the following description, it is assumed that a program having a game content of raising a pet as a character is stored as a game section program in the memory 15 of FIG.

FIG. 2 schematically shows processing performed in each device of the host computer 2, the portable telephone 5, the arcade game machine 3, and the home game machine 4, and between the devices.
Arrow A indicates that data exchange between the host computer 2 and the mobile phone 5 for updating data of the other party is performed in two directions. An arrow B indicates that message data to be displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 (see FIG. 3) of the mobile phone 5 is transmitted from the host computer 2 to the mobile phone 5. Arrow C
Indicates that data for updating data on the host computer 2 side is transmitted from the arcade game machine 3 and the consumer game machine 4 to the host computer 2.
An arrow D indicates that character data is transferred from the host computer 2 to the arcade game machine 3 and the consumer game machine 4.

In FIG. 2, the operator operates the portable telephone 5
Can be set as the game mode, and in the present embodiment, a game can be played in which a pet is raised. At this time, for example, the pet character 23 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 9 of the mobile phone 5 as shown in FIG. This pet character 2 according to the operation of the operator
The personality No. 3 is created, that is, the pet character 23 is bred. This game operation can be freely performed by the operator at any place where the mobile phone 5 can be carried.

The result of the game, that is, the bred pet character can be transmitted to the host computer 2 as data as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 2, and can be registered there. The registered pet character can be referred to by a third party through the mobile phone 5, the business game machine 3, or the home game machine 4 belonging to the third party. Also, the operator himself transmits the ID number of the game machine to the host computer 2 according to the guidance displayed on the display screen 24 of the arcade game machine 3 or the home game machine 4 as shown in FIG. The own pet character can appear on the arcade game machine 3 or the home game machine 4, and the continuation of the game played on the mobile phone 5 can be continued using the arcade game machine 3 or the like. it can.

In the arcade game machine 3 and the like, by participating in a more advanced game as compared with the mobile phone 5, it is possible to see the growth of pet characters that cannot be achieved with the mobile phone 5. It is also possible to watch pets raised by other operators.

In addition to the processing described above, the host computer 2 sends the information to the host computer 2 through the portable telephone 5, the business game machine 3, and the home game machine 4 connected through the network 1 (see FIG. 1). Manage customers who have accessed. In addition, a game program stored in each of the mobile phone 5, the arcade game machine 3, and the home game machine 4, that is, a process of overwriting and rewriting firmware, that is, an update process is performed.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments and can be variously modified within the scope of the invention described in the claims. For example, in the embodiment of FIG.
Each device of the host computer 2, the mobile phone 5, the arcade game machine 3, and the home game machine 4 is incorporated in the above. The minimum elements required in the present invention are the two elements of the host computer 2 and the mobile phone 5. Therefore, it is not always necessary to incorporate the arcade game machine 3 and the home game machine 4.

The shape and structure of the mobile phone 5 are shown in FIG.
And it is not limited to what is shown in FIG. Also,
In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the case where the mobile phone 5 is used as the mobile communication information terminal is illustrated, but a PHS, another wireless communication device, or the like can be used instead of the mobile phone 5.

The game that can be played by the mobile phone 5 or the like is not limited to the pet breeding game, but may be any other game. The functions executed by the portable communication information terminal such as the host computer and the mobile phone are not limited to those shown in FIG.

Further, in the embodiment of the control system of the portable telephone shown in FIG. 4, the game program is stored in the memory built in the portable telephone. Can be stored as downloaded from a host computer, or can be installed by mounting a ROM card or the like. Instead of providing the game program on the mobile phone side, the game program can be provided on the host computer side and play the game using the mobile phone as an input terminal.

[0033]

According to the game system of the present invention,
Since the game function is incorporated in a portable communication information terminal such as a mobile phone, the game can be enjoyed in any place as long as the terminal can be carried. In addition, the terminal is connected to a host computer through a network, and the host computer has a function of performing additional processing based on data transmitted from the terminal. Can be added. As a result, when the operator plays the game using one portable communication information terminal, the operator has a variety of games,
In particular, it is possible to enjoy a variety of games whose contents change in accordance with the progress of the game.

In particular, when a plurality of portable communication information terminals are connected to the host computer through a network, a common game character may be shared among a plurality of operators operating the individual portable communication information terminals. it can. In particular, if a character breeding game is played as a game, the pleasure of raising a character while carrying it and the pleasure of confirming the detailed characteristics of the character on a high-performance game screen such as a game screen of a commercial game machine are compatible. I do.

Further, if an arcade game machine installed at a game center or the like is incorporated in the network, the character can be claimed to a third party at a public place such as the game center. In addition, by placing a character on the network, a distant person can show his / her character.

[0036]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing one embodiment of a game system using a portable communication information terminal according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing functions of the game system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone as an example of a mobile communication information terminal.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system used in the mobile phone of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a game content displayed on a display screen of the portable communication information terminal.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display screen of a game machine incorporated in a network.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 network 2 host computer 3 arcade game machine 4 home game machine 5 mobile phone (portable communication information terminal) 9 liquid crystal display screen 22a to 22c communication line 22d, 22e connection line 23 game character 24 game machine screen

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A network including a host computer and at least one network capable of entering the network.
And two portable communication information terminals, the portable communication information terminals have a game function, and the host computer performs additional processing based on data input from the portable communication information terminal. A game system using a portable communication information terminal. 2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the network includes an arcade game machine. 3. The game system according to claim 1, wherein the network includes a home-use game machine.