JPS6118937Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and particularly to a gaming machine in which the number of acquired points is displayed and players compete for the highest score.

Nowadays, with the development of electronics, a wide variety of gaming machines including video game machines are being provided, and the game contents are extremely diverse, but most of them are in the form of competing for points. . The number of points obtained is now displayed in a predetermined position on the gaming machine, and in some cases, the highest score on the gaming machine after a certain point in the past is recorded and displayed. , devises have been made to increase the interest of the game.

Therefore, if players were provided with a storage means that would allow them to display their acquired scores not only on the gaming machine, but also to third parties who were not present, the interest in the game would increase even further. Obviously, no such gaming machine has been proposed at present.

The present invention was developed from a narrative perspective, and its purpose is to create a new gaming machine in which a card with the player's name and the number of points earned at the end of the game is issued. It is about providing. In such a case, the card serves as a certificate of the player's game performance, and the player's interest in the game is further enhanced by aiming to obtain a card with a high score.

The gist of the present invention is to connect a small printer to a conventional game machine via a printer interface circuit, as well as a circuit for inputting the player's name, a predetermined sentence, and a small printer. By incorporating a memory for storing patterns, etc., the printer is activated to print the above-mentioned information on the card according to the player's request or when the player has scored more than a predetermined number of points. The purpose is to have the issue published.

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained using the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram (including a partially enlarged view) showing an embodiment of a video game machine as an aspect of the game machine according to the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed on the screen. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a card issued by the video game machine shown in FIG. 1.

In Fig. 1, 1 is a table-type video game machine, 2 is a television screen, and depending on the game content, for example, a large number of invaders 3, 3, UFO4,
In addition to barriers 5, 5, beam cannon 6, beam 7, etc.
Images of the current player's score 8, the highest score 9 after a certain point in the past, and the name 10 of the player who recorded the highest score are displayed. Reference numeral 11 is an operation panel provided on the front side of the table for the players seated on the front side of the table to operate the game. In addition, there is a lever 12 used to fire the beam cannon, a push button switch 13 for firing the beam cannon, a one-player switch 14 to be pressed when one player plays the game alone, and a one-player switch 14 used when two players face each other A two-player switch 15 and a coin slot 16 are provided to be pressed when the players are seated and alternately play the game. Reference numeral 11' designates an operation panel for a player seated on the opposite side of the table, and a lever 12' and a switch 13' having the same functions as the lever 12 and switch 13, respectively, are provided here. 17 is a keyboard for inputting the player's name, as shown in an enlarged view at the bottom of the drawing;
It is attached to the top of the table.

The remaining part of FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the circuit configuration built into the game machine 1, in which 18 is an arithmetic circuit, 19 is a memory in which data necessary for playing the game is stored, and 20 is a video signal. 21 is a memory for storing data to be printed; 22 is a printer interface circuit; and 23 is a printer. Note that the printer interface circuit 22 is connected to the buffer memory 2.
4. The printer 23 consists of a print command circuit 25, a character signal generator (character generator) 26, a head drive circuit 27, a motor control gate 28, a motor drive circuit 29, a sensor output signal shaping/discrimination circuit 30, etc. A discharge or thermal printer, comprising a print head 31;
It consists of a drive motor 32, a sensor 33, a paper feed mechanism, and other mechanisms.

Before the start of the game, the name of the highest scorer in the past 10, his score 9, Invader 3, and other predetermined images flash repeatedly on the TV screen to solicit the game. However, when the player inserts a predetermined coin into the coin slot 16 and presses the switch 14 or 15, the game machine 1 becomes playable.

When this happens, invaders 3 and 3 will appear in formation on the TV screen 2 and will begin an invasion while firing missiles, so the player can move the lever 12 (or 12') to move the beam cannon 6 left or right. By moving to , and pressing switch 13 (or 13') to fire beam 7, you can blow up these invaders 3 and 3 and the UFO 4 that appears from time to time, and prevent the invasion. In this way, the levers and switches arranged on the operation panels 11 and 11' are operated to advance the game, and their respective output signals are guided to the arithmetic circuit 18 through the line 18a. .

The arithmetic circuit 18 reads desired data from the memory 19 in accordance with a predetermined program and in response to signals input from each switch of the operation section, organizes the data into a series of game signals, and outputs the data. It is sent from the terminal 18b.

This game signal is transmitted to the video signal organizing circuit 20.
Then, a vertical synchronization signal, a horizontal synchronization signal, etc. are added to the video signal, which is then supplied to a television receiver.

This video signal includes a pixel signal that displays the desired game development, player scores, the name and score of the highest scorer in the past, etc. on the television screen, and an audio signal that generates appropriate sound effects. . The name and score of the highest scorer in the past
This was stored in the memory 19.

Therefore, when a predetermined number of beam cannons are blown up by Invaders' missiles, or when the position where Beam Cannon 6 is occupied by Invaders, the game is over, but the type and type of Invaders 3 and 3 that have been blown up up to that point will be over. The player's score is determined by the number of UFOs shot down, the number of UFO4s shot down, etc. And this score is 8 (or 8')
recorded and displayed.

Therefore, the score displayed at 8 (or 8') is
If the score does not reach the score displayed in 9, the player will not be given any special benefits after the game ends. 18-1 detects this and oscillates a pulse from its output terminal 18c to set the keyboard 17 to the operating state, and the television screen is also switched to an image as shown in FIG. This allows the current player who is the acquirer to input the name of the player.

As shown in Figure 2, in the display on the TV screen at this time, the name of the old record holder that had been recorded up until now has been erased, and numbers 8 and 9 in the diagram are both the new record scores set this time. In addition, the name of the current player is written in the column indicated by 34.

That is, the player inputs his/her name by pressing the alphanumeric keys 35, 35 and the mark key 36 on the keyboard 17, and the signal is led to the area a of the memory 21 through the terminal 17a and is stored therein. The data is immediately transmitted to the arithmetic circuit 18 from the terminal 18d, and is sent to column 3 on the TV screen.
4, and the player operates the input while checking the displayed contents. If you accidentally record another character or ., press the clear key 37 to erase the character, etc., and then type the correct key again.

On the other hand, the new record score is inputted from the arithmetic circuit 18 through the terminal 18e and recorded in area b of the memory 21. Further, in area c of the memory 21, information on predetermined characters and patterns that do not require modification is stored.

After inputting the player's name, the player command key 38 is pressed. At that time, the signal is supplied to the print command circuit 25 in the printer interface circuit through the terminal 17b, and the data to be printed that has been copied from the memory 21 to the buffer memory 24 begins to be printed. At this time, the signal from the key 38 is simultaneously supplied to the arithmetic circuit 18 through the terminal 17c, causing the name of the new player recorded in the memory 21 and the new recorded score to be recorded in the memory 19. The name and score of the old record holder will be deleted. Also, the image on the TV screen is returned to its normal state from the state shown in Figure 2, and from then on, both while the display is being displayed to solicit games and while the game is actually being played. , the new high point and the new record holder's name will now be displayed.

Therefore, the printer interface circuit 22
The functions of the printer 23 and the printer 23 will be described below with reference to FIG. 3, which shows an example of a printed card.

As the printer 23, it is recommended to use a discharge printer or a thermal printer, which is small and relatively inexpensive. Therefore, printed characters and patterns are usually drawn by a plurality of dots, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the player's name 39 and his score 40 are changed each time, and are stored in areas a and b of the memory 21, respectively.
Corresponds to the data recorded in the area. All other characters and patterns do not need to be changed, and the data corresponds to the data that is always stored in area c of the memory 21. 41 is the model of the video game machine, 42 is a sentence indicating the meaning of the score, 4
3 is the name of the manufacturer of the model.

Then, input of the player's name is completed,
By pressing the print command key 38,
The signal is provided to a print command circuit 25 and provided as a print command signal to a character signal generator 26 and a motor control gate 28. The character signal generator 26 sequentially converts data read out in advance from the memory 21 and stored in the buffer memory 26 into character signals, and supplies these to the head drive circuit 27. printer 23
In the case of a discharge printer, for example, the print head 31 is composed of a plurality of needle-like electrodes, so the head drive circuit 27 applies a discharge voltage to each electrode in accordance with the character signal.

On the other hand, the print command signal that has passed through the motor control gate 28 is supplied to a motor drive circuit 29, and the motor 32 of the printer is operated. The rotation of the motor 32 causes the head 31 to scan in the horizontal direction and also moves the printing paper intermittently in the vertical direction through a predetermined transmission mechanism.

Note that sensors 33 such as reed switches and pick-up coils are attached to the head drive mechanism and reduction gear parts, and their outputs are sent to the shaping discrimination circuit 30 to adjust the timing pulse for printing and to control the discharge in the heald part. The signal is fed back to the character signal generator 26 and print command circuit 25 as a signal for preventing chattering.

As described above, the player who has obtained the highest score is issued with a score certificate as shown in FIG. 3.

Note that the configuration of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments.

That is, instead of using the keyboard as a means for inputting the player's name, it is also possible to use a switch for operating the game, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 54-59169, or a printer interface. Naturally, the configuration of the face circuit is also subject to design changes depending on the printer used.

In addition, the above cards may be issued not only to the highest scorer, but also to players with a certain score or more, or in some cases to all players. In that case, the text on the card may also be issued. It is also possible to change the text as appropriate and, for example, select and print a text that judges the character of the player based on the number of points obtained or how the player plays the game, from among several predetermined short texts. It is also possible to easily fill in the date when the game was played, or to write in a simple advertisement for the store where the game machine is installed. Furthermore, the present invention is applicable not only to video game machines but also to all game machines that compete for the number of points obtained, and the present invention encompasses all of the above.

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, the present invention provides a gaming machine that is much more interesting than conventional gaming machines.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram (including a partially enlarged view) showing an embodiment of the game machine according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is an example of an image that appears on the television screen when a player inputs his or her name. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the contents of a card issued by the gaming machine shown in FIG. 1...TV game machine, 2...TV screen,
11, 11'...Game operation panel, 17...Keyboard, 18...Arithmetic circuit, 19...Memory for recording game content data, 20...Video signal organization circuit, 21...Memory for recording data for printing, 2
2...Printer interface circuit, 23...
...Printer.

Claims (1)

[Scope of claim for utility model registration] A game machine that competes for the number of points obtained,
A device that is equipped with a memory that temporarily stores the points acquired by the player, consists of the components described in items a to e below, is activated after the game ends, and is used to store the characters or symbols specified by the player. The game machine described above is equipped with a device for issuing a game score card. a Character designation device that allows the player to select and designate desired characters and symbols from a predetermined group of characters and symbols. b. A memory that temporarily stores the characters and symbols designated by the character designation device. c. A memory that stores predetermined characters and symbols. d. A printer interface circuit that reads out the contents of the three types of memories mentioned above and organizes them into signals for driving the printer. e. A printer that prints the stored contents on a predetermined sheet of paper based on instructions from the printer interface circuit.