MXPA01001347A - Game controller, entertainment system, game execution method and method of downloading game software program - Google Patents

Abstract

When video game software is distributed by a removal medium, such as a CD-ROM, a video game system in an airplane must prepare a plurality of the same title games and a heavy load must be borne by the administration side. A game controller (10) has an operation surface provided with buttons, such as a switch (11) and includes an I/O controller (12), a 2.5-inch HDD (13) and an EIDE (Enhanced IDE) interface (14). The I/O controller (12) establishes the interface with a game machine body (16) by collecting information items of the switch (11) and the like joined to the operation surface (31) of the game controller (10). The EIDE interface (14) serves as an interface for the 2.5-inch HDD (13). The 2.5-inch HDD (13) has a capacity of 6 GB which permits 10 titles of 500 MB video game software programs to be stored.

Description

GAME CONTROLLER, ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM, METHOD FOR GAME EXECUTION AND METHOD TO DOWNLOAD PROGRAM The present invention relates to a controller for use in reproducing a video game that is displayed, for example on a monitor, such as a television set, an entertainment system incorporating the game controller and a game machine body and a game execution system. The present invention relates to a method for downloading a game software program to the game controller. Prior Art In mobile bodies, such as airplanes or 15 airplanes and trains and hotels, the service has been propagated with which video game software is provided for a passenger or a resident for each seat or room. A supplied entertainment system is used to play a video game. A requested video game or software is distributed or provided to the passenger or the guest in each seat or in each room, by using a removable medium such as a CD-ROM, a means of communication such as a network. When the video game software is distributed with the removable medium, a plurality of games of the same title should be provided. Therefore, a large burden must be borne by the administration side. Since a CD-ROM is capable of storing only a video game software, each CD-ROM must be provided for a passenger that requires playing a plurality of games. Also, the previous case causes the administration side to support a load. When the video game software is distributed over a network, the load must be supported by the distribution side when, for example, the software that is distributed by the CD-ROM can be removed. Usually, the size of the video game software program is very large. Therefore, an excessively long time is required to download the software when a low-cost network is used. An entertainment system of a type that requires a plurality of gaming software programs having the same title to be prepared, does not allow passengers in seats distant from a movable body, such as an airplane or a train, to practice a competitive game. , such as chess or Japanese chess. When the video game software is distributed over a network, an expensive network is required when passengers in distant games play a competitive game. In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a game controller that allows a passenger or a guest to select a video game software, to play the video game immediately in such a way that a load must be supported on the administration side is reduced, an entertainment system incorporating the game controller, a method for running the game and a method for downloading the game software to the game controller. Another object of the present invention is to provide an entertainment system and a method for executing a game with which the passengers of a moving body in distant seats practice a game of competitive type. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION To achieve the above objectives, a game controller according to the present invention comprises: a portion of operation with keys; communication interface means for establishing communication with a gaming machine body; and storage means wherein a plurality of game software programs are stored, which have been selected by using the operation position with keys and which are executed by a control portion of the game machine body. To achieve the above objectives, an entertainment system according to the present invention comprises: a game controller; and a game machine body, wherein the game controller incorporates an operation portion with keys; communication interface means, to establish communication with a gaming machine body and storage means wherein a The plurality of game software programs are stored, which have been selected by using the operation portion with keys and which are reproduced by a control portion of the game machine body, and the game machine body incorporates means of interface of communication to establish communication with the game controller and control means to execute a plurality of the selected game software programs when using the key operation portions. To achieve the above objectives, a method for executing a game comprises: a step for displaying a list of an index of a plurality of game software items in an exhibit portion, when a game controller incorporating a game medium Storage that has a plurality of items of * '"a? * r < *".. ":.% J% Si £ t3fa¡ &&t;? usß. *', i ¿& amp; ################################################################################################################ multiple game software items, 5 presented in the display portion when using an operation portion with keys of the game controller, and a step to execute a game software item selected from the display portion when using the portion of operation with controller keys game. To achieve the above objectives, an entertainment system according to the present invention comprises: a plurality of gaming machine bodies each of which a controller is connected to game; a network for connecting the multiple bodies of game machines to each other, and a main control portion, for controlling the multiple bodies of game machines through the network, wherein the game controller incorporates a portion of operation with keys, media communication interface to establish communication with the game machine body and storage means having a plurality of stored and selected game software programs, by using the operation portion with key, the body of game machine incorporates interface means of communication to establish communication with the game controller and control means for executing the multi-game game software program, selected by using the operation portion with keys of the game controller, and when communication has been established between minus two game machine bodies of the multiple game machine bodies, and a predetermined game software program is executed by the main control means, such that synchronization is established. To achieve the above objects, a method for executing a game according to the present invention such as a network for connecting a multiplicity of game machine bodies to which a game controller is connected, is used to execute a support program predetermined game logic between a body of an arcade game machine and an unspecified game machine body, the method for executing a game comprises: a step for transmitting a request to play a game to all residual game machine bodies, when a predetermined game software program has been selected by the game controller connected to the arbrety game machine body and a mode for recovering a non-specific competitor has been selected; a stage to connect a line of ? ^ - i .. ^ ... = ^ "S &5ia communication between the body of game machine arbritario and the body of non-specific gaming machine when an acceptance notice has been issued from the non-specific competitor through the non-specific machine body, in 5 response to the request to play the game, and a step to play the game while establishing synchronization between the game machine bodies, such that the non-specific game machine body searches, from the game controller, for a program from game logic similar to the game software program that is executed by the machine body of the arbrite game and the game machine body turns on the game software program. To achieve the above objectives, a method downloading a game software program to a game controller incorporating a storage portion, the method of downloading a game software program comprises the steps of: connecting the game controller to a storage medium of large capacity that has the game software program stored there, and run the download. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical structure of a video game system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a diagram showing the shape of the video game system; Figure 3 is a diagram showing the form of a game controller that constitutes the video game system; Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of downloading a software from the game to the game controller; Figure 5 is a diagram showing another example of downloading a software from the game to the game controller; Figure 6 is a flow chart of the operation of the video game system; Figure 7 is a diagram showing a menu screen; Figure 8 is a schematic view showing the structure of a video game system according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 is a flow chart showing an application program for performing a process required to start a competitive type game that is performed by the video game system; Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of display on a monitor of a gaming machine made during the execution of the application program; Figure 11 is a diagram similar to Figure and showing an example of display on the gaming machine monitor made during the execution of the application program; Figure 12 is a diagram similar to Figure 11 and that shows an example of display in the monitor of the gaming machine made during the execution of the application program. Figure 13 is a block diagram showing a structure of a system controller; Figure 14 is a diagram showing the protocol of data passing through a network of the video game system illustrated in Figure 8; Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of the opening that is established when a competitive type game (Japanese chess) is performed; Figure 16 is a diagram showing the structure of a system for executing a method for downloading a game software program to a plurality of game controllers; Figure 17 is a diagram showing a method for adjusting the SCSI ID I / F of the discharge system illustrated in Figure 16; Figure 18 is a diagram showing an example of display (download) on the monitor of a PC made when a download application program is executed by the download system shown in Figure 16; Figure 19 is a diagram showing another example of display (deletion) on the PC monitor made when the download application program has been executed by the download system shown in the Figure 16, and Figure 20 is a block diagram showing another structure of the system for executing the method of downloading a game software program to a plurality of game controls. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Modalities of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a video game system will now be described as an example of an entertainment system in accordance with the present invention and incorporating game controllers in accordance with the present invention. The video game system according to the present invention is used in an aircraft. As illustrated in Figure 1, a video game system 1 for use in an aircraft incorporates a game controller 10 and a game machine body 16 to which the game controller 10 is connected via the cables 15. Also, a monitor 26 and a speaker 27 are connected to the game machine body 16. The game controller 10 includes a hard disk drive (HDD = Hard Disk Drive) of size 13 6.35 cm (2.5"). HDD 13 controls a hard disk (HD = Hard Disk) which has a storage capacity of 6 GB, since a usual game title has a capacity of 500 MB, the HD of the HDD 13 is capable of storing 10 titles.The recording medium is limited in accordance with the size of the program to be recorded The recording medium may be another medium, such as a flash disk or a semiconductor recording medium The above recording medium may be a removable medium As illustrated in Figure 2, the driver of game 10, the game machine body 16 and the moni tor 26 of the video game system can be placed on the periphery of a seat 2 on an airplane. For example, a passenger in a seat 2? run a video game while watching a monitor 261 # such as a game controller 10.}. it is attached to a connector 29x which is provided for the backrest of the seat 282 of the front seat 22 through the cables 15. The game machine body 16x is attached to a lower portion 30x of the seat 21. The cable is connected to the connector 291 of the backrest of the seat 282 of the front seat 22 through the seat and the floor. A video output from the game machine body 16! and a food to the game controller 10? are supplied to the monitor 26x of the front seat 22 and the connector 29? placed on the side of the monitor 26x. It should be noted that the backrest of the seat 28 of the seat? it is provided with a monitor 260 for a passenger in the rear seat (not shown). A game controller 100 is attached to the connector 290. A game machine body 162 for a passenger taking the seat 22 is attached to the lower portion of the seat 22. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, the driver set 10 incorporates an operating surface 31 which is provided with buttons, such as a switch 11, and which includes an I / O controller (1/0) 12, a hard disk drive (HDD = Hard Disk Drive) of 6.35 cm (2.5") 13 and an EIDE interface (EIDE = Enhanced IDE) 14. The I / O controller (1/0) 12 is attached to the operating surface 31 of the game controller 10. information items of the switch 11 and so on thereafter they are collectively interconnected with the game machine body 16. The EIDE 14 interface serves as an interface with the 6.35 cm (2.5") HDD 13. The 6.35 cm (2.5") 13 HDD has a capacity of 6. GB as described above, which allows 10 titles of video game sandwiches, each one having a capacity ad of 500 MB. The game machine body 16 includes a -j $ sjt- »am» ^ ai central processing unit = UPC (CPU) 17 to which are connected a RAM 20, a ROM 22, a graphics controller 23, a sound controller 24, an E / controller S = Input / Output (I / O = Input / Output) and an interface and ID 21, are connected through an internal conduit 18. UPC 17 executes a game according to a video game program that is read from the HDD 13. The RAM 20 is used when the UPC 17 executes the video game program. ROM 22 has a basic program that corresponds to an operating system (OS = Operating System) stored there. The graphics controller 23 produces a polygonal image or a 3D image according to data supplied from the UPC 17 to output the image to the monitor 26. The sound controller 24 synthesizes the sound effects according to the data supplied from the UPC 17 for outputting the sound effect to the speaker 27. As described above, the HDD 13 included in the game controller 10 is usually capable of storing 10 titles of video game programs. A program download system will be described schematically with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 shows a download system where a PC 35 is connected to the game controller 10 through the cables 15. Since the interface is similar to that for a usual PC, direct connection of the PC 35 as illustrated in the drawing allows a download system to be constituted. When a SCSI cable 36 is used for the HDD interface as illustrated in Figure 5, a plurality (three in the drawing) of game controllers 10lf 102 and 103 can be connected to a PC 35, to allow simultaneous downloading. When the SCSI method is used to establish the connection, a connection of 7 game controllers 10 is allowed. A method for downloading a game support program to the game controller will be described later. The procedure of the game controller 10 required to perform a moment in which a passenger is provided with the game controller 10 to which the game software program has been downloaded at a time when the game is started after that the connector is coupled to a connector 29 placed on the side of the monitor 26 L, it will now be described with reference to a flow chart shown in Figure 6. It should be noted that the description of the download to the description of the following diagram Flow is a method of a method for executing a game according to the present invention.

In the SI stage, the cursor of the game controller 10 is inserted into the connector 29 attached to the backrest of the seat 282. Then, the HDD 13 included in the game controller 10 is automatically turned on in step S2. In step S3 the index for example of 5 video game titles recorded or recorded on the HDD 13, is read automatically according to the basic program (the operating system) for the game machine body 16. As illustrated in Figure 7 (A), a minor screen 37 is displayed on the monitor 26 ?. That is, the list of names of the games is displayed on the monitor 26. It should be noted that the display of the list, which is done by displaying names, can be done by displaying icons. That is, an index that allows the identification of the games. In step S4, a cursor key of the game controller 10 vertically moves a cursor 38. When a return key has been depressed at the title position of the video game that is required to play, the select game is started in step S5 . In this description, "Crash Bandicoot" # 4 is started. When a game is required to be completed, a game reward button is pressed on the switch 11 of the game controller 10. In this way, the menu screen 37 is displayed on new. In the previous state, the cables 15 of the game controller 10 can be removed from the connector 29. Each time the game controller 10 is removed, the game machine body 16 reinitializes all video games to start a sleep mode. As described above, the video game system according to this embodiment has the structure that the game controller 10 has a plurality of stored game software programs. Therefore, the passenger is able to freely select a game. Since the games are stored in the game controller 10, no administration of the game software is not required on the plane or the like. Since any CD-ROM distributed on the market is not used, any theft can be prevented. Another embodiment of the entertainment system that incorporates the game controller according to the present invention will now be described. In this mode, also a video game system will be described that is used in an airplane. As illustrated in Figure 8, the video game system according to this embodiment is a system in which a plurality of game machine bodies 42l 422, 423, 424, 425, 426, ..., to which a plurality of game controllers 411 # 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, ... are connected, connected to each other through a network 43 and regulated by a system controller 44 through a network 43. The controller of play 41 and the game machine body 42 have similar structures as the game controller 10 and the game machine body 16 shown in Figure 1. Therefore, the description of the internal structures is omitted. The passengers practice a game while watching the monitors 451; 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, The gaming machine body 42 attached to the lower portion of a side portion of each seat as illustrated in FIG. 2, is connected through a network 43, as illustrated in FIG. Figure 8. Further, the game machine body 42 is connected to an upper system controller 44. Originally, the network 43 that is used by the upper system controller 44 communicates with the lower game machine body 42. to control the total system. In this embodiment, when a plurality of passengers practice a game, the network 43 is used to establish communication between the gaming machine bodies 42 to practice the game. The game machine body 42 structured similarly to the game machine body 16 shown in Figure 1, is regulated by the system controller 43 to execute the next application program to start a competitive type game. The procedure for starting the competitive type game by using the application program will now be described with reference to Figures 9 to 12. Although the procedure for practicing the competitive type game will now be described, the structure according to this embodiment can be applied. to a case where, for example, a role playing game is practiced where a plurality of people are able to participate. Figure 9 is a flow diagram showing the procedure of the application program. Figures 10 to 12 show examples of display on the monitor when the previous application program is performed. When the application program has been selected by an arbitrary passenger (hereinafter referred to as a "requester side" according to the basic software program, the requester side is caused to choose a competitive type game in the Sil stage shown in Figure 9. Specifically, "1. Japanese Chess" and "2. Mahjong", which are games of the competitive type, are displayed on the monitor 45 as a game menu, as illustrated in Figure 10 (a). One consideration is realized that "1. Japanese Chess" has been selected In the step S12, a competitor is chosen As illustrated in Figure 10 (b), competition methods "1. Computer", "2. Specific person" and "3. Non-specific person", they are displayed on monitor 45. A consideration is made that "2. Specific person" has been selected. In step S13 a determination is made that the select competitor is "2. Specific Person" or "3. Non-specific Person". Since, for example, "2. Specific Person" is chosen in step S12, displays "please provide competitor's seat number" is displayed on the monitor as illustrated in Figure 10 (c). In this way, the applicant's side is caused to feed the seat number. Then, the operation proceeds to step S20. The process in step S20 will be described later. When "3. Non-specific person" has been selected as the competitor in step S12, the "non-specific person" is determined in step S13. Then, the operation branches to step S14. In step S14, a request command to obtain a competitor is sent to the system controller 44. In this way "a competitor is detected, please wait a moment" is displayed on the monitor 45, as illustrated in Figure 11 (d). When the system controller 44 has received the competitor recovery request command in step S15, the system controller sends a game competitor request command to all the game machine bodies 42. In this way, the bodies of game machine except for the game machine body that has sent the command for competitor recovery request, receives the competitor request command from system controller 44. A message requesting the game "indication for the game xx of the person in the seat number xx. Do you accept? " it is displayed on monitor 45 as shown in Figure 11 (e). In this way, whether or not the passenger practices the game is chosen by moving the cursor to either "yes" or "no" displayed on the monitor and by oppressing the return key. The above operations are used to determine whether or not the competitor has been detected in step S16. When a determination is made in step S17 that no feeding has been performed for a predetermined time, a determination is made that the passenger does not wish to practice the game. Then, the operation proceeds in step S18 to send a message to the gaming machine body 42 on the requesting side which has required it to practice the competition game, the message is a message having the content that "no competitor was found" . When "yes" has been selected on the monitor shown in Figure 11 (e) when using the cursor or the like and the fact that a person who wishes to practice the game has been determined, the above fact is sent to the system controller 44 The system controller 44 determines that the competitor has been found according to the determination made in step S16. Then, the operation proceeds to step SI9, such that a message having the content of which the competitor has been detected is sent to the requesting side which has detected the competitor of the competition-type game. Still further, the seat number that has accepted the request is sent to the gaming machine body 42 on the requesting side. In this way, "competitor has been found" and "person in seat number xx has agreed to play the game" are displayed on monitor 45 of the requesting side, as illustrated in Figure 11 (f). In step S20, the communication line between the gaming machine bodies 42 with which the game will be played is connected because the competitor has been determined. As illustrated in Figure 12 (g), the communication line is connected to the game unit of seat number xx. "Please wait a moment," is displayed on monitor 45 on the requesting side. When the communication line has been connected in step S21, "connection has been established with the game unit of seat number xx" is displayed on the monitor, as illustrated in Figure 12 (h). Even more, "you can feed your nickname" is displayed to allow feeding the nickname. While a string of characters is displayed on the monitor, the cursor and the return key are used to select characters to feed the nickname. In step S21, the competitor's game software program is activated. When both game software programs have been activated, "now the game will start, please press the start button", it is displayed on the monitor 45 as illustrated in Figure 12 (i). Then, the game is practiced in such a way that the synchronization between the game machine bodies is established. Of course, a fact that "you can feed your nickname" is displayed on the competitor side, so the nickname is fed by making the selection using the cursor key and the decision key. As illustrated in Figure 13, the system controller 44 incorporates a UPC 50 to which an HDD 52, a ROM 53, a RAM 54 and an I / F network 55 are connected through an internal conduit 51. The UPC 50 executes an operating system program that is read from HDD 52 or ROM 53. When an application program that relates to the method for executing a game according to the present invention has been selected by the gaming machine body 42 on the requesting side, due to the process of «An .- *. * - w¿s? A- .aAfc- »•. iii ?? tíM ^ MKbes ^^ i? ^? ^ 'rJtp ^ t't ^ & tfZ ^ "-? r. i- >« ^. operating system program, the application program is searched from the HDD 52 to the RAM 54 to be executed by the UPC 50. The application program causes the synchronization between the gaming machine bodies 42 to be established. At this point, data which form the protocol illustrated in Figure 14 communicate through the network 43 between the system controller 44 of the gaming machine bodies 42. In Figure 14, the address (address a) of the transmission side and the address (address of) on the receiver side is expressed by Axx, where A indicates the row of entries expressed by AK. When the row of seats A is Z, the address of the system controller 44 is indicated. The residual portion xx indicates the residual seat rows that are expressed by 1-99. When the row of seats xx is 00 a broadcast is indicated with which the data is commonly sent to all the seats. The octet (byte) account follows the transmission side address (address D) to indicate the number of octets (bytes) of data that follow a command code that follows the octet (byte) account. The command code is required to set the synchronization in order to run the competitive team game. The command codes Olh to 04h are used to detect the competitor. Specifically, Olh serves as a command code for game competitor recovery request, 02h serves as a game competitor request command code, 03h serves as a game competitor request status; the command code Yes and 04h serves as a game competitor request status; command code NO. The command codes lOh to 14h are used to activate a game of the game machine body after the competitor has been decided. Specifically, lOh serves as a game selection command code, llh serves as a game start command code, 12h is a game stop command code, 13h is a command code of send message, to send a message such as "the competitor has been decided" and 14h serves as a command code of send envelope-name to send it. Even more, 2Oh serves as a contact communication line command code, to connect the communication line. The command 3 Oh game machine body is a capsule command to send data directly following the command to the game software. Usually, the capsule command is used to communicate commands to be used in the game. The above command eliminates a need to produce a protocol for each game, in a case where a plurality of games is installed. With reference to a flow chart shown in Figure 9, the process performed in step S14 to send a competitor recovery request command to the system controller 44, is performed in such a way that the command code of the previous protocol is Olh command. In a process (the system controller sends the game competitor request to all game machine bodies) which is performed in step S15, the command is the 02h command. When "yes" or "no" has been selected when using the cursor and the return key with the merchandiser (asks to participate in the game) on the monitor shown in Figure 11 (e), the command code of the previous protocol is command 03h or 04h. The message indicates a fact that a competitor has been detected is sent by the 13h command. The content of the message is described in the data region. To connect the communication line between the gaming machine bodies in step S20, the communication line is connected when using the 20h command. The 14h command is used to send the nickname and the lOh command is used to select a game. When the game is started in step S21, the llh command is used. An example of communication will now be described with reference to Figure 15, which is established when a game of competitive type (for example Japanese chess) is played between the request side (the master) and the competitor (the slave) after the process referred to before the competitive type game is started according to the application program included in the flow diagram shown in Figure 9. An initial screen instruction is sent from the master According to the capsule command 3 Oh. Then, adjusting the slave to be the lurking side is done by the master using the 30h capsule command. In the following processes, the capsule 30h command is used. Then, the master sends a game start instruction. Simultaneously, the time account starts on the teacher's side. Of course, the previous time account is displayed on the slave monitor as well as on the teacher's monitor. When the master performs a first movement as the lower side during the previous time count, the time count is interrupted. The data set of the first movement of the lower side is sent when using the capsule command 3 Oh. Then, the slave exhibits the first movement as the bottom side on the monitor. At this time, the right to attack is shifted from the slave master when using the 30h capsule command. In this way, the time count on the slave side starts. When a first movement is made on the stalking side by the slave during the previous time count, the account is interrupted.

- At? weather. Then, the data set of the first movement of the stalking side is sent to the master when using the capsule command 30h. In this way, the first movement of the stalking side is displayed on the teacher's monitor. At this time, the right to attack moves from the slave to the master. Then the time account starts on the teacher's side. After checkmate is decided, the previous sequential process is repeated. When the checkmate has been decided, the game is completed. As described above, the entertainment system shown in Figure 8 allows passengers in distant seats to practice the competitive type game such as chess or Japanese chess. In the above case, the game software program has been stored in the game controller that is connected to the game machine body. The controller performs control to cause the game to be reproduced in such a way that synchronization is established when using protocol data, as illustrated in Figure 14. Therefore, an expensive network having a large transmission capacity is not required. A method for downloading the game software program from the game controller which has been schematically described with reference to Figures 4 and 5, will now be described with reference to Figures 16 to 20.

The ue9 ° driver < 3, which has a small size of 6.35 cm (2.5 ') as described above includes the HDD which has a storage capacity for example of 6 GB. Therefore, 10 titles of game software programs can be stored, each with a capacity of 500 MB. A specific method for downloading the game software program to the game controller is illustrated in Figure 14. This example is provided to perform the download when using a download application program. A personal computer available in the market (PC) 71, is employed as a server for the software program of the game. A SCSI 69x interface is used as the interface to the game controllers 411 (412, ..., 417. The PC 61 incorporates a processing unit centrl = UPC (CPU) 62 to which a HDD 64, a network IF 65, a CD-ROM player 66, a DVD-ROM player 67, a memory 68 such as a RAM, and SCSI I / F (# 1) 691; ..., SCSI I / F (#n) 69n, they connect through an internal conduit 63. The UPC 62 executes an operating system program that is read from the HDD 64, the CD-ROM player 66 or the DVD-ROM player 67. When the execution of the application program has been selected downloaded due to * »> • & • -, i- ^ T ^ 'iieM w tiívé - * - - < In the process performance according to the operating system program, the program is read from the HDD 64, the CD-ROM player 66 or the DVD-ROM player 67, in order to install the program in the memory 68 to be executed by the UPC (CPU) 62. Subsequently, the application program downloaded earlier will be described. No more than seven game controllers 411,412,. . ., 417 can be connected to SCSI I / F 69 of PC 61. Therefore, when n SCSI I / F are prepared, n X 7 game controllers can be connected. In this way, the game software program can be downloaded to n X 7 game controllers. The configuration of the ID to n SCSI I / F is as illustrated in Figure 17, performed by simply pressing the connector to set the ID assigned to the connector. A process for executing the downloaded application program is performed by the download system shown in Figure 16, now it will be described with reference to Figure 18. As illustrated in Figure 16, the PC and X 7 game controllers, and then the power source of the PC turns on. In this way, the downloaded application program starts on the PC. After the downloaded application program has been started, game software programs downloaded to the connected game controller, will be recover After the recovery is completed, the game software download is performed or the game software recorded on the controller is deleted selected when performing the display on the PC monitor to select "1. Download" or "2. Delete" as "maintenance of the game controller", as illustrated in Figure 18 (a). When "1. Download" has been selected, a list of the game software programs registered on the PC is displayed as illustrated in Figure 18 (b). In this way, the game software required to download is chosen. In this case, for example, for example "3. Japanese Chess" and "6. Baseball" are selected. After the selection has been made, the decision button is pressed. When the decision button has been pressed, the download starts. During discharge, the fact that the discharge is performed and a degree of completion of the discharge are indicated by "percent" as illustrated in Figure 18 (c). After the download is completed, the first screen illustrated in Figure 18 (a) is automatically displayed. When "2. Delete" is selected in the first screen shown in Figure 18 (a), a mode of deletion of the game software is started. The above mode is used when new game software can not be downloaded ? - • safe ». '»' »- because the capacity of the recording medium included in the game controller, which in this mode is the HDD, is full with data or when the game controller was abolished. When you choose to delete on the first screen, the list of game software programs in the connected game controller is displayed on the PC monitor as illustrated in Figure 19 (d). In this way, a game delete screen with which the name of the game required to be erased is fed, is displayed on the monitor as illustrated in Figure 19 (e). A consideration is made that "chess" erase was chosen. In this way, the background color of the selected game name "chess" is changed, as illustrated in Figure 19 (f). Then a confirmation dialog is displayed as illustrated in Figure 19 (g). There is also an exhibition of "is it permissible to delete the selected game?". The confirmation button and the cancel button are operated to confirm. When the confirmation button has been pressed, the deletion is performed. After the deletion has been completed, the display of the list is restored. When the termination button has been pressed on the list display screen, the menu screen illustrated in Figure 18 (a) is again displayed. Therefore, the discharge system 60 of According to this mode, it allows the game software to be downloaded to a multiplicity of (n X 7) game controllers when using the SCSI I / F of the PC. That is, the previous video game system is available to download the game software program, offline. Therefore, the change can be made quickly. Figure 20 shows another modality for downloading the game software program to the game controller. This mode is also available to perform the download when executing a download application program. The interface between the game controller and the PC is established by the IEEE 1394 interface. In the download system 70, a PC 71 incorporates a UPC 72 to which an HDD 74, a network I / F 65, a network player CD-ROM 76, a DVD-ROM player 77, a memory 78 such as RAM and IEEE IEEE 1394 (# 1) 79x, IEEE 1394 I / F (#n) 79n are connected through an internal conduit 73 The structures and operation of UPC 72, HDD 74, network I / F 75, CD-ROM player 76, DVD-ROM player 77, and memory 78 of PC 71 are similar to those on PC 61 shown in Figure 16. A 16 or smaller number of 411 (412, ..., 116 can be connected to IEEE 1394 I / F through the conduit.) Therefore, when n IEEE 1394 I / F are prepared, they can * &* 33 connect n X 16 game controllers. In this way, the game software program can be downloaded simultaneously to n X 16 game controllers. The process for executing the application program downloaded earlier by the download system shown in Figure 20 is similar to that described with reference to Figures 18 and 19. Therefore, the download system 70 according to this embodiment allows the game software is downloaded to a multiplicity of n X 16 game controllers, by using IEEE 1394 I / F. That is, the game software program is downloaded with respect to the video game system by the method out of line. Therefore, a rapid change is allowed. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited only to the application to the video game system. The present invention can be applied to a train or a housing or lodging. According to the present invention, the video game software is chosen by a passenger or a guest, in such a way that the load that must be supported by the distributor side is reduced. The video game can be played to respond immediately to an application. According to the present invention, it is possible ? - ^, - > ¿M * > - < * & ) > > * & amp; & < & & ' - H * '-' ^ s.v that passengers of a mobile body in distant seats play the competitive type game unnecessarily by using an expensive network. According to the present invention, the video game software can be downloaded quickly and simultaneously to a multiplicity of game controllers. - * rll &l * Si3 &amp? > AtS? Tto i. iJg * t¡, • '* & & amp; & amp; & amp; & & ! a - > fap »** W-

Claims (22)

1. CLAIMS 1. - A game controller, characterized in that it comprises: an operation portion with key (s); communication interface means for establishing communication with a gaming machine body; and storage means wherein a plurality of game software programs are stored, which have been selected when using the key operation portion and which are executed by a control portion of the game machine body.
2. 2. Game controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the index of the multiple game software programs stored in the storage means is displayed as a list in the display means connected to the game machine body.
3. 3. Game controller according to claim 2, characterized in that the index of the multiple game software programs connected to the game machine body through the communication interface means and stored in the storage means, They are displayed as a list of exhibition media, after the power source has been extended.
4. 4.- Game controller in accordance with the claim 1, characterized in that the storage means are removable media.
5. 5. An entertainment system, characterized in that it comprises: a game controller; and a game machine body, wherein the game controller incorporates an operation portion with key (s); communication interface means for establishing communication with a gaming machine body; and storage means wherein a plurality of programs of Gameware is stored which are chosen when using the key-operated portion, and the game machine body incorporates communication interface means to establish communication with the game controller; and control means, to execute 15 a plurality of game software programs that are chosen by the key operation portion of the game controller.
6. 6. - Entertainment system according to claim 5, characterized in that the index of the 20 multiple game software programs stored in the storage media of the game controller, is displayed as a list in the display means connected to the game machine body.
7. 7.- Entertainment system in accordance with 25 claim 6, characterized in that the controller of game is connected to the game machine body through the communication interface and the index of the multiple game software programs connected to the game machine body through the communication interface means and stored in the media of the game machine. storage, it is displayed as a list on the display media, after a power source has been turned on.
8. 8. Entertainment system according to claim 5, characterized in that the storage means are removable media.
9. 9. The method for executing a game, characterized in that it comprises: a step to display a list of an index of a plurality of items of game software in a display portion, when a game controller incorporating a storage medium with a multiplicity of game logic items stored there, it is connected to a game machine body; a step for selecting a game software item from the index list of the multiple game software items displayed in the display portion, by using an operation portion with key (s) of the game controller; and a step for executing a game software item selected from the display portion, by using the operation portion with key (s) of the game controller.
10. 10. - An entertainment system, characterized in that it comprises: a plurality of game machine bodies each of which is connected to a game controller; a network for connecting the multiple gaming machine bodies to each other; and a main control portion for controlling the multiple gaming machine bodies through the network, wherein the game controller incorporates an operating portion with key (s), communication interface means to establish communication with the body of game machine and storage means having a multiplicity of stored game software programs and selected by using the operation portion with key (s), the game machine body incorporates communication interface means to establish communication with the game controller and control means for executing the multiple game software programs, selected by using the operation portion with keys of the game controller, and when communication has been established between at least two game machine bodies of the multiple gaming machine bodies and a predetermined game software program were executed uta by the main control means, in such a way that synchronization is established.
11. 11.- Conformity entertainment system with claim 10, characterized in that the main control means transmits a game competitor request command to all bodies of residual game machines, when a predetermined game software program selected by a game controller has been selected. arbitrary connected to an arbitrary game machine body.
12. 12. - Entertainment system according to claim 11, characterized in that the main control means connect a communication line between the gaming machine bodies when a notification of acceptance has been issued from a non-specific competitor through a body of non-specific machine.
13. 13. - Entertainment system according to claim 12, characterized in that the main control means cause a non-specific competitor to search for a game software program similar to a predetermined game software program that is executed by the body of arbitrary game machine from the game controller, such that the game machine body starts the desired game software program.
14. 14. - Entertainment system according to claim 13, characterized in that the means > : - Main control -a ^ causes the game to be played or played when synchronization is established between the game machine bodies, after a predetermined game software program has been started on both game machine bodies .
15. 15. Entertainment system according to claim 10, characterized in that the predetermined game software program is a game software program of the competitive type.
16. 16. The method for executing a game, such that a network for connecting a plurality of game machine bodies to which a game controller is connected is used to execute a predetermined game software program between a body of an arbitrary game machine and a non-specific game machine body, the method for executing a game comprises: a step for transmitting a request to play a game to all residual game machine bodies, when a software program of Default game has been selected by the game controller connected to the arbitrary game machine body and a mode to retrieve a non-specific competitor has been selected; a step to connect a communication line between the arbitrary gaming machine body and the non-specific gaming machine body when an unspecified competitor acceptance news has been issued through the non-specific gaming machine body, in response to the request to practice the game; and a step to practice the game while establishing synchronization between the game machine bodies, such that the non-specific game machine body searches, from the game controller, for a game software program similar to the game program. game logic in which it is executed by the arbitrary game machine body and the game machine body turns on or activates the game software program.
17. 17. Method for executing a game according to claim 16, characterized in that the predetermined game software program is a competitive software game program.
18. 18. - Method for downloading a game software program in a game controller that incorporates a storage portion, the method for downloading a game software program comprises the steps of: connecting the game controller to a game medium. high capacity storage that has the game software program stored there; and execute the download.
19. 19. Method for downloading a game software program according to claim 18, characterized in that the high capacity storage medium is provided for a computer that incorporates a display portion.
20. 20. Method for downloading a game software program according to claim 19, characterized in that it further comprises: a recovery stage for the interior portion of the storage portion of game controller; recover the stage of display of results to exhibit a recovery result made in the recovery stage in the exhibition portion; a selection step for causing selection to be made whether or not a new game software program is downloaded according to the recovery result performed in the recovery stage and presented in the result display stage; an index display stage for displaying a list of an index of the game software programs stored in the large capacity storage medium of the computer in the display portion, when a fact that a download at the selection stage; a program selection step for choosing a game software program required from the list displayed at the index display stage; and a download execution stage, to download the game software program selected in the program selection stage to the game controller.
21. 21. Method for downloading a game software program according to claim 19, characterized in that the selection step is a step in which the execution of erasing a game software program present exhibited in a portion of exhibition in the stage of exhibition of recovery of results, it is chosen as well as the execution of the download.
22. 22. - Method for downloading a game software program according to claim 18, characterized in that the multiple game controllers are connected to the high capacity storage medium, to download the game software program.