US20090258712A1 - Game Device - Google Patents

Game Device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20090258712A1
US20090258712A1 US12/439,041 US43904107A US2009258712A1 US 20090258712 A1 US20090258712 A1 US 20090258712A1 US 43904107 A US43904107 A US 43904107A US 2009258712 A1 US2009258712 A1 US 2009258712A1
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Prior art keywords
game
status
data
additional information
acquisition unit
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US12/439,041
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English (en)
Inventor
Shinichi Tanaka
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc
Sony Network Entertainment Platform Inc
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Sony Computer Entertainment Inc
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Assigned to SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. reassignment SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: TANAKA, SHINICHI
Publication of US20090258712A1 publication Critical patent/US20090258712A1/en
Assigned to SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM INC. reassignment SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM INC. CHANGE OF NAME (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Assigned to SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. reassignment SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SONY NETWORK ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORM INC.
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • A63F13/10—
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/45—Controlling the progress of the video game
    • A63F13/49—Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F13/00—Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions
    • A63F13/45—Controlling the progress of the video game
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/50—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game characterized by details of game servers
    • A63F2300/55—Details of game data or player data management
    • A63F2300/5526—Game data structure
    • A63F2300/554—Game data structure by saving game or status data
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • A63F2300/00—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game
    • A63F2300/80—Features of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions, e.g. on a television screen, showing representations related to the game specially adapted for executing a specific type of game
    • A63F2300/8058—Virtual breeding, e.g. tamagotchi

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to game devices for executing a game application and, more particularly, to a game device provided with the function of saving and/or loading game data.
  • the user can continue the game play from where the user left off previously, using the game data stored in the storage device.
  • Saved data is stored in, for example, a directory associated with a game application.
  • the game device loads saved data into an internal memory from the directory associated with the game application to be executed.
  • Rearing simulation games are known to enable users to enjoy letting a character to grow over time.
  • the duplicating user would be able to acquire high-level character data effortlessly, spoiling the meaning of the game.
  • users will be less willing to advance the game by the user's own ability. This may ultimately detract from the value of the game application.
  • the game device In view of this situation, it is favorable for the game device to provide a game application with an environment in which some counter measures can be implemented as needed.
  • the degree of desire for duplicating high-level saved data created by others varies from one game application to another. Therefore, it is desirable that whether to use the environment provided by the game device be defined for each game application.
  • the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology related to saved data that allows a game program to carry out a desired process and to provide a technology for processing such saved data.
  • a game device comprises: an application processor operative to execute a game program; a save processor operative to save game data related to the progress of game in a storage device; a load processor operative to load saved data from the storage device; and a status acquisition unit operative to acquire status information indicating the status of environment for executing the game program.
  • the save processor comprises: an appending unit operative to append the status information acquired by the status acquisition unit to the game data as additional information
  • the load processor comprises: an additional information acquisition unit operative to acquire the additional information from the game data stored in the storage device; a determination unit operative to determine whether the status information acquired by the status acquisition unit matches the associated additional information acquired by the additional information acquisition unit; and a notification unit operative to communicate a result of determination to the application processor.
  • FIG. 1 shows a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the game device
  • FIG. 3 shows the hierarchy of the OS
  • FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the main controller
  • FIG. 5 shows functional blocks of the API processing module configured in the OS execution unit
  • FIG. 6 is a sequence chart for list-based selective loading.
  • application processor 140 . . . flash memory, 142 . . . device ID storage, 144 . . . user ID storage, 160 . . . memory controller, 162 . . . local memory, 200 . . . output processor, 300 a . . . save API processing module, 300 b . . . load API processing module, 302 . . . status acquisition unit, 310 . . . status acquisition unit, 320 save processor, 322 . . . game data acquisition unit, 324 . . . appending unit, 330 . . . status acquisition unit, 340 . . . load processor, 342 . . . additional information acquisition unit, 344 . . . determination unit, 346 . . . notification unit, 350 . . . load execution unit
  • FIG. 1 shows a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the game system 1 comprises a game device 10 for running a game application and an output device 12 for outputting a result of processing in the game device 10 .
  • the game device 10 is an information processing apparatus for processing a game application and generating an image signal and an audio signal indicating the result of processing the game application.
  • the game device 10 is connected to at least one output device 12 so as to display an image on the output device 12 or output sound.
  • the output device 12 may be a television set provided with a display unit for outputting images and further with an audio output unit for producing an audio output.
  • the output device 12 may be connected to the game device 10 by a cable or wirelessly connected to the device 10 via a wireless local area network (LAN).
  • LAN wireless local area network
  • FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the game device 10 .
  • the game device 10 is provided with a power button 20 , an LED 22 , a system controller 24 , a device controller 30 , a media drive 32 , a hard disk drive 34 , a switch 36 , an air interface 38 , a main controller 100 , a main memory 102 , and an output processor 200 .
  • the game device 10 holds identification information identifying itself (hereinafter, referred to as “device ID”) in a flash memory.
  • the power button 20 represents an input unit accepting the user input and is used to turn on or off the game device 10 .
  • the power button 20 may be a push button pressed to turn on or off the power.
  • the power button 20 may have other structures with which the user is capable of turning on or off the power.
  • the button 20 may be a touch sensor.
  • the LED 22 indicates whether the power is turned on or off.
  • the system controller 24 detects whether the power button 20 is pressed or not. Upon detecting a transition from the power-off state to the pressed state, the controller 24 starts the main controller 100 to start a boot sequence of the operating system and controls the LED 22 to be lighted. When a power cable is connected to the game device 10 , the system controller 24 maintains the standby mode even in the power-off state and monitors whether the power button 20 is pressed.
  • the device controller 30 is configured as a large-scale integrated circuit executing delivery of information between devices. As shown, the device controller 30 is connected to devices such as the system controller 24 , the media drive 32 , the hard disk drive 34 , the switch 36 , and the main controller 100 . The device controller 30 cancels differences in electrical characteristics or in data transfer rates of the devices and controls the timing of data transfer.
  • the media drive 32 is a drive device that drives a media 50 storing a game program and reads the game program from the media 50 .
  • the media 50 is a recording media such as an optical disk, magnetooptical disk, or blue ray disk and is used as a media for supplying a game program by being inserted in the media drive 32 .
  • the media 50 stores identification information identifying the media 50 (hereinafter, referred to as “media ID”) in a predetermined storage area.
  • a media ID is a number unique to the media and is different from media to media.
  • a media ID may be assigned to all of the recording media capable of storing a game program.
  • a media ID may be assigned to a built-in recording media such a a hard disk and a flash memory 140 .
  • the media ID assigned to the media 50 will be described by way of example.
  • a game program contains an execution program that executes a game application and information identifying a game application (hereinafter, referred to as “application ID”).
  • the execution program is a program necessary for processing applications. By running the execution program, a game application can proceed as programmed.
  • the application ID is set up for each of different types of game applications and recorded in a predetermined storage area in the media 50 .
  • the hard disk drive 34 is a drive device for driving an internal hard disk and writing and reading data accordingly.
  • Game data related to the progress of game is stored (saved) in the internal hard disk of the game device 10 .
  • the game data includes data indicating the status of progress of game play, highest score of the game, and character data. Not all of these types of data need be saved in the hard disk. Game data that requires saving is defined for each game application.
  • the switch 36 is an Ethernet (trademark) switch and is a device for transmitting and receiving information by establishing cable of wireless connection with an external device.
  • the game device 10 can be connected to a network such as the Internet via the switch 36 .
  • a delivery server is provided in an external network.
  • the game device 10 can download applications from the server.
  • the user needs to register himself or herself in the server.
  • Information identifying the user hereinafter, referred to as “user ID”
  • the user ID thus set up is necessary to benefit from the delivery service and is also used as information uniquely identifying the user in the game device 10 . Therefore, the game device 10 stores the user ID communicated from the delivery server in a flash memory. Users not registering themselves in the server are not assigned user IDs.
  • the switch 36 is connected to the air interface 38 .
  • the air interface 38 connects the device to the game controller 40 , which is provided with the function for communicating wirelessly according to a communication protocol such as Bluetooth (trademark) or IEEE802.11.
  • the game controller 40 functions as an input interface through which a user input for control is provided.
  • the main controller 100 is provided with a multicore CPU, a single CPU including a single general-purpose processor core and a plurality of simple processor cores.
  • the general-purpose processor core is referred to as power processing unit (PPU) and the remaining processor cores are referred to as synergistic-processing units.
  • the main controller 100 provides functions and environments that facilitate efficient usage of the game device 10 and executes an operating system for controlling the entirety of the game device (hereinafter, simply referred to as OS).
  • OS an operating system for controlling the entirety of the game device
  • a plurality of game applications can be run on the OS.
  • the OS of the game device 10 according to the embodiment is implemented in three levels including the user level, kernel level, and hypervisor level, from top to bottom.
  • the software for the user level, kernel level, and hypervisor level is integrated in the game device 10 so as to function as the “OS” of the game device 10 .
  • the software that manages the hypervisor level is referred to as “privileged software”.
  • the hypervisor level is responsible for the functions of the bottom level. When the power of the device is turned on by using the power button 20 , the hypervisor level is started by the privileged software in preference to the other levels.
  • FIG. 3 shows the hierarchy of the OS.
  • the system controller 24 supplies power to devices including the main controller 100 and the output processor 200 via the device controller 30 .
  • the PPU first reads the privileged software by running a boot loader of the OS, whereupon the privileged software starts the hypervisor level of the host OS. Subsequently, the PPU starts the kernel level of the OS and then the user level so as to ready the device to accept the game program supplied from the media 50 .
  • the game device 10 may be provided with a plurality of OS's.
  • the OS shown in FIG. 3 functions as a host OS so that a guest OS is run on a virtual machine created on the hypervisor level of the host OS.
  • the hypervisor level of the host OS should be running without interruption in order to run the guest OS, because the virtual machine environment and the guest OS are programs run on the host OS.
  • Activation of the host OS is normally executed by the PPU but may be executed in coordination with the SPU alternatively.
  • the kernel level manages the resources of the system to make the resources available for other programs for operation. More specifically, the kernel level manages communication between the hardware, including the memory, CPU, and other devices, with software higher in the hierarchy, and represents the core of the OS.
  • the user level serves as an interface with the kernel level so that the application program can be run efficiently.
  • the user level may be implemented by a plurality of function modules, which include an API processing module implementing the function of application programming interface (API) provided to the game program.
  • An API is an interface for programming and generates rules for creating a program.
  • a save program for saving game data and a load program for loading saved data (hereinafter, referred to as “save data utility”) are prepared as libraries.
  • an API processing module By calling a save data utility function, an API processing module is configured.
  • the game program is capable of saving game data in a hard disk and loading saved data from the hard disk.
  • the game device 10 according to the embodiment is provided with a plurality of types of saving and loading functions.
  • a save data utility function adapted for the process to be executed is prepared for the hard disk.
  • a save data utility function is prepared for each of saving and loading processes described hereinafter.
  • an API processing module is configured in the user level of the OS. This makes it possible to execute a saving process or a loading process desired by the game program.
  • list-based selective saving (ListSave( ))
  • list-based selective loading (ListLoad( ))
  • ListLoad( ) a list of existent saved data is presented to the user so that the user loads the selected saved data.
  • autosaving (AutoSave( ))
  • one of the saved data items is designated by the application so that the saved data designated is overwritten without presenting it to the user.
  • autoloading (AutoLoad( ))
  • one of the saved data items is designated by the application so that the saved data designated is loaded without presenting it to the user.
  • the main controller 100 is provided with a memory controller connected to the main memory 102 .
  • the PPU is provided with a register and a main processor for executing operations.
  • the main processor efficiently allocates to the SPUs tasks that are basic units of processing in an application.
  • the PPU may execute tasks on its own.
  • the SPU is provided with a register, a subprocessor for executing operations, and a local memory (dedicated RAM) embodying a local storage area.
  • the SPU is provided with a dedicated direct memory access (DMA) controller as a control unit.
  • DMA dedicated direct memory access
  • the output processor 200 is connected to the output device 12 and outputs a video signal and an audio signal produced as a result of processing the application.
  • the output processor 200 is provided with a graphics processing unit (GPU) implementing image processing functions.
  • graphics processing unit GPU
  • High definition multimedia interface HDMI is employed in the GPU so that a video signal can be digitally output.
  • FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the main controller 100 .
  • the main controller 100 is provided with an input acknowledging unit 104 , an execution unit 120 , a flash memory 140 , a memory controller 160 , and a local memory 162 .
  • the elements illustrated as functional blocks for performing processes are implemented in hardware by a CPU, a memory, or other LSI's, and in software by a program or the like loaded into the memory.
  • one PPU and a plurality of SPUs are provided in the main controller 100 so that the PPU and the SPUs may form functional blocks either alone or in combination. Therefore, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the functional blocks may be implemented in a variety of manners by hardware only, software only, or a combination of thereof.
  • the main controller 100 is provided with an input acknowledging unit 104 as a means for transmitting and receiving control information between the controller 100 and the device controller 30 .
  • the input acknowledging unit 104 acknowledges a user input for control from the game controller 40 and acknowledges, from the delivery server on the network, a user ID set up when a user registers himself or herself.
  • the user of the game system 1 is capable of playing the game by providing an input for control of the game by using the game controller 40 .
  • the user is also capable of providing a control input requesting saving or loading of game data by using a graphical user interface displayed on the screen of the output device 12 using, for example, the API of the OS.
  • the user at least provides a control input requesting saving or loading of data.
  • the input acknowledging unit 104 acknowledges the instruction and notifies the execution unit 120 accordingly. When a saving process or a loading process is started, the user provides an input for confirmation or selection using the GUI presented by the execution unit 120 .
  • the flash memory is provided with a device ID storage 142 and a user ID storage 144 .
  • the device ID storage 142 holds a device ID as information to identify the game device 10 .
  • the user ID storage 144 holds the user ID acknowledged by the input acknowledging unit 104 . As already described, the user ID is assigned when the user is registered in the delivery server. Absent user registration, the user ID storage 144 is left blank.
  • information such as the device ID set up for the game device 10 or the user ID assigned may be stored in a register of a hard disk instead of the flash memory.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates the device ID storage 142 and the user ID storage 144 as using areas of the flash memory 140 .
  • the device ID storage 142 or the user ID storage 144 may use an area of another recording device such as a hard disk.
  • the execution unit 120 is provided with an OS execution unit 122 for executing the OS and an application processor 124 for executing an application.
  • the OS execution unit 122 starts the hypervisor layer of the OS in preference to the other layers, followed by starting of the kernel layer and a necessary user layer.
  • the application processor 124 is capable of executing an execution program of the game.
  • the memory controller 160 controls write/read operations in the external main memory 102 or in the local memory 162 built in the SPU.
  • the memory controller 160 stores data read from a hard disk or a media 50 in the main memory 102 or the local memory 162 .
  • the execution unit 120 executes a process using the data stored in the main memory 102 and/or the local memory 162 .
  • the application processor 124 prompts the OS execution unit 122 to call a save data utility function for performing a desired type of saving process or loading process.
  • the OS execution unit 122 receives the call request, an API processing module is started in the user layer of the OS.
  • the API processing module for a save operation has the function of appending, to the game data, status information indicating the environment of execution of the game program and saving the resultant data in a hard disk.
  • the API processing module for a loading operation has the function of loading saved data from a hard disk such that the saved data is verified by referring to the information appended to the saved data and the status information indicating the environment of execution of the game program occurring when the program is loaded.
  • FIG. 5 shows functional blocks of the API processing module configured in the OS execution unit 122 .
  • a save API processing module 300 a is configured as the application processor 124 calls a save data utility function for data saving.
  • the save API processing module 300 a is provided with a status acquisition unit 310 and a save processor 320 .
  • the save processor 320 is provided with a game data acquisition unit 322 and an appending unit 324 .
  • the status acquisition unit 310 acquires the status information indicating the status of environment for executing the game program. Elements indicating the status of execution environment include the game device in which the game application is run, the media 50 in which the game program is supplied to the game device 10 , the type of game program, and the user playing the game. In association with these elements, the status acquisition unit 310 acquires the device ID identifying the game device 10 , the media ID identifying the media 50 , the application ID identifying the application (game type) of the game program, and the user ID identifying the user.
  • the status acquisition unit 310 reads and acquires the device ID from the device ID storage 142 , the media ID and the application ID from the media 50 , and the user ID from the user ID storage 144 . If the media ID and the application ID are already read into an internal memory such as the main memory 102 or the local memory 162 , the IDs may be acquired from the internal memory. When the IDs are already read into a hard disk, the IDs may be acquired from the hard disk.
  • the status acquisition unit 310 acquires two or more items of status information. More preferably, the unit 310 acquires all of the information items. The larger the number of items of status information acquired, the larger the number of items of status information available to the game program. In other words, the game program can select necessary status information depending on the situation so as to perform a desired process adapted to the selected status information.
  • the save processor 320 has the function of saving game data related to the progress of the game in a hard disk.
  • the game data acquisition unit 322 acquires game data to be saved, such as the result of processing the application, from the application processor 124 .
  • the appending unit 324 appends the status information acquired by the status information acquisition unit 310 to the game data acquired by the game data acquisition unit 322 as additional information and stores the resultant data in a hard disk. As a result, the saved data is stored as game data with additional information.
  • the game device 10 can learn the environment occurring at the time of saving the game data, by referring to the additional information included in the saved data.
  • the game device 10 is capable of determining whether the game data was saved by the game device 10 or another game device by referring to the device ID appended.
  • the game device 10 is capable of determining whether the saved data was produced in the same media as the currently loaded media or in another media, by referring to the media ID appended.
  • the game device ID is capable of determining whether the saved data was produced in the same application as the currently run application or in another application, by referring to the application ID appended.
  • the game device 10 is capable of determining whether the saved data was saved by the current user or by another user, by referring to the user ID appended.
  • a load API processing module 300 b is configured as the application processor 124 calls a save data utility function for data loading.
  • the load API processing module 300 b is provided with a status acquisition unit 330 , a load processor 340 , and a load execution unit 350 .
  • the load processor 340 is provided with an additional information acquisition unit 342 , a determination unit 344 , and a notification unit 346 .
  • the status acquisition unit 330 acquires the status information indicating the status of environment for executing the game program.
  • the status acquisition unit 330 acquires at least two of the device ID, the media ID, the application ID, and the user ID as status information.
  • the status acquisition units 310 and 330 are configured as the same program module and acquire the same type of status information.
  • the load processor 340 has the function of loading the saved data from a hard disk.
  • the additional information acquisition unit 342 acquires the additional information from the game data recorded in a hard disk.
  • the determination unit 344 determines whether the pre-load status information acquired by the status information acquisition unit 330 matches the additional information acquired by the additional information acquisition unit 342 . In principle, determination is made as to whether there is a complete match.
  • the notification unit 346 communicates the result of determination by the determination unit 344 to the application processor 124 .
  • the determination unit 344 processes a plurality of types of status information occurring at the time of loading and a plurality of types of additional information in the game data to determine whether a match exists, and produces the respective results of determination. For example, in case the status acquisition units 310 and 330 acquire the device ID, the media ID, the application ID, and the user ID, the determination unit 344 subjects the device ID, the media ID, the application ID, and the user ID to determination for a match.
  • the notification unit 346 communicates the respective results of determination to the application processor 124 . This allows the load API processing module 300 b to provide the application processor 124 with detailed information related to the environmental status.
  • the application processor 124 is capable of learning whether each aspect of the environmental status varies, the unit 124 is capable of running the application in adaptation to individual changes in the environment. Since the saved data is subject to verification by referring to a plurality of items of status information, reliability of the verification process is improved and the chances of providing useful information to various game programs are increased.
  • the determination unit 344 yields a determination of error when the status information occurring at the time of loading and the additional information in the saved data do not match.
  • the notification unit 346 communicates the error information to the application processor 124 .
  • the result of determination may be represented by a flag such that a match between the status information occurring at the time of loading and the additional information in the saved data is indicated by a flag value “0”, and a difference is indicated by a flag value “1”. If a mismatch is found, the result of determination is simply communicated to the application processor 124 as error information (i.e., a flag value “1”), facilitating the handling of the determination result from the determination unit 344 by the application processor 124 .
  • FIG. 6 is a sequence chart for list-based selective loading.
  • the application processor 124 sends a request to call the ListLoad( ) function to the OS execution unit 122 (S 10 ).
  • Designated as arguments are, for example, a prefix of the directory name storing the saved data to be acquired, and a pointer to the callback function (data list callback, data status callback, and file operation callback).
  • the OS execution unit 122 calls the ListLoad( ) function (S 12 ) so as to configure the load API processing module 300 b .
  • the load API processing module 300 b acquires a list of saved data from a hard disk by referring to the prefix of the directory name (S 14 ).
  • the load API processing module 300 b calls a data list callback by using the list of saved data as an argument (S 16 ).
  • data list callback a saved data list to be presented to the user is produced by referring to the list of saved data thus delivered (S 18 ).
  • the load API processing module 300 b displays the list of saved data on the screen using the GUI (S 22 ) and awaits a user response.
  • the user selects saved data to be loaded S 24
  • the selection is communicated to the load API processing module 300 b (S 26 ) so that the load API processing module 300 b displays a confirmation dialog on the screen using the GUI (S 28 ).
  • the saved data is verified (S 32 ). In this verification, the status information occurring at the time of saving and the current (load time) status information are compared to determine whether a match exists, as described with reference to FIG. 5 .
  • the load API processing module 300 b calls a data status callback (S 34 ).
  • Information delivered to data status callback includes the result of verification of the saved data, the directory name of the selected saved data, and the update date and time.
  • the application processor 124 determines whether to execute a loading process by referring to the result of verification of the saved data (S 38 ). For example, if error information is communicated relative to the device ID, it is learned that the saved data was produced in a device different from the game device 10 . In this case, there is a likelihood that the game is about to be executed using the data saved by another user so that the application processor 124 may terminate the loading process (S 38 ).
  • the application processor 124 determines to execute the loading process (Y in S 38 ). Control is returned from data status callback so that a file operation pre-process is designated (S 40 ).
  • the load API processing module 300 b performs a file operation pre-process (S 42 ) and calls a file operation callback for each of the files forming the saved data (S 44 ). Information delivered to file operation callback includes control information identifying a read operation.
  • the application processor 124 designates files to be read (S 48 ) until all of the files in the saved data are loaded (N in S 46 ).
  • the load execution unit 350 loads data from a hard disk (S 50 ).
  • the application processor 124 directs the load API processing module 300 b to terminate the loading process (S 52 ).
  • the load API processing module 300 b displays a message indicating completion on the screen, thereby terminating the loading process.
  • the application processor 124 is assumed to determine whether to execute a loading process by referring to the result of verification of the saved data in S 32 .
  • the application processor 124 is capable of behaving in a variety of manners depending on the type of error information.
  • the application processor 124 may terminate the loading process as described above. This will make it difficult for other people to use one's saved data and also make duplication of the saved data by other people difficult. This is particularly useful if the saved data is frequently posted on the Internet. Namely, by prohibiting the usage and duplication of saved data when the device ID thereof is not as expected, posting of saved data on the network is rendered meaningless.
  • the game device 10 may be allowed to use saved data created in a different game device as a guest user.
  • the application processor 124 terminates the loading process. This will make it difficult for other people to use one's saved data and also make duplication of the saved data by other people difficult. This is particularly useful if the saved data is frequently posted on the Internet. Namely, by prohibiting the usage and duplication of saved data when the media ID thereof is not as expected, posting of saved data on the network is rendered meaningless.
  • the game device 10 may be allowed to use saved data created in a different game device as a guest user.
  • game data of an old version in a game application series may be used in a new version of the game such that the game device 10 may grant privilege to the game data for the purpose of promotion.
  • Absence of a user ID will generate error information because no comparison can be made in determining a match.
  • the error information will also allow the game device 10 to determine that the user is not registered in the delivery server.
  • the application processor 124 may restrict the use of the saved data.
  • the game device 10 can learn that the saved data was saved by a different user and can identify the user that performed the saving operation.
  • the user ID itself, instead of a flag, may be communicated to the application processor 124 .
  • the processor 124 can perform a variety of processes responsive to each result of determination of a match of status information. This can enhance the level of protection of the game program. By granting privilege in association with the game progress, the appeal of the game program is enhanced.
  • the information processing technology of the present invention is applicable to the field of games.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Stored Programmes (AREA)
US12/439,041 2006-09-21 2007-07-13 Game Device Abandoned US20090258712A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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JP2006-256519 2006-09-21
JP2006256519A JP2008073259A (ja) 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 ゲーム装置
PCT/JP2007/000763 WO2008035453A1 (fr) 2006-09-21 2007-07-13 Dispositif de jeu

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US20090258712A1 true US20090258712A1 (en) 2009-10-15

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US (1) US20090258712A1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2008073259A (fr)
WO (1) WO2008035453A1 (fr)

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JP2015154818A (ja) 2014-02-20 2015-08-27 任天堂株式会社 据置型のゲーム装置、ゲーム装置、ゲームシステム、コンピュータプログラム及び速度制御方法

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