WO2014002832A1

WO2014002832A1 - Game system, control method used therefor, and computer program

Info

Publication number: WO2014002832A1
Application number: PCT/JP2013/066746
Authority: WO
Inventors: 貴生山本
Original assignee: 株式会社コナミデジタルエンタテインメント
Priority date: 2012-06-28
Filing date: 2013-06-18
Publication date: 2014-01-03
Also published as: JP2014008116A

Abstract

Provided is a game system capable of altering, as applicable, the maximum range of a game that one user can continuously play. This game system (1) obtains information whereby the number of users (U) waiting to play a game can be estimated, and alters the size of the maximum range of a game that one user can continuously play on a game machine (GM), on the basis of the obtained information.

Description

GAME SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD USED FOR THE SAME, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM

The present invention relates to a game system that can change the maximum range of games that a user can play continuously, a control method used therefor, and a computer program.

As a game machine, there is known a game machine that can play a predetermined range of games by paying a predetermined play fee, for example, a game for a predetermined number of music pieces if a music game (see Patent Document 1). In such a game machine, a game that the user can play by paying an additional play fee in addition to a predetermined play fee before starting the game or paying an additional play fee at the end of the game A game machine that can expand the range of the game to a preset upper limit, for example, a game for a number of songs corresponding to a play fee paid in addition to the number of songs corresponding to a predetermined play fee in the case of a music game Game machines that can play are known. In addition, Patent Documents 2 and 3 exist as prior art documents related to the present invention.

JP 2002-263360 A Japanese Patent No. 3331347 JP 2009-0505516 A

In such a game machine, for example, if the user continues to pay additional play fees, the game machine can be monopolized to the upper limit of the range in which the user can play continuously. However, if one user monopolizes the game machine for a long time as described above, other users cannot play the game on the game machine. In particular, when there is a user waiting to play a game on the game machine, the waiting user may be uncomfortable. In addition, when the upper limit of the range that can be expanded by the additional play fee is constant, the game can be played continuously only up to the upper limit even though there is no waiting user. In this case, since the user has to play the game again from the beginning, there is a possibility that the user feels troublesome for the operation.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system capable of appropriately changing the maximum range of games that can be continuously played by one user, a control method used therefor, and a computer program.

The game system according to the present invention includes information acquisition means for acquiring information capable of estimating the number of users waiting to play a game, and one user is allowed to play the game based on the information acquired by the information acquisition means. And a maximum range changing unit that changes the size of the maximum range of games that can be played continuously in a game machine that executes the above.

According to the game system of the present invention, the size of the maximum range of a game that can be continuously played by one user is changed by the maximum range changing means. Therefore, for example, when it is estimated that there are many users waiting in the store to play a game, the waiting time of the user waiting to play the game next is reduced by reducing the maximum range. Can be shortened. Thereby, it can suppress that the user who waits becomes uncomfortable. On the other hand, when it is estimated that the number of users waiting in the store to play the game is small, the maximum range is expanded so that the user can only be in a short time even though there are no waiting users. It can suppress that it becomes impossible to play a game continuously. In this case, the user does not have to perform a useless operation such as an operation for starting the game from the beginning. Therefore, the user can be concentrated on the game.

In one form of the game system of the present invention, the information acquisition means includes information on an execution history of the game on the game machine, information on a store where the game machine is installed, and a user who plays the game on the game machine. At least one of the pieces of play history information may be acquired as information that can estimate the number of users waiting to play the game. For example, if the number of times the game has been executed on the game machine is large, or if the game has been executed on the game machine for a long time in one day, the user who is waiting to play the game on the game machine It can be estimated that there are many people. By referring to the information of the user's play history in the same way, the accumulated time that the game was executed on the game machine can be determined, so the number of users waiting to play the game on the game machine is estimated. it can. A system is known that collects and manages changes in the number of users for each hour or day of the week as information for each store. In this case, the number of users waiting to play the game can be estimated based on the store information. Therefore, the number of users waiting to play the game can be estimated from these pieces of information.

In one form of the game system of the present invention, there is a fee collection means for collecting a play fee from a user, and a game in an initial range that is a range of a game that is first allowed to be played by a user who plays the game on the game machine. A continuation control means for permitting the user to play a game up to a predetermined maximum continuation range after the initial range on the condition that the fee collection means has collected the play fee from the user when the game is completed; The maximum range is a range obtained by summing the initial range and the continuous maximum range, and the maximum range changing unit is configured to increase the maximum continuous range based on the information acquired by the information acquiring unit. You may change the size. By changing the size of the maximum continuous range in this way, it is possible to change the range of games that the user can play continuously while providing the user with a game of a predetermined initial range.

In this embodiment, the continuation control means includes range selection means for causing the user to select the size of a game range to be played following the initial range on condition that the size is within the maximum continuation range. You may have. In this case, the user can appropriately select the size of the game range to be played following the initial range.

In one form of the game system of the present invention, the maximum range changing unit is a range of a game that first allows a user who plays the game on the game machine to play based on the information acquired by the information acquiring unit. The size of the initial range may be changed. According to this form, the range of the game initially provided to the user can be changed.

The control method of the present invention includes an information acquisition step of acquiring information that can estimate the number of users waiting to play a game in a computer incorporated in a game system, and information acquired by the information acquisition means. Based on this, a maximum range changing step of changing the size of the maximum range of a game that can be continuously played by a single user on a game machine that executes the game is executed.

A computer program for a game system according to the present invention includes an information acquisition unit that acquires information capable of estimating the number of users who are waiting to play a game on a computer incorporated in the game system, and the information acquisition unit includes: What is configured to function as maximum range changing means for changing the size of the maximum range of a game that can be played continuously by a single user on a game machine that executes the game based on the acquired information It is. By executing the control method or computer program of the present invention, the game system of the present invention can be realized.

As described above, according to the present invention, the size of the maximum range of games that can be continuously played by one user is changed. Therefore, the waiting time of the user who is waiting to play the game next can be shortened. In addition, it is possible to prevent the game from being played only for a short time even when there is no user waiting.

The figure which shows the outline | summary of the whole structure of the game system which concerns on the 1st form of this invention. The figure which shows the external appearance of a game machine. The functional block diagram of the principal part of a game system. The figure which shows typically an example of the game screen of the music game which a game machine provides. The flowchart which shows the continue process routine performed in a game system. The flowchart which shows the game start process routine performed in the game system which concerns on the 2nd form of this invention.

(First form)
A game system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of the game system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, in the game system 1, a plurality of game machines GM and a center server 3 as a server device are connected to a network 5 as a communication line via a router 4. Further, an appropriate number of game machines GM are installed in a commercial facility such as the store 6.

Note that a local server may be installed between the game machine GM and the router 4, and the game machine GM may be connected to the center server 3 via the local server. Further, the center server 3 is not limited to an example configured by a single physical device. For example, one logical center server 3 may be configured by a server group as a plurality of physical devices. Furthermore, the center server 3 may be logically configured using cloud computing. Further, the game machine GM may function as the center server 3. As the network 5, for example, the Internet is used. Either a wired network or a wireless network (including a mobile phone network) may be used.

Each game machine GM and the center server 3 has unique information that can be identified on the network 5. Thereby, on the game system 1, each game machine GM and the center server 3 can be identified. For example, an IP address may be used as such unique information. If the network 5 is a public network such as the Internet, a unique fixed address on the network 5 is set for each router 4. Each game machine GM or the like is set with an IP address as a private address for uniquely recognizing the game machine GM or the like on the network 5 in combination with the fixed address. In this case, a virtual private network (VPN) is established between the game machine GM and the center server 3, and each game machine GM and the like are uniquely specified on the VPN using a private address. Below, the information for identifying each game machine GM and the center server 3 on the network 5 is called address information. In communication via the network 5, it is assumed that the other party to communicate with is specified based on the address information unless otherwise specified.

In addition, in the game system 1, a unique store ID is set for each store 6, and a unique housing ID is set for each game machine GM, separately from the address information described above. By receiving the store ID and the housing ID from the communication partner game machine GM, the center server 3 can uniquely identify the store 6 to which the communication partner game machine GM belongs and the game machine GM.

The center server 3 provides various services to the game machine GM via the network 5. For example, the center server 3 provides various game machine services to the game machine GM or a user who is playing a game on the game machine GM. As a game machine service, for example, the center server 3 provides a service for matching users when a plurality of users play a common game via the network 5. The game machine service includes a service for updating or adding a program and data of the game machine GM via the network 5. Furthermore, in the game machine service, for example, a service for receiving user identification information from the game machine GM to authenticate the user, and receiving and storing the authenticated user play data from the game machine GM. A service for providing the play data being played to the game machine GM may be included.

The game machine GM is configured as a business (commercial) game machine that provides a user with a game on the condition that a predetermined play fee has been collected from the user. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of the game machine GM. As shown in FIG. 2, the game machine GM includes a housing 7 and a monitor 8 as a display device disposed on the upper surface of the housing 7 so as to be inclined toward the user U. A transparent touch panel 9 is superimposed on the surface of the monitor 8. The touch panel 9 is a known input device that outputs a signal corresponding to the contact position when the user U touches with a finger or the like. In addition to the above, the game machine GM is provided with various input devices and output devices that are included in a normal business game machine such as a button for selecting and determining, a power switch, a volume operation switch, and a power lamp. However, these are not shown in FIG.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the structure of the main part of the control system related to the game machine GM and the center server 3 will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the main part of the game system 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 10 is provided in the game machine GM. The control unit 10 is configured as a computer unit combining a microprocessor and various peripheral devices such as an internal storage device (for example, ROM and RAM) necessary for the operation of the microprocessor.

The control unit 10 is connected to the monitor 8, the touch panel 9, the audio output device 11, the card reader 12, the money collection device 13, and the storage device 14. The monitor 8 displays a game screen or the like based on the video signal output from the control unit 10. The touch panel 9 outputs a signal corresponding to the touch operation of the user U to the control unit 10. The audio output device 11 reproduces predetermined audio (including music) based on the audio reproduction signal output from the control unit 10. The card reader 12 reads information on the card C possessed by the user and outputs a signal corresponding to the information to the control unit 10. The card C is provided with a non-volatile storage medium (not shown) such as an IC chip and a magnetic stripe, and the medium has a unique ID for each card C (hereinafter also referred to as a card ID). It is recorded. The card ID may be recorded on the card C in the form of a barcode or the like. The money receiving device 13 detects the amount of money (coins or banknotes) inserted by the user, and outputs a signal corresponding to the input amount to the control unit 10.

The storage device 14 is configured by, for example, an optical storage medium such as a DVDROM or a CDROM, or a non-volatile semiconductor memory device such as an EEPROM so that the storage can be held without power supply. A game program 101 is stored in the storage device 14. The game program 101 is a computer program necessary for the game machine GM to provide a game. Further, the storage device 14 stores various types of data that are referred to when the game program 101 is executed. Examples of such various data include, for example, image data for displaying images of various objects in the game, sound effect data for reproducing various sound effects in the game, and music for providing the music game For example, music data 102 for reproducing the. The storage device 14 stores sequence data 103 as one of such various data.

When the control unit 10 reads and executes the game program 101 of the storage device 14, a game control unit 15 and a charge management unit 16 as logical devices are provided inside the control unit 10. The game control unit 15 executes various processes necessary for playing the game such as management of start, progress, and end of the game provided to the user by the game machine GM. The charge management unit 16 performs processing related to the collection of the play fee, such as requesting the user to pay the play fee and determining whether or not the requested amount of the play fee has been collected. In this embodiment, as a means (payment method) for the user to pay the play fee, the user pays by using a cash payment method using the money receiving device 13 and by debiting electronic currency from an account managed by the center server 3. The method can be selected. However, the minimum unit (minimum amount) of the payment amount is smaller in the electronic currency payment method than in the cash payment method. For example, in cash, 100 yen is the minimum unit, but in electronic currency, payment in an amount equivalent to 1 yen is possible. The billing management unit 16 corresponds to the fee collection means of the present invention.

The center server 3 is provided with a control unit 20 and a storage device 21. The control unit 20 is configured as a computer unit in which a microprocessor and various peripheral devices such as an internal storage device (for example, ROM and RAM) necessary for the operation of the microprocessor are combined. The control unit 20 is connected to an input device such as a keyboard and an output device such as a monitor, but these are not shown. The storage device 21 is configured by a large-capacity storage medium such as a magnetic tape, for example, so that the storage can be held without supplying power. The storage device 21 stores a server program 201 and various data referred to by the program 201. In the storage device 21, sequence data 103, user data 202, account data 203, and store data 204 are recorded as a kind of data to be referred to by the control unit 20. The server program 201 is a computer program necessary for the center server 3 to provide various services to the game machine GM.

User data 202 is a set of records in which information related to game play contents such as a user's play history and results is recorded in association with the card ID of the card C possessed by the user. The account data 203 is a set of records recorded by associating the amount of electronic currency held by the user with an ID unique to the user (hereinafter referred to as a user ID). The card ID and the user ID are associated one-to-one or many-to-one. The storage device 21 of the center server 3 also stores data for determining the ID correspondence. The amount of electronic currency held in the account data 203 can be increased (deposited) by the user via a website or the like operated by a system operator or the like. Billing to the user corresponding to the deposit of electronic currency is performed separately through settlement means such as a credit card. Alternatively, electronic currency may be deposited in exchange for cash using a terminal dedicated to depositing electronic currency. The depositing and settlement of the electronic currency for the account data 203 may be the same as that of the prepaid electronic currency system, and the details thereof will be omitted. Note that the functions of the account management unit and the account data may be managed by an apparatus physically separated from the center server 3. The store data 204 includes a history of the number of visitors for each day of the week and each hour of each store 6, whether or not there is an event related to the game machine GM in each store 6, the number of game machines GM installed in each store 6, and each game machine A set of records in which information related to the game such as the case ID of the GM and the date and time when the data such as the sequence data 103 is updated or added to each game machine GM of each store 6 is recorded for each store 6 is there. Such information may be input to the center server 3 by an administrator of the game system 1, for example.

When the control unit 20 reads and executes the server program 201, a game machine service processing unit 22 and an account management unit 23 as logical devices are provided inside the control unit 20. The game machine service processing unit 22 executes a process for providing the game machine service described above. The game machine service processing unit 22 plays a predetermined game via the network 5 such as a process of transmitting the user data 202 to the game machine GM or updating the user data 202 based on information sent from the game machine GM. Execute the necessary processing to provide A part of the game machine service such as the matching service is realized by the cooperation of the game control unit 15 of the game machine GM and the game machine service processing unit 22 of the center server 3.

The account management unit 23 is in charge of processing related to electronic currency management, such as withdrawing a specified amount of electronic currency from a corresponding record in the account data 203 in response to a request for withdrawal of a play fee from the game machine GM. That is, when a withdrawal process is requested along with the card ID and the payment amount from the game machine GM, the account management unit 23 identifies the user ID record corresponding to the card ID from the account data 203, and the identified record By subtracting the amount of payment from the amount held in, the payment of the play fee in electronic currency is completed.

Next, a game provided by the game machine GM will be described. In this game machine GM, two users (including the case where the game machine GM functions as one user) perform an operation according to music, and a battle in which the operation time of the two users is evaluated and competed. A type of music game is provided. FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of a game screen of a music game provided by the game machine GM. As shown in this figure, the game screen 50 includes a game area 52 for guiding the operation time to the user, and an information area 53 for displaying game information including the score of each user. . The game area 52 is formed in a rectangular shape. In the vicinity of both

end portions

52U and 52B in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction in FIG. 4) of the game area 52, the first reference portion 55A and the second reference portion 55B are arranged to face each other. Each of the

reference portions

55A and 55B extends linearly in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the game area 52. When the

reference portions

55A and 55B are not distinguished from each other, they may be simply expressed as the reference portion 55.

Each reference portion 55 is used as a reference for the current time on the game by the game user. Specifically, the first reference unit 55A functions as a mark indicating the reference of the current time of the first user, and the second reference unit 55B functions as a mark indicating the reference of the current time of the second user. Here, in the example of FIG. 4, the game screen 50 is drawn with the front side down and the back side up as viewed from the first user. In addition, different colors are used for each reference unit 55 in order to distinguish each user. The information area 53 is arranged around the game area 52, and one end side in the longitudinal direction of the game area 52 is used to display the score of one user, and the other end side displays the score of the other user. Used for. In the example of FIG. 4, the lower end 52B side is used for displaying the score of the first user, and the upper end 52U side is used for displaying the score of the second user group.

Each reference part 55 includes a plurality of repulsion points arranged at predetermined intervals. As indicated by broken lines in the figure, the plurality of repulsion points R1 included in the first reference portion 55A and the plurality of repulsion points R2 included in the second reference portion 55B are respectively defined by a plurality of routes (movement routes) W. Are connected to each other. Specifically, a plurality of paths W from one repulsion point R1 of the first reference portion 55A to a plurality of repulsion points R2 included in the second reference portion 55B are also one of the second reference portions 55B. A plurality of paths W are provided from the repulsion point R2 to a plurality of repulsion points R1 included in the first reference portion 55A. In FIG. 4, only some of the repulsion points R1 and R2 are illustrated, but actually, a large number of repulsion points R1 and R2 exist at regular intervals along the

reference portions

55A and 55B. Similarly, only a part of the route W is displayed. When the repulsion point R1 of the first reference portion 55A and the repulsion point R2 of the second reference portion 55B are not distinguished from each other, they may be simply expressed as the repulsion point R.

While the music game is being executed, that is, while the reproduction of the music is in progress, an object 60 as an operation instruction indicator for instructing an operation is displayed according to the sequence data 28 on the path W connecting the repulsion point R1 and the repulsion point R2. Is done. In FIG. 4, each route W is indicated by a broken line for convenience of explanation, but a plurality of routes W are not displayed on the actual game screen 50.

The object 60 appears at the repulsion point R1 or the repulsion point R2 at an appropriate time in the music, and appears from the repulsion points R that appear to the repulsion points R located on the opposite side as the music progresses. It moves on a route W extending from each repulsion point R. When an appropriate operation as a play action is executed in accordance with the arrival of the object 60, the object 60 disappears. In exchange for the disappearance of the object 60, the next object 60 appears at each repulsion point R of each reference unit 55 on which an appropriate operation has been performed. That is, when an appropriate operation is performed, the position (repulsion point R) where the object 60 has reached functions as the appearance position of the next object 60. The object 60 moves along any one of a plurality of paths W set for one repulsion point R.

The object 60 that appears at the appearance position moves toward each repulsion point R located on the opposite side from the appearance position. For this reason, when an appropriate operation is performed, the object 60 repeatedly moves between the reference portions 55 alternately so as to repel each repulsion point R. On the other hand, when an appropriate operation is not executed, the object 60 passes through each reference portion 55 along each path W and moves to the upper end portion 52U or the lower end portion 52B. And the position where the object 60 of each end 52U, 52B arrives functions as the appearance position of the next object 60. For this reason, when an appropriate operation is not executed, that is, when the user misses the operation, the object 60 moves from the

end portions

52U and 52B toward the reference portion located on the opposite side, and the end portions 52U. , 52B, the direction of movement is changed as if rebounded. The movement path of the object 60 after rebounding at the

end portions

52U and 52B is set to a path that does not pass through the

side walls

52L and 52R and has the minimum distance to the rebound point to be reached next.

As an appropriate operation described above, each user U is required to perform a touch operation of touching the position at which the object 60 of each reference unit 55 has reached in accordance with the arrival of the object 60 to each reference unit 55. When each user performs a touch operation, a time difference between the time when the object 60 matches each reference portion 55 and the time when each user performs the touch operation is detected. The smaller the deviation time, the higher the user's operation is evaluated. In addition, sound effects are reproduced from the audio output device 14 in response to the touch operation.

In the example of FIG. 4, the object 60 is moving on the route W toward the repulsion point R1 of the first reference portion 55A. As the object 60 reaches the first reference portion 55A, the first user touches the position at which the object 60 of the first reference portion 55A is displayed on the game screen 50 of the game machine that the user plays. Just operate. Further, the object 60 is displayed in a color corresponding to each reference portion 55 ahead. In the present embodiment, a plurality of operation units are formed by a combination of the reference units 55 on the monitor 8 and the touch panel 9 superimposed on them. Hereinafter, the

reference portions

55A and 55B may be used as terms representing the operation unit.

The selection of the route W along which the object 60 moves is determined based on a predetermined route condition. For example, a random condition is adopted as the predetermined route condition. Specifically, the path W along which the object moves is determined randomly based on a predetermined algorithm. This determination is performed every time the game is started, for example. That is, in this case, each of the plurality of movement paths W is distributed to each object 60 every time the game is started. For example, a touch operation position may be adopted as a predetermined route condition. In this case, the movement path W of the object 60 is determined based on the touch operation position where the user touches the object 60. In addition, a designation operation for designating the movement direction may be adopted as the predetermined route condition. In this case, the path W extending in the direction corresponding to the designation operation may be adopted as the movement path W of the object 60. Moreover, this designation | designated operation may be employ | adopted with route selection conditions. The route selection condition is satisfied, for example, when a value obtained by a predetermined operation exceeds a predetermined value and an operation for consuming the value is performed by the user. In other words, the designation of the movement direction of the user may be reflected in the selection of the movement route W of the object 60 in exchange for the consumption of the acquired value.

Next, a method for providing a game to the user in the game system 1 will be described. In the game system 1, when the charge management unit 16 of the game machine GM confirms that the predetermined first-time play fee has been paid, the game control unit 15 of the game machine GM corresponds to the range corresponding to the first-time play fee (hereinafter referred to as the first play fee). , Sometimes referred to as an initial range.) For example, a game for four songs is provided to the user in terms of the number of songs. When the game in the initial range ends, the game control unit 15 can play the game continuously by paying a predetermined continue fee as a play fee, and the so-called continue Notify users that they can. At this time, the game control unit 15 determines the upper limit of the range in which the user can continuously play the game (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as “continue maximum range”), for example, the number of songs that can be played continuously or the number of plays. Is displayed on the monitor 8.

In this game system 1, the user can select a range of continuous play as long as it is within the continuation maximum range. Specifically, for example, when the maximum range of the continuation is 5 songs, the user may pay an additional continuation fee corresponding to 5 songs, or pay a continuation fee corresponding to 1 song. May be. When the game is continuously played by paying a continuation fee corresponding to one song, the user is shown that four more songs can be played continuously after the game for that one song is completed. Thus, in this game system 1, a game is provided to a user so that one user can play a game continuously to a continuation maximum range. Then, the charge management unit 16 plays the play fee corresponding to the game range within the maximum continue range, for example, if the number of songs that can be played continuously is 5, the play corresponding to any of 1 to 5 songs. It is confirmed whether or not the fee has been paid by the user as a continue fee.

When the charge management unit 16 confirms the collection of the continuation fee, the game control unit 15 provides the user with a game in a range corresponding to the paid continuation fee. In this case, the billing management unit 16 has a play fee corresponding to a range in which the user exceeds the continuation maximum range, for example, six songs even though the upper limit of the number of songs that can be played continuously is five. When an operation of paying a play fee is performed, the collection of the play fee is stopped, and the user is notified to pay a play fee corresponding to the maximum continue range. If the charge management unit 16 cannot confirm the payment of the continue fee, the game control unit 15 notifies the user that the game cannot be continued after a predetermined time has elapsed.

FIG. 5 shows a routine executed in the game system 1 in order to execute such a continue process. In addition to the routine shown in this figure, the

control units

10 and 20 execute various known processes, but a detailed description thereof is omitted. Note that the processing executed by the control unit 10 includes, for example, object display processing for appropriately generating the object 60 and moving and displaying the object 60 on the predetermined route W so as to reach the reference unit 55 at a predetermined operation time, touch The route determination process for determining the path W of the object 60 based on the operation position or the specified operation, the evaluation process for evaluating the operation result of each user, and the like are included.

5 is implemented by the control unit 20 of the center server 3 and the control unit 10 of the game machine GM in cooperation. More specifically, the routine of FIG. 5 is executed through the game machine service processing unit 22 of the control unit 20 and the game control unit 15 of the control unit 10. This routine is executed every time the game in the range corresponding to the play fee currently paid in the game machine GM is completed. In the following description, for the sake of simplification, the game control unit 15 may be described as the execution subject process as the game machine GM, and the game machine service processing unit 36 as the execution subject process as the center server 3.

When this routine is started, the game machine GM finishes the game in the range corresponding to the play fee currently paid in step S11, information of the user who is currently playing the game, and the game machine GM. Information is notified to the center server 3. The user information includes, for example, the current play history, the current game results, and the like. The information of the game machine GM includes, for example, a case ID, a range of games played continuously until the game ended this time, and the number of times the game was played today on the game machine GM and the time. ing. When the center server 3 receives these pieces of information from the game machine GM in step S21, the information of the user who is playing on the game machine GM of the casing ID, and other game machines GM installed in the same store 6 are displayed. And information on the store 6 are acquired.

The user information may be acquired from the card ID of the card C currently set in the card reader 12 and the user data 202 stored in the storage device 21. This user information includes, for example, the user's play history up to the previous time, game results, and the like. Information on the game machine GM is acquired based on the information returned from the game machine GM by instructing the center server 3 to send information to other game machines GM in the store 6 where the game machine GM is located. Is done. The information of the game machine GM includes, for example, the number of times that the game has been played on that day, the time that the game has been played, and the like. What is necessary is just to acquire the information of the shop 6 based on the shop data 204 etc., for example. The information of the store 6 includes, for example, the number of users expected to be in the store 6 where the game machine GM is installed at the current date, whether or not an event is held in the store 6, and each game machine GM of the store 6 This includes the date and time when data was updated or added. In addition, what is necessary is just to acquire the number of users estimated to be in the store 6 from, for example, the history of the number of visitors for each day of the week and each hour of each store 6 included in the store data 204. In addition, you may acquire the number of users based on the time when the game was played in the other game machine GM in the same store 6, etc. In this case, it can be expected that the more played time, the more users. Furthermore, you may acquire the number of users based on the time from the time when a user complete | finished play most recently in own game machine GM until the present user starts a game. In this case, it can be expected that the number of users increases as the time during which the game has not been played on the game machine GM is shorter. When estimating the number of users in this way, the relationship between the time when the game has not been played and the number of users can be obtained by experimentation and stored in the storage device 14 of the game machine GM. That's fine. Then, the number of users may be estimated using this relationship. In general, the number of users in the store 6 correlates with the number of users waiting to play the game, and the more users in the store 6 are waiting to play the game. The number of users is also expected to increase. Therefore, these pieces of information correspond to information that can estimate the number of users waiting to play the game of the present invention.

The center server 3 calculates the continuation maximum range of the game machine GM at that time based on the acquired information, and notifies the game machine GM of the calculated upper limit. In the continuation maximum range, a base range, for example, 5 songs by the number of songs is set in advance. In this process, the continuation maximum range is set by expanding or reducing the base range. The maximum continue range is reduced, for example, when the number of users expected to be in the store 6 is large. For example, if the base range is 5 songs and the number of users is equal to or greater than a predetermined reduction determination value, 1 song is subtracted from the base range and 4 songs are set as the maximum continue range. On the other hand, when the number of users expected to be in the store 6 is small, the continue maximum range may be expanded. For example, when the base range is 5 songs and the number of users is less than a predetermined enlargement determination value, 1 song is added to the base range and 6 songs are set as the maximum continue range. When an event related to the game machine GM is held in the store 6, it is considered that the number of users in the store 6 increases. Therefore, the continuation maximum range may be set so as to be reduced when an event is held at the store 6 and to be enlarged when the event is not held. When the program and data of the game machine GM are updated or added, it is considered that the number of users who want to play a game on the game machine GM increases. Therefore, when the program and data are updated or added, the continuation maximum range may be reduced for a predetermined period, for example, one week from the date of update or addition. The continuation maximum range may be calculated using all of these, or may be calculated using some of them. That is, the continuation maximum range may be set based on all of the information that can estimate the number of users waiting to play the game among the acquired information, or some of the information You may set based on.

In addition to the information described above, the continuation maximum range may be corrected with reference to the play history and play results of the user who is currently playing the game. For example, if the previous game play frequency or play time is equal to or greater than a predetermined judgment value, the continuation maximum range is expanded from the base range, and if the play frequency or play time is less than the judgment value, the continuation maximum range is increased. It may be the base range.

When the game machine GM receives the continuation maximum range from the center server 3 in step S12, the game machine GM subtracts a range in which the current user has played continuously up to the present time from the continuation maximum range (sometimes referred to as a continuable range). Is displayed on the monitor 8. In subsequent step S13, the game machine GM determines whether or not collection of a play fee corresponding to the game range within the continuable range has been confirmed. If it is determined that the collection of the play fee has been confirmed, the process proceeds to step S14, and the game machine GM executes a play continuation process. In this play continuation process, various processes for providing the user with a game in a range corresponding to the collected play fee are performed. Since these various processes are the same as well-known processes performed in the arcade game machine, the description thereof is omitted. Thereafter, the current routine is terminated.

On the other hand, if the collection of the play fee cannot be confirmed, the process proceeds to step S15, and the game machine GM determines whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds has elapsed since the game ended. If it is determined that the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process returns to step S13. On the other hand, if it is determined that the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S16, and the game machine GM executes a play end process. In this play end process, various processes for ending the game that has been played continuously are performed. Since these various processes are the same as the well-known processes performed in the arcade game machine, the description is omitted. Thereafter, the current routine is terminated.

As described above, according to the present invention, when the number of users expected to be in the store 6 is large, the continuation maximum range is reduced, so that the user waiting to play the game next time The waiting time can be shortened. Therefore, it can suppress that the waiting user becomes uncomfortable. On the other hand, when the number of users expected to be in the store 6 is small, the continuation maximum range is expanded, so that the user finishes the continuous play of the game in a short time even though there are no waiting users. There is no need. In this case, the user does not have to perform a useless operation such as an operation for starting the game from the beginning. Therefore, the user can be concentrated on the game. In addition, when the program and data of the game machine GM are updated or added, or when an event relating to the game machine GM is held in the store 6, the maximum continue range is reduced, so the number of users who can play the game Can be increased. Thereby, it can suppress that the user who visited the store 6 becomes uncomfortable without being able to play a game. Furthermore, since the continuation maximum range is expanded when the play history and play time of the user who is playing the game are larger than the determination value, a privilege can be given to the user.

In this mode, the game range provided by the user at the time of continuing may be fixed to a certain range. Then, the game may be continuously provided to one user until the accumulation of the game in the certain range reaches the maximum continue range. More specifically, for example, when the game range provided to the user at the time of continuation is fixed to one song in terms of the number of songs, and the maximum continuation range is 5 songs in number of songs, it continues up to five times for one user. Continue is permitted. Even in this case, the same effect as the above-described embodiment can be obtained by appropriately changing the continuation maximum range according to the user information, the game machine GM information, and the store 6 information.

In the above embodiment, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 functions as the information acquisition unit of the present invention by executing the process of step S21 in FIG. Further, the control unit 20 of the center server 3 functions as a maximum range changing unit by executing the process of step S22 of FIG. Then, the control unit 10 of the game machine GM functions as the continuation control means and the range selection means of the present invention by executing the processes of steps S13 and S14 in FIG.

(Second form)
Next, a game system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. Also in this embodiment, FIGS. 1 to 4 are referred to for the entire configuration of the game system 1 and the game machine GM. In this embodiment, when the game system 1 provides the user with the first game, the initial range is calculated based on the user information, the store 6 information, and the like, and the calculated initial range game is provided to the user.

FIG. 6 shows a game start processing routine executed by the game system 1. This routine is also implemented in cooperation with the control unit 20 of the center server 3 and the control unit 10 of the game machine GM, as in the routine of FIG. This routine is executed when the card C is set in the card reader 12 of the game machine GM. In the following description, for the sake of simplification, the game control unit 15 may be described as the execution subject process as the game machine GM, and the game machine service processing unit 36 as the execution subject process as the center server 3. In FIG. 6, the same processes as those in FIG.

When this routine is started, the game machine GM notifies the center server 3 of the information read from the card C in step 31 and the information of the game machine GM. The information of the game machine GM includes, for example, a case ID, the number of times the game was played on this game machine GM on this day, time, and the like. When the center server 3 receives these pieces of information from the game machine GM in step S21, the information of the user who is playing on the game machine GM of the casing ID, and other game machines GM installed in the same store 6 are displayed. And information on the store 6 are acquired.

In subsequent step S41, the center server 3 calculates the initial range of the game machine GM based on the acquired information, and notifies the game machine GM of the calculated initial range. The initial range is preset with a base range, for example, 4 songs by the number of songs. In this process, the initial range is calculated by enlarging or reducing the base range. At this time, the initial range is calculated by the same method as the above-described maximum continue range. For example, the initial range is reduced when the number of users expected to be in the store 6 is large, and the initial range is expanded when the number of users is large. Further, when an event related to the game machine GM is held in the store 6, the initial range is reduced. When the program and data of the game machine GM are updated or added, the initial range is reduced for a predetermined period from the date of update or addition. The initial range may be calculated based on all the information described above, or may be calculated based on a part of the information described above. In addition to this, the initial range may be enlarged and corrected when the number of plays and the play history of the user who has set the card C are larger than the determination value.

When the game machine GM receives the initial range from the center server 3 in step S32, the game machine GM calculates an initial play fee corresponding to the initial range. For example, when the initial range is 4 pieces of music, 200 yen is set as the first play fee, and when the initial range is 2 songs, the initial play fee is 100 yen. The method for setting the initial play fee is not limited to this method, and may be changed as appropriate. For example, when the play fee is paid in electronic currency, the play fee may be changed by an amount equivalent to one yen unit. In subsequent step S33, the game machine GM displays the initial range and the calculated initial play fee on the monitor 8.

In the next step S34, the game machine GM determines whether or not the collection of the first play fee has been confirmed. When the collection of the first play fee is confirmed, the process proceeds to step S35, and the game machine GM executes a game providing process. In this game providing process, various processes for providing the user with an initial range of games are performed. Since these various processes are the same as well-known processes performed in the arcade game machine, the description thereof is omitted. Thereafter, the current routine is terminated.

On the other hand, if the collection of the first play fee cannot be confirmed, the process proceeds to step S36, and the game machine GM determines whether or not the card C is in the card reader 12. If the card reader 12 has the card C, the process returns to step S34. On the other hand, if it is determined that there is no card C in the card reader 12, the current routine is terminated.

According to the second mode, as described above, the initial range is changed according to the user information, the game machine GM information, and the store 6 information. Therefore, the waiting time of the user who is waiting to play the game next can be shortened. In addition, it is possible to prevent the game play from having to be completed in a short time, although there are no other users waiting. When the program and data of the game machine GM are updated or added, or when an event related to the game machine GM is held in the store 6, the number of users who can play the game can be increased. Therefore, it can suppress that the user who visited the store 6 becomes uncomfortable without being able to play a game. Since the continuation maximum range is expanded when the play history or play time of the user who plays the game is larger than the determination value, a privilege can be given to the user.

In the present invention, the above-described first form and second form may be combined. That is, both the maximum continuous range and the initial range may be changed according to the user information, the game machine GM information, and the store 6 information.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described form and may be implemented in various forms. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the continuation maximum range or the initial range is calculated by the control unit 20 of the center server 3, but these calculations may be performed by the control unit 10 of the game machine GM. Further, the present invention may be applied to a game system realized by a game machine that is not connected to a network. As described above, the number of users at the store & where the game machine GM is installed can be estimated from the time when the game was not played on the game machine GM. Therefore, the initial range and the maximum continue range may be changed based on the number of users estimated in this way. In this case, the control unit 10 of the game machine GM functions as information acquisition means and maximum range changing means of the present invention.

The game machine of the present invention may be realized in an appropriate form such as an arcade game machine installed in a commercial facility, a home-use game machine, or a portable game machine. In the above-described embodiment, the touch panel 9 is used as an input device, and a touch operation is employed as a play action. However, the play act is not limited to such a form. For example, the user's operation may be input to the game machine GM using an input device such as a camera. In this case, a user's action may be adopted as a play act.

The game executed by the game system of the present invention is not limited to a competitive music game. For example, various games such as an action game, a simulation game, and a sports game may be executed on the game machine. In addition, the information used for changing the initial range and the continuation maximum range in the present invention is not limited to the information shown in the above-described form. For example, when the game system of the present invention provides a game of mahjong or shogi between users via a network, a game in which one user can play continuously with the number of users who have applied for a game to a specific user. The maximum range may be changed. More specifically, for example, when the number of users applying for a game to a specific user is equal to or greater than a predetermined determination value, the number of times that one user can play with the specific user continuously is reduced. This allows many users to play with that particular user.

In the above-described embodiment, the number of songs and the number of plays are shown as the game range, but the game range is not limited to these. For example, the game range includes game play time.

Claims

Information acquisition means for acquiring information capable of estimating the number of users waiting to play a game;
A maximum range changing unit that changes the size of the maximum range of a game that can be continuously played by a single user on a game machine that executes the game based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit; system.
The information acquisition means includes at least one of information on an execution history of the game on the game machine, information on a store where the game machine is installed, and information on a play history of a user who plays the game on the game machine. The game system of Claim 1 which acquires such one information as information which can estimate the number of users who are waiting in order to play the said game.
Fee collection means for collecting play fees from users,
On the condition that the fee collection means has collected the play fee from the user when the game of the initial range, which is the range of the game that was first allowed to play by the user who plays the game on the game machine, has ended. Continuation control means for allowing the user to play a game up to a predetermined maximum continuation range following the initial range, and
The maximum range is a total range of the initial range and the continuous maximum range,
The game system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the maximum range changing unit changes the size of the continuous maximum range based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit.
The said continuation control means is provided with the range selection means which makes the said user select the magnitude | size of the range of the game played following the said initial range on condition that it is the range of the magnitude | size within the said continuation maximum range. Item 3. The game system according to item 3.
The maximum range changing unit changes a size of an initial range that is a range of a game that is first allowed to a user who plays the game on the game machine based on the information acquired by the information acquisition unit. 5. The game system according to any one of 1 to 4.
In the computer that is built into the game system,
An information acquisition step of acquiring information capable of estimating the number of users waiting to play a game;
A control method for executing a maximum range changing step of changing the size of the maximum range of a game that can be continuously played by a single user on a game machine that executes the game based on information acquired by the information acquisition means .
The computer built into the game system,
Information acquisition means for acquiring information capable of estimating the number of users waiting to play a game;
Based on the information acquired by the information acquisition means, it functions as a maximum range changing means for changing the size of the maximum range of games that can be played continuously by a single user on a game machine that executes the game. A computer program for a game system configured as described above.