JP2005085162A - Settlement system for game machine and information storage medium for use in the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To resolve the problem that contents of settlement required for game play, which has been performed by using electronic currencies such electronic money and independent electronic money, are standardized and are not rich in diversification. <P>SOLUTION: A settlement system for game machines is provided with a game machine and an information storage medium applied to the game machine, and information related to electronic currencies is preserved in the medium, and the game machine performs settlement required for game play by using the electronic currencies and updates and stores a play history and a settlement result into the medium. A processing unit of the game machine changes settlement contents in accordance with the play history like a game play result. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a payment system for performing payment necessary for playing with a game machine using an information storage medium such as an IC card for electronic money, and an information storage medium used therefor.

  For arcade game machines (electronic game machines installed in stores), record game history such as user game results and store visit frequency, and use magnetic cards, IC cards, and servers to promote continuous games. It is being used. Furthermore, recently, it has been proposed to use an electronic money card to make a payment necessary for a game using a game machine. For example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-114217, in the item selection function, information on each game item including usage fee information is presented to the user by display means / acoustic means, and the game item is displayed to the user by operation input means. There has been proposed a computer game device that allows the user to select an item. In this case, the usage fee of the game item selected by the user is collected in a timely manner by a charging device including electronic money.

Furthermore, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-76851 discloses that each website and its users can issue electronic money having unique currency units and image information, and use of the electronic money can activate electronic commerce. A currency rate that sets a currency rate that is a conversion rate for changing the currency unit of the standard electronic money that has a normal currency unit to an original currency unit (token) for the purpose of providing original electronic money that can be A currency unit setting means, an electronic money issuing unit that issues original electronic money having the currency rate and a unique currency unit, and electronic money information including identification information for identifying the original electronic money, Issue original electronic money with a currency rate that can be set to It has been proposed original electronic money system to be able to perform.
JP-A-11-114217 JP 2003-76851 A

  In the conventional technology, payment required for game play is performed using electronic money such as electronic money or original electronic money, but the content of the payment is uniform and does not vary greatly. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a payment system in which the contents of payment are diversified and the incentive to continue playing is enhanced for the user. It is another object of the present invention to provide a payment information storage medium applied to the payment system.

In order to achieve the above object, the present inventor attempted to use multifunctional electronic money, for example, Edy (trademark). This is a rechargeable prepaid electronic money service. This service is made possible by using a non-contact type multi-function IC card (felica / trademark), and it is possible to repeatedly charge value as many times as possible, and to use data other than electronic money for IC cards. Can be recorded.
That is, the present invention includes a game machine and an information storage medium applied to the game machine, the medium stores information on electronic currency, and the game machine is necessary for game play using the electronic currency. A payment system for a gaming machine that makes a simple payment and the game history and the payment result are updated and stored in the medium,
The medium includes a writable memory;
The memory includes an electronic currency information storage area for storing the electronic currency information, and a game history information storage area for storing the game history,
The game machine includes a reader / writer for reading and writing information in the medium memory, a memory, and a processing unit. The memory stores a game execution program and the settlement program. ,
The processing unit is based on these programs,
Reading means for reading information in the memory in the medium, payment executing means for executing the payment based on the read data, game history information forming means for forming game history information, results of payment and game history Writing means for writing information to the internal memory, respectively,
And the said payment execution means is comprised so that payment content may be changed according to the said game log | history.
According to the settlement method according to the present invention, since the settlement content is changed according to the game history such as game play results, the content of the settlement becomes various, so that the game can be continued for the user. Can give incentives.

  In the present invention, the above-described IC card is suitable as the information storage medium, but a magnetic card may also be used. Further, the electronic circuit itself or a mobile terminal (such as a mobile phone) including the electronic circuit may be used. The electronic currency includes tokens (play rights that can be used in common with a plurality of stores) in addition to electronic money. Tokens can be exchanged from electronic money or exchanged directly from cash. There may be a plurality of information storage media according to the present invention. For example, the payment card and the data storage card may be different, or the electronic money and the token may be stored in different cards.

  The game machine may be used in an offline mode in addition to an online mode that is connected to a server and exchanges various information with the server. The game apparatus includes game program execution means for executing the game program in accordance with the game program and data, and input data from the peripheral device by the player. Payment with game play means that before starting game play, the electronic currency amount necessary for game play is withdrawn from the storage area of the information storage card, or a predetermined electronic currency amount is withdrawn from the storage area after the game ends, Alternatively, a predetermined electronic money amount is additionally updated in the storage area of the card.

  The contents of the settlement are changed to a desired form according to the game history. The game history refers to all information associated with the progress of past games such as past game play results and game play frequency. The game play results include an average value of past game play results and a previous game play result. The play frequency includes the number of plays and a play rate obtained by dividing the number of plays by the number of elapsed days.

  If the game play result is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the change in the settlement content by the game play result is to reduce the amount of electronic currency withdrawn before the game play starts or after the game play ends, or before the game start or the game end Various forms such as adding a predetermined electronic currency amount to the storage area of the card are included. Even when the game play result is equal to or less than a predetermined value, a part of the electronic currency amount withdrawn after the game may be returned. For example, this is for compensation when the game ends in a shorter time than a predetermined time, or when the game machine is stopped due to a trouble, which is severe to the user. Even when the play frequency is equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the content of the payment may be changed as in the case of the payment based on the play results.

  The minimum amount may be subtracted from the electronic currency storage area before the game play starts, and the remaining amount may be withdrawn after the game ends. If the game results are good, the withdrawal amount may be reduced. Alternatively, a predetermined amount of electronic currency amount may be returned to the storage area of the card after the game play. Settlement can also be applied to purchases by game players of game items during game play. For players who are good at games and have good game results, the payment amount at the time of item purchase can be reduced.

  The reference of the game results by the settlement execution means may refer to other types of game play results in addition to referring to past game play results in the same application. The definition of game results often differs depending on the type of game application. For example, it is time in a car racing game and score in a fighting game. Therefore, it is difficult to compare game results between different games. Therefore, in each game application, game results are defined in stages such as “upper”, “middle”, “lower”, or first grade, second grade, beginner, intermediate grade, etc. Make the grade format common among game applications. In the game history storage area of the information storage card, a multi-bit storage unit is provided for storing game play results in stages.

  Payment regarding game continuation may be executed at the start of game play. The game continuation means that the game is further continued by adding a token after the game is over due to a game time-out or a score-out. When the game is about to end, the game device counts down a predetermined number of times on the display screen, and if a token is added during this time, the game continues from the previous state. Ends. Since the progress of the game play is stopped during the countdown, it is convenient to allow the game device to be settled at the start of the game in advance in a game device having a settlement function using electronic currency. That is, the game device presents an input screen for the presence / absence of automatic continuation and the number of continuations on the display device at the start of the game, and the user performs input based on the input terminal. The processing unit of the game device reads the input data, performs the necessary settlement using the electronic currency stored in the card, and updates and stores the total amount of the electronic currency after the settlement in the storage area of the card. Furthermore, in order to use the continuous automatic setting system more easily, the number of automatic continuations and the maximum number of tokens are recorded in the game history information storage area of the card. This may be read to execute settlement, and this may be automatically set in the game execution means.

  The form of payment contents changed by game play results may be determined by a program in the game machine, or may be determined each time based on data from the server.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. A plurality of arcade stores are connected to the server group via the Internet. FIG. 1 is a system block diagram of an arcade store. The arcade store includes a plurality of types of game machines A1 to A7, a media station B1, and a router / modem C1. Each game machine and media station are connected to a server via the Internet via the router / modem. ing. Media Station is a comprehensive terminal for selling electronic money cards, electronic money card value charges and balance confirmation, token purchase and balance confirmation, organizing and editing game data, selling game-related goods and data, etc. . Each game machine can have the function of the media station.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the game apparatus. The game apparatus 100 includes a game program, a program for executing token settlement, a program / data storage device or storage medium (including an optical disc and an optical disc drive) 101 in which data (including video / music data) is stored, and CPU 102 for executing game program, payment function, coordinate calculation for control of entire system and image display, system memory 103 for storing program and data necessary for CPU 102 to perform processing, game A BOOTROM 104 that stores programs and data necessary for starting the apparatus 100 and a bus arbiter 105 that controls the flow of programs and data between each block of the game apparatus 100 and devices connected to the outside are provided. Is connected to the bus.

  A rendering processor 106 is connected to the bus, and video data read from the program / data storage device or the storage medium 101 and images to be generated according to the player's operation and game progress are displayed by the rendering processor 106. It is displayed on the display monitor 110. Graphic data and the like necessary for the rendering processor 106 to generate an image are stored in the graphic memory 107.

  A sound processor 108 is connected to the bus, and music data read from the program / data storage device or the storage medium 101 and sound effects and sounds to be generated in accordance with the player's operation and game progress are sent to the speaker by the sound processor 108. 111. Sound data and the like necessary for the sound processor 108 to generate sound effects and sounds are stored in the sound memory 109.

  The game apparatus 100 is connected to the modem C1 described above, and communicates with game apparatuses and network servers in other stores through the Internet line. This game device includes a reader / writer 114 for the IC card 113. Under the control of the CPU 102, the reader / writer can read the information in the memory of the IC card data without contact or contact, and can write the information into the memory.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the data format of the IC card. The card data includes card basic information, electronic money information, user information, and play data information (plural). The token balance is stored in the user information storage area. The use history is a history of token addition / use. The number of plays is the number of plays at all stores. The CPU of the game device can obtain the play frequency from the use history and the number of times of play. The play result is an average of the play results of all game devices. Here, the play results are configured in a standard format common to each game machine. “My store” is an identification symbol that can be specially set by the user in order to limit the data update storage target to stores in a specific range.

  The play data information (1) is information on a shooting game using virtual three-dimensional image processing, in which the police officer entitled “Virtua Cop” is the main character. The number of plays. A play score is a play score in the same game device in a plurality of stores. The highest grade, the last grade, the average grade, etc. can be used. The play data (2) is a fighting game in which a plurality of fighters entitled “Virtua Fighter” are the main characters.

  The memory of the IC card has a storage area for each data shown in FIG. 3, and the area for storing the electronic money balance, token balance, play history, number of plays, and play results can be updated and stored.

  Next, the operation of this system will be described. When a user purchases an electronic money card, a new electronic money card may be purchased from the media station B1. You can charge value from cash to an electronic money card. Value can be recharged (additional purchase) to an electronic money card.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing token purchase processing. The media station includes a microcomputer, and the flowchart of FIG. 4 is executed by the CPU and memory hardware resources and a predetermined processing program.

  In S400, the user inputs token purchase start from the terminal. When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot in S402, the CPU of the media station detects card information in S404 and S406, and determines whether or not the card is a normal card. If it is not a normal card, an error is displayed and the process is terminated (S408). In the case of a normal card, the token purchase amount is selected by the user, and then the electronic money balance in the card is confirmed (S410-S412).

  Thereafter, the media station communicates purchase information with the billing totaling server 416 (S416). If the communication is successful, the balance of the reduced electronic money and the increased balance of the token are stored in the storage area of the card. Is updated and stored (S418-S420). Next, the card is discharged (S422), and an example process for purchasing a talk is completed (S424). If the communication is not successful, a communication error is displayed (S426), and the example processing is terminated.

Next, the settlement operation and game execution operation of the game machine will be described with reference to FIG. First, in order to start a game play (S500), the user inserts a card into a reader / writer (S502). The CPU of the game machine reads the card ID in the card and detects various information on the card (S504).
Next, it is determined whether or not the card is normal (S506). If the determination is negative, a card error is displayed and the subsequent processing is terminated (S508). In the case of an affirmative determination, the CPU acquires a game history (number of times played, game results) and a token balance in the card, and determines the number of necessary tokens in consideration of the game history (S510-S512).

  The relationship between the game history and the required number of tokens may be stored in advance in the memory of the game machine, or the game machine may obtain it from the server via the network. The greater the number of plays, the better the game results, and the smaller the required number of tokens. If the token balance is small, the token balance shortage is displayed to the user (S512-S516) to prompt the user to purchase additional tokens. Token purchase can use electronic money in the IC card. The game machine is provided with a payment processing mechanism for additional purchase of the talk.

  If the number of tokens is sufficient, the required number of tokens is displayed (S518), and if the user approves this (S520), the CPU communicates the token usage information to the billing summary server (S522). If the card is not approved, the card is ejected from the card reader / writer, and the exemplary process is terminated (S524). The accounting tabulation server 526 manages token information. If the communication is successful (S528), the CPU performs a token settlement process, and the token balance after settlement is updated and stored in the corresponding storage area of the card (S530). If the communication is unsuccessful, this is displayed and the process ends (S532).

Next, the CPU acquires play data from the game history storage area of the card (S534), and communicates the play data information with the game specific server 536 (S538). The game specific server manages play data.
Next, the CPU updates the play data of the card (S540) and starts the main game (S542). After the game play ends, the CPU updates and stores the card play data (game results, play history, number of plays, etc.) based on the data after the game ends (S544). The server 545 communicates with the play data information (S546), and the game-specific server stores the play data after the game ends, and executes necessary data management processing such as aggregation and statistical processing. Next, the card is discharged (S548), and the game play is ended (S550).

  In addition, changes in payment contents based on game history such as game play results, for example, the amount and amount of tokens required at the start of the game, should be determined based on tables, conversion formulas, functions, etc. stored in the memory of the game machine Can do. The settlement execution means determines the settlement contents with reference to the table, conversion formula, function, and the like. For example, search the table for values corresponding to values such as the score of the game, the number of stages that cleared the game, the number of wins and losses included in the game play results, and determine the searched value as the payment amount Alternatively, it is possible to input the above value as a variable to a function and determine the output of the function as a settlement amount. Tables, conversion formulas, functions, and the like may be stored in a server, and the game device (client) may access the server and execute payment each time payment is made. In addition, the settlement contents may be changed for each store, may be managed by a server between a plurality of stores, or may be changed according to time and time zone.

It is a system block diagram of the present invention. It is a functional block diagram of a game device. This is the format of the recording area of the IC card. It is a flowchart which shows a token purchase procedure. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure regarding the payment with a game device.

Explanation of symbols

  100 game device, 113 IC card, 114 card reader / writer

Claims (8)

A game machine and an information storage medium applied to the game machine, wherein the medium stores information relating to electronic currency, the game machine uses the electronic currency to make a payment necessary for game play, A settlement system for game machines in which history and settlement results are updated and stored in the medium;
The medium includes a writable memory;
The memory includes an electronic currency information storage area for storing the electronic currency information, and a game history information storage area for storing the game history,
The game machine includes a reader / writer for reading and writing information in the medium memory, a memory, and a processing unit. The memory stores a game execution program and the settlement program. ,
The processing unit is based on these programs,
Reading means for reading information in the memory in the medium, payment executing means for executing the payment based on the read data, game history information forming means for forming game history information, results of payment and game history Writing means for writing information to the internal memory, respectively,
And the payment execution means is a game machine payment system configured to change the payment contents according to the game history. The system according to claim 1, wherein the electronic currency includes electronic money and a token exchangeable from the electronic money, and the electronic currency information storage area includes respective storage units. The system according to claim 2, wherein the settlement execution unit changes the settlement content of the token according to the game history, and updates and stores the token after settlement in the token storage unit of the electronic currency information storage area. The game history information storage area includes a storage unit for information related to game play results, and the settlement execution means executes token settlement at the start of game play in accordance with the results information. 3. System described. The game history information storage area includes a storage unit for information related to game play frequency, and the payment execution means executes token payment at the start of game play in accordance with information related to the game play frequency. The system according to claim 2. The settlement execution means subtracts a predetermined amount of token from the token amount stored in the token storage unit at the start of game play, determines a token amount according to game play results, and determines the determined token amount as the token The system according to claim 3, wherein update storage processing to be added to the storage unit is executed. The settlement execution means subtracts the minimum token from the token amount stored in the token storage unit at the start of game play, and further subtracts the remaining token from the token amount after subtraction according to the game play results, The system according to claim 3, wherein the token storage unit is updated and stored with the token amount after the subtraction. The information storage medium according to claim 1.