U.S. patent application number 11/795501 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-29 for game system.
Invention is credited to Yoshinori Ohgane, Naoyuki Sato, Masanori Tsuchimoto, Kenji Uchida.
Application Number | 20080125203 11/795501 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36740258 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080125203 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sato; Naoyuki ; et
al. |
May 29, 2008 |
Game System
Abstract
The body 12 of a race game machine 10 has a integrated display
14 which outputs game images common among the players, and the
images display states of races of racehorses. In front of the body
12, a plurality of satellites 20 which are respectively used by the
players are provided. Each satellite 20 has a table 22 and a chair
24 integrated with each other. In the table 22, a liquid crystal
display 26 which outputs game images, and a charge and discharge
opening 28 for inserting medals and discharging medals
corresponding to distributions and prizes are provided. When a
plurality of race objects, such as horses and jockeys are combined
and registered in a race game, runs and ride of horses and jockey
of other players can be requested. The amusement of combining a
plurality of race objects, such as horses and jockeys, to play
games can be given to players.
Inventors: |
Sato; Naoyuki; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Uchida; Kenji; (Tokyo, JP) ; Ohgane;
Yoshinori; (Tokyo, JP) ; Tsuchimoto; Masanori;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DICKSTEIN SHAPIRO LLP
1825 EYE STREET NW
Washington
DC
20006-5403
US
|
Family ID: |
36740258 |
Appl. No.: |
11/795501 |
Filed: |
January 19, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
January 19, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/300701 |
371 Date: |
September 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 13/10 20130101;
A63F 13/12 20130101; A63F 2300/1043 20130101; A63F 13/798 20140902;
A63F 2300/8023 20130101; A63F 13/27 20140902; A63F 2300/407
20130101; A63F 13/80 20140902; A63F 13/352 20140902; A63F 2300/513
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/6 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 28, 2005 |
JP |
2005-022300 |
Claims
1. A game system in which information is exchangeable between a
main device and a plurality of satellite devices, and a plurality
of race objects each combining a first race object and a second
race object are participated and compete in a race, the main device
comprising: a control means which executes race game processing
for, before a race, deciding a plurality of race objects each
combining a first race object and a second race object to compete
places among a plurality of race objects, and pay processing for
paying game values, based on a result of the race, the satellite
devices each comprising: a control means which executes processing
for, based on an operational signal from an operation means
operated by a player, deciding a second race object the player
permits to participate in the race, and transmitting to the main
device the information of the decided second race object, the
control means of the main device executing: the race game
processing for including a race object combining a second race
object decided based on the information of the second race object
transmitted from the satellite device and a first race object
selected from said a plurality of first objects among a plurality
of race objects to compete for places among said plurality of race
objects; and the pay processing for, as a result of the race, when
said race object included among said plurality of race objects
wins, paying a part of a game value to be paid to said race object
for the win to the second race object of said race object.
2. A game system in which information is exchangeable between a
main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the main device
comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the satellite device each
comprising a satellite control means for executing the processing
for, based on an operational signal from an operational means
operated by a player, deciding the second identification
information of a second race object which is to be selected by the
control of the race participation registration control means to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
processing for transmitting a permission information of permitting
the second race object of the decided second identification
information to be registered in the race participation registration
database, and the second identification information, to the main
device, the main device further comprising a second race object
registration control means for registering the permission
information of permitting the second race object of the decided
second identification information to be registered in the race
participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the race participation registration
control means selecting the second identification information
combined with the first identification information selected from
the first race object database, among the second identification
information having said permission information registered in the
second race object database, and registering a plurality of
combinations including said combination in the race participation
registration database, and the pay processing control means, when
said combination including the second identification information
registered having said permission information registered wins as a
result of the race game processing by the race game control means,
deciding a distribution play value of a play value to be paid to
the combination, said distribution being to be paid to the second
identification information having said permission information
registered.
3. A game system in which information is exchangeable between a
main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the main device
comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the satellite device each
comprising a satellite control means for executing the processing
for, based on an operational signal from an operational means
operated by a player, deciding the second identification
information of a second race object which is to be selected by the
control of the race participation registration control means to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
processing for transmitting a permission information of permitting
the second race object of the decided second identification
information to be registered in the race participation registration
database, and the second identification information, to the main
device, the main device further comprising a second race object
registration control means for registering the permission
information of permitting the second race object of the decided
second identification information to be registered in the race
participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the race participation registration
control means selecting the second identification information
combined with the first identification information selected from
the first race object database, among the second identification
information having said permission information registered in the
second race object database, and registering a plurality of
combinations including said combination in the race participation
registration database, the pay processing control means, when said
combination including the second identification information
registered having said permission information registered wins as a
result of the race game processing by the race game control means,
deciding a distribution play value of a play value to be paid to
the combination, said distribution being to be paid to the second
identification information having said permission information
registered, and the second race object registration control means
registering the distribution play value decided by the pay
processing control means in the second race object database,
corresponding to the second identification information having said
permission information registered.
4. A game system in which information is exchangeable between a
main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the main device
comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the satellite device each
comprising a satellite control means for executing the processing
for, based on an operational signal from an operational means
operated by a player, deciding the second identification
information of a second race object which is to be selected by the
control of the race participation registration control means to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
processing for transmitting a permission information of permitting
the second race object of the decided second identification
information to be registered in the race participation registration
database, and the second identification information, to the main
device, the main device further comprising a second race object
registration control means for registering the permission
information of permitting the second race object of the decided
second identification information to be registered in the race
participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the race participation registration
control means selecting the second identification information
combined with the first identification information selected from
the first race object database, among the second identification
information having said permission information registered in the
second race object database, and registering a plurality of
combinations including said combination in the race participation
registration database, the pay processing control means further
executing the processing for, when said combination including the
second identification information registered having said permission
information registered wins as a result of the race game processing
by the race game control means, deciding a distribution play value
of a play value to be paid to the combination, said distribution
play value being to be paid to the second identification
information having said permission information registered, and the
processing for paying the decided distribution play value to the
second race object of the second identification information having
said permission information registered.
5. A game system in which information is exchangeable between a
main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the main device
comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the satellite device each
comprising a satellite control means for executing the processing
for, based on an operational signal from an operational means
operated by a player, deciding the second identification
information of a second race object which is to be selected by the
control of the race participation registration control means to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
processing for transmitting a permission information of permitting
the second race object of the decided second identification
information to be registered in the race participation registration
database, and the second identification information, to the main
device, the main device further comprising a second race object
registration control means for registering the permission
information of permitting the second race object of the decided
second identification information to be registered in the race
participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the satellite device further
executing the processing for, based on an operational signal from
an operation means operated by a player, deciding first
identification information of a first race object to be selected by
the control of the race participation registration control means
and registered in the race participation registration database, the
processing for receiving from the main device the second
identification information of a plurality of second race objects
including the second race object having the permission information,
the second race objects being registered in the second race object
database, the processing for deciding second identification
information of a second race object to be combined with the first
race object of said decided first identification information among
the received second identification information of the plurality of
second race objects, and the processing for transmitting to the
main device the combination of the first identification information
and the second identification information, which has been decided
by such processing, and the registration request of the combination
in the race participation registration database, the race
participation registration control means selecting the combination
of the first identification information and the second
identification information transmitted from the satellite control
means, and registering a plurality of combinations including said
combination in the race participation registration database, the
pay processing control means further executing the processing for,
when the combination including the second identification
information registered having said permission information
registered wins as a result of the race game processing by the race
game control means, deciding a first distribution play value and a
second distribution play value of a play value to be paid to the
combination, said first distribution play value being to be paid to
the first race object, said second distribution play value being to
be paid to the second identification information having said
permission information registered, and the processing for paying
the decided first distribution play value to the first race object
of the first identification information for which said the
registration request has been made.
6. A game system characterized in that information can be exchanged
between a main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the
main device comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of a first race object, corresponding to
ability parameters; a second race object database storing second
identification information of a second race object, corresponding
to ability parameters; race participation registration database for
registering for each race a combination of the first identification
information of a first race object to be participated in the race
and the second identification information of a second race object;
a race participation registration control means for, before a race,
selecting the first identification information from the first race
object database, selecting the second identification information
from the second race object database to decide a combination of the
first race object and the second race object and registering the
combination in the race participation registration database; a race
game control means for, each race, making race game processing by
deciding a place in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information, of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for paying a play value, based on a race result, and
the satellite device each comprising a satellite control means for,
based on an operational signal from an operational means operated
by a player. executing the processing for deciding the second
identification information of a second race object which is to be
selected by the control of the race participation registration
control means to be registered in the race participation
registration database, and the processing for transmitting a
permission information of permitting the second race object of the
decided second identification information to be registered in the
race participation registration database, and the second
identification information, the main device further comprising: a
second race object registration control means for registering the
permission information of permitting the second race object of the
decided second identification information to be registered in the
race participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the satellite device further
executing the processing for, based on an operational signal from
an operation means operated by a player, deciding first
identification information of a first race object to be selected by
the control of the race participation registration control means
and registered in the race participation registration database, the
processing for receiving from the main device the second
identification information of a plurality of second race objects
including the second race object registered having the permission
information registered, the processing for deciding second
identification information of a second race object to be combined
with the first race object of said decided first identification
information from the received second identification information of
a plurality of second race objects, and the processing for
transmitting to the main device the combination of the first
identification information and the second identification
information, which has been decided by such processing, and
commanding the registration of the combination in the race
participation registration database, the race participation
registration control means selecting the first identification
information and the second identification information transmitted
from the satellite control means and registering a plurality of
combinations including said combination in the race participation
registration database, the pay processing control means executing
the processing for, when the combination including the second
identification information having the permission information
registered wins as a result of race game processing by the race
game control means, deciding a first distribution game value of a
game value to be paid to the combination, which (distribution) is
to be paid to be the first race object and a second distribution
game value of said game value to be paid to the second
identification information, and the processing for paying the
decided first distribution game value to the first game object of
the first identification information for which said registration
command has been made, the second race object registration control
means registering the second distribution play value decided by the
pay processing control means in the second race object database,
corresponding to the second identification information having said
permission information registered.
7. A game system characterized in that information can be exchanged
between a main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the
main device comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of a first race object, corresponding to
ability parameters; a second race object database storing second
identification information of a second race object, corresponding
to ability parameters; race participation registration database for
registering for each race a combination of the first identification
information of a first race object to be participated in the race
and the second identification information of a second race object;
a race participation registration control means for, before a race,
selecting the first identification information from the first race
object database, selecting the second identification information
from the second race object database to decide a combination of the
first race object and the second race object and registering the
combination in the race participation registration database; a race
game control means for, each race, making race game processing by
deciding a place in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information, of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for paying a play value, based on a race result, and
the satellite device each comprising a satellite control means for,
based on an operational signal from an operational means operated
by a player. executing the processing for deciding the second
identification information of a second race object which is to be
selected by the control of the race participation registration
control means to be registered in the race participation
registration database, and the processing for transmitting a
permission information of permitting the second race object of the
decided second identification information to be registered in the
race participation registration database, and the second
identification information, the main device further comprising: a
second race object registration control means for registering the
permission information of permitting the second race object of the
decided second identification information to be registered in the
race participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the satellite device further
executing the processing for, based on an operational signal from
an operation means operated by a player, deciding first
identification information of a first race object to be selected by
the control of the race participation registration control means
and registered in the race participation registration database, the
processing for receiving from the main device the second
identification information of a plurality of second race objects
including the second race object registered having the permission
information registered, the processing for deciding second
identification information of a second race object to be combined
with the first race object of said decided first identification
information from the received second identification information of
a plurality of second race objects, and the processing for
transmitting to the main device the combination of the first
identification information and the second identification
information, which has been decided by such processing, and
commanding the registration of the combination in the race
participation registration database, the race participation
registration control means selecting the first identification
information and the second identification information transmitted
from the satellite control means and registering a plurality of
combinations including said combination in the race participation
registration database, the pay processing control means executing
the processing for, when the combination including the second
identification information having the permission information
registered wins as a result of race game processing by the race
game control means, deciding a first distribution game value of a
game value to be paid to the combination, which (distribution) is
to be paid to be the first race object and a second distribution
game value of said game value to be paid to the second
identification information, the processing for paying the decided
first distribution game value to the first game object of the first
identification information for which said registration command has
been made, and the processing for paying the decided second
distribution game value to the second game object of the second
identification information having said permission information
registered.
8. The game system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein
the satellite control means executes the processing for, based on
an operational signal from the operation means operated by a
player, deciding second identification information of the second
race object to be selected by the control of the race participation
registration control means to be registered in the race
participation registration database, and the processing for
transmitting an in-absence permission information and the second
identification information to the main device, said in-absence
permission information indicating that the second race object of
the second identification information decided by the player may be
registered in the race participation registration database even in
the absence of the player, the second race object registration
control means registering the in-absence permission information in
the second race object database, corresponding to the second
identification information transmitted from the satellite
device.
9. The game system according to claim 8, wherein the main device
further executes the processing for detecting whether or not the
player who has transmitted the in-absence permission information is
logging in, when it is detected that the player is logging in, the
pay processing control means executes the processing for paying a
decided distribution play value to the second race object of the
second identification information having the in-absence permission
information registered, and when it is detected that the payer is
not logging in, the second race object registration control means
registers the distribution play value decided by the pay processing
control means in the second race object database, corresponding to
the second identification information having the in-absence
permission information registered.
10. The game system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein
when a combination including second identification information
including the permission information wins as a result of the race
game processing by the race game control means, the main device
renews the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the second race object database to
improved values, and when the combination including the second
identification information including the permission information
does not win as a result of the race game processing by the race
game control means, the main device renews the ability parameters
corresponding to the second identification information of the
second race object database to lowered values.
11. The game system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein
the satellite control means transmits to the main device,
permission condition information of conditions for the permission
together with the second identification information and the
permission information, which permits the registration in the race
participation database, and the race participation registration
control means selects, when second identification information to be
combined with first identification information selected from the
first race object database, selects the second identification
information, based on the permission condition information.
12. A game system in which information is exchanged between a
server device and a plurality of client devices via a network, and
a race game is made among a plurality of combinations of a first
race object and a second race object, the server device comprises a
control means which executes the race game processing for, before a
race, deciding a plurality of combinations each of the first race
object and the second race object, and racing for places, and the
pay processing for paying play values, based on a result of the
race, the client device each comprising a control means which
execute the processing for, based on an operation signal from an
operation means operated by an operator, deciding a second race
object which the operator permits to participate in the race and
transmitting to the server device information of the decided second
race object, the control means of the server device executes the
race game processing for racing a combination of a second race
object decided based on the information of the second race object
transmitted from the client device and a first race object selected
from a plurality of first race objects among a plurality of
combinations for places, and the pay processing for paying, when
said combination raced among said a plurality of the combinations
wins as a result of the race, paying a part of a play value to be
paid for the win to the second race object.
13. A game system in which information is exchangeable between a
server device and a plurality of client devices, the server device
comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the client device each comprising
a satellite control means for executing the processing for, based
on an operational signal from an operational means operated by a
player, deciding the second identification information of a second
race object which is to be selected by the control of the race
participation registration control means to be registered in the
race participation registration database, and the processing for
transmitting a permission information of permitting the second race
object of the decided second identification information to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
second identification information, to the server device, the server
device further comprising a second race object registration control
means for registering the permission information of permitting the
second race object of the decided second identification information
to be registered in the race participation registration database in
the second race object database, corresponding to the second
identification information transmitted from the satellite, the race
participation registration control means selecting the second
identification information combined with the first identification
information selected from the first race object database, among the
second identification information having said permission
information registered in the second race object database, and
registering a plurality of combinations including said combination
in the race participation registration database, and the pay
processing control means, when said combination including the
second identification information registered having said permission
information registered wins as a result of the race game processing
by the race game control means, deciding a distribution play value
of a play value to be paid to the combination, said distribution
being to be paid to the second identification information having
said permission information registered.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a game system in which play
values corresponding to progresses of a game are paid.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Of the large game systems installed in game centers, etc. is
known a horse race game system in which a miniature horserace
course is positioned at the center, and in this course, miniature
racehorses voted by respective players actually run. There is also
a horse race game system using the recent developed computer
graphics, in which, in place of the miniature racehorse course,
race contents are outputted and displayed on the large monitor
screen.
[0003] These horse race game systems, which give the players the
amusement of anticipating and voting winning horses based on given
information, and furthermore, recently enable players as racehorse
owners to train and participate the players' own racehorses in
races to earn in prize moneys, are becoming more popular.
[0004] Patent Reference 1: Specification of Japanese Patent
Application Unexamined Publication No. 2000-288246
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in the above-described horse race game systems, a
jockey who rides a racehorse is decided merely one-sidedly by the
system, or merely selected by a player out of jockeys registered in
advance.
[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a game
system which can amuse the players with combining a plurality of
race objects, such as racehorses and jockeys to play the game.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0007] The game system according to one aspect of the present
invention is characterized in that information is exchangeable
between a main device and a plurality of satellite devices, and a
plurality of race objects each combining a first race object and a
second race object are participated and compete in a race, the main
device comprising: a control means which executes race game
processing for, before a race, deciding a plurality of race objects
each combining a first race object and a second race object to
compete places among a plurality of race objects, and pay
processing for paying game values, based on a result of the race,
the satellite devices each comprising: a control means which
executes processing for, based on an operational signal from an
operation means operated by a player, deciding a second race object
the player permits to participate in the race, and transmitting to
the main device the information of the decided second race object,
the control means of the main device executing: the race game
processing for including a race object combining a second race
object decided based on the information of the second race object
transmitted from the satellite device and a first race object
selected from said a plurality of first objects among a plurality
of race objects to compete for places among said plurality of race
objects; and the pay processing for, as a result of the race, when
said race object included among said plurality of race objects
wins, paying a part of a game value to be paid to said race object
for the win to the second race object of said race object.
[0008] The game system according to one aspect of the present
invention is characterized in that information is exchangeable
between a main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the
main device comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the satellite device each
comprising a satellite control means for executing the processing
for, based on an operational signal from an operational means
operated by a player, deciding the second identification
information of a second race object which is to be selected by the
control of the race participation registration control means to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
processing for transmitting a permission information of permitting
the second race object of the decided second identification
information to be registered in the race participation registration
database, and the second identification information, to the main
device, the main device further comprising a second race object
registration control means for registering the permission
information of permitting the second race object of the decided
second identification information to be registered in the race
participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the race participation registration
control means selecting the second identification information
combined with the first identification information selected from
the first race object database, among the second identification
information having said permission information registered in the
second race object database, and registering a plurality of
combinations including said combination in the race participation
registration database, and the pay processing control means, when
said combination including the second identification information
registered having said permission information registered wins as a
result of the race game processing by the race game control means,
deciding a distribution play value of a play value to be paid to
the combination, said distribution being to be paid to the second
identification information having said permission information
registered.
[0009] The game system according to one aspect of the present
invention is characterized in that information is exchangeable
between a main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the
main device comprising: a first race object database storing first
identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the satellite device each
comprising a satellite control means for executing the processing
for, based on an operational signal from an operational means
operated by a player, deciding the second identification
information of a second race object which is to be selected by the
control of the race participation registration control means to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
processing for transmitting a permission information of permitting
the second race object of the decided second identification
information to be registered in the race participation registration
database, and the second identification information, to the main
device, the main device further comprising a second race object
registration control means for registering the permission
information of permitting the second race object of the decided
second identification information to be registered in the race
participation registration database in the second race object
database, corresponding to the second identification information
transmitted from the satellite, the race participation registration
control means selecting the second identification information
combined with the first identification information selected from
the first race object database, among the second identification
information having said permission information registered in the
second race object database, and registering a plurality of
combinations including said combination in the race participation
registration database, the pay processing control means, when said
combination including the second identification information
registered having said permission information registered wins as a
result of the race game processing by the race game control means,
deciding a distribution play value of a play value to be paid to
the combination, said distribution being to be paid to the second
identification information having said permission information
registered, and the second race object registration control means
registering the distribution play value decided by the pay
processing control means in the second race object database,
corresponding to the second identification information having said
permission information registered.
[0010] In the above-described game system, it is possible that the
satellite control means executes the processing for, based on an
operational signal from the operation means operated by a player,
deciding second identification information of the second race
object to be selected by the control of the race participation
registration control means to be registered in the race
participation registration database, and the processing for
transmitting an in-absence permission information and the second
identification information to the main device, said in-absence
permission information indicating that the second race object of
the second identification information decided by the player may be
registered in the race participation registration database even in
the absence of the player, the second race object registration
control means registering the in-absence permission information in
the second race object database, corresponding to the second
identification information transmitted from the satellite
device.
[0011] In the above-described game system, it is possible that the
main device further executes the processing for detecting whether
or not the player who has transmitted the in-absence permission
information is logging in, when it is detected that the player is
logging in, the pay processing control means executes the
processing for paying a decided distribution play value to the
second race object of the second identification information having
the in-absence permission information registered, and when it is
detected that the payer is not logging in, the second race object
registration control means registers the distribution play value
decided by the pay processing control means in the second race
object database, corresponding to the second identification
information having the in-absence permission information
registered.
[0012] In the above-described game system, it is possible that when
a combination including second identification information including
the permission information or the in-absence permission information
wins as a result of the race game processing by the race game
control means, the main device renews the ability parameters
corresponding to the second identification information of the
second race object database to improved values, and when the
combination including the second identification information
including the permission information or the in-absence permission
information does not win as a result of the race game processing by
the race game control means, the main device renews the ability
parameters corresponding to the second identification information
of the second race object database to lowered values.
[0013] In the above-described game system, it is possible that the
satellite control means transmits to the main device, permission
condition information of conditions for the permission together
with the second identification information and the permission
information or the in-absence permission information, which permits
the registration in the race participation database, and the race
participation registration control means selects, when second
identification information to be combined with first identification
information selected from the first race object database, selects
the second identification information, based on the permission
condition information.
[0014] The game system according to one aspect of the present
invention is characterized in that information is exchanged between
a server device and a plurality of client devices via a network,
and a race game is made among a plurality of combinations of a
first race object and a second race object, the server device
comprises a control means which executes the race game processing
for, before a race, deciding a plurality of combinations each of
the first race object and the second race object, and racing for
places, and the pay processing for paying play values, based on a
result of the race, the client device each comprising a control
means which execute the processing for, based on an operation
signal from an operation means operated by an operator, deciding a
second race object which the operator permits to participate in the
race and transmitting to the server device information of the
decided second race object, the control means of the server device
executes the race game processing for racing a combination of a
second race object decided based on the information of the second
race object transmitted from the client device and a first race
object selected from a plurality of first race objects among a
plurality of combinations for places, and the pay processing for
paying, when said combination raced among said a plurality of the
combinations wins as a result of the race, paying a part of a play
value to be paid for the win to the second race object.
[0015] The game system according to one aspect of the present
invention is characterized in that information is exchangeable
between a server device and a plurality of client devices, the
server device comprising: a first race object database storing
first identification information of first race objects, and their
corresponding ability parameters; a second race object database
storing second identification information of second race objects,
and their corresponding ability parameters; race participation
registration database for registering for each race a combination
of the first identification information of a first race object to
be participated in the race and the second identification
information of a second race object; a race participation
registration control means for, before a race, selecting the first
identification information from the first race object database,
selecting the second identification information from the second
race object database to decide a combination of the first race
object and the second race object, and registering the combination
in the race participation registration database; a race game
control means for, each race, executing a race game processing for
deciding places in the race and developments of the race by using
the ability parameters corresponding to the first identification
information and the ability parameters corresponding to the second
identification information of the combination registered in the
race participation registration database; and pay processing
control means for executing a pay processing for paying a play
value based on a race result, and the client device each comprising
a satellite control means for executing the processing for, based
on an operational signal from an operational means operated by a
player, deciding the second identification information of a second
race object which is to be selected by the control of the race
participation registration control means to be registered in the
race participation registration database, and the processing for
transmitting a permission information of permitting the second race
object of the decided second identification information to be
registered in the race participation registration database, and the
second identification information, to the server device, the server
device further comprising a second race object registration control
means for registering the permission information of permitting the
second race object of the decided second identification information
to be registered in the race participation registration database in
the second race object database, corresponding to the second
identification information transmitted from the satellite, the race
participation registration control means selecting the second
identification information combined with the first identification
information selected from the first race object database, among the
second identification information having said permission
information registered in the second race object database, and
registering a plurality of combinations including said combination
in the race participation registration database, and the pay
processing control means, when said combination including the
second identification information registered having said permission
information registered wins as a result of the race game processing
by the race game control means, deciding a distribution play value
of a play value to be paid to the combination, said distribution
being to be paid to the second identification information having
said permission information registered.
EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In the game system according to the present invention,
information is exchangeable between a main device and a plurality
of satellite devices, and a plurality of race objects each
combining a first race object and a second race object are
participated and compete in a race, the main device comprising: a
control means which executes race game processing for, before a
race, deciding a plurality of race objects each combining a first
race object and a second race object to compete places among a
plurality of race objects, and pay processing for paying game
values, based on a result of the race, the satellite devices each
comprising: a control means which executes processing for, based on
an operational signal from an operation means operated by a player,
deciding a second race object the player permits to participate in
the race, and transmitting to the main device the information of
the decided second race object, the control means of the main
device executing: the race game processing for including a race
object combining a second race object decided based on the
information of the second race object transmitted from the
satellite device and a first race object selected from said a
plurality of first objects among a plurality of race objects to
compete for places among said plurality of race objects; and the
pay processing for, as a result of the race, when said race object
included among said plurality of race objects wins, paying a part
of a game value to be paid to said race object for the win to the
second race object of said race object, whereby the game system can
amuse the players with combining a plurality of race objects, such
as racehorses and jockeys to play the game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the appearance of the race
game device of the game system according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the constitution of the game
system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the constitution of the main
cabinet of the game system according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the constitution of the
satellite cabinet of the game system according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the standard constitutions of
the main PC, the video PC, the sound PC, the satellite PC and
various servers used in the game systems according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a flow chart summarizing the game of the game
system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the data structure of the IC
card of the game system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the data structure of the
horse database of the game system according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the data structure of the
jockey database of the game system according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 10 is a view illustrating the data structure of the
race run table of the game system according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0027] FIG. 11 is a view illustrating the data structure of the
satellite correspondence table of the game system according to the
embodiment of the preset invention.
[0028] FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the new card preparation
processing of the game system according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0029] FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the jockey request acceptance
setting processing of the game system according to the embodiment
of the present invention.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a flow chart (Part 1) of the race run
registration processing of the game system according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0031] FIG. 15 is a flow chart (Part 2) of the race run
registration processing of the game system according to the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the race processing of the game
system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 18 is a view illustrating the jockey request acceptance
OK image of the game system according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0034] FIG. 19 is a view illustrating the jockey request condition
setting image of the game system according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
[0035] FIG. 20 is a view illustrating the in-absence jockey request
acceptance OK image of the game system according to the embodiment
of the present invention.
[0036] FIG. 21 is a view illustrating the run race selection image
of the game system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0037] FIG. 22 is a view illustrating the ride jockey selection
image (Part 1) of the game system according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0038] FIG. 23 is a view illustrating the ride jockey selection
image (Part 2) of the game system according to the embodiment of
the present invention.
[0039] FIG. 24 is a view of jockey request acceptance medal pay
image of the game system according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0040] FIG. 25 is a view illustrating the in-absence obtained medal
pay image of the game system according to the embodiment of the
present invention.
REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0041] 10 . . . race game machine [0042] 12 . . . main body [0043]
14 . . . integrated display [0044] 14A, 14B, 14C . . . displays
[0045] 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D . . . speaker towers [0046] 20 . . .
satellite [0047] 22 . . . table [0048] 24 . . . chair [0049] 26 . .
. liquid crystal display [0050] 27 . . . touch panel [0051] 28 . .
. medal slot [0052] 30 . . . main cabinet (main device) [0053] 32 .
. . main PC [0054] 34 . . . LCD [0055] 36 . . . pointing device
[0056] 38A, 38B, 38C . . . video PC [0057] 40 . . . sound PC [0058]
42 . . . amplifier [0059] 44A, 44B, 44C, 44D . . . speakers [0060]
46 . . . center speaker [0061] 48 . . . woofer speaker [0062] 50 .
. . IO board [0063] 52 . . . LED [0064] 54 . . . cold cathode
[0065] 56 . . . halogen [0066] 58A, 58B, 58C, 58D . . . lightings
[0067] 60 . . . satellite cabinet (satellite device) [0068] 62 . .
. satellite PC [0069] 64 . . . image unit [0070] 66 . . . amplifier
[0071] 67 . . . speaker [0072] 68 . . . sound unit [0073] 70 . . .
cold cathode [0074] 74 . . . fluorescent lamp [0075] 76 . . .
LCD-side winner lamp [0076] 78 . . . casing-side winner lamp [0077]
79 . . . lightings [0078] 80 . . . IC card unit [0079] 82 . . . IC
card reader/writer [0080] 84 . . . card lock mechanism [0081] 86 .
. . once charge unit [0082] 88 . . . hopper [0083] 86A . . .
letting-out mechanism [0084] 86B . . . selector [0085] 90 . . .
server [0086] 92 . . . database server [0087] 94 . . . ranking
server [0088] 96 . . . web server [0089] 98 . . . mobile phone
server [0090] 100 . . . PC [0091] 102 . . . game board [0092] 104 .
. . video card [0093] 106 . . . sound card [0094] 108 . . . ROM
[0095] 110 . . . DVD-ROM [0096] 112 . . . data storage [0097] 114 .
. . PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) I/O card [0098] 116 . .
. . Base BD (All-net) [0099] 118 . . . electric power source [0100]
120 . . . case [0101] 122 . . . mother board [0102] 124 . . . CPU
[0103] 126 . . . memory [0104] 128 . . . HDD, silicon disc or CF
[0105] 130 . . . OS (Operation System) [0106] 132 . . . application
[0107] 134 . . . silicon disc or CF [0108] 136 . . . backup
data
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An Embodiment
[0109] The game system according to one embodiment of the present
invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
[0110] The game system according to the present embodiment
includes: a bet race game (bet game) in which a player anticipates
a place of a racehorse in a race of racehorses which are running
objects whose runs are controlled by the control unit, bets medals
and receives an allotment based on a result of the race; and a
training game (stable game) in which the player owns racehorses and
jockeys to be participated in races and trains them to compete for
the races and obtains medals as horse owner prizes corresponding to
places of the racehorses.
[0111] (Summary of the Game System)
[0112] The appearance of the race game machine of the game system
according to the present embodiment will be explained with
reference to FIG. 1.
[0113] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the body 12 of the race game
machine 10 of the present embodiment includes a integrated display
14 which outputs common game images to players to display images of
race states of racehorses. The integrated display 14 includes 3
displays 14A, 14B, 14C.
[0114] In front of the body 12, a plurality of satellites 20 which
are used by respective players are disposed. On both sides of the
integrated display 14 and on both sides of the part at the rear of
the plural satellites 20, 4 speaker towers 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D which
are sound output means for outputting sounds of the game are
provided.
[0115] Each satellite includes a table 22 and a chair 24 integrated
with each other. The table 22 includes a liquid crystal display 26
which is a display means for outputting game images of the bet race
game (bet game) and the training game (stable game), and a medal
slot 28 for charging medals and discharging medals corresponding to
an allotment or a prize money.
[0116] A touch panel 27 as the operation means is provided on the
liquid crystal display 26, and each player touches the touch panel
27 with the fingers to operate the game. For example, as the game
advances, command keys are suitably displayed on the liquid crystal
display 26, and the player directly touches the touch panel 27 on
the command keys with the fingers, whereby various kinds of command
signals are inputted into the game control circuit.
[0117] The constitution of the game system according to the present
embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 2.
[0118] The race game machine 10 comprises a main cabinet 30 which
generally controls the race game machine 10, and a satellite
cabinet 60 which controls the respective satellites 20. The main
cabinet 30 and a plurality of satellite cabinets 60 are connected
to each other by a network.
[0119] The same race game machines 10 are installed in game
centers, etc. all over Japan, and the respective race game machines
10 are connected to an internet.
[0120] The game system further comprises a server 90 for the
control, etc. of game data transmitted from the race game machines
10 installed all over Japan. The server 90 is connected to the
internet
[0121] The server 90 includes a database server 92 which stores and
controls game data transmitted from the race game machines 10
installed all over Japan, a ranking server 94 which makes the
statistic processing of various kinds of ranking, etc., a web
server 96 for the connection with the personal computers installed
at homes, etc., and a mobile phone server 98 for the connection
with the portable information terminals, such mobile phones, PHSs,
etc.
[0122] In the game system according to the present embodiment, the
main cabinet (main device) and a plurality of satellite cabinets
(satellite devices) can exchange information therebetween. However,
the game system may have other constitutions. For example, in place
of the main cabinet (main device), a server device is used, and in
place of the plurality of satellite devices, client devices, such
as home video game machines, arcade video game machines, PCs, PDAs,
mobile phones, PHSs, etc., are used, whereby information is
received and transmitted between the server device and the
plurality of client devices.
[0123] (Constitution of Main Cabinet (Main Device))
[0124] The constitution of the main cabinet (main device) of the
present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 3.
[0125] The main cabinet 30 includes a main PC 32 which is a control
means for generally controlling the main cabinet 30. The main PC 32
is connected to an LCD 34 which is a display means and a pointing
device 36 which is an operation means.
[0126] The main PC 32 is LAN connected to 3 video PCs 38A, 38B, 38C
which are image processing means, and a sound PC 40 which is a
sound processing means.
[0127] The 3 displays 14A, 14B, 14C forming the integrated display
14, which is a display means, are respectively connected to the
video PCs 38A, 38B, 38C. The 3 displays 14A, 14B, 14C display on
the integrated display 14 a powerful large image, as of a horse
race, etc.
[0128] The sound PC 40 is connected to an amplifier 42. The
amplifier 42 is connected to speakers 44A, 44B, 44C, 44D provided
in the speaker towers 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, a center speaker 46 and a
woofer speaker 48. The speakers 44A, 44B, 44C, 44D, the center
speaker 46 and the woofer speaker 48 make more powerful large
sounds.
[0129] An IO board 50 is connected to the main PC 32. The IO board
50 is connected to various lightings, such as an LED 52, a cold
cathode 54, a halogen 56, etc., as effect means, and lightings 58A,
58B, 58C, 58D provided respectively in the speaker towers 16A, 16B,
16C, 16D. The various lightings, such as the LED 52, the cold
cathode 54, the halogen 56, etc., the lightings 58A, 58B, 58C, 58D
provided in the speaker towers 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D realize
impressive illumination.
[0130] (Constitution of Satellite Cabinets (Satellite Devices))
[0131] The constitution of the satellite cabinets (satellite
devices) of the present embodiment will be explained with reference
to FIG. 4.
[0132] Each satellite cabinet 60 includes a satellite PC 62 which
is a control means for generally controlling the satellite cabinet
60. The satellite PC 62 includes an image unit 64 having the LCD 26
and the touch panel 27 which are operated by a player.
[0133] The satellite PC 62 includes a sound unit 68 having an
amplifier 66 and a speaker 67.
[0134] An IO board 70 is connected to the satellite PC 62. The IO
board 70 is connected to various kinds of lightings 79, such as a
cold cathode 72, a fluorescent lamp 74, an LCD-side winner lamp 76,
a casing-side winner lamp 78, etc., as effect means. The informing
means of the LCD-side winner lamp 76 and the casing-side winner
lamp 78 inform that the player operating the satellite cabinet 60
wins the horse race game, etc.
[0135] The satellite PC 62 includes a IC card unit 80. The IC card
unit 80 includes an IC card reader 82 (information reading means
and information writing means) for reading and writing information
inn/from an IC card which is an information storage medium, and a
card lock mechanism 84 which locks the inserted IC card. A player
inserts an IC card into the IC card unit 80 to thereby log on the
horse race game.
[0136] The satellite PC 62 includes a once charging unit 86 for
charging medals and a hopper 88 which a discharge mechanism for
discharging medals. The once charge unit 86 includes a letting-out
mechanism 86A and a selector 86B.
[0137] (Constitutions of Main PC, Video PC, Sound PC, Satellite PC
and Various Servers)
[0138] The standard constitutions of the main PC, the video PC, the
sound PC, the satellite PC and the various servers (database
server, ranking server, web server, mobile phone server, etc) will
be explained with reference to FIG. 5.
[0139] The PC 100 of the standard constitution includes a game
board 102 for the general control, a video card 104 which displays
images, a sound card 106 which outputs sounds, a ROM 108, a DVD-ROM
110, a data storage 112, a PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect)
I/O card 114, a base BD (All-net) 116, an electric power source 118
and a case 120.
[0140] The game board 102 includes a mother board 122, a CPU 124
and a memory 126.
[0141] The ROM 108 which is a storage means comprises an HDD or a
silicon disc or a CF 128; an OS (Operation System) 130; and an
application 132.
[0142] The data storage 112 which is a storage means includes a
silicon disc or a CF 134; and a backup data 136.
[0143] The main PC, the video PC, the sound PC, the satellite PC
and the various servers suitably include necessary ones selected
out of this standard constitutions with unnecessary ones
omitted.
[0144] For example, the sound card 106 is used in the sound PC. The
DVD-ROM 110, the data storage 112 (a silicon disc or the CF 134),
the backup data 136), the Base BD (All-net) 116 are used in the
various servers.
[0145] (Summary of the Game)
[0146] The game of the game system according to the present
embodiment will be summarized with reference to the flow chart of
FIG. 6.
[0147] In the game system according to the present embodiment, the
bet game which is a race game wherein places of racehorses in a
race are anticipated, and medals are bet on the racehorses to
receive distributions, based on a result of the race (Step S10),
and the stable game which is a training game wherein a player owns
racehorses and jockeys to be participated in races to participate
them in a race and wins medals as horse owner prize corresponding
to a place (Step S20) are played. The bet game (Step S10) and the
stable game (Step S20) can be suitably switched by the operation of
the player.
[0148] For the details of the bet game (Step S10), refer to the
specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication
No. 2003-93744.
[0149] The stable game (Step S20) includes a horse owner game in
which a player owns and trains a racehorse to participate them in a
race and obtains medals as a horse owner prize corresponding to a
place of the racehorse (Step S30), and a jockey game in which the
player owns and trains a jockey to participate the jockey in a race
to thereby obtain medals as a jockey prize corresponding to a place
of the jockey (Step S40).
[0150] In the stable game (Step S20), first, a player prepares his
own stable (Step S21). The stable is virtually made and is a place
where the racehorse is trained and managed. The jockey belongs to
the stable. In the game of the present embodiment, the information
of 1 stable is prepared in each IC card. The information of 1
stable can cover 4 racehorses and 2 jockeys at maximum.
[0151] In the horse owner game (Step S30), first, it is judged
whether or not the player owns a racehorse, i.e., the information
of the racehorse is registered in the inserted IC card (Step S31).
When no racehorse information is registered, the information of a
racehorse as a new horse is prepared (Step S32). When the
information of a racehorse is prepared as a new horse even with the
information of a racehorse already prepared in an IC card, the new
horse is produced in Step S32.
[0152] The produced new horse enters the stable (Step S33).
Accordingly, the information of the stable is related to the
information of the racehorse. In the horse owner game, various
games can be made with the racehorses which have entered the
stable.
[0153] Medals are inserted to thereby run the racehorse in the race
course (Step S34). The racehorse wins a higher place, whereby the
player can obtain medals as a prize.
[0154] Medals are inserted to thereby train the racehorses in many
ways (Step S35). Medals are inserted to thereby feed the racehorse
with various feeds (Step S36).
[0155] After the new horse is produced, a period of tame time in
which races are held prescribed times passes, and the racehorse
retires (Step S37). When the racehorse retires, a new horse of the
next generation having the heredity transmitted can be produced
(Step S32).
[0156] In the jockey game (Step S40), first, it is judged whether
or not a belonging jockey is present, i.e., the information of a
jockey is registered in the inserted IC card (Step S41). When no
jockey information is registered, the information of a new jockey
is prepared (Step S42). When the information of a new jockey is
prepared even with the jockey information registered in the IC
card, the jockey is prepared in Step S32.
[0157] The prepared jockey belongs to the player stable (Step S43).
Accordingly, the information of the jockey is related to the
information of the stable. In the jockey game, various games can be
played with the belonging jockeys.
[0158] A jockey can be ridden on a race horse which will run in a
horserace course at a request of a stable, such as the player's own
stable, another player's stable, the computer stable or others
(Step S45). When a ride request is made, the insertion of medals
may be demanded as a ride request fee. When the racehorse the
jockey has ridden wins an upper place, the jockey can obtain medals
as a prize.
[0159] Medals are inserted to thereby train the jockeys in various
ways (Step S46).
[0160] When the jockey rides prescribed times after the jockey was
prepared, the jockey retires (Step S47). When the jockey retires, a
jockey of the next generation having the heredity transmitted can
be prepared (Step S32).
[0161] (Constitution of Game Data)
[0162] The game data and the databases of the game system according
to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS.
7 to 11.
[0163] (IC Card)
[0164] The data structure of the IC card is illustrated in FIG.
7.
[0165] In the IC card, as card information, a card ID and a code
number are recorded as card information; and as stable information,
the identification information of a stable, a total obtained prize
of a racehorse belonging to the stable, a total obtained prize of a
jockey belonging to the stable, etc. are recorded. One ID card can
record information of a plurality of racehorses and the information
of a plurality of jockeys.
[0166] As the racehorse information, the identification information
of a horse; ability information used in races, such as the horse
age, leg characteristics (oonige (lead long distance and goal),
nige (lead and goal), senko (run immediately after leading horse
and pass to goal), sashi (run middle in a group and pass to goal),
oikomi (run after a group and pass to goal), etc.; the father horse
name, the mother horse name, the generation number, the total
achievement, the previous race achievements (race names, places,
jockey names, horse weights, etc.), the obtained prize number, the
horse weight, the remaining week number, etc. are recorded. The
racehorse information also includes parameters used in the race
processing, such as the experience value, the fatigue degree, the
spirits value, the condition value, the course stability, etc.
[0167] The jockey information includes the identification
information of a jockey; the ability information of the jockey,
such as the tactics (oonige (lead long distance and goal), nige
(lead and goal), senko (run immediately after leading horse and
pass to goal), sashi (run middle in a group and pass to goal),
oikomi (run after a group and pass to goal), etc. used in horse
races; the information of the generation number, the total
achievement, the previous race achievement (race names, places,
horse names, pound amount, etc.), the obtained prize number, etc.
used in the race processing.
[0168] (Game Data of Main Cabinet)
[0169] The various game data of the main cabinet 30 will be
explained.
[0170] The various game data necessary to execute the game are
stored in the memory 126 which is the storage means of the game
board 102 of the main PC 32 of the main cabinet 30. For example,
the horse database which is a collection of data of racehorses, the
jockey database which is a collection of data of jockeys, a race
run table which is a collection of data of racehorses, jockeys,
etc. to run in a race, and a satellite correspondence table which
is a collection of the satellites and players.
[0171] (Horse Database)
[0172] The data structure of the horse database is illustrated in
FIG. 8.
[0173] In the horse database, the information of horses
(hereinafter called "user horse") users (players) using the game
system own and the information of horses (hereinafter called "CPU
horse" stored in the memory means by the game system are collected.
To realize amusing races, a number of CPU horses are always
prepared.
[0174] In the user horses, the card IDs of the users owning the
horses, the horse IDs identifying the respective horses, the horse
data, which is the racehorse information described above, run flags
which indicate whether or not the horses will run in a race, the
race ID of a race horses run, the stable IDs the horses belong to,
etc. are collected.
[0175] In the CPU horses as well, the same information as in the
user horses are collected, but part of the information, such as the
card IDs of users, etc., is not recorded.
[0176] (Jockey Database)
[0177] The data structure of the jockey database is illustrated in
FIG. 9.
[0178] In the jockey database, the information of jockeys
(hereinafter called "user jockey") users (players) using the game
system own and the information of jockeys (hereinafter called "CPU
jockey") stored in the memory means the game system stored in
advance are collected. To realize amusing races, a number of CPU
jockeys are always prepared.
[0179] In the user jockeys, the card IDs of users who own the
jockeys, the jockey IDs identifying the respective jockeys, the
jockey data which is the jockey information described above, run
flags which indicate whether or not the jockeys will ride in a
race, the race ID of a race for the jockeys ride in, the stable IDs
of stables the jockeys belong to, OK flags indicating whether or
not to accept ride requests of other users, in-absence request
acceptance OK flags indicating whether or not to accept ride
requests of other users made even in the absence of a user, login
flags indicating whether or not the users owing the jockeys are
presently participating, an in-absence obtained medal numbers, etc.
are collected.
[0180] Also in the CPU jockeys, the same information as the user
jockeys is collected, but the card IDs, the stable IDs, the request
OK flags, the in-absence request acceptance OK flags, the login
flags, the in-absence obtained medal numbers, etc., are not
recorded.
[0181] (Race Run Table)
[0182] The data structure of the race run table is illustrated in
FIG. 10.
[0183] In the race run table, horses to run races and jockeys to
ride the horses respectively in the next race, a next but one race
and the next but two races are collected. The horses to run the
races include the horses of the users and the CPU horses. The
jockeys to ride the horses include the jockeys of the user and CPU
jockeys.
[0184] For each race run horse, the horse ID of the run horse, the
horse owner satellite ID which indicates a satellite used by the
user owning the horse, the jockey ID riding the horse, the jockey
owner satellite ID which indicates a satellite used by the user
owning the jockey, the absent jockey owner card ID which indicates
the user owning the jockey when the user is absent.
[0185] When a horse to run a race is a CPU horse, the column of the
horse owning satellite ID is blank. When the jockey riding the
horse is a CPU jockey, the columns of the jockey owning satellite
ID and the absent jockey owning card ID are blank.
[0186] The race run table has columns for, e.g., 14 horses.
Fourteen horses at maximum can run. A number of horses which are
permitted to run may be decided depending on a kind of race.
[0187] For each race, it is decided in advance that the game system
runs, e.g., 8 horses (CPU horses) and the jockeys (CPU jockeys) for
the 8 horses. When users (players) register run horses and jockeys
to ride the horses, the horses and the jockeys are sequentially
added to the race run table. When the registrations by the users
are increased and exceed a maximum run horse number, the CPU horses
are correspondingly decreased. For each race, the registrations by
the users are set at, e.g., 10 horses at maximum. Even in a race
where 14 horses at maximum run, combinations of at least 4 CPU
horses and CPU jockeys can be made.
[0188] The jockeys to be combined with the CPU horses can be not
only CPU jockeys but also user jockeys.
[0189] (Satellite Correspondence Table)
[0190] The data structure of the satellite correspondence table is
illustrated in FIG. 11.
[0191] The satellite correspondence table stores real-time
information of users using the respective satellites. For each of
10 satellites, the satellite ID, the card ID of the user who is
presently using the satellite, and the card insertion detection
flag (user absence flag) which indicates whether or not the card is
presently inserted are stored.
[0192] Thus, whether or not users are using the satellites are
present, and the card IDs being used can be known in real-time.
[0193] (Game Data of Satellite Cabinet)
[0194] Various game data of the satellite cabinets 60 will be
explained.
[0195] In the memory 126 of the game board 102 of the satellite PC
62 of the database server 92, various game data necessary to
execute the game are stored. For example, the data of racehorses,
the data of jockeys, etc. associated with each satellite are
stored.
[0196] (Game Data of Database Server)
[0197] Various game data of the database server 92 will be
explained.
[0198] In the HDD, the silicon disc or the CF 128 of the PC 100 of
the database server 92, the data stored in the race game machines
10 installed nationwide are collected and stored. For example,
store IDs, the game machine IDs of the race game machines installed
in the stores, various game data stored in the main cabinets 30 of
the race game machines 10, the card IDs and all the card data of
used IC cards, etc. are collected and stored.
[0199] (Details of the Game Processing)
[0200] Various game processing of the game system according to the
present embodiment will be detailed with reference to FIGS. 12 to
25.
[0201] In the flow charts of FIGS. 12 to 16, the processing flow of
the main PC 32 is illustrated at the center; the processing flows
of the satellite PCs 62 of 3 satellite cabinets 60 are illustrated
on the right side; and on the left side, the horse database, the
jockey database, the race run table and the satellite
correspondence table stored in the memory 126 of the game board 102
of the main PC 32 are illustrated, and the relationships of the
receipt and transmission, etc. of signals and data between them are
indicated by the arrows.
[0202] FIGS. 17 to 25 are examples of images of the steps of the
flow charts of FIGS. 12 to 16. The steps having image examples are
indicated to this effect.
[0203] In the description of this game processing, for easy
understanding, the operation between the main cabinet 30 and 3
satellite cabinets 60, of 1 race game machine is explained, but
even when more satellite cabinets 60 are used, the same operation
is made. Furthermore, when the game system includes a plurality of
the race game machines interconnected via LAN and the internet, the
basic operation is the same.
[0204] (New Card Preparing Processing)
[0205] The new card preparing processing for a player preparing a
new card will be explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
12.
[0206] When a player logs in the satellite cabinet (A) 60 with an
IC card he bought anew, the satellite PC (A) 62 of the satellite
cabinet (A) 60 starts the login processing (Step A001).
[0207] First, the CPU 124, which is the control means of the
satellite PC(A)62, detects based on a detection signal from the
card detecting means whether or not an IC card has been inserted
(Step A002). When the insertion of the IC card is detected, the CPU
124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 transmits the card ID read from the
IC card and the satellite ID to the main PC 32 (Step A003).
[0208] The CPU 124, which is the control means of the main PC 32,
receives the satellite ID and the card ID transmitted from the CPU
124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 (Step M001) and stores in the
satellite correspondence table, the satellite ID and the card ID
associated with each other and turns off the absence flag.
[0209] Then, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects the
various operational inputs by the player and produces the stable
data of the stable ID, the stable name, etc (Step A004).
[0210] Then, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects the
various operational inputs by the player and produces the horse
data of the horse ID of a new horse, the horse name, etc (Step
A005). Subsequently, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects
the various operational inputs by the player and produces the horse
data of the ability parameters, etc. by, e.g., training the new
horse (Step A006). Four horses at maximum can be produced.
[0211] Then, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects the
various operational inputs by the player and produces the jockey
data of the jockey ID of a new jockey, the jockey name, etc. (Step
A007). Subsequently, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects
the various operational inputs by the player and trains the jockey
data of the ability parameters, etc. by, e.g., training the new
jockey (Step A008).
[0212] FIG. 17 is one example of the images of training the jockey
in Step A008. In the jockey training of FIG. 17, "running", "weight
training", "training ride", "video studies" are prepared. The
player inserts a number of medals necessary for the training,
selects one of the trainings and commands a strength to make the
training. The training improves the parameters of the jockey, which
is reflected on the race result.
[0213] A training image showing a state of the training is
displayed upper middle of the training image. When the CPU 124 of
the satellite PC (A) 62 detects a touch of the player to a part of
the touch panel 27 corresponding to the left-directed arrow or the
right-directed arrow, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62
changes a kind of the training.
[0214] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects a touch
of the player to a button displayed below the training image, the
CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 changes the strength and amount
of the training.
[0215] Short-cut bars for directly commanding a training kind are
displayed below the training image. When the CPU 124 of the
satellite PC (A) 62 detects a touch of the player to one of the
short-cut bars, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A)62 executes the
corresponding kind of the training.
[0216] The flow chart of FIG. 12 follows, and the stable data is
produced (Step A004), the horse data is produced (Step A005), the
horse data is trained (Step A006), the jockey data is produced
(Step A007), and the jockey data is trained (Step A008). Then, the
CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 transmits these data to the main
PC 32 (Step A009).
[0217] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 receives the data transmitted
from the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 before the race
processing is started (Step M002) and records these data in the
horse database and the jockey database. In the horse database, the
card IDs, the horse IDs, the horse data, the jockey data and the
stable IDs of the produced horses are recorded. In the jockey
database, the card IDs, the jockey IDs, the jockey data and the
stable IDs of the produced jockeys are recorded.
[0218] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 associates the satellite IDs
with the card IDs (Step M003). Here, a card ID being detected is
recorded in the satellite ID of the satellite PC (A) 62, and the
absence flag is turned off. The absence flags of the satellite IDs
of the satellite PC (B) 62 and the satellite PC (C) 62 are turned
on.
[0219] Next, then, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 and the CPU 124 of
the satellite PC (A) 62 execute the race processing (Step M004,
A010). The details of the race processing are not explained
here.
[0220] When the player finishes the game and logs off, the
satellite PC (A) 62 of the satellite cabinet (A) 60 starts the
logoff processing (Step A011).
[0221] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects the input of
the "game finish button" by the player (Step A012) and records in
the IC card the most recent stable data, horse data and jockey data
received from the main control unit (Step A013). When the recording
in the IC card finishes, the CPU 24 of the satellite PC (A) 62
discharges the IC card (Step A04). Thus, the logoff processing is
completed.
[0222] (Ride Request Acceptance Setting Processing)
[0223] The setting processing for setting whether or not a player
accepts a ride request from another player for a jockey the player
owns will be explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 13.
Here in the explanation of the setting processing, respective
players have finished the processing for preparing new cards and
again log in with the prepared IC cards.
[0224] Here, the player using the satellite PC (A) 62 makes the
setting of receiving a ride request from another player but only
when the player logs in. The player using the satellite PC (C) 62
makes the setting of receiving a ride request from another player
even when the player is absent, i.e., does not log in.
[0225] When the player logs in the satellite cabinet (A) 60 with
the IC card he already owns, the satellite PC (A) 62 of the
satellite cabinet (A) 60 starts the login processing (Step
A101).
[0226] First, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 judges whether
or not the IC card has been inserted (Step A102). When the
insertion of the IC card is detected, the CPU 124 of the satellite
PC (A) 62 transmits the stored contents, such as the card ID, etc.,
read from the IC card, and the his own satellite ID to the main PC
32 (Step A103).
[0227] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 receives the satellite ID, and
the contents, such as the card ID, etc., transmitted from the CPU
124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 (Step M101) and stores the satellite
ID and the card ID corresponding to each other in the satellite
correspondence table and turns off the absence flag.
[0228] Then, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 checks the properness of
the inserted IC card (Step M102).
[0229] First, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 compares the horse data
stored in the IC card transmitted from the CPU 124 of the satellite
PC (A) 62 to the contents of the horse database (Step M103).
Similarly, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 compares the jockey data
stored in the IC card transmitted from the CPU 124 of the satellite
PC (A) 62 to the contents of the jockey database (Step M104). Based
on such comparison, it is judged whether or not the inserted IC
card is proper.
[0230] When the inserted IC card is judged proper, the CPU 124 of
the main PC 32 corresponds the satellite ID to the card ID (Step
M003). The detected card ID is recorded in the satellite ID of the
satellite PC (A) 62, and the absent flag is turned off.
[0231] Then, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 reads from the horse
database and the jockey database the horse data and the jockey data
belonging to the card ID of the inserted IC card and transmits them
to the satellite PC (A) 62 (Step M106), and the CPU 124 of the
satellite PC (A) 62 receives the transmitted data (Step A104).
[0232] On the other hand, when another player logs in the satellite
cabinet (C) 60 with an IC card he already has, the satellite PC (C)
62 of the satellite cabinet (C) 60 starts the login processing
(Step C101). The details of the login processing which is the same
as that of the satellite cabinet (A) 60 will not be explained
here.
[0233] Then, the race is executed by the satellite cabinet (A) 60
with the player logging in and the satellite cabinet (C) 60. The
CPU 124 of the main PC 32, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A)62
and the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62 execute the race,
referring to the horse database, the jockey database, the race run
table, and the satellite correspondence table (Steps M107, A105 and
C102). The details of the race processing will not be
explained.
[0234] Then, the jockey ride request acceptance setting processing
in the satellite cabinet (A) 60 will be explained. When the CPU 124
of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects an operational input of a
player, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 60 displays a jockey
ride request acceptance image illustrated in FIG. 18. In the jockey
ride request acceptance image, "accept" and "not accept" are
displayed below the column "ride requests from other players".
[0235] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects the
touch of the player to the letter region "not accept", the CPU 124
of the satellite PC (A) 62 keeps displaying the ride request
acceptance image of FIG. 18. When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC
(A) 62 detects the touch of the player to the letter region "OK",
the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 turns off the request
acceptance OK flag of the jockey of the jockey database.
[0236] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects the
touch of the player to the letter region "accept", the jockey ride
request acceptance image of FIG. 19 and displays the various
conditions for the request acceptance. For accepting the ride
request, the conditions of the grade (above GI, above GII, none),
the ride horse win prize (above 10,000 medals, above 5,000 medals,
above 1,000 medals, none), the grade of the previous race of the
ride horse (above GI, above GII, none), the place in the previous
race of the ride horse (1st place, up to 2nd place, up to 3rd
place, none), and whether or not to accept a ride request after the
game finishes can be set.
[0237] The game system side may limit maximum run times of the run
of 1 jockey at the ride request. The players may set the conditions
of maximum times (once, twice, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times) of a
player receiving a ride request.
[0238] Setting the conditions for the ride request high makes the
possibility of obtaining win prizes high when a jockey rides but
makes the opportunity of riding as a jockey low and makes it more
possible that, when lost, the ability data as a jockey become low.
In view of these possibilities, the players set the conditions.
[0239] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 detects a touch
of the player to the letter region "accept" and detects his touches
to the letter regions of "above GI", "above 5,000", "above GI",
"none" and "not accept" of the respective set conditions (Step
A106), the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 transmits the
satellite ID, the jockey ID, the request acceptance OK signal and
the request acceptance conditions signals to the main PC 32 (Step
A107).
[0240] When the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 receives the signals from
the satellite PC (A) 62 (Step M108)), the CPU 124 of the main PC
compares the satellite ID to the satellite correspondence table
(Step M109), turns on the request acceptance OK flag of the jockey
of the jockey database and turns off the in-absence request
acceptance OK flag, and records the respective detected set request
acceptance conditions (Step M110).
[0241] The jockey ride request acceptance setting processing of the
satellite cabinet (C) 60 with the player logging in will be
explained.
[0242] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62 detects an
operational input of a player, first the jockey request acceptance
image of FIG. 18 is displayed on the image unit (C)64 of the
satellite cabinet (C) 60. In the jockey request acceptance image,
"accept" and "not accept" are displayed below the column of "jockey
requests from other players".
[0243] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C)52 detects a touch
of the player to the letter region of "accept", the image of FIG.
20 is displayed to display the various conditions for accepting the
request. As in the jockey request acceptance of the satellite
cabinet (A) 60, the conditions of the grade for a race for which
the jockey request is made, the conditions for the ride horse win
prizes, the conditions of the grade for the previous race of the
ride horse, the conditions of the achievement of the previous race
of the ride horse, and the conditions for setting whether or not a
ride request is accepted after the game finishes can be set.
[0244] The game system side may limit maximum run times of the run
of 1 jockey at the ride request. The players may set the conditions
of maximum times (once, twice, 3 times, 4 times, 5 times) of a
player accepting a ride request.
[0245] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62 detects a touch
of the player to the letter regions "accept" and detects touches of
the player to "above GI", "above 10,000 medals", "above GI", "above
three times" and "accept" of the respective set conditions of the
jockey request acceptance image (Step C102), the CPU 124 of the
satellite PC (C) 62 transmits the satellite ID, the jockey ID, the
in-absence request acceptance OK signal and the request acceptance
condition signal (Step A107).
[0246] When the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 receives the signals from
the satellite PC (C) 62 (Step M111), the CPU 124 of the main PC 32
compares the satellite ID to the satellite correspondence table
(Step M112), turns on the request acceptance OK flag and the
in-absence acceptance OK flag of the jockey of the jockey database,
and records the respective recorded set request acceptance
conditions (Step M113).
[0247] Then, when the player of the satellite cabinet (C) 60 makes
the operation for the logoff, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C)62
detects the logoff operation by the player and makes the logoff
processing (Step C104). The most recent stable data, horse data and
jockey data are recorded in the IC card, the IC card is discharged,
and then the logoff processing is finished.
[0248] The jockey request acceptance images may be different from
those illustrated in FIGS. 18 and 20. For example, the image for
selecting "accept" or "not accept" for a jockey ride request is not
provided, but in place, it is possible that a "ride request
condition button" is provided, and when a touch of a player to the
"ride request condition button" is detected, a ride request
condition setting image for setting the above-described various
conditions for accepting a ride request acceptance is
displayed.
[0249] (Race Run Registration Processing: Combinations of 1 User
Horse and Other User Horses)
[0250] The race run registration processing in which when a player
registers his own horse for a run, the player request jockeys owned
by other players to ride the horse will be explained with reference
to the flow chars of FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0251] Here, the player using the satellite cabinet (B) 60 requests
a jockey owned by the player presently logging in the satellite
cabinet (A) 60 to ride and a jockey owned by the player who has
before logged in the satellite cabinet (C) 60 and set the
in-absence ride request OK to ride.
[0252] As illustrated in FIG. 14, when the player logs in the
satellite cabinet (B) 60 with the IC card, the satellite PC (B) 62
of the satellite cabinet (B) 60 starts the login processing (Step
B201). The details of the login processing will not be
explained.
[0253] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 makes the processing for the
race run registration. First, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 records
in the race run table the race IDs for 3 races for which the run
registration can be made (Step M201).
[0254] Next, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 selects and registers
CPU horses to run in the respective races, turns on the run flags
of the CPU horses of the horse database and records the race IDs
(Step M202).
[0255] Then, for each of the races, a CPU jockey who can run, a
user jockey of the player presently logging in, for whom a ride
request is OK and a user jockey whose owner does not presently
login but for whom a ride request is OK are listed up (Step M203).
The user jockeys are listed up based on the ride conditions set by
the player.
[0256] On the other hand, the player logging in the satellite
cabinet (B) 60 displays a horse selection image (not illustrated)
and touches the "horse selection button". The CPU detects the
operational input of the "horse selection button" by the player
(Step B202) and decides the horse ID of the horse to run (Step
B204).
[0257] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 detects the
operational input of the run button by the payer (Step B204), the
CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 transmits the satellite ID, the
horse ID and the run request signal to the main PC 32 (Step
B205).
[0258] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 receives the run request
signal from the satellite PC (B)62 (Step 204) and checks whether or
not the run registration is possible with reference to the contents
of the horse database, the race run table and the satellite
correspondence table (Step M205).
[0259] Then when the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 judges that the run
registration is possible, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 transmits
the information to the effect that the run registration is possible
to the satellite cabinet (B) 69 (Step M206).
[0260] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 receives the run OK
information from the main PC 32 (Step B206) and produces a race
selection image (Step B207).
[0261] FIG. 21 illustrates one example of the run race selection
image. In the run race selection image, for the next race (after 1
race), the next but one race (after 2 races) and the next but 2
race (after 3 races), race names (Kyodo-tsushin-sha Cup, Silkroad
S, Kyoto memorial, etc.), race grades (GI, GII, etc.), race
distances (1,000 m, 1,200 m, 2200 m, etc.) and medal numbers
necessary for the registrations (10 medals, 20 medals, etc.) are
displayed. Race selection buttons are displayed on the right side
of the contents display of the respective races. For the race
(after 1 race) for which the run registration has been finished,
"registration finished" is displayed, for the races (after 2 races,
after 3 races) for which the run registration can be made, "run
registration" is displayed.
[0262] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 detects whether or
not the player has touched the race selection button (Step B208)
and decides the race ID of the run race (Step B209).
[0263] When the race ID is decided, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32
registers the run horse ID in the column of the run horse
corresponding to the horse ID of the race run table. When 14 horses
have been registered in the race run table for the race, one of the
CPU horses is deleted and, in place of the deleted CPU horse, the
user horse is registered.
[0264] Next, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 lists up all jockeys who
can ride the horses whose runs have been decided (Step B207). CPU
jockeys and user jockeys for whom ride requests are OK are listed
up. The user jockeys are listed up in consideration of the ride
conditions set for each race by the players.
[0265] Then, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 checks with reference to
the satellite correspondence table whether or not the players
owning the run OK jockeys have been logging in (Step M208).
[0266] Next, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 transmits with reference
to the jockey database and the satellite correspondence table the
information of the run OK jockeys and the user login information to
the satellite cabinet (B) 60 (Step M209).
[0267] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 receives the
information of the run OK jockeys and the user login information
(Step B210) and produces the jockey selection image, based on the
received data. In the jockey selection image, the run OK jockeys,
the user login information, etc., for example, are displayed.
[0268] FIGS. 22 and 23 illustrate examples of the jockey selection
image. In the jockey selection images, an "Exclusive" tab for
selecting an own jockey, a "Kanto" tab for selecting CPU jockeys
coming from Kanto, a "Kansai" tab for selecting a jockey coming
from Kansai, and an "other stables" tab for selecting jockeys of
other users are provided.
[0269] FIG. 22 is an image of the "Exclusive" tab. In the image,
jockeys owned by a player owning a run horse are displayed. In the
present embodiment, 2 user jockeys at maximum are displayed.
[0270] FIG. 23 is an image of the "other stables" tab. In the
image, user jockeys, who belong to other stables, for whom ride
requests from other users are set OK, and who can run in this race,
are displayed.
[0271] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 detects the
operational input by the player with the jockey selection button
(Step B212). Thus, the ride jockey ID is decided (Step B213).
[0272] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 detects the
operational input by the player to the "run registration button"
(Step B214), a medal number necessary to register the run is
displayed to ask the player to pay the medals. The CPU 124 of the
satellite PC (B) 62 detects the payment of the medals by the payer,
based on a detection signal from the medal insertion detecting
means (Step B214), and the run registration is thus completed.
[0273] Here, the player of the satellite cabinet (B) 60 runs 2
horses he owns. For one of the horses, a jockey owned by the player
logging in the satellite cabinet (A) 60 (for whom the ride requests
from other users are set OK) is selected, and for the other horse,
a jockey owned by a player who has logged in the satellite cabinet
(C) 60 (for whom the ride requests from other uses even in absence
are set OK) are selected.
[0274] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 detects the
medal payment by the player for registering the run Step B215), the
CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 transmits the information of the
run registered race ID, the run registered horses ID and the run
registered jockeys ID to the main cabinet 30 and the other
satellites 60 (Step B216).
[0275] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 receives the data from the
satellite cabinet (B) 60 (Step M210), and prepares race run data
(Step M211) and registers the prepared race run data in the race
run table (Step M212).
[0276] Thus, the race run registration processing is completed.
[0277] Medals may be paid as ride money to a player owning the user
jockey the ride request has been made for. The processing for
paying this medal payment will be explained with reference to Steps
M213 to M215 and Step A203 of FIG. 15.
[0278] After the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 has executed the race
run data registration processing in Step M212, the CPU 124 of main
PC 32 produces a medal payment signal of paying a ride money to the
user jockey the ride request has been made for, referring to the
jockey database, the race run table and the satellite
correspondence table (Step M213). Here, 5 medals are paid as the
ride money. Five medals are paid to the player owning the jockey
for which the ride request has been made and logging in the
satellite cabinet (A) 60 and to the player who has logged in the
satellite cabinet (C) 60.
[0279] On the other hand, when the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A)
62 receives the data from the satellite cabinet (B) 60 (Step A201),
the CPU 124 of the satellite (A)62 confirms that a ride request has
been made for its own jockey and displays a jockey ride request
acceptance medal payment image of FIG. 24. In the image, "A ride
request has been made from another player!" is displayed, a run
race name, run horse names and the ride requested jockey names are
displayed, and 5 medals as the jockey request acceptance money are
displayed.
[0280] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 transmits a medal payment
signal to the logging-in user (Step M214), and the CPU 124 of the
satellite PC (A)62 confirms the operational input of the medal
payment OK by the player and pays 5 medals as the jockey request
acceptance money (Step A203).
[0281] Furthermore, the CPU 124 of main PC 32 confirms based on the
satellite correspondence table that the user is an absent user and
records 5 medals as the absent user owning jockey request money in
the in-absence obtained medal column of the jockey in the jockey
database (Step M215).
[0282] (Race Run Registration Processing: Combinations of CPU
Horses with User Jockeys)
[0283] The race run registration processing for, when a CPU horse
prepared by the game system is registered, a jockey owned by a
player riding the CPU horse will be explained with reference to the
flow charts of FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0284] This processing is different from the above-described
processing for the combination of a user horse with a user jockey
in that, in this processing, the game system selects a run CPU
horse out of the registered CPU horses, and the game system selects
a ride jockey out of registered jockeys owned by players, but the
rest processing is the same as the above-described processing.
[0285] The game system selects a run CPU horse, and accordingly,
Steps B202, B203, B204, B205, B207, B208 and B209 executed by the
CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62 are not executed.
[0286] In Step M202, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 selects a run
CPU horse for each race, registers the run CPU horse in the race
run table, turns on the run race flag of the CPU horse in the horse
database and registers the race ID.
[0287] The game system selects a user jockey who rides the CPU
horse, and accordingly, Steps B210, B211, B212, B213, B214, B215
and B216 executed by the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B)62 in FIGS.
14 and 15 are not executed.
[0288] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 selects out of the user
jockeys listed up in Steps M207 and M208 in accordance with a
prescribed algorithm (the step is not illustrated).
[0289] When the game system requests a user jockey of the player
logging in the satellite cabinet (A) 60 to ride the CPU horse, the
CPU 124 of the main PC 32 transmits the data of the race ID, the
horse ID, the jockey ID, etc. to the satellite cabinet (A) 60 (the
step is not illustrated).
[0290] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 receives the data
from the main cabinet 30 (the step is not illustrated), displays
the jockey ride request OK and pays medals corresponding to the
jockey request acceptance money.
[0291] When the game system requests a user jockey owned by a
player who does not log in to ride the CPU horse, the CPU 124 of
the main PC 32 registers medals corresponding to the absent user's
own jockey ride request in the jockey database, as in Step
M215.
[0292] (Race Processing)
[0293] The race processing of the race game machine will be
explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 16. Here in the
explanation, the race processing follows the race run registration
processing illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15.
[0294] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 starts the race run processing
(Step M301).
[0295] First, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 decides horse IDs and
the jockey IDs which will run in the race, based on the horse
database, the jockey database and the race run table (Step
M302).
[0296] Next, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 decides odds for the
race (Step M302) and decides the race development (Step M304). The
details of this processing will not be explained.
[0297] Subsequently, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32, the CPU 124 of
the satellite PC (A) 62 and the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (B) 62
execute the race (Step M305, A301 and B301) and display the race
image (Step M306, A302 and B302). The details of this processing
will not be explained.
[0298] Then, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 makes the processing for
paying prize medals, based on a result of the race (Step M307).
First, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 identifies the winning horse
IDs, the card IDs of the users owning the winning horses, and the
satellite IDs, based on the horse database, the jockey database,
the race run table and the satellite correspondence table (Step
M308).
[0299] Subsequently, the CPU 124 of the main PC 32 transmits data
of paid medal numbers as prize medals to the satellite cabinets 60
players are logging in (Step M310), and decides in-absence obtained
medal numbers as prize medals for players who are not logging in
(Step M310) and registers the in-absence obtained medal numbers in
the jockey database at the in-absence obtained medal columns of the
relevant jockeys (Step M311).
[0300] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (A) 62 receives the paid
medal number data transmitted from the main cabinet 30 (Step A303)
and pays the obtained medals (Step A304). Similarly, the CPU 124 of
the satellite (B) 62 receives the paid medal number data from the
main cabinet 30 (Step B303) and pays the obtained medals (Step
B304).
[0301] (In-Absence Obtained Medals Pay Processing)
[0302] Next, the processing for paying the in-absence obtained
medals will be explained with reference to the flow chart of FIG.
16. Here in the explanation, a player who has set the in-absence
ride request OK logs in the satellite cabinet (C) 60 after the race
processing of FIG. 16.
[0303] When a player logs in the satellite cabinet (C) 60 with the
IC card with which the player has set the in-absence ride request
OK in FIG. 13, the CPU of the satellite PC (C) 62 starts the login
processing (Step C301).
[0304] First, the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62 detects
whether or not the IC card has been inserted (Step C302). When the
CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62 detects the insertion of the IC
card, the CPU of the satellite PC (C) 62 transmits memory contents,
such as the card ID, etc., read from the IC card, and its own
satellite ID to the main PC 32 of the satellite IC (Step C303).
[0305] The CPU 124 of the main PC 32 receives the memory contents,
such as the satellite ID, the card ID, etc., transmitted from the
satellite cabinet (C) 60 (Step M312), stores the memory contents in
the satellite correspondence table, corresponding to the satellite
ID and the card ID and turns off the absence flag.
[0306] Next, the CPU 12 of the main PC 32 refers to the jockey
database with the card ID of the inserted IC card as the key and
checks whether or not the in-absence obtained medals are present
(Step M313). When the in-absence obtained medals are present, the
CPU 124 of the main PC 32 transmits the medal number to the
satellite cabinet (C)60.
[0307] When the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62 receives the
in-absence obtained medal number transmitted from the CPU 124 of
the main PC 32 (Step C304), the CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62
confirms the presence of the in-absence obtained medals and
displays the image as exemplified in FIG. 25.
[0308] In the in-absence obtained medal paid image, "Ride at the
requests of other players!" is displayed and also run race names,
run horse names and ride requested jockey names are displayed for
respective races, and the paid medal numbers for the request
acceptances and prize medal numbers are displayed.
[0309] For example, in the first race, 5 medals for the request
acceptance, and 10 medals as the prize medals may be paid. In the
first race, 5 medals may be paid as the request acceptance, but
when lost in the race, the payment of 5 medals may be demanded.
Thus, it is possible that prize medals are paid, but when lost, a
player must pay medals.
[0310] The CPU 124 of the satellite PC (C) 62 confirms the
operational input of the medal payment OK by the player and pays
the medals obtained in absence (Step C305).
[0311] Thus, the in-absence obtained medal payment processing is
completed.
[0312] (Combination of a Horse and a Jockey)
[0313] In the game system according to the present embodiment, a
horse (the first race object) and a jockey (the second race object)
are combined. This combination of the horse and the jockey is
registered for the run in the race. This combination has the
following cases.
[0314] For a player's own run horse, combinations are (1) a his own
racehorse with his own jockey, (2) a his own run horse with a
jockey selected by the race game machine, (3) his own racehorse
with a jockey owned by another player participating in the present
game, (4) his own racehorse with a jockey owned by another player
who is not participating the present game, etc.
[0315] For a player's own jockey, combinations are (1) his own
jockey with a racehorse owned by another player, (2) his own jockey
at the time when the player is not participating in the game with a
racehorse owned by another player, (3) his own jockey with a
racehorse selected by the race game machine 10, (4) his own jockey
at the time when the player is not participating in the game with a
racehorse selected by the race game machine 10, etc.
[0316] (Medal Distribution Between Horse and Jockey)
[0317] In the game system according to the present embodiment, the
payment computation for the bet game is made based on wins and
loses. Based on kinds of the race (GI, GII, etc.) and places, a
prize total (medal number) obtained by a combination of a horse and
a jockey is decided. The prize total is distributed between the
player owning the racehorse and the player owning the jockey, based
on a preset ratio decided between them.
[0318] As for a player's own run horse, for the combination (1) of
his own racehorse and his own jockey, all the prize medals are
distributed to the player owning the run horse.
[0319] For the combination (2) of his own run horse with a jockey
selected by the race game machine 10, a distribution of all the
prize medals for the run horse, e.g., 60% of all the prize medals
is given to the player owning the run horse, and a distribution of
all the prize medals for the jockey, e.g., 40% of all the prize
medals is given to none of the players.
[0320] For the combination (3) of his own racehorse with a jockey
owned by another player participating in the present game, a
distribution of all the prize medals for the run horse, e.g., 60%
of all the prize medals is given to the player owning the run
horse, and a distribution of all the prize medals for the jockey,
e.g., 40% of all the prize medals is given to the player owning the
jockey.
[0321] For the combination (4) of his own racehorse with a jockey
of another player who is not participating in the present game, a
distribution of all the prize medals for the run horse, e.g., 60%
of all the prize medals is given to the player owning the run
horse, and a distribution of all the prize medals for the jockey,
e.g., 40% of all the prize medals is given to the player owning the
jockey.
[0322] As for his own jockey, for the combination (1) of his own
jockey with a racehorse owned by another player, a distribution of
all the prize medals for the jockey, e.g., 40% of all the prize
medals is given to the player owning the jockey, and a distribution
of all the prize medals for the run horse, e.g., 60% of all the
prize medals is given to the player owning the run horse.
[0323] For the combination (2) of his own jockey at the time when
the player is not participating the game with a racehorse owned by
another player, a distribution of all the prize medals for the
jockey, e.g., 40% of all the prize medals is given to the player
owning the jockey, and a distribution of all the prize medals for
the run horse, e.g., 60% of all the prize medals is given to the
player owning the run horse.
[0324] For the combination (3) of his own jockey with a racehorse
selected by the race game machine 10, a distribution of all the
prize medals for the jockey, e.g., 40% of all the prize medals s
given to the player owning the jockey, and a distribution of all
the prize medals, e.g., 60% of all the prize medals is given to
none of the players.
[0325] For the combination (4) of his own jockey at the time when
the player is not participating in the game with a racehorse
selected by the race game machine 10, a distribution of all the
prize medals for the jockey, e.g., 40% of all the prize medals is
given to the player owning the jockey, and a distribution of all
the prize medals for the run horse, e.g., 60% of all the prize
medals is given none of the players.
[0326] The ratio of the distribution between a run horse and a
jockey may be different from the above. The distribution ratio may
be decided based on parameters of a run horse and a jockey who are
combined. The distribution ratio may be changed depending on kinds
of the race.
[0327] (Change of Ability Parameters of Horse and Jockey)
[0328] When a horse runs in a race, the ability parameters of the
horse are changed, depending on a result of the race. The ability
parameters of the horse are changed, depending on kinds (GI, GII,
etc.) of the race and places. The abilities change by the CPU 124
of the main PC 32 rewriting the data in the columns of the horse
data of the horse database corresponding to a user horse.
[0329] In the game system according to the present embodiment, the
ability parameters of even a jockey riding a horse are changed,
depending on a result of a race. The CPU 124 of the main PC 32
rewrites the data in the jockey data column of the jockey database
corresponding to a user jockey to thereby change the ability
parameters.
[0330] The change of the ability parameters of a jockey is the same
not only when a player's own jockey rides his own racehorse, but
also when a ride request OK is set, and a ride request of another
player is accepted, and when a ride request of the game system for
riding a CPU horse is accepted.
[0331] When a ride request is made from another player, as
described above, prescribed medals can be paid, and when the jockey
wins the race, a prescribed ratio of all the prize medals can be
given.
[0332] However, this permits a player to obtain medals without any
risk as long as a ride request OK is set for a jockey, which
unbalances the game. Then in the game system according to the
present embodiment, the ability parameters of a jockey are
changeable, depending on a race result.
[0333] Accordingly, when a player who has set the in-absence ride
request OK again logs in, in one case, the player can obtain
medals, depending on a result of a race made in absence, and in the
other case, the ability parameters of a jockey are only lowered
without obtaining any medal, which makes the game balanced.
Modified Embodiments
[0334] The present invention is not limited to the above-described
embodiment and can over other various modifications.
[0335] For example, in the above-described embodiment, racehorses
which are running objects are displayed in images, but the running
objects may be miniature horses.
[0336] In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is
applied to a horse race game. However, the present invention is
applicable not only to the horse race game in which the running
objects are horses, but also to other race games and common games.
For example, the present invention is applicable to cycle races, in
which the running objects are bicycles, boat races, in which the
running objects are boats. The present invention is applicable to
games in which virtual lives race.
[0337] In the above-described embodiments, the present invention is
applied to the medal game system using medals, but may be applied
to game systems using currents which function as the current means
and pay means or to game systems using virtual currencies other
than medals.
[0338] In the above-described embodiment, in the race game
combining horses and jockeys, the ride request is made for the
jockey who is one party of a combination, but may be made for the
horse who is one party of a combination. A player sets whether or
not run requests for the horses he owns to be accepted when he logs
in or off, and other players make run request for the horses.
[0339] In the above-described embodiment, the satellite
correspondence table of FIG. 11 is prepared to compare the
satellite IDs to the card ID, but this is not essential. For
example, players may be identified not with the satellite IDs but
with the card IDs in exchanging data between the main device and
the satellite devices.
[0340] In the above-described embodiment, the horse data, the
jockey data, etc. are stored in the main device. However, the horse
data, the jockey data, etc. may be stored in a server provided
separate. For example, it is possible that the control unit of the
main device accesses the memory of the server to read the data of
the jockey IDs with the flags of the in-absence request acceptance
OK turned on and prepares a ride-ready jockeys list.
[0341] In the above-described embodiment, players are identified
with the IC cards, but may be identified with information memory
mediums other than IC cards, magnetic cards, etc. Furthermore,
without using cards, the IDs of players may be registered together
with passwords. When a player logs in again, the player may be
identified with the ID and the password.
[0342] In the above-described embodiment, all or part of the
processing made by the control unit of the main device may be made
by the control unit of the server or the control units of the
satellite devices.
[0343] The main device of the above-described embodiment may be
replaced with a server device, and the satellite devices may be
replaced with client devices, such as home video game machines,
PCs, PDAs, mobile phones, PHSs, etc., and, in place of medals, the
game values may be information, data or others, such as parameters
representing virtual currents points, or others usable in the
game.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0344] The present invention is applicable to a arcade video game
machine of a game system wherein a bet race game in which, in a
race, places of racehorses which are running objects having the
runs controlled by the control unit are anticipated to bet medals,
and allotments are paid based on a race result, and a training game
in which racehorses and jockeys for races are owned and trained,
and are participated in races to thereby obtain medals as horse
owner prices corresponding to places are made. The present
invention is applicable also to domestic game machines and portable
game machines which can realize the game system.
* * * * *