CN1874828A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a game system in which a plurality of game execution apparatuses, having internal structures different from each other, are capable of proceeding with a game while sharing characteristics of a character appearing in the game. A stationary game apparatus 100 obtains character data from a server apparatus 600, and writes the character data to a memory card 300. The stationary game apparatus 100 executes a stationary game software program stored in a DVD 500, using the character data stored in the memory card 300. A portable game apparatus 200 executes a portable game software program stored in a cartridge 400, using the character data stored in the memory card 300.

Description

game system

technical field

The present invention relates to a computer game processing technique for playing a game in accordance with a computer program in which a game process and the like are described.

Background technique

Recently, with the development of computer technology, stationary game devices equipped with high-performance processing capabilities and portable game devices that are small and easy to carry have been developed and are now commercially available.

These game devices operate in accordance with computer programs in which game procedures and the like are described to play games. A virtual object called a "character" appears in a game played by a game device. The actions of the characters can be controlled by the user at will. Characters have various virtual abilities that can both increase and decrease as the game progresses. Also, the character shape can be changed in various ways as the game progresses.

When a user pauses a game in progress, the gaming device stores character characteristics such as abilities and shape, as well as information indicating when the game was paused. When the user resumes the game, the game device reads stored character characteristics such as ability and shape, and information indicating the game pause time, so as to progress the game by adding characters with the same ability and shape as before.

Stationary and portable gaming devices possess computer programs via different media. For example, with a stationary game device, the computer program is provided in the form of being stored in an optical disc or the like. And for the portable game device, the computer program is provided in the form of being stored in a dedicated cassette. Therefore, there is a problem that an optical disc storing a computer program for a stationary device cannot be loaded on a portable device, and conversely, a dedicated cassette for storing a computer program for a portable device cannot be loaded on a stationary device.

In addition, there are many specification differences between stationary gaming devices and portable gaming devices, such as differences in employed system architectures, types and numbers of processors installed, and screen display capabilities. In other words, a computer program for a stationary device is not designed to be executed in a portable device as it is, and conversely, a computer program for a portable device is not designed to be executed in a stationary device as it is.

In Non-Patent Reference 1, a dedicated adapter is used to load a dedicated cartridge storing a game software program for a portable game device onto a stationary game device so that the stationary game device can execute the game software program. Therefore, a user can enjoy a game made for a portable game device even on a stationary game device.

(Non-Patent Reference 1)

http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/acce/gbplayer

(non-patent reference 2)

Practical computer graphics (David F. Rogers, November 15, 1996, Nikkan Kogyo Shinbun Co.)

(Non-Patent Reference 3)

"To be a game programmer" IBM PC/AT compatible apparatus ("To be a game programmer" IBM PC/AT compatible device) (Yamazaki Yoshinori, February 1, 1998, CQ Publishing company)

(problem to be solved by the present invention)

However, according to the technology disclosed in Non-Patent Reference 1, although a stationary game device can execute a game software program made for a portable game device, it is impossible to play a game in one of the stationary and portable game devices and then play the game when the game is played. After pausing, another gaming device resumes the game with exactly the same content.

Contents of the invention

In order to deal with this problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a game system, a game execution device, a game execution method, and a game execution program whereby after one of a plurality of game execution devices has played a game, another game execution device plays the same game. In the case of a game, the characteristics of characters appearing in the game can be shared between two game execution devices having mutually different internal structures.

In order to achieve the above objects, the present invention is a game system comprising: a memory card for storing character data indicating the appearance, ability, etc. portable game software to be executed by a portable game device; and a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) for storing stationary game software to be executed by a stationary game device.

The user loads the memory card and DVD onto the stationary game device, and the stationary game device reads character data from the memory card according to user instructions, and executes the stationary game software stored in the DVD, thereby making the character appear in the game and Play the game.

Thereafter, the user loads the memory card and the cassette on the portable game device, and the portable game device reads the character data from the memory card according to the user's instruction, and executes the portable game software stored in the cassette, thereby causing the character to appear in the game and play game.

In the above manner, the user can enjoy the same game with the same character on both the stationary game device and the portable game device.

The present invention is a game system having a first game execution device and a second game execution device with mutually different internal structures, wherein the first game execution device includes: a first program reading unit for reading from the first game The recording medium reads a first game program indicating the course of a game; the first character reading unit is used to read character data indicating characteristics of characters appearing in the game from the portable recording medium; the first input unit is used to read from the portable recording medium; The user receives the input operation; and the first game execution unit is used to play the game according to the input operation received by the first input unit and the process indicated by the first game program, and according to the process read by the first character reading unit The obtained character data is used to make the character appear in the game, and the second game execution device includes: a second program reading unit, which is used to read the second game program indicating the process of the game from the second game recording medium; the second character reads a fetching unit for reading character data from a portable recording medium; a second input unit for receiving an input operation from a user; The game is played according to the process indicated by the game program, and the character appears in the game according to the character data read by the second character reading unit.

According to the above structure, the first game device reads the first game program from the first game recording medium, reads the character data from the portable recording medium, and makes a character whose characteristics match the read character data appear in the game. The second game execution device reads the second game program from the second game recording medium, reads the character data from the portable recording medium, and makes a character whose characteristics match the read character data appear in the game. Therefore, the characteristics of the characters are shared between the games respectively played in the first game execution device and the second game execution device.

The present invention is a game executing device for playing a game according to a game program, comprising: a program reading unit for reading a game program indicating a game process from a game recording medium; a character reading unit for reading a game program from a portable recording medium reading character data indicating characteristics of a character appearing in the game; an input unit for receiving an input operation from a user; and a game execution unit for playing a game according to the input operation and process, and causing the character to appear in the game according to the character data in the game.

According to the above structure, the character data indicating the character of the character is stored in the portable recording medium which is different from the game recording medium which stores the game program indicating the progress of one game. Therefore, a game execution device having any type of internal structure is capable of reading character data from a portable recording medium, thereby causing a character having a characteristic indicated by the read character data to appear in the game.

Here, the game execution device may further have: a requesting unit for requesting character data from the server device; an obtaining unit for obtaining the character data from the server device through a network; and a writing unit for writing the obtained character data into a portable recording medium.

According to the above structure, character data can be obtained from the server device, and the obtained character data can be written into a portable recording medium. Therefore, the game execution device must be able to obtain character data.

Here, the game execution device may further include an authentication unit for checking the authenticity of the portable recording medium, wherein the character reading unit reads the character data when the authenticity is ensured.

According to the above structure, the game execution device checks the reliability of the portable recording medium, and only when the reliability is ensured, reads the character data from the portable recording medium. This prevents the use of unauthorized portable recording media.

Here, the game execution device may have a structure in which the game recording medium further stores therein permission information indicating whether to allow changing of characteristics of the character, the character reading unit further reads the permission information from the game recording medium, and When the read permission information indicates affirmatively, the game execution unit changes the characteristics of the character while the game is in progress, and when the read permission information indicates negatively, the game execution unit prohibits changing the characteristics of the character.

According to the above structure, when the permission information read from the game recording medium affirmatively indicates, the game execution device makes the character whose characteristics are permitted to be changed appear in the game. In contrast, when the permission information indicates negatively, the game execution device prohibits changing the characteristics of the character. Therefore, the user enjoys different changes in the character's characteristics on different game execution devices.

Here, the game execution device may further have: a character writing unit for, when the game execution unit changes the characteristics of the character, rewrite the character data in the portable recording medium with the changed character data indicating the characteristic of the changed character , wherein the character reading unit further reads the changed character data from the portable recording medium, and as the game progresses, the game execution unit changes the characteristics of the character according to the read changed character data.

According to the above structure, the game execution device can rewrite the portable recording medium with the changed character data indicating the characteristics of the changed character, read the changed character data from the portable recording medium, and make the characteristics indicated by the changed character data characters appear in the game. Thus, where the game is suspended, and thereafter resumed from the point of suspension, the user can have a character whose characteristics have been changed appear in the game.

In addition, the present invention is a portable recording medium having: a storage unit for storing therein character data indicating characteristics of a character appearing in a game; an authentication unit for checking reliability of a game execution device; and an output unit for reading the character data from the storage unit and outputting the read character data to the game execution device when the reliability is ensured.

According to the above structure, the portable recording medium checks the reliability of the game execution device to which the portable recording medium is loaded, and only when the reliability is ensured, the character data stored in the portable recording medium is output to the game execution device. This prevents game execution by an unauthorized game execution device.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a game system 10 .

FIG. 2 is a structural block diagram of the server device 600 .

FIG. 3 is a data structure diagram of the game sales information table 641.

FIG. 4 is a data structure diagram of the user purchase information table 631.

Figure 5 shows the program and data structures stored in DVD 500.

FIG. 6 shows an example of screens displayed on the monitor 120 in each game step of each game session.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen displayed on the monitor 120 in each game step of each game stage.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a screen displayed on the monitor 120 in each game step of each game stage.

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the contents of the fixed main program continued to FIG. 10 .

FIG. 10 is a flow chart showing the content of the fixed main program continued from FIG. 9 .

FIG. 11 is a flow chart showing the contents of the fixed frame processing routine continued to FIG. 12 .

FIG. 12 is a flow chart showing the contents of the fixed frame processing routine continued from FIG. 11 .

FIG. 13 is a flow chart showing the content of the combat program continued to FIG. 14 .

FIG. 14 is a flow chart showing the content of the combat program continued from FIG. 13 .

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the contents of the stationary image generation program continued to FIG. 16 .

FIG. 16 is a flow chart showing the contents of the stationary image generation program continued from FIG. 15 .

FIG. 17 is a structural block diagram of the stationary game device 100 .

FIG. 18 shows an example of information stored in the main storage unit 110 .

FIG. 19 shows an example of information stored in the graphics storage unit 114. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 20 shows the contents of each register provided in the register unit 109.

FIG. 21 shows the kinds of instructions stored in the register R0 of the register unit 109 .

FIG. 22 shows an example of the menu screen 160 generated by the main control unit 108 .

FIG. 23 is a block diagram showing the structure of the memory card 300 .

FIG. 24 is a structural block diagram of the cassette 400 .

FIG. 25 is a flow chart showing the contents of the portable main program continued to FIG. 26 .

FIG. 26 is a flow chart showing the contents of the portable main program continued from FIG. 25. FIG.

FIG. 27 is a flow chart showing the contents of the portable frame processing routine continued to FIG. 28. FIG.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the contents of the portable frame processing routine continued from FIG. 27. FIG.

Fig. 29 is a flow chart showing the contents of the portable image creation program.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing the structure of the portable game device 200. As shown in FIG.

An example of information stored in the main storage unit 210 is shown in FIG. 31 .

FIG. 32 is a structural block diagram of a convenience store terminal (convenience-store terminal) 700.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing the operations performed by the stationary gaming device 100. As shown in FIG.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the game operation performed by the stationary game device 100. As shown in FIG.

Detailed ways

1. The first embodiment

The game system 10 as one embodiment related to the present invention will be described below.

1.1 Structure of Game System 10

As shown in Figure 1, game system 10 is made up of stationary game device 100, portable game device 200, memory card 300, cassette 400, DVD 500, server device 600 and convenience store terminal 700.

The stationary game device 100 is connected to the server device 600 through the Internet 20 . The user loads the DVD 500 onto the stationary game device 100, and the game software program that the stationary game device 100 will execute is stored in the DVD 500. In addition, the user loads the memory card 300 onto the stationary game device 100 . The stationary game device 100 obtains character data indicating appearances, abilities, etc. of characters appearing in the stationary game software program from the server device 600 via the Internet 20, and writes the obtained character data into the memory card 300.

Then, according to the user's operation, the stationary game device 100 utilizes the character data written in the memory 300 to execute the stationary game software program stored in the DVD 500.

In addition, the user loads the cassette 400 onto the portable game device 200 , and the cassette 400 stores a portable game software program to be executed by the portable game device 200 . Here, the game by means of the portable game software program stored in the cassette 400 has the same content as the game by means of the fixed game software stored in the DVD 500. The user also loads the memory card 300 in which the character data is written onto the portable game device 200 .

Next, the portable game device 200 executes the portable game software program stored in the cassette 400 using the character data written in the memory card 300 according to the user's operation.

In this way, the user can execute the same game in which the same character appears in both the stationary game device 100 and the portable game device 200 .

Here, there may be a different structure in which the memory card 300 is loaded into the portable game device 200 , wherein the portable game device 200 and the stationary game device 100 are interconnected by the cable 30 . Here, the portable game device 200 obtains character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the stationary game device 100 , and writes the obtained character data into the memory card 300 .

In addition, there may also be another different structure in which the memory card 300 is loaded into the convenience store terminal 700 connected to the server device 600 through the Internet 20 . The convenience store terminal obtains character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and writes the obtained character data into the memory card 300 .

1.2 Structure of server device 600

As shown in FIG. 2 , the server device 600 includes an information storage unit 601 , a control unit 602 , an input unit 603 , a display unit 604 , a communication unit 605 and an authentication unit 606 .

The server device 600 is specifically a computer system including a microprocessor, ROM, RAM, hard disk unit, LAN connection unit, display unit, keyboard, mouse, and the like. Computer programs are stored in the RAM or hard disk unit. The server device 600 realizes a part of its functions by the microprocessor operating according to the computer program.

(1) Information storage unit 601

As shown in FIG. 2 , the information storage unit 601 has a game information table 621 , a user purchase information table 631 and a game sales information table 641 .

(Game information table 621)

As shown in FIG. 2, the game information table 621 includes multiple sets of game information. Each set of game information includes two game identifiers, a piece of character data and two secret keys.

Each of these two game identifiers is identification information for identifying a game software program. Of the two game identifiers, the first game identifier identifies a game software program operated by a stationary game device, and the second game identifier identifies a game software program operated by a portable game device. Additionally, the first game identifier corresponds to a first secret key of the two secret keys, and the second game identifier corresponds to a second secret key.

Each game identifier is formed from a combination of genre information and an identification number. The type information indicates whether the game software program is operated by a stationary game device or a portable game device, and takes one of "A" and "B" values. Here, "A" identifies a game software program operated by a portable game device, and "B" identifies a game software program identified by a stationary game device. The identification number is a number unique to each game, so if the game in question is the same, the same identification number is assigned to the game of the game software program operated by means of a stationary gaming device and the game operated by means of a portable gaming device Software program for games.

For example, the game identifier 622 "A001" is formed from a combination of genre information "A" and identification number "001", and the game identifier 625 "B001" is formed from a combination of genre information "B" and identification number "001". Therefore, the game identifier 622 "A001" and the game identifier 625 "B001" are game software programs operated by portable game devices and game software programs operated by stationary game devices, respectively. In addition, games by means of these two game software programs are identical to each other.

The character data is information showing the appearance and abilities of a character appearing in the game. More specifically, the character data 623 is composed of character ID (identifier), race, sex, occupation, height, weight, hairstyle, eye shape, ear shape, vitality, combat power, and money. These items will be described in detail later.

If the game played by the game software program operated by the portable game device and the game played by the game software program operated by the stationary game device are the same, the characters will be shared in the game system 10 . In other words, the appearance and abilities of the characters appearing in these games are identified by a piece of character data. Therefore, two game identifiers with the same identification number are associated with a piece of character data. For example, game identifier 622 "A001" and game identifier 625 "B001" are both associated with character data 623 .

A secret key is generated for each gaming software program.

(2) Game Sales Information Form 641

As shown in FIG. 3, the game sales information table 641 includes multiple sets of game sales information. Each set of game sales information includes two game identifiers, a game title and two prices.

As already described, each of these two game identifiers is identification information for identifying one game software program. Of the two game identifiers, the first game identifier identifies a game software program operated by a stationary game device, and the second game identifier identifies a game software program operated by a portable game device. Additionally, the first game identifier is associated with the first of the two prices, and the second game identifier is associated with the second price.

The game title is a name for identifying a corresponding game. When the game of the game software program operated by means of the portable game device is the same as the game of the game software program operated by the stationary game device, the game names of the two game software programs are the same as each other, which means that the two game identification character corresponds to a game name.

Each of the two prices shows the sales price of the game software program identified by the corresponding game identifier.

(3) User purchase information table 631

As shown in FIG. 4, the user purchase information table 631 includes multiple sets of purchase information. Each set of purchase information consists of a user ID, a game identifier and a purchase date, or a user ID, two game identifiers and two purchase dates.

When the user purchases one of the game software program operated by the portable game device and the game software program operated by the stationary game device, the purchase information will consist of a user ID, a game identifier and a purchase date. When the user purchases these two game software programs, the purchase information will consist of a user ID, two game identifiers and two purchase dates.

The user ID is identification information for identifying a user who purchased the game software program.

As described above, the game identifier identifies a game software program operated by a portable game device, or a game software device operated by a stationary game device, that has been purchased by the user.

The purchase date indicates the date on which the user purchased the corresponding game software program.

(4) Identification unit 606

Before the communication between the control unit 602 and the external device through the communication unit 605 is started, the authentication unit 606 performs mutual device authentication with the external device using a challenge-response method under the control of the control unit 602 . Here, since the challenge-response method is well known, its description is omitted.

The authentication unit 606 outputs the result of device authentication to the control unit 602 . When the mutual authentication fails, the authentication unit 606 prohibits the control unit 602 from communicating with the external device, and when the mutual authentication succeeds, the authentication unit 606 allows the control unit 602 to communicate with the external device.

In this example, the external device is a memory card 300 .

(5) Communication unit 605

The communication unit 605 is connected to the stationary game device 100 and the convenience store terminal 700 through the Internet 20 .

The communication unit 605 sends information to the fixed game device 100 and the identification unit 606/receives information from the fixed game device 100 and the identification unit 606 through the Internet 20, and sends information to the fixed game device 100 and the control unit 602/from the fixed game device 100. The game device 100 and the control unit 602 receive the information.

In addition, through the Internet 20, the communication unit 605 sends information to/receives information from the convenience store terminal 700 and the identification unit 606, and sends information to/from the stationary game device 100 and the control unit 602/from the convenience store terminal 700 and the identification unit 606. The game device 100 and the control unit 602 receive the information.

(6) Control unit 602

(sending character data to the stationary game device 100)

The control unit 602 receives the user ID, game identifier, and signature data from the stationary game device 100 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 602 .

As described above, the user ID is identification information for identifying a user, and the game identifier is an identification for identifying a game software program. In addition, as described later, signature data is generated by performing a digital signature SIG on a game identifier and a user ID using a public key corresponding to a game software program.

Here, an example of the digital signature SIG is a digital signature algorithm that guarantees security based on the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem. This is a well known technique and therefore will not be described here.

Next, the control unit 602 reads the secret key corresponding to the received game identifier from the game information table 621 owned by the information storage unit 601 .

Next, the control unit 602 performs digital signature verification "VRFY" on the game identifier, user ID, and signature data, thereby obtaining a verification result. Here, the digital signature verification "VRFY" is a signature verification algorithm that is an elliptic curve ElGamal signature method.

Next, the control unit 602 transmits the verification result obtained by the digital signature verification “VRFY” to the stationary game device 100 via the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 . When the verification result indicates failure, the control unit 602 does not perform processing thereafter.

When the verification result indicates success, the control unit 602 receives communication instructions from the stationary game device 100 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 605, and further controls the identification unit 606 to perform mutual authentication with the memory card 300 loaded onto the stationary game device 100 .

The control unit 602 receives the authentication result from the authentication unit 606 and transmits the received authentication result to the stationary game device 100 through the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 . Here, when the authentication result indicates failure, the control unit 602 does not perform the processing thereafter.

On the other hand, when the authentication result indicates success, the control unit 602 searches the received user ID in the user purchase information table 631, and when not finding the received user ID in the user purchase information table 631, the control unit 602 transmits the search result displaying the information to the stationary game device 100 through the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 .

When the received user ID is found in the user purchase information table 631, the control unit 602 reads the character data corresponding to the received game identifier from the game information table 621, and transmits the corresponding character data through the communication unit 605 and the Internet. 20 sends the read character data to the stationary game device 100.

Next, the control unit 602 receives completion information indicating completion of writing character data into the memory card 300 from the stationary game device 100 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 605 . Upon receipt of the completion information, the control unit 602 executes billing processing for the user identified by the user ID.

(Send character data to convenience store terminal 700)

Control unit 602 receives an authentication command indicating a request for mutual authentication with memory card 300 from convenience store terminal 700 via Internet 20 and communication unit 605 .

Once the authentication instruction is received, the control unit 602 controls the authentication unit 606 to perform mutual device authentication with the memory card 300 . Next, the control unit 602 receives the authentication result from the authentication unit 606 and transmits the authentication result to the convenience store terminal 700 through the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 .

When the authentication result indicates failure, the control unit 602 does not perform processing thereafter.

When the identification result indicates success, the control unit 602 reads all group game sales information from the game sales information table 641, and sends the read all group game sales information to the convenience store terminal 700 through the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 .

Next, the control unit 602 receives the game identifier from the convenience store terminal 700 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 605 . Once the game identifier is received, the control unit 602 reads the character data corresponding to the game identifier from the game information table 621, and sends the read character data to the convenience store terminal through the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 700.

(7) Input unit 603 and display unit 604

The input unit 603 receives input of data or instructions from the operator of the server device 600 and outputs the received data or instructions to the control unit 602 .

The display unit 604 displays various information being controlled by the control unit 602 .

1.3DVD 500

DVD 500 is a portable optical disc medium capable of recording large amounts of data on it.

For example, the DVD 500 prestores a fixed main program 511, a fixed character processing program 551, and a fixed development item table 561. These are computer programs or data for computers used in the stationary game device 100, and constitute a game software program.

(1) Game description

First, before describing the fixed game program 511, the fixed character processing program 551, and the fixed development item table 561, a game by the game software program will be described.

The game consists of "n" game phases 1, 2, . . . , n. The game will proceed in the order of game phases 1, 2, ..., n. Each game stage consists of "m" game steps 1, 2, ..., m, and the game will be played in the order of game steps 1, 2, ..., m.

Within each game step, the maximum time allowed for the user to play the game is determined as "MAX". If the game play time exceeds the maximum value "MAX" in one step, the game step will normally end, and the operation proceeds to the next game step.

In the game, a character as an operation target of a player (ie, user) of the stationary game device 100, a background representing each scene of the game, an attacker who will attack the character, and other objects will appear.

6-8 show examples of screens displayed on the monitor 120 in each game step of each game session.

A character 572, a background 573 and other objects are displayed on a screen 571 shown in FIG. 6 . A character 575, a background 576 and other objects are displayed on a screen 574 shown in FIG. 7 . Character 578, background 579, attacker 580 and other objects are displayed on screen 577 shown in FIG.

A character is assigned a race, gender, and class, which make up that character's personality. In addition, characters are given height, weight, hairstyle, eye shape, and ear shape as shape characteristics. In addition, characters are endowed with vitality, combat power, and funds as ability traits.

Here, race, sex, occupation, height, weight, hairstyle, eye shape, ear shape are literal meanings, and thus no explanation is given for them.

Race, gender, occupation, hairstyle, eye shape, and ear shape are invariant characteristics. On the other hand, height, weight, vitality, combat power and funds will change as the game progresses.

Vitality indicates a character's ability to survive. When the vitality takes a value greater than 0, the character is alive, and when the vitality takes a value of 0, the character is dead. For example, when a character receives an inevitable attack from an attacker, the health value decreases. On the other hand, when each game phase ends normally, the health value increases.

Combat strength indicates a character's ability to carry out attacks against attackers. When the combat power takes a value greater than 0, the character can attack the attacker. When the combat power is 0, the character cannot attack the attacker. Also, when each game stage ends normally, the combat power value increases.

Funds indicate the monetary value of a character's possession, which can be used to purchase other items. Funds increase in value when the character is successful in attacking the attacker effectively, or when each game session ends normally.

Height and weight change as the game progresses, as above. When each game session ends normally, the height and weight values are increased by predetermined values, respectively. In other words, the character grew up in shape.

Here, characters, attackers, and backgrounds exist virtually in a three-dimensional game space. The game space is represented by an orthogonal coordinate system of X, Y, and Z coordinates.

A portion of the game space is clipped to generate the display space. The characters existing in the display space are projected in the frame by perspective projection to form an image.

(2) Stationary game program 511

As shown in FIG. 5 , the stationary game program 511 includes a related information unit 521 , a program unit 531 and an object data unit 541 .

(Related Information Unit 521)

The related information unit 521 includes a game part 522, a game identifier BID 523, a public key BPK 524, a game name 525, and audio information not shown in the figure.

The game section 522 indicates that the stationary game program 511 is a game program for use in a stationary game device.

The game identifier BID 523 is identification information for identifying the stationary game program 511.

The public key BPK 524 is generated by a public key generation method using a secret key. Here, the secret key corresponds to the game identifier found in the game information table 621 owned by the information storage unit 601 of the server device 600, which is the same as the game identifier BID 523. An example of a public key generation method here is a public key generation algorithm by means of the elliptic curve ElGamal signature method.

The game name is a name for identifying a game realized by the stationary game program 511 .

Audio information is encoded data for a character's voice, music, and sound effects.

(program unit 531)

The program unit 531 includes: a computer program for a stationary game (hereinafter referred to as a "stationary main program"); a computer program for processing a frame image (hereinafter referred to as a "stationary frame processing program"); Computer programs that process combat scenarios (hereinafter referred to as "combat scenario programs"). Every computer program consists of instructions in various machine language formats. The machine language format is a format to be decoded and executed by the main control unit 108 of the stationary game device 100 (the main control unit 108 will be described in detail later). The fixed main program, fixed frame processing program and battle scene program are used by the main control unit 108 .

The stationary frame handler is called for use by the stationary main program. In addition, the combat scene program is called for use by the stationary frame handler.

The content of each computer program is described below. In order to make it easier to understand the contents of each computer program, the following description expresses computer programs using flowcharts rather than using instructions in machine language format.

(a) Fixed main program

The stationary main routine is described below with the aid of the flowcharts of FIGS. 9-10.

The fixed main program reads the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 , and writes the read restoration stage number and restoration step number into the main storage unit 110 . Here, the recovery stage number and the recovery step number are numbers indicating the game stage and the game step from which the game should be resumed, respectively. When each of the recovery stage number and the recovery step number is "1", the game will start from the first game step of the first game stage. When the recovery stage number and the recovery step number are, for example, "5" and "3" respectively, the game will start from the third game step of the fifth game stage. Thus, the recovery stage number and the recovery step number are information for controlling the position where the game progress is restarted (step S101).

Next, the fixed main program reads the character data 321 from the memory card 300, and writes the read character data into the main storage unit 110 (step S102).

Next, the fixed main program extracts the height and weight from the character data in the main storage unit 110, and updates the character object data stored in the main storage unit 110 to change the shape of the character based on the ratio of height to weight. Specifically, when the height is tall and the weight is heavy, or when the height is short and the weight is light, an update is performed so that the character will have a standard shape. If tall and light, perform an update so that the character will have an elongated shape. If you are short and heavy, perform an update so that the character will have a fat shape. As described later, the character object data is three-dimensional data showing the three-dimensional shape of the character.

Next, in step S105-step S124, the following steps S106-step S123 are repeated until the game stage indicated by "n" is completed by starting the game stage indicated by the recovery stage number.

(i) In step S106-step S113, the following steps S107-S112 are repeated until the game step indicated by "m" is completed by starting the game step indicated by the recovery step number.

It is judged whether the vitality written in the main storage unit 110 shows "0" (step S107).

When the vitality is judged to show "0" (step S107), a screen showing the end of the game is generated, and the generated screen is written in the frame buffer 106 as a frame image (step S108). Then, a screen display instruction instructing to transfer the frame image in the frame buffer 106 to the VRAM 115 is written in the register R0 151 of the register unit 109. Then, a control signal indicating that the writing of the instruction into the register unit 109 has been completed is output to the graphics control unit 113 (step S109). Then, game over.

When the vitality is determined not to display "0" (step S107), it is judged whether the elapsed time in the game step exceeds the maximum value MAX (step S110), and when the elapsed time is determined to exceed the maximum value MAX (step S110) , the game step ends and operation proceeds to the next game step.

When the elapsed time is determined not to exceed the maximum value MAX (step S110), the elapsed time is counted (step S111), and the fixed frame processing program is called to move the control to the fixed frame processing program, thereby executing Processing of a frame of image (step S112). After the processing of one frame of image ends, the operation returns to step S110 to repeat the processing.

(ii) Next, it is judged whether the height flag written in the main storage unit 110 is "ON" or "OFF" (step S114). If the height flag is determined to be "OFF" (step S114), control transfers to step S117. If the height sign is determined as "open" (step S114), then value "10" is added to the height written in the main storage unit 110 (step S115), and the height after adding 10 is written into the register unit 109 The high order bit of register R4155 (step S116).

(iii) Next, it is judged whether the weight flag written in the main storage unit 110 is "ON" or "OFF" (step S117). If the weight flag is determined to be "OFF" (step S117), control transfers to step S120. If the body weight flag is judged as "open" (step S117), then value "0.5" is added to the body weight written in the main storage unit 110 (step S118), and the body weight after adding 0.5 is written into the register unit The low order bit (step S119) of the register R4155 of 109.

(iv) Next, it is judged whether the vitality flag written in the main storage unit 110 is "on" or "off" (step S120). If the vitality flag is determined to be "OFF" (step S120), control transfers to step S122. If the vitality flag is judged to be "on" (step S120), the value "10" is added to the vitality written in the main storage unit 110 (step S121).

(v) Next, it is judged whether the combat power flag written in the main storage unit 110 is "ON" or "OFF" (step S122). If the combat power flag is judged to be "on" (step S122), the value "10" is added to the combat power written in the main storage unit 110 (step S123). If the combat power flag is judged to be "OFF" (step S122), nothing is executed.

(b) Fixed frame handler

The fixed frame processing procedure is described below with the aid of the flowcharts shown in Figs. 11-12.

The stationary frame processing program calculates the coordinate values (three-dimensional coordinates) of the current attack object in the game space. Here, the coordinate value of the attack object is a point in the game space where the center of the shape of the attack object (for example, the center of the head when the object is in the shape of a person) is located. Note that this also applies to character object coordinate values and background object coordinate values.

Specifically, the coordinate value of the attack object is calculated as follows.

Describe the initial value of the coordinate value of the attack object in the fixed frame processing program. Initially, this initial value is considered to be the coordinate value of the attack object.

Subsequently, three random numbers are generated (each random number corresponds to the X coordinate value, the Y coordinate value and the Z coordinate value), and by adding these three random numbers to the corresponding coordinate values of the attack object (that is, the X coordinate value, the Y coordinate value) value and Z coordinate value), to calculate the new coordinate value of the attack object (step S131).

Then, the calculated attack object coordinate value is written into the register R3 154 of the register unit 109 (step S132).

Next, the controller control unit 101 receives the operation instruction information corresponding to the button on the operation controller 122 from the operation controller 122, and judges the type of the received operation instruction information (step S133).

When the received operation command information corresponds to the up button, down button, left button and right button (step S133), the Y coordinate value of the role object is added by 1 (step S134), minus 1 (step S135) ), decrement the X coordinate value by 1 (step S136), and add 1 (step S137).

Here, the initial value of the coordinate value of the character object is described in the fixed frame processing program just like the initial value of the coordinate value of the attack object. Initially, this initial value is set as the coordinate value of the character object.

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to the stop button (step S133), control transfers to step S145.

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to the decision button (step S133), nothing is executed, and control shifts to step S139.

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to one of the other buttons (step S133), the processing corresponding to the button is executed (step S138), and then the stationary frame processing procedure is ended.

When no operation instruction information has been received (step S133), nothing is performed, and control is shifted to step S139.

Next, the combat program is called, whereby the control is transferred to the combat program so as to execute processing at the time of combat (step S139).

When the processing during the battle was completed, the coordinate value of the character object was written into the register R1 152 of the register unit 109 (step S140).

Next, calculate the coordinate value of the background object (step S141), and write the coordinate value of the calculated background into the register R2 153 of the register unit 109 (step S142).

Next, the generation command of the background object is called. Specifically, a generation instruction indicating generation of a background object is written into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, and a control signal indicating that the instruction has been written into the register unit 109 is output to the graphics control unit 113 (step S143).

Next, call the generation command of the attack object. Specifically, write the register R0 151 of register unit 109 into the register R0 151 of instruction generation attack object, and output the control signal indicating that the instruction has been written into register unit 109 to graphics control unit 113 (step S144).

Next, call the generation command of the character object. Specifically, a generation instruction indicating generation of a character object is written into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, and a control signal indicating that the instruction has been written into the register unit 109 is output to the graphics control unit 113 (step S151).

Next, write the screen display instruction of the frame image of the transmission frame buffer 106 to the VRAM 115 into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, and output the control signal indicating that the instruction has been written into the register unit 109 to the graphics control unit 113 (step S152), and the processing of the fixed frame processing program ends.

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to the stop button (step S133), a save screen is generated, and the save screen includes a message for confirming to the user: 1) before the end of the game, should the character data, recovery stage number and recovery step number are saved in the memory card 300; or 2) whether it is possible to end the game without saving the above information. Then, the generated saved screen is written into the frame buffer 106 as a frame image (step S145). Next, write the screen display instruction of the frame image of the transmission frame buffer 106 to the VRAM 115 into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, and output the control signal indicating that the instruction has been written into the register unit 109 to the graphics control unit 113 (step S146).

Next, the operation instruction information corresponding to the button on the operation controller 122 is received from the operation controller 122 through the controller control unit 101 . Here, the operation instruction information indicates whether to perform saving. Next, determine the type of the received operation instruction information (step S147).

When the received operation instruction information indicates that saving is not performed (step S147), the game processing ends there.

When the received operation instruction information indicates to perform preservation (step S147), read the height, weight, vitality, combat power, funds, recovery stage number and recovery step number (step S148) from the main storage unit 110, and use the read The character data 321 in the information storage unit 301 of the memory card 300 is rewritten according to the height, weight, vitality, combat power and funds of the memory card 300. In addition, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 335 are overwritten with the read restoration stage number and restoration step number (step S149). Next, the processing of the fixed frame processing program ends.

(c) Combat Procedures

The combat procedure is described below with the aid of the flowcharts in Figs. 13-14.

The combat program judges whether the coordinate value of the character object exists in the attack range, and the center of the attack range is the coordinate value of the attack object. Here, the attack range is a wide range in which the attack weapon possessed by the attack target can function in the game space.

The combat program further judges whether the coordinate value of the attacking object exists in the counterattack range, and the center of the counterattack range is the coordinate value of the character object. Here, the counterattack range is a wide range in which the counterattack weapon possessed by the character object can function in the game space.

Also, the combat program judges whether there is an attack by the attack object, and judges whether there is a counterattack by the character object.

According to the combination of the four judgment results, the processing content of the combat program changes.

(i) within range of the attack and within range of the counterattack

In the attack range (step S171) and in the counterattack range (step S172), when there is no attack (step S173) and no counterattack (step S174), nothing is executed and the combat procedure is ended.

In the attack range (step S171) and in the counterattack range (step S172), when there is no attack (step S173), but there is a counterattack (step S174), the funds stored in the main storage unit 110 are added by 1 (step S174). S175), and subtract 1 from the combat power stored in the main storage unit 110 (step S176), and then end the combat procedure.

In the attack range (step S171) and in the counterattack range (step S172), when there is an attack (step S173) and no counterattack (step S177), the vitality stored in the main storage unit 110 is subtracted by 1 (step S177). S178), and then end the combat procedure.

In the attack range (step S171), and in the counterattack range (step S172), when there is an attack (step S173), and when there is a counterattack (step S177), the combat power is subtracted by 1 (step S179), and then the combat program is ended .

(ii) within the range of the attack and outside the range of the counterattack

In the attack range (step S171) and outside the counterattack range (step S172), when there is no attack (step S180) and no counterattack (step S181), nothing is executed and the combat procedure is ended.

In the attack range (step S171) and outside the counterattack range (step S172), when there is no attack (step S180) and there is a counterattack (step S181), the combat power is subtracted by 1 (step S182), and the battle ends program.

In the attack range (step S171), and outside the counterattack range (step S172), when there is an attack (step S180) and no counterattack (step S183), the vitality is subtracted by 1 (step S184), and then the fighting procedure is ended .

Within the attack range (step S171) and outside the counterattack range (step S172), when there is an attack (step S180) and there is a counterattack (step S183), the vitality is subtracted by 1 (step S185), and the combat power is reduced Go to 1 (step S186), and then end the combat routine.

(iii) outside the attack range and within the counterattack range

Outside the attack range (step S171) and within the counterattack range (step S191), when there is no attack (step S192) and no counterattack (step S193), nothing is executed and the combat procedure is ended.

Outside the attack range (step S171) and within the counterattack range (step S191), when there is no attack (step S192) and there is a counterattack (step S193), add 1 to the fund (step S194), and reduce the combat power Go to 1 (step S195), and then end the combat routine.

Outside the attack range (step S171) and in the counterattack range (step S191), when there is an attack (step S192) and no counterattack (step S196), nothing is executed and the fighting procedure is ended.

Outside the attack range (step S171) and within the counterattack range (step S191), when there is an attack (step S192) and a counterattack (step S196), add 1 to the fund (step S197), and reduce the combat power Go to 1 (step S178), then end the combat routine.

(iv) Outside the range of the attack and outside the range of the counterattack

Outside the attack range (step S171) and outside the counterattack range (step S191), when there is no attack (step S201) and no counterattack (step S202), nothing is executed and the combat procedure is ended.

Outside the attack range (step S171) and outside the counterattack range (step S191), when there is no attack (step S201) and there is a counterattack (step S202), the combat power is subtracted by 1 (step S203), and the combat program ends .

(object data unit 541)

As shown in FIG. 5 , the object data unit 541 includes character object data 542 , background object data 543 , attack object data 544 and other object data not shown in the figure.

Character object data 542, background object data 543, and attack object data 544 are three-dimensional curve data showing the three-dimensional shapes of the character object, background object, and attack object of the stationary game device, respectively.

(2) Fixed role handler 551

As shown in FIG. 5 , the fixed role processing program 551 is composed of program units 552 . The program unit 552 includes a stationary image generation program shown below.

A stationary image generating program is a computer program consisting of instructions in machine language format. These machine language formats are to be decoded and executed by the graphics control unit 113 in the stationary game device 100 (the graphics control unit 113 will be described in detail later), and the stationary image generation program is used by the graphics control unit 113 .

The contents of the stationary image generation program are described below. In order to make it easier to understand the contents of the fixed image generation program, the following description expresses the fixed image generation program using flowcharts shown in FIGS. 15-16 instead of using instructions in machine language format. Therefore, the stationary image generation procedure is explained below with the aid of these flowcharts.

The stationary image generation program receives a control signal indicating completion of writing instructions from the main control unit 108 to the register unit 109 . The control signal indicates an image generation request issued from the main control unit 108 and directed to the graphics control unit 113 (step S301 ).

Once the control signal is received, the content of the register R0151 of the register unit 109 is read. The register R0 151 stores the command that has been written by the main control unit 108 (step S302).

Then, judge whether the content read from the register R0151, i.e. the instruction, is a screen display instruction (step S303). If determined affirmatively (step S303), then during the vertical retrace time described in detail later, the frame image stored in the frame buffer 106 of the stationary game device 100 is transmitted to the VRAM 115 (step S310), and the control It will return to step S301 to repeat the process.

If it is negatively judged (step S303), that is, if it is judged that the read content is one of a character object generation instruction, a background object generation instruction, and an attack object generation instruction, then read from the register unit 109 as the target of the corresponding generation instruction. The coordinates of the object. Specifically, under the situation that generation instruction is one of character object generation instruction, background object generation instruction and attack object generation instruction, read the content in register R1 152, register R2 153 and register R3 154 respectively (step S304).

Next, the corresponding object data is read from the graphics storage unit 114 of the stationary game device 100 (step S305).

Here, if the corresponding object data corresponds to the character object (step S306), the height and weight are read from the register R4 155 of the register unit 109 (step S307), and the read height and weight are used to compare the read Correction is performed on the character data. This correction is the same processing operation as the update performed at step S103 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 (step S308).

Next, object image generation is performed using the object data. The object image generation (step S309) will be described in detail later. Then, control will return to step S301 to repeat the process.

(Process of object image generation)

Next, the process of object image generation is described.

The object data is subjected to perspective projection transformation to generate wire frame data (step S321). Then, polygon data is generated (step S322), hidden plane removal and hidden line removal processing are performed (step S323), and shadow/shadow data is generated (step S324).

Note that perspective projection transformation, polygon data generation, hidden plane removal, hidden line removal, and shadow/shadow generation are disclosed in Non-Patent References 2 and 3, so they are well known. Therefore, their descriptions are omitted in this specification.

(3) Form 561 of fixed development items

As shown in FIG. 5 , the fixed development item table 561 includes a height symbol 562 , a weight symbol 563 , a vitality symbol 564 and a combat effectiveness symbol 565 .

The height flag 562 indicates whether to allow height update of the character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is played in the stationary game device 100 . The height flag 562 takes on or off values, where on indicates that height updates are allowed and off indicates that height updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 5 , the height flag 562 is set to ON, which means that the height included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is allowed to be updated while the game is being played in the stationary game device 100 .

The above rules also apply to other signs.

The weight flag 563 indicates whether to allow body weight update of the character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is played in the stationary game device 100 . The weight flag 563 takes on or off values, where on indicates that weight updates are allowed and off indicates that weight updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 5 , the weight flag 563 is set to ON, which means that during the game is played in the stationary game device 100 , the weight included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is allowed to be updated.

The vitality flag 664 indicates whether to allow vitality update of the character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is played in the stationary game device 100 . The vitality flag 664 takes on or off values, where on indicates that vitality updates are allowed and off indicates that vitality updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 5 , the vitality flag 664 is set to off, which means that the vitality included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is not allowed to be updated while the game is being played in the stationary game device 100 .

The combat power flag 665 indicates whether to allow combat power update of character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is played in the stationary game device 100 . Combat power flag 665 takes on or off values, where on indicates that combat power updates are allowed, and off indicates that combat power updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 5 , the combat power flag 665 is set to off, which means that during the game is played in the stationary game device 100, the combat power included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is not allowed to be updated.

1.4 Stationary game equipment 100

As shown in Figure 17, stationary game device 100 is made up of following parts: controller control unit 101, memory card input/output unit 102, driver unit 103, communication unit 104, connection unit 105, frame buffer 106, identification unit 107 , main control unit 108, register unit 109, main storage unit 110, mass storage unit 111, graphics control unit 113, graphics storage unit 114, VRAM 115, video signal generation unit 116, audio signal generation unit 117, system bus 118 and Image bus 119 .

Controller control unit 101, memory card input/output unit 102, driver unit 103, communication unit 104, connection unit 105, frame buffer 106, discrimination unit 107, main control unit 108, main storage unit 110, mass storage unit 111 , the graphics storage unit 114, the audio signal generation unit 117, and the video signal generation unit 116 are connected to the system bus 118, respectively. In addition, the frame buffer 106, the graphics control unit 113, the graphics storage unit 114, the VRAM 115, and the video signal generation unit 116 are connected to the image bus 119, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 1 , an operating controller 122 and a monitor 120 are connected to the stationary game device 100 . In addition, the portable game device 200 is connected to the stationary game device 100 through the cable 30 . In addition, a DVD 500 and a memory card 300 are loaded onto the stationary game device 100.

(1) Operation controller 122

The operation controller 122 possesses an up button, a down button, a left button, a right button, a decision button, a start button, a stop button, and other buttons on its surface. When an operation for each button is received from the user, operation instruction information corresponding to the button for the operation is output to the stationary game device 100 .

(2) Controller control unit 101, memory card input/output unit 102, drive unit 103, communication unit 104, and connection unit 105

Controller The control unit 101 is connected to the operation controller 122 , receives operation instruction information corresponding to the buttons from the operation controller 122 , and outputs the received operation instruction information to the main control unit 108 through the system bus 108 .

In addition, once the memory card 300 is loaded on the stationary game device 100, the memory card input/output unit 102 is connected to the memory card 300, and reads information from the memory card 300 under the control of the main control unit 108, and passes The system bus 108 outputs the read information to the main control unit 108 . In addition, the memory card input/output unit 102 receives information from the main control unit 108 via the system bus 118 and writes the received information into the memory card 300 .

The drive unit 103 reads the information stored in the DVD 500 under the control of the main control unit 108, and outputs the read information to the main control unit 108 through the system bus 118.

The communication unit 104 is connected to the Internet 20 , and performs information transmission/reception between the main control unit 108 and external devices connected to the Internet 20 . In this example, the external device is specifically the server device 600 .

In addition, the connection unit 105 is connected to the portable game device 200 through the cable 30 , receives information from the portable game device 200 through the cable 300 , and outputs the received information to the main control unit 108 . In addition, the connection unit 105 receives information from the main control unit 108 and outputs the received information to the portable game device 200 through the cable 30 .

(3) Monitor 120

The monitor 120 includes a speaker 121 therein, receives a video signal including a vertical retrace time and a horizontal retrace time from the video signal generating unit 116, and displays an image according to the received video signal. The speaker 121 receives an audio signal from the audio signal generating unit 117, converts the received audio signal into sound, and outputs the sound.

(4) Main storage unit 110, mass storage unit 111 and graphics storage unit 114

The main storage unit 110 is composed of RAM, and stores a fixed game program 131, a fixed development item table 132, and character data 133, as shown in FIG. 18, for example.

The mass storage unit 111 is composed of a hard disk unit, and stores game software 1, game software 2, . . . The game software 1, the game software 2, . . . have the same data structure as the game software stored in the DVD 500.

The graphic storage unit 114 is composed of RAM, and stores an object data unit 134, a fixed character processing program 135, and character data 136, as shown in FIG. 19, for example.

(5) Register unit 109

As shown in FIG. 20, the register unit 109 is equipped with 5 registers: register R0 151, register R1 152, register R2 153, register R3 154 and register R4 155. Each register is 128 bits long.

The register unit 109 is connected to both the main control unit 108 and the graphics control unit 113 .

The purpose of each register cell is predefined.

Register R0 151 stores instructions recorded into register R0 151 by the main control unit 108. Figure 21 shows the kinds of instructions to be stored in register R0 151. As shown in the figure, the instruction to be stored in the register R0 151 is one of the following instructions: character object generation instruction 156; background object generation instruction 157; attack object generation instruction 158; and screen display instruction 159.

The character object generation instruction 156 , the background object generation instruction 157 and the attack object generation instruction 158 are used to instruct generation of images corresponding to the character object, the background object and the attack object respectively. The on-screen display command is used to command to transmit frame images from the frame buffer 106 to the VRAM 115.

In addition, register R1 152, register R2 153 and register R3 154 are respectively used to store: character object coordinate value; background object coordinate value; and attack object coordinate value. Note that the highest 32 bits of each register are used to store the X coordinate value, Y coordinate value and Z coordinate value.

In addition, the highest 64 bits of register R4 155 are used to store height, and the lowest 64 bits are used to store weight.

(6) Frame buffer 106

The frame buffer 106 has an area for storing one frame of image. A frame image consists of 256,000 pixels in a matrix structure (640 in vertical lines and 400 in horizontal lines).

(7) Identification unit 107

Prior to communication or information transmission/reception between the main control unit 108 and the external device, the authentication unit 107 performs interaction with the external device connected to the stationary game device 100 under the control of the main control unit 108 using the challenge-response method. Device identification.

Here, since the challenge-response method is well known, its description is omitted.

The authentication unit 107 outputs the device authentication result to the main control unit 108 . Under the situation of equipment authentication failure, authentication unit 107 prohibits main control unit 108 from communicating with external equipment and sending information to/receiving information from external equipment, and under the situation of equipment authentication success, authentication unit 107 allows main control unit 108 Communicate with external devices and send/receive information to/from external devices.

Here, the external device is one of the portable game device 200 , the memory card 300 and the server device 600 .

(8) Main control unit 108

The main control unit 108 specifically includes a microprocessor and a RAM not shown in the figure. The RAM, the main storage unit 110, or the mass storage unit 111 stores computer programs. The main control unit 108 realizes its functions through the operation of the microprocessor according to the computer program.

(menu display)

When the user turns on the stationary gaming device 100, the main control unit 108 generates a menu screen 160 as shown in FIG. 22 . Menu screen 160 includes a number of options 161 , 163 and 165 .

Option 161 is used to command the display of a list of game titles from which the user will choose. The option 163 is for ordering to obtain character data from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 and to write the character data to the memory card 300 . Option 164 is used to command other operations.

When the user selects any option, the main control unit 108 receives instruction information corresponding to the selected option through the controller control unit 101 and the slave operation controller 122, and performs an operation corresponding to the received instruction information .

(game selection)

When the received instruction information indicates to display the title list, the main control unit 108 reads the title of the game from the DVD 500 through the drive unit 103, and reads a plurality of titles of the game from the mass storage unit 111. Then, the main control unit 108 generates a game name list composed of the read game titles, and writes the generated game name list into the frame buffer 106 as a frame image. Next, the user selects a game title from the list of game titles. Note that in this example, the user selects a game stored on DVD 500.

When the user selects a game title, the main control unit 108 obtains a game identifier corresponding to the selected game title from the operation controller 122 through the controller control unit 101 .

Next, the main control unit 108 controls the authentication unit 107 to perform device authentication with the memory card 300, and in the case of successful device authentication, executes game processing explained below. In the case of device authentication failure, the main control unit does not perform subsequent game processing.

(game selection)

Then, the main control unit 108 reads the fixed game program 511 from the DVD 500, writes the fixed game program 511 into the main storage unit 110, reads the object data unit 541, writes the object data unit 541 into the graphics storage unit 114, Read the fixed character processing program 551 , write the fixed character processing program 551 into the graphics storage unit 114 , read the fixed development item table 561 , and write the fixed development item table 561 into the main storage unit 110 . In addition, the main control unit 108 reads the character data 321, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 from the memory card 300, and writes the character data 321, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 into the main storage unit 110, and The height and weight included in the character data are written into the graphic storage unit 114 .

Next, the main control unit 108 fetches instructions one by one from the program units of the fixed game program stored in the main storage unit 110 , decodes the fetched instructions, and executes the decoded instructions. Hereinafter, the fetching, decoding, and instruction of instructions are repeated.

(Acquisition operation of character data performed by stationary game device 100)

When the instruction information received indicates to obtain the character data from the server device 600, and when the character data is written into the memory card 300, the main control unit 108 reads the user ID from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102, and passes through the driver. Unit 103 reads game identifier BID and public key BPK from DVD500. Next, the main control unit 108 performs a digital signature SIG on the game identifier BID and the user ID using the public key BPK, thereby generating signature data.

Next, the main control unit 108 transmits the user ID, game identifier, and signature data to the server device 600 via the communication unit 104 and the Internet 20 .

The main control unit 108 receives the verification result of the digital signature from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104 . When the received verification result indicates failure, the main control unit 108 generates a display screen to display the information, writes the generated display screen in the frame buffer 106 as a frame image, and writes the instruction to the register unit 109. The control signal is output to the graphics control unit 113, the screen display instruction is written into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, and the processing ends.

When the received verification result indicates success, main control unit 108 sends a communication instruction to server device 600 via communication unit 104 and Internet 20 , causing server device 600 to perform communication with memory card 300 . In addition, the main control unit 108 outputs a communication instruction to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102 so that the memory card 300 communicates with the server device 600 .

Next, the main control unit 108 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104 . In addition, the main control unit 108 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102 . When at least one of the received results indicates that the device authentication has failed, the main control unit 108 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, writes the generated display screen in the frame buffer 106 as a frame image, and A control signal indicating that the command has been written into the register unit 109 is output to the graphics control unit 113, a screen display command is written into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, and the process ends.

When the received two results show that the device authentication is successful, the main control unit 108 receives the search result of the user ID from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104, and when the received search result shows that the user ID does not exist , the main control unit 108 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, writes the generated display screen in the frame buffer 106 as a frame image, and outputs a control signal indicating that the command has been written into the register unit 109 to The graphics control unit 113 writes the screen display instruction into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, outputs the received search result to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102, and ends the processing.

When the received search result indicates that the user ID exists, the main control unit 108 receives character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104, and outputs the received character data to the memory card 300 .

In addition, the main control unit 108 receives completion information indicating that writing of character data has been completed from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102, and outputs the received completion information to the server through the communication unit 104 and the Internet 20. Device 600.

(Relay processing performed by the stationary game device 100 when the portable game device 200 acquires character data)

When the portable game device 200 obtains character data from the server device 600 through the stationary game device 100, the main control unit 108 receives the user ID, game identifier and signature data from the portable game device 200 through the memory card input/output unit 102, receives the communication Instruction, receive completion information, send user ID, game identifier and signature data to server device 600 through communication unit 104 and Internet 20, transmit received communication instruction, and transmit received completion information.

In addition, the main control unit 108 receives the verification result of the digital signature from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104, receives the verification result of the digital signature, receives the search result of the user ID, receives the character data, and receives the character data through the memory card input/output unit 102. The received verification result is sent to the memory card 300, the received search result is sent, and the received character data is sent.

(9) Graphics control unit 113

The graphics control unit 113 is specifically composed of a dedicated graphics processor not shown in the figure.

The graphics control unit 113 fetches instructions included in the fixed character processing program stored in the graphics storage unit 114, decodes the fetched instructions, and executes the decoded instructions. Graphics control unit 113 repeatedly fetches, decodes, and executes instructions.

(10)VRAM 115

The VRAM 115 has an area for storing an image of one frame. A frame image consists of 256,000 pixels in a matrix structure (640 in vertical lines and 400 in horizontal lines). Here, the frame image has the same size as the frame image stored in the frame buffer 106 .

(11) Video signal generation unit 116

The video signal generating unit 116 repeats the following (a)-(b) every 1/60 second.

(a) Generate a vertical synchronization signal and output it to the monitor 120 . This time period is called "vertical retrace time".

(b) Repeat the following (b1)-(b3) 400 times (400 times correspond to the number of pixels in a vertical line of one frame image).

(b1) Pixels (640 pixels) on one horizontal line of one frame image are read from the VRAM 115 .

(b2) Using the read frame image, a video signal for one line and a horizontal synchronizing signal are generated.

(b3) Output the horizontal signal for one line and the horizontal synchronizing signal to the monitor 120 .

(12) Audio signal generation unit 117 and speaker 121

The audio signal generation unit 117 reads the digital audio information from the main storage unit 110 under the control of the main control unit 108, decodes the read audio information, converts the decoded audio information into an analog audio signal, and The analog audio signal is output to the speaker 121 .

The speaker 121 receives an audio signal from the audio signal generating unit 117, and outputs sound.

1.5 memory card 300

As shown in FIG. 23 , the memory card 300 is composed of an information storage unit 301 , a control unit 302 , an input/output unit 303 and an authentication unit 304 .

The memory card 300 is specifically a computer system composed of a microprocessor, ROM, RAM and the like. Computer programs are stored in RAM. The memory card 300 realizes its functions through the operation of the microprocessor according to the computer program.

The memory card 300 is loaded onto an external device, receives information from the external device, and stores the received information therein. Alternatively, the memory card 300 reads information internally, and outputs the read information to an external device.

Here, the external device is one of the stationary game device 100 , the portable game device 200 and the server device 600 .

(1) Information storage unit 301

As shown in FIG. 23, the information storage unit 301 has an area for storing character data 321, a user ID 334, a restoration stage number 335, and a restoration step number 336.

The user ID 334 is identification information for uniquely identifying the user of the memory card 300. When the user purchased DVD 500 or cassette tape 400, user ID 334 was written in the memory card 300 by the sales equipment managed by the sales agent.

As shown in Figure 23, character data 321 is made up of following: character ID 322, race 323, sex 324, occupation 325, height 326, weight 327, hairstyle 328, eye shape 329, ear shape 330, life force 331, combat power 332 and funds 333. The role data is the same as described in the previous sections, so it will not be repeated here.

The recovery stage number 335 and the recovery step number 336 are also the same as those described in the previous section, so they will not be described here again.

(2) Control unit 302

The control unit 302 controls the authentication unit 304 to perform mutual device authentication with the external device before transmitting/receiving information to/from the external device. In the case of successful device authentication, the control unit 302 continues information transmission/reception with the external device, and in the case of device authentication failure, the control unit 302 stops information transmission/reception with the external device.

The control unit 302 receives information through the input/output unit 303 and writes the received information into the information storage unit 301 . The control unit 302 also reads information from the information storage unit 301 and outputs the read information to an external device through the input/output unit 303 .

Specifically, the control unit 302 receives the search result on the user ID from the stationary game device 100 or the portable game device 200 through the input/output unit 303 . When the received search result indicates that the user ID does not exist, the control unit 302 does not perform subsequent processing, and when the received search result indicates that the user ID exists, the processing continues.

In addition, the control unit 302 receives character data from the stationary game device 100 or the portable game device 200 through the input/output unit 303 and writes the received character data into the information storage unit 301 .

(3) Input/output unit 303

The input/output unit 303, under the control of the control unit 302, reads information from the information storage unit 301 and outputs the information to an external device, or receives information from an external device and writes the received information into the information storage unit 301.

(4) Identification unit 304

Before information transmission/reception between the control unit 302 and the external device loaded with the memory card 300, the authentication unit 304 performs mutual device authentication with the external device using a challenge-response method under the control of the control unit 302. Here, since the challenge-response method is well known, its description is omitted.

The authentication unit 304 outputs the device authentication result to the control unit 302 . In the case of failure in device authentication, the authentication unit 304 prohibits the control unit 302 from sending/receiving information to/from the external device, and in the case of successful device authentication, the authentication unit 304 allows the control unit 302 to send/receive information with the external device. take over.

1.6 cassette 401

As shown in FIG. 24 , the cassette 400 is composed of an information storage unit 401 and an input/output unit 402 .

(1) Information storage unit 401

As an example of the information storage unit 401 shown in FIG. 24 , the information storage unit 401 stores a fixed game program 411 , a fixed character processing program 451 and a fixed development item table 461 in advance. These are computer programs or computer data used in the portable game device 200, and constitute a game software program.

The game carried out by the portable game program 411 stored in the information storage unit 401, the portable character processing program 451 and the portable development item table 461, and the fixed game program 511 stored in the DVD 500, the fixed character processing program 551 and the fixed game program. The game played by the development table 561 is the same. Therefore, description of the game is omitted here.

The portable game program 411 is composed of a related information unit 421 , a program unit 431 and an object data unit 441 .

(Related Information Unit 421)

The relevant information unit 421 includes a game part 422, a game identifier AID 423, a public key APK 424, a game name 425, and audio information not shown in the figure.

The game section 422 indicates that the portable game program 411 is a game program for use in a portable game device.

The game identifier AID 423 is identification information for identifying the portable game program 411.

The public key APK 424 is generated by a public key generation method using a secret key. Here, the secret key corresponds to the game identifier found in the game information table 621 owned by the information storage unit 601 of the server device 600, which is the same as the game identifier AID 423. An example of the public key generation method is as described above.

The game title is a name for identifying a game realized by the portable game program 411 .

Audio messages are encoded data for character voices, music, and sound effects.

(program unit 431)

The program unit 431 includes: a computer program for portable games (hereinafter referred to as "portable main program"); a computer program for processing a frame image (hereinafter referred to as "portable frame processing program"); and a computer program for processing a battle scene computer programs (hereinafter referred to as "combat scene programs"). Every computer program consists of instructions in various machine language formats. The machine language format is a format to be decoded and executed by the main control unit 208 of the portable game device 200 (the main control unit 208 will be described in detail later). The portable main program, portable frame processing program and battle scene program are used by the main control unit 208 .

The portable frame handler is called for use by the portable main program. In addition, the battle scene program is called for use by the portable frame processing program.

The content of each computer program is described below. In order to make it easier to understand the contents of each computer program, the following description expresses the computer program by using a flowchart instead of expressing the computer program by using instructions in a machine language format.

(a) Portable main program

The portable main program is described below with the aid of the flowcharts of Figs. 25-26.

Here, the portable main program is not described in detail because it is similar to the fixed main program shown in Figs. 9-10.

The portable main program reads the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336, and writes the read restoration stage number and restoration step number into the main storage unit 210 (step S401).

The portable main program reads the character data 321 from the memory card 300, and writes the read character data into the main storage unit 210 (step S402).

Next, the portable main program extracts height and weight from the character data in the main storage unit 110, and updates the character object data stored in the main storage unit 210 so as to change the shape of the character according to the ratio of height and weight (step S403) .

Next, in step S405-step S424, the following steps S406-step S423 are repeated until the game stage indicated by "n" is completed by starting the game stage indicated by the recovery stage number.

(i) In step S406-step S413, the following steps S407-S412 are repeated until the game step indicated by "m" is completed by starting the game step indicated by the recovery step number.

It is judged whether the vitality written in the main storage unit 210 shows "0" (step S407).

When the vitality is determined to show "0" (step S407), a screen showing the end of the game is generated, and the generated screen is written into the frame buffer of the main storage unit 210 as a frame image (step S408). During the vertical retrace time, the frame image in the frame buffer is transferred to the VRAM 215 (step S409). Then, game over.

When the vitality is determined not to display "0" (step S407), it is judged whether the elapsed time in the game step exceeds the maximum value MAX (step S410), and when the elapsed time is determined to exceed the maximum value MAX (step S410) , the game step ends and operation proceeds to the next game step.

When the elapsed time is determined not to exceed the maximum value MAX (step S410), the elapsed time is counted (step S411), and the portable frame processing program is called, so that the control is transferred to the portable frame processing program, whereby a Frame image execution processing (step S412). After the processing of one frame of image ends, the operation returns to step S410 to repeat the processing.

(ii) Next, it is judged whether the height flag written in the main storage unit 210 is "ON" or "OFF" (step S414). If the height flag is determined to be "OFF" (step S414), control transfers to step S417. If the height flag is judged to be "on" (step S414), the value "10" is added to the height written in the main storage unit 210 (step S415).

(iii) Next, it is judged whether the weight flag written in the main storage unit 210 is "ON" or "OFF" (step S417). If the weight flag is determined to be "OFF" (step S417), control transfers to step S420. If the weight flag is judged to be "on" (step S417), the value "0.5" is added to the weight written in the main storage unit 210 (step S418).

(iv) Next, it is judged whether the vitality flag written in the main storage unit 110 is "on" or "off" (step S420). If the vitality flag is determined to be "OFF" (step S420), control transfers to step S422. If the vitality flag is judged to be "on" (step S420), the value "10" is added to the vitality written in the main storage unit 210 (step S421).

(v) Next, it is judged whether the combat power flag written in the main storage unit 210 is "ON" or "OFF" (step S422). If the combat power flag is judged to be "on" (step S422), the value "10" is added to the combat power written in the main storage unit 210 (step S423). If the combat power flag is judged to be "OFF" (step S422), nothing is executed.

(b) Portable frame handler

The portable frame processing procedure is described below with the aid of the flowcharts shown in Figs. 27-28.

Note that the portable frame handler is similar to the stationary frame handler shown in Figures 11 and 12, so a simplified description thereof is given below.

The portable frame processing program calculates the coordinate values (three-dimensional coordinates) of the current attacking object in the game space (step S431).

Next, the calculated coordinate value of the attack object is written into the main storage unit 210 (step S432).

Next, the operation instruction information corresponding to the button is received from the input unit 201, and the type of the received operation instruction information is judged (step S433).

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to any button of the up button, the down button, the left button and the right button (step S433), the following operations are respectively performed: the Y coordinate value of the character object is increased by "1" ( Step S434); reduce the Y coordinate value of the character object by "1" (step S435); reduce the X coordinate value of the character object by "1" (step S436); and increase the X coordinate value of the character object by "1" (step S437).

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to the stop button (step S433), control transfers to step S445.

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to the decision button (step S433), nothing is executed, and control shifts to step S439.

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to one of the other buttons (step S433), the processing corresponding to the button is executed (step S438), and then the portable frame processing program is ended.

When no operation instruction information has been received (step S433), nothing is performed, and control shifts to step S439.

Next, the combat program is called, whereby the control is transferred to the combat program in order to execute processing at the time of combat. Here, a detailed description of the combat processing is omitted because it is the same as in the flowcharts of FIGS. 13-14 (step S439).

When the combat processing is completed, the coordinate values of the character object are written into the main storage unit 110 (step S440).

Next, calculate the coordinates of the background object (step S441), and write the calculated coordinates of the background object into the main storage unit 110 (step S442).

Next, determine the background object and call the portable frame processing program (step S443). Then, determine the attack object and call the portable frame processing program (step S444). Then, determine the character object and call the portable frame processing program (step S451).

Next, during the vertical retrace time, the frame image in the frame buffer of the main storage unit 210 is transferred to the VRAM 215 (step S452). Next, the processing of the portable frame processing program ends.

When the received operation instruction information corresponds to the stop button (step S433), a save screen is generated, and the save screen includes a message for confirming the following to the user: 1) before the end of the game, should the character data, recovery The stage number and recovery step number are saved in the memory card 300; or 2) whether it is possible to end the game without saving the above information. Then, the generated saved screen is written in the frame buffer of the main storage unit 210 as a frame image (step S445). Next, during the vertical retrace time, the frame image of the frame buffer is transferred to the VRAM 215 (step S152).

Next, operation instruction information corresponding to the button is received from the input unit 201 . Here, the operation instruction information indicates whether to perform saving. Next, determine the type of the received operation instruction information (step S447).

When the received operation instruction information indicates that saving is not performed (step S447), the game processing ends.

When the received operation instruction information indicates to perform preservation (step S447), read height, weight, vitality, combat power, funds, recovery stage number and recovery step number (step S448) from the main storage unit 210, and use the read The character data 321 in the information storage unit 301 is rewritten by the height, weight, vitality, combat power and funds of the character. In addition, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 335 are overwritten with the read restoration stage number and restoration step number (step S449). Next, the processing of the portable frame processing program ends.

(c) Combat Procedures

The details of the combat procedure are the same as those shown in Figures 13-14. Therefore, its description is omitted here.

(object data unit 441)

As shown in FIG. 24 , the object data unit 441 includes character object data 442 , background object data 443 , attack object data 444 and other object data not shown in the figure.

Character object data 442, background object data 443, and attack object data 444 are three-dimensional curve data showing three-dimensional shapes of character objects, background objects, and attack objects for the portable game device, respectively.

(portable character handler 451)

As shown in FIG. 24 , the portable character processing program 451 is composed of program units 452 . The program unit 452 includes the portable image generation program shown below.

The Portable Image Generator is a computer program consisting of instructions in machine language format. These machine language formats are to be decoded and executed by the main control unit 208 in the portable game device 200 (the main control unit 208 will be described in detail later), and the portable image generation program is used by the main control unit 208 .

The contents of the portable image creation program are described below. In order to make it easier to understand the contents of the portable image generating program, the following description expresses the portable image generating program using a flowchart shown in FIG. 29 instead of using instructions in a machine language format. Therefore, the portable image generating program is explained below by means of this flowchart.

The portable image generating program reads the coordinates of the object to be generated from the main storage unit 210 (step S464).

Next, the portable image generation program reads corresponding object data from the main storage unit 210 (step S465).

Here, if the corresponding object data corresponds to the character object (step S466), the portable image generation program reads the height and weight from the main storage unit 210 (step S467), and corrects the read height and weight using the read height and weight. Fetched character data. Note that this correction is the same processing operation as the update performed at step S103 in the flowchart of FIG. 9 (step 8468).

Next, the object data is subjected to perspective projection transformation to generate wireframe data (step S471). Then, generate polygon data (step S472), perform hidden plane removal and hidden line removal processing (step S473), and generate shadow/shadow data (step S474)

(Portable Development Item Form 461)

As shown in FIG. 24 , the portable development item table 461 includes a height mark 462 , a weight mark 463 , a vitality mark 464 and a combat power mark 465 .

The height flag 462 indicates whether to allow height update of the character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is played in the portable game device 200 . The height flag 462 takes on or off values, where on indicates that height updates are allowed and off indicates that height updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 24 , the height flag 462 is set to off, which means that the height included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is not allowed to be updated while the game is being played in the portable game device 200 .

The above rules also apply to other signs.

The weight flag 463 indicates whether to allow weight update of character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is played in the portable game device 100 . Weight flag 463 takes on or off values, where on indicates that weight updates are allowed and off indicates that weight updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 24 , the weight flag 463 is set to off, which means that the weight included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is not allowed to be updated while the game is being played in the portable game device 200 .

The vitality flag 464 indicates whether to allow the vitality update of the character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is played in the portable game device 200 . The vitality flag 464 takes on or off values, where on indicates that vitality updates are allowed and off indicates that vitality updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 24 , the vitality flag 464 is set to ON, which means that the vitality included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is allowed to be updated during the progress of the game in the portable game device 200 .

The combat power flag 465 indicates whether or not combat power update is permitted for character data obtained from the server device 600 when the game is being played in the portable game device 200 . Combat power flag 465 takes on or off values, where on indicates that combat power updates are allowed, and off indicates that combat power updates are not allowed. Here in FIG. 24 , the combat power flag 465 is set to ON, which means that during the progress of the game in the portable game device 200, the combat power included in the character data obtained from the server device 600 is allowed to be updated.

1.7 Portable game equipment 200

As shown in Figure 30, portable game device 200 is made up of following: input unit 201, memory card input/output unit 202, cassette input/output unit 203, connection unit 205, main control unit 208, main storage unit 210, identification unit 212 , VRAM 215, video signal generation unit 216, electronic sound unit 217, system bus 218, liquid crystal display unit 220 and speaker 221.

Input unit 201, memory card input/output unit 202, cassette input/output unit 203, connection unit 205, main control unit 208, main storage unit 210, discrimination unit 212, VRAM 215, video signal generating unit 216 and electronic sounding unit 217 are connected to the system bus 218 respectively.

The portable game device 200 is connected to the stationary game device 100 through a cable 30 . In addition, the cassette 400 and the memory card 300 are loaded onto the portable game device 200 .

(1) Input unit 201

The input unit 201 has an up button, a down button, a left button, a right button, a decision button, a start button, a stop button, and other buttons. When an operation for each button is received from the user, operation instruction information corresponding to the button for the operation is generated and output to the main control unit 208 through the system bus 118 .

(2) Memory card input/output unit 202, cassette input/output unit 203 and connection unit 205

When the memory card 300 is loaded on the portable game device 200, the memory card input/output unit 202 is connected to the memory card 300, and under the control of the main control unit 208, reads information from the memory card 300 through the system bus 218 The read information is output to the main control unit 208 , received from the main control unit 208 via the system bus 218 , and written into the memory card 300 .

The cassette input/output unit 203 reads information from the cassette 400 under the control of the main control unit 208 , and outputs the read information to the main control unit 208 through the system bus 218 .

The connection unit 205 is connected to the stationary game device 100 through the cable 30 , receives information from the stationary game device 100 through the cable 30 , and outputs the received information to the main control unit 208 . The connection unit 205 also receives information from the main control unit 208 and outputs the received information to the stationary gaming device 100 through the cable 30 .

(3) Liquid crystal display unit 220 and speaker 221

The liquid crystal display unit 220 receives a video signal including a vertical retrace time and a horizontal retrace time from the video signal generation unit 216, and displays an image according to the received video signal.

The speaker 221 receives an audio signal from the electronic sound generating unit 217, converts the received audio signal into sound, and outputs the sound.

(4) Main storage unit 210

The main storage unit 210 is composed of RAM, and stores information such as a portable game program 231, a portable character processing program 235, a portable development item table 236, character data 237, recovery stage numbers, and recovery step numbers, as shown in FIG. 31 . The portable game program 231 includes a related information unit 232 , a program unit 233 and an object data unit 234 .

In addition, the main storage unit 210 is equipped with a frame buffer. A frame buffer has an area for storing one frame of image. A frame image consists of 64,000 pixels in a matrix structure (320 in vertical lines and 200 in horizontal lines).

(5) Identification unit 212

Before the main control unit 208 and the external device perform communication and information transmission/reception, the authentication unit 212 performs mutual device authentication with the external device connected to the portable game device 200 using a challenge-response method under the control of the main control unit 208 .

Here, the description of the challenge-response method is omitted because it is well known.

The authentication unit 212 outputs the device authentication result to the main control unit 208 . Under the situation of equipment authentication failure, authentication unit 212 prohibits main control unit 208 from communicating with external equipment and sending/receiving information to/from external equipment, and under the situation of equipment authentication success, authentication unit 212 allows main control unit 208 Communicate with external devices and send/receive information.

Here, the external device is one of the stationary game device 100 and the memory card 300 .

(6) Main control unit 208

The main control unit 208 is specifically composed of a microprocessor and a RAM not shown in the figure. RAM stores computer programs. The main control unit 208 realizes its functions through the operation of the microprocessor according to the computer program.

(menu display)

When the user turns on the portable game device 200, the main control unit 208 generates the same menu screen as the menu screen 160 of FIG. 22 . During the vertical retrace time, the main control unit 208 writes the generated menu screen into VRAM. The menu screen includes at least three options.

The first option is for commanding the execution of the portable game program 411 recorded in the cassette 400 . The second option is for ordering to obtain character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the stationary game device 100 , and to write the obtained character data into the memory card 300 . The third option is used to command other operations.

When the user selects any option, the main control unit 208 receives instruction information corresponding to the selected option from the input unit 201, and executes an operation corresponding to the received instruction information.

(game execution)

Upon receiving instruction information commanding execution of the portable game program 411 from the input unit 201 , the main control unit 208 controls the authentication unit 212 to perform device authentication with the memory card 300 . In a case where the device authentication is successful, the main control unit 208 executes game processing explained below. In the case of device authentication failure, the main control unit 208 does not execute game processing thereafter.

(game processing)

Next, the main control unit 208 reads the portable game program 411 from the cassette 400, writes the portable game program into the main storage unit 210, reads the portable character processing program 451, writes the portable character processing program 451 into the main storage unit 210, and reads The portable development item table 461, and write the portable development item table into the main storage unit 210. In addition, the main control unit 208 reads the character data 321 , the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 from the memory card 300 and writes the character data, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 into the main storage unit 210 .

Next, the main control unit 208 fetches instructions one by one from the fixed game program unit of the main storage unit 210 , decodes the fetched instructions, and executes the decoded instructions. Thereafter, the fetching, decoding, and execution of instructions are repeated.

(Acquisition operation of character data performed by stationary game device 100)

When the main control unit 208 received instruction information indicating to obtain the character data from the server device 600 through the stationary game device 100, and write the character data into the memory card 300, the main control unit 208 reads the data from the memory card through the memory card input/output unit 202. Read the user ID in 300, and read the game identifier AID and public key APK from the cartridge 400 through the cartridge input/output unit 203. Then, the main control unit 208 executes a digital signature SIG on the game identifier AID and the user ID using the public key APK, thereby generating signature data.

Next, the main control unit 208 transmits the user ID, the game identifier AID, and the signature data to the server device 600 via the stationary game device 100 and the Internet 20 .

The main control unit 208 receives the verification result of the digital signature from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 , the stationary game device 100 and the connection unit 205 . When the received verification result indicates failure, the main control unit 208 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, writes the generated display screen into the frame buffer as a frame image, and writes the frame during the vertical retrace time. The image is sent from the frame buffer to the VRAM 215, and processing ends.

When the received verification result indicates success, the main control unit 208 sends a communication command to the server device 600 through the connection unit 205, the stationary game device 100 and the Internet 20, so that the server device 600 communicates with the memory card 300. In addition, the main control unit 208 outputs a communication instruction to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 202 so that the memory card 300 communicates with the server device 600 .

Next, the main control unit 208 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 , the stationary game device 100 and the connection unit 205 . In addition, the main control unit 208 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 202 . When at least one of the received results indicates that the device authentication has failed, the main control unit 208 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, writes the generated display screen into the frame buffer as a frame image, and The frame image is transferred from the frame buffer to the VRAM 215 during the vertical retrace time and processing ends.

When the received two results show that the device authentication is successful, the main control unit 208 receives the user ID search result from the server device 600 through the Internet 20, the stationary game device 100 and the connection unit 205, and when the received search result shows that the user When the ID does not exist, the main control unit 208 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, writes the generated display screen into the frame buffer as a frame image, and writes the frame image from the frame buffer during the vertical retrace time. to the VRAM 215. The main control unit 208 also outputs the received search results to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 202, and ends the processing.

In addition, when the received search result indicates that the user ID exists, the main control unit 208 receives character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20, the stationary game device 100 and the connection unit 205, and transfers the character data through the memory card input/output unit 202. The received character data is output to the memory card 300 .

In addition, the main control unit 208 receives completion information indicating that writing of character data has been completed from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 202, and transmits the received completion information through the connection unit 205, the stationary game device 100, and the Internet 20. The information is sent to the server device 600 .

(Execution of Portable Role Handler)

The main control unit 208 also fetches instructions included in the portable character processing program stored in the main storage unit 210, decodes the fetched instructions, and executes the decoded instructions. The main control unit 208 repeats the fetching, decoding and execution of instructions.

(7) VRAM 215

The VRAM 215 has an area for storing an image of one frame. A frame image consists of 64,000 pixels in a matrix structure (320 in vertical lines and 200 in horizontal lines). Here, the frame image has the same size as the frame image stored in the frame buffer.

(8) Video signal generation unit 216

The video signal generating unit 216 repeats the following (a)-(b) every 1/60 second.

(a) Generate a vertical synchronization signal and output it to the liquid crystal display unit 220 . This time period is called "vertical retrace time".

(b) Repeat the following (b1)-(b3) 200 times (200 times correspond to the number of pixels in a vertical line of one frame image).

(b1) Pixels (320 pixels) on one horizontal line of one frame image are read from the VRAM 215 .

(b2) Using the read frame image, a video signal for one line and a horizontal synchronizing signal are generated.

(b3) Output the horizontal signal for one line and the horizontal synchronization signal to the liquid crystal display unit 220 .

(9) electronic sound unit 217 and loudspeaker 221

Under the control of the main control unit 208, the electronic sound unit 217 reads digital audio information from the main storage unit 210, decodes the read audio information, converts the decoded audio information into an analog audio signal, and converts the analog audio The signal is output to the speaker 221 .

The speaker 221 receives an audio signal from the electronic sound generating unit 217, converts the received audio signal into sound, and outputs the sound.

1.8 Convenience store terminal 700

As shown in FIG.

(1) Display unit 701 and input unit 702

The display unit 701 displays various types of information under the control of the control unit 703 .

The input unit 702 receives an instruction from the operator of the convenience store terminal 700 and outputs instruction information corresponding to the received instruction to the control unit 703 .

(2) Control unit 703

The control unit 703 receives instruction information instructing to obtain character data from the server device 600 from the input unit 702 . Upon receiving the instruction information, the control unit 703 transmits an authentication instruction for instructing mutual device authentication between the memory card 300 and the server device 600 to the server device 600 via the communication unit 705 and the Internet 20 . Then, the control unit 703 outputs the authentication instruction to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 704 .

Next, the control unit 703 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 705 . In addition, the control unit 703 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 704 . If at least one of the received results indicates that the device authentication has failed, the control unit 703 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, outputs the generated display screen to the display unit 701, and controls the display unit 701 to display the message. The screen is displayed, and processing ends.

When the two results received show that the device authentication is successful, the control unit 703 receives the game sales information from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 705, uses the received game sales information to generate a game list, and stores the generated game information. The list is output to the display unit 701, and the display unit 701 is controlled to display the game list.

Next, the control unit 703 receives the game identifier of the game selected by the user from the input unit 702, receives received information indicating that cash corresponding to the selected game has been received from the cash receiving unit 706, and transmits the information through the communication unit 705 and the Internet. 20 sends the received game identifier to the server device 600.

Next, the control unit 703 receives character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 705 , and outputs the received character data to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 704 .

(3) Memory card input/output unit 704

When the memory card 300 is loaded on the convenience store terminal 700, the memory card input/output unit 704 is connected to the memory card 300, and under the control of the control unit 703, information is read from the memory card 300 and the read output to the control unit 703 , or receive information from the control unit 703 and output the received information to the memory card 300 .

(4) Communication unit 705

The communication unit 705 is connected to the server device 600 via the Internet 20 , and transmits/receives information to/from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 .

(5) Cash receiving unit 706 and storage 707

The cash receiving unit 706 receives the cash amount corresponding to the sales price of the game selected by the user, and outputs receipt information indicating that the cash is received to the control unit 703 .

The hopper 707 stores cash received by the cash receiving unit 706 .

1.9 Operation of Game System 10

The operation of the game system 10 is described below.

(1) Operation of the stationary game device 100

Operations performed by the stationary game device 100 will be described below with the aid of a flowchart shown in FIG. 33 .

When the user turns on the stationary game device 100, the main control unit 108 generates the menu screen 160, and the monitor 120 displays the generated menu screen 160 (step S501).

When the user selects one of the options included in the menu screen 160, the main control unit 108 receives instruction information corresponding to the selected option from the operation controller 122 through the controller control unit 101 (step S502).

When the received instruction information indicates the display title list (step S503), the main control unit 108 reads a plurality of game titles from the DVD 500 and the mass storage unit 111 by the drive unit 103 (step S504), and generates A list of game titles composed of game titles, and then the monitor 120 displays the list of game titles (step S505).

When the user selects one of the game titles, the main control unit 108 obtains a game identifier corresponding to the selected game title from the operation controller 122 through the controller control unit 101 (step S506).

Next, the main control unit 108 controls the authentication unit 107 to perform device authentication with the memory card 300, and the authentication unit 107 performs device authentication (step S507). In a case where the device authentication is successful (step S508), the main control unit 108 executes game processing (step S509). Then, control returns to step S501 to repeat the process. In the case of device authentication failure (step S508), the game processing thereafter is not performed, and control returns to step S501 to repeat the processing.

When the main control unit 108 obtains from the server device 600 instruction information indicating to obtain character data and write the character data in the memory card 300 (step S503), the main control unit 108 executes the process of obtaining character data in the stationary game device 100 (step S510), and return to step S501 to repeat the process.

When receiving information indicating one of the other processing instructions (step S503), the main control unit 108 executes the processing indicated by the received information (step S512), and returns to step S501 to repeat the processing.

(2) Game processing performed by the stationary game device 100

The game processing performed by the stationary game device 100 will be described below using the flowchart of FIG. 34 . Note that the operations described below are more details of step S509 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 33 .

The main control unit 108 reads the fixed game program 511 from the DVD 500, writes the fixed game program 511 into the main storage unit 110 (step S531), reads the object data unit 541, and writes the object data unit 541 into the graphics storage unit 114 (step S532), read the fixed type role processing program 551, write the fixed type role processing program 551 into the graphics storage unit 114 (step S533), read the fixed type development item table 561, and write the fixed type development item table 561 into the primary storage unit 110 (step S534). In addition, the main control unit 108 reads the character data 321, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 from the memory card 300, writes the character data 321, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 into the main storage unit 110, and writes the The height and weight included in the read character data 321 are written in the graphic storage unit 114 (step S535).

Next, the main control unit 108 fetches instructions one by one from the program units of the fixed game program stored in the main storage unit 110 (step S536), decodes the fetched instructions (step S537), and executes the decoded instruction (step S538). Thereafter, control returns to step S536, whereby fetching, decoding, and execution of instructions are repeated.

(3) Character data acquisition operation performed by the stationary game device 100

The following uses the flowcharts of FIGS. 35-36 to describe the operations performed by the stationary game device 100 in obtaining character data from the server device 600 and writing the character data into the memory card 300 . Note that the operations described below are more details of step S510 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 33 .

Once receiving instruction information indicating to obtain character data from the server device 600 and to write the character data into the memory card 300 (step S601), the main control unit 108 reads the user data from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102. ID (step S602), read game identifier BID and public key BPK (step S603) from DVD 500 by drive unit 103, then utilize the read public key BPK to carry out digital signature to game identifier BID and user ID The SIG, thereby generating signature data (step S604), then transmits the user ID, game identifier BID, and signature data to the server device 600 via the communication unit 104 and the Internet 20 (step S605).

Control unit 602 receives user ID, game identifier BID and signature data (step S605) from fixed game device 100 through Internet 20 and communication unit 605, reads and receives from the game information table 621 that information storage unit 601 has. Get the secret key corresponding to the game identifier BID (step S606), and use the read secret key to perform digital signature verification "VRFY" on the game identifier BID, user ID and signature data, thereby obtaining the verification result (step S607). Next, the control unit 602 transmits the verification result obtained by the digital signature verification "VRFY" to the stationary game device 100 via the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 (steps S609, S610). When the verification result indicates failure (step S608), the control unit 602 does not perform processing thereafter.

In addition, the control unit 108 receives the verification result of the digital verification from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104 (step S609, step S610). When the received verification result indicates failure (step S611), the main control unit 108 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, writes the generated display screen into the frame buffer 106 as a frame image, and writes the instruction to The control signal that has been written into the register unit 109 is output to the graphics control unit 113, the screen display instruction is written into the register R0151 of the register unit 109, and the monitor 120 displays the frame image (step S612), and then the process ends.

When the received verification result indicates success (step S611), the main control unit 108 sends a communication instruction to the server device 600 through the communication unit 104 and the Internet 20, so that the server device 600 communicates with the memory card 300 (step S613), and the main control unit The unit 108 also outputs a communication instruction to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102, so that the memory card 300 communicates with the server device 600 (step S614).

When the verification result indicates success (step S608), the control unit 602 receives a communication instruction from the stationary game device 100 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 605 (step S613), and the server device 600 and the memory card 300 perform mutual device authentication (step S615 ).

The control unit 302 receives the device authentication result from the authentication unit 304, and outputs the received result to the stationary game device 100 through the input/output unit 303 (step S617). When the device authentication result indicates failure (step S619), the control unit 302 ends the processing.

Next, the main control unit 108 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104 (step S616), and also receives the result from the memory card input/output unit 102 through the memory card input/output unit 102. The card 300 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 (step S617). When at least one of the received results indicates that the device authentication has failed (step S620), the main control unit 108 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, and writes the generated display screen into the frame buffer 106 as a frame image , the control signal indicating that the command has been written into the register unit 109 is output to the graphics control unit 113, the screen display command is written into the register R0151 of the register unit 109, and the monitor 120 displays the frame image (step S621), and ends the process .

The control unit 602 receives the authentication result from the authentication unit 606, and transmits the received authentication result to the stationary game device 100 via the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 (step S616). Here, when the authentication result indicates failure (step S618), the control unit 602 does not execute the processing thereafter.

On the other hand, when the authentication result indicates success (step S618), the control unit 602 searches the received user ID in the user purchase information table 631 (step S622), and when the received user ID does not exist in the user purchase information table 631 When the user ID is found (step S623), the control unit 602 transmits a search result indicating this fact to the stationary game device 100 via the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 (step S624).

When the received two results indicate that the device authentication is successful (step S621), the main control unit 108 receives the search result about the user ID from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104 (step S624), and when the received When the search result indicates that the user ID does not exist (step S625), the main control unit 108 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, writes the generated display screen in the frame buffer 106 as a frame image, and writes the display screen indicating that the command has been The control signal written into the register unit 109 is output to the graphics control unit 113, and a screen display instruction is written into the register R0 151 of the register unit 109, and the monitor 120 displays the frame image (step S626). In addition, the main control unit 108 outputs the received search results to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102 (step S627), and then ends the process.

When the device authentication result indicates success (step S619), and the received search result indicates that the user ID does not exist (step S628), the control unit 302 ends the processing.

When the received user ID exists in the user purchase information table 631 (step S623), the control unit 602 reads the role data corresponding to the received game identifier from the game information table 621 (step S629), and The read character data is transmitted to the stationary game device 100 through the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 (step S630).

When the received search result shows that the user ID exists (step S625), then the main control unit 108 receives the role data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 104 (step S630), and passes the memory card input/output unit 102 to The received character data is output to the memory card 300 (step S631).

The control unit 302 receives the role data (step S631) by the input/output unit 303, writes the received role data into the information storage unit 301 (step S632), and when the writing is completed, indicates by the input/output unit 303 Completion information that writing is complete is output to the stationary game device 100 (step S633).

The main control unit 108 receives the completion information indicating that the character data writing is completed from the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 102 (step S633), and sends the received completion information to the server through the communication unit 104 and the Internet 20 device 600 (step S634).

Next, the control unit 602 receives completion information indicating that character data writing is completed from the stationary game device 100 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 605 (step S634), and performs billing processing for the user identified by the user ID (step S635) .

(4) Character data acquisition operation performed by the portable game device 200

The following uses the flowcharts of FIGS. 37-38 to describe the operations performed by the portable game device 200 in obtaining character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the stationary game device 100, and writing the character data into the memory card 300. .

The operations performed by the portable game device 200 in obtaining character data are almost the same as those performed by the stationary game device 100 in obtaining character data shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 35-36 , so detailed description is omitted below.

Operations performed by the portable game device 200 in the flowcharts of FIGS. 37-38 are used to replace the operations performed by the stationary game device 100 illustrated in the flowcharts of FIGS. 35-36. The portable game device 200 obtains character data from the server device 600 through the stationary game device 100 .

Comparing the flowcharts of FIGS. 37-38 and the flowcharts of FIGS. 35-36 , steps assigned reference numerals having the same four highest characters correspond to each other (for example, "S601").

(5) Game processing performed by the portable game device 200

The following describes game processing performed by the portable game device 200 using the flowchart of FIG. 39 .

The authentication unit 212 performs mutual device authentication with the memory card 300 (step S701). In the event that the device authentication fails (step S702), the portable game device 200 does not perform subsequent game processing.

In the case of successful device authentication (step S702), the main control unit 208 reads the portable game program 411 from the cassette 400, writes the read portable game program 411 into the main storage unit 210 (step S703), and reads the portable character The processing program 451 writes the read portable character processing program 451 into the main storage unit 210 (step S705), reads the portable development item table 461, and writes the read portable development item table 461 into the main storage unit 210 (step S705). Step S706). In addition, the main control unit 208 reads the character data, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 from the memory card 300, and writes the character data, the restoration stage number 335 and the restoration step number 336 into the main storage unit 210 (step S707) .

Next, the main control unit 208 fetches instructions one by one from the program units of the portable game program stored in the main storage unit 210 (step S708), decodes the fetched instructions (step S709), and executes the decoded instructions (step S710). Thereafter, the main control unit 208 returns to step S708, thereby repeating fetching, decoding, and execution of instructions.

(6) Character data acquisition operation performed by the convenience store terminal 700

The operation performed by the convenience store terminal 700 in obtaining character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and writing the character data into the memory card 300 will be described below using the flowchart of FIG. 40 .

The control unit 703 receives instruction information (step S801) from the input unit 702 indicating to obtain character data from the server device 600, and through the communication unit 705 and the Internet 20, the identification of the mutual device authentication between the instruction execution memory card 300 and the server device 600 The instruction is sent to the server device 600 (step S802), and the authentication instruction is output to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 704 (step S803).

The server device 600 and the memory card 300 perform mutual device authentication (step S804).

The control unit 602 transmits the authentication result of the device authentication to the convenience store terminal 700 via the communication unit 605 and the Internet 20 (step S805). When the authentication result indicates failure (step S807), the control unit 602 does not execute the processing thereafter.

In addition, the input/output unit 303 outputs the authentication result of the device authentication to the convenience store terminal 700 (step S806). When the authentication result indicates failure (step S808), the control unit 302 does not execute the processing thereafter.

When the authentication result indicates success (step S807), the control unit 602 reads all game sales information from the game sales information table 641 (step S809), and sends the read game sales information to The convenience store terminal 700 (step S810).

Next, the control unit 703 receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 from the server device 600 via the Internet 20 and the communication unit 705 (step S805), and also receives the device authentication result between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 (step S805). Identification result (step S806). When at least one of the received results indicates that the device authentication has failed (step S820), the control unit 703 generates a display screen to display a message indicating this fact, outputs the generated display screen to the display unit 701, and controls the display unit 701 to display the display screen (step S821), and end the processing.

When the two results received show that the device authentication is successful (step S820), the control unit 703 receives the game sales information from the server device through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 705 (step S810), and uses the received game sales information to generate game list, output the generated game list to the display unit 701, and control the display unit 701 to display the game list (step S811).

Next, the control unit 703 receives the game identifier of the game selected by the user from the input unit 702 (step S812), and receives receipt information indicating that cash corresponding to the selected game has been received from the cash receiving unit 706 (step S813) , and transmit the received game identifier to the server device 600 through the communication unit 705 and the Internet 20 (step S814).

Next, the control unit 602 receives the game identifier from the convenience store terminal 700 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 605 (step S814), reads the character data corresponding to the game identifier from the game information table 621 (step S815), and communicates Unit 605 and Internet 20 transmit the read character data to convenience store terminal 700 (step S816).

Next, the control unit 703 receives character data from the server device 600 through the Internet 20 and the communication unit 705 (step S816), and outputs the received character data to the memory card 300 through the memory card input/output unit 704 (step S817).

The control unit 302 receives character data from the convenience store terminal 700 through the input/output unit 303 (step S817), and writes the received character data into the information storage unit 301 (step S818).

2. Summary

As described so far, the stationary game device and the portable game device of the present invention have their own game software program, and by storing the game software program on a recording medium suitable for the corresponding game device, it is provided to user.

In addition, character data representing features of characters appearing in the game, such as in-game shape and ability, are stored in the memory card.

The stationary game device and the portable game device read game software programs from their own recording media and character data from memory cards, respectively, so as to play games according to the corresponding game software programs. During the progress of the game, the character appearing in the game is made to have the shape and ability represented by the character data read from the memory card.

In this way, in stationary game devices and portable game devices having mutually different specifications in aspects such as system architecture, type and number of internal processors, and screen display capabilities, it is possible to make the same character appear during the same game .

During the game, the character's shape and abilities change in various ways.

For example, when the user pauses the game on the stationary gaming device in the middle of a game session, the stationary gaming device stores character characteristics such as abilities and shape in the memory card along with information indicating when the game was suspended. When the user resumes the game on the portable game device, the portable game device reads character characteristics such as abilities and shape from the memory card, and information indicating when the game was suspended, and and shape characters appear to continue the game, and vice versa.

In this way, the user can play a game in one of the stationary game device and the portable game device, and after a pause, he can continue the same game in the other game device.

3. Other modification examples

So far, the present invention has been described based on the embodiments. Needless to say, however, the present invention should not be limited to the above-described embodiments, and includes the following cases.

(1) As a modified example of the game system 10, the game system 10a may be composed of a stationary game device 100a, a portable game device 200a, a memory card 300a, a cassette 400a, a DVD 500a, a server device 600a, and a convenience store terminal 700a.

In the game system 10a, the following structures are possible. That is, when character data is obtained from the server device 600a and written into the memory card 300a, the server device 600a encrypts the character data thereby generating encrypted character data, and transmits the encrypted character data. In response, the memory card 300a receives the encrypted character data, decrypts the received encrypted character data to thereby generate character data, and stores the generated character data.

The structure of fixed game device 100a, portable game device 200a, memory card 300a, cassette 400a, DVD 500a, server device 600a and convenience store terminal 700a is similar to the corresponding part in game system 10 respectively, i.e. fixed game device 100, portable Game device 200, memory card 300, cassette 400, DVD 500, server device 600, and convenience store terminal 700. The following description focuses on the differences between them.

The server device 600a also includes an encryption unit, and stores therein a character key associated with the character data. The memory card 300a also includes an encryption unit. DVD 500a also stores therein media unique information unique to that DVD. The cartridge 400a also stores therein unique information unique to the cartridge. Here, the media unique information and the cassette unique information are respectively stored in areas that cannot be rewritten.

(a) Next, using FIG. 41, the operation performed in obtaining character data from the server device 600a by the stationary game device 100a and writing it into the memory card 300a will be described.

The server device 600a obtains the unique information of the medium from the DVD 500a (step S851), uses the obtained medium unique information as a key to perform the encryption algorithm E2 on the role key, thereby generating an encrypted role key (step S853), and passes The stationary game device 100a sends the encrypted character key to the memory card 300a.

In addition, the server device 600a executes the encryption algorithm E1 on the character data using the character key as a key, thereby generating encrypted character data (step S852), and transmits the encrypted character data to the memory card 300a through the stationary game device 100a. (step S854).

The memory card 300a receives the encrypted character data from the server device 600a through the stationary game device 100a (step S854), and receives the encrypted character key (step S855).

The memory card 300a obtains the medium unique information from the DVD 500a through the fixed game device 100a (step S856), uses the obtained medium unique information as a key to perform the decryption algorithm D2 on the encrypted role key, thereby generating the role key ( Step S857). Next, the memory card 300a executes the decryption algorithm D1 on the encrypted character data using the generated character key as a key, thereby generating character data, and saves the generated character data therein (step S858).

When the program is executed, the memory card 300a outputs the character data stored therein to the stationary game device 100a (step S859).

Here, an example of the encryption algorithm E1 is elliptic curve encryption whose security is guaranteed based on the discrete logarithm problem. In addition, the decryption algorithm D1 is an algorithm for decrypting the ciphertext generated by the encryption algorithm E1.

In addition, an example of the encryption algorithm E2 is based on DES (Data Encryption Standard). In addition, the decryption algorithm D2 is an algorithm for decrypting the ciphertext generated by the encryption algorithm E2.

(b) Operations performed in obtaining character data from the server device 600a and writing it to the memory card 300 by the stationary game device 100a and the portable game device 200a will be described below using FIG. 42 .

The server device 600a obtains the unique information of the cassette from the cassette 400a (step S861), and uses the obtained unique information of the cassette as a key to perform the encryption algorithm E2 on the role key, thereby generating an encrypted role key (step S863), and The encrypted character key is transmitted to the memory card 300a through the stationary game device 100a and the portable game device 200a (step S865).

In addition, the server device 600a executes the encryption algorithm E1 on the character data using the character key as a key, thereby generating encrypted character data (step S862), and transmits the encrypted character data through the stationary game device 100a and the portable game device 200a. Send to the memory card 300a (step S864).

The memory card 300a obtains encrypted character data from the server device 600a through the stationary game device 100a and the portable game device 200a (step S864), and receives the encrypted character key (step S865).

The memory card 300a obtains the unique information of the cassette from the cassette 400a through the portable game device 200a (step S866), and uses the unique information of the cassette as a key to perform the decryption algorithm D2 on the encrypted role key, thereby generating the role key (step S867) . Next, the memory card 300a executes the decryption algorithm D1 on the encrypted character data using the generated character key as a key, thereby generating character data, and stores the character data therein (step S868).

During execution of the game, the memory card 300a outputs the character data saved therein to the portable game device 200a (step S869).

(c) According to the above modification example, without the DVD 500a or the cassette 400a, the encrypted character key cannot be decrypted, and therefore the encrypted character data cannot be decrypted either. Therefore, the security of character data transmission is improved.

(2) In the embodiment, when the memory card 300 acquires character data from the server device 600, the server device 600 performs billing processing for the user regarding the amount of money corresponding to the provided character data. However, the memory card 300 may further have an electronic money function, receive billing information on the amount of money from the server device 600, and perform billing processing within the memory card 300 based on the received billing information.

The memory card 300 stores its own secret key, and electronic money that can be used instead of money, in an area where external access is prohibited. In addition, the memory card 300 prestores an accounting source ID for identifying the server device 600 . Furthermore, the server device 600 stores in advance a public key corresponding to the secret key of the memory card 300, and also stores an accounting source ID for identifying itself.

Billing processing performed between the server device 600 and the memory card 300 is described below using the flowchart of FIG. 43 . Note that the accounting processing described here is an alternative to step S635 in the flowchart of FIG. 36 .

The server device 600 calculates the billing amount (step S872), obtains the billing source ID (step S872) for identifying the server device 600, and uses the public key of the memory card 300 obtained in advance to pair the billing amount and the billing source ID The digital signature SIG is executed, thereby generating signature data (step S873), and the billing amount, billing source ID and signature data are sent to the memory card 300 via the Internet 20 and the stationary game device 100 (step S874-step S875).

The memory card 300 performs digital signature verification VRFY on the billing amount, billing source ID, and signature data using the secret key prestored in the memory card 300 (step S876). When the verification result indicates failure (step S877), the memory card 300 sends failure information indicating verification failure to the server device 600 through the stationary game device 100 and the Internet 20 (step S878-step S879).

When the verification result indicates success (step S877), the memory card 300 further judges whether the pre-stored billing source ID is consistent with the received billing source ID, and when they are inconsistent with each other (step S880), the fixed game device 100 and the Internet 20 transmit failure information indicating this fact to the server device 600 (step S882-step S883).

When they coincide (step S880), the memory card 300 subtracts the received billing amount from the electronic money stored therein (step S881).

(3) In the above embodiments, the game system includes a stationary game device and a portable game device. However, the game system may include a personal computer instead of a stationary game device, and may include a portable information terminal device and a portable phone instead of a portable game device. In this case, the personal computer will be designed to have the same structure as the stationary game device, and the portable information terminal device and the portable phone will be designed to have the same structure as the portable game device.

In addition, in the above-described embodiments, the game system includes a stationary game device and a portable game device. However, the gaming device may include another stationary gaming device instead of a portable gaming device having a different internal structure from the stationary gaming device.

(4) In the above embodiments, the game system includes a stationary game device and a portable game device. However, the game system may include: a game device A produced by a manufacturer A instead of a stationary game device; and a game device B produced by a manufacturer B instead of a portable game device.

Here, it is assumed that game device A and game device B are different in many respects, such as system architecture, type and number of internal processors, and screen display capabilities. For example, it is assumed that the game device A has the same structure as the stationary game device of the above-mentioned embodiment, and the game device B is assumed to have the same structure as the portable game device of the above-mentioned embodiment.

Also in this case, as in the embodiment, each game device can cause the same character to appear during the same game progress.

(5) In the above-described embodiments, the character data indicating the characteristics of the character is changed during the game. When the game is paused, the changed character data is written to the memory card. Alternatively, however, it is possible to write only the difference in character data between the initial state and the changed state to the memory card.

(6) Each game software program can be constructed so that the degree of change of character data varies with different game devices.

For example, the following configurations are possible. That is, the weight flag is set to ON for both the stationary development chart and the portable development chart, and the stationary main program includes instructions for increasing the weight by "1.0" in step S118 of FIGS. 9-10. Also, the portable main program includes an instruction to increase the body weight by "0.5" initially as shown in step S418 of FIGS. 25-26.

With the above configuration, it is possible to change the degree of character development according to the type of game device by changing the degree of character data for each type of game device.

In addition, the fixed game development item table and the portable development item table may include character data change degrees.

Specifically, the following configurations are possible. In the fixed progression table, the weight flag is associated with a degree of 1.0 indicating the change in the character's weight. The fixed main program reads the degree 1.0 indicating the degree of change in the character's weight at step S118 in FIGS. 9-10, and includes an instruction to increase the weight by the read degree 1.0.

In addition, it is possible to have multiple characters appear in one game, and each character has its own progression sheet, and the multiple progression sheets will be stored on DVD or cassette.

(7) In the above-described embodiments, each of the fixed development item table and the portable development item table is configured to be prestored in the DVD 500 or the cassette 400. However, these tables may not necessarily be pre-stored in DVD 500 or cassette 400, and are written into memory card 300 when they are to be used, as follows.

First, the server device 600 stores in advance a fixed development item table and a portable development item table associated with the game software.

The memory card 300 obtains the fixed development item table and the portable development item table from the server device 600 by one of the following paths: through the fixed game device 100 and the Internet 20; through the portable game device 200, the fixed game device 100 and the Internet 20; and Through the convenience store terminal 700 and the Internet 20 . Then, the memory card 300 stores therein the fixed development item table and the portable development item table.

The stationary game device 100 reads the fixed game development table from the memory card 300 for use, and the portable game device 200 reads the portable development table for use.

Here, the stationary game device 100 and the portable game device 200 may be configured to rewrite a corresponding one of the stationary development table and the portable development table stored in the memory card 300 according to a user's operation instruction.

When multiple characters appear in the game, and multiple characters have correspondingly multiple development item tables, it is possible to pre-store some development item tables in DVD or cassette, and obtain other development item tables from the server device, and They are stored to the memory card.

(8) In the above embodiment, the fixed development item table and the portable development item table are respectively stored in the DVD 500 and the cassette 400, the fixed game device 100 reads the fixed type development item table from the DVD 500 for use, and the portable The game device 200 reads the portable development table from the cartridge 400 for use. However, it is also possible to write these tables into the memory card 300 for use, as described below.

The memory card 300 obtains the fixed development item table or the portable development item table from the DVD 500 or the cassette 400 through the fixed game device 100 or the portable game device 200, and stores the obtained fixed development item table and the portable development item table.

Thereafter, the stationary game device 100 reads the fixed development table from the memory card 300 for use, and the portable game device 200 reads the portable development table from the memory card 300 for use.

Here, the fixed game device 100 and the portable game device 200 can respectively rewrite the fixed development item table and the portable development item table stored in the memory card 300 according to the user's operation instruction.

(9) The present invention may be any of the methods described above. The present invention may also be a computer program realized by executing these methods on a computer, or a digital signal composed of the computer program.

In addition, the present invention may be a computer program or a digital signal recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, such as a floppy disk, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an MO, a DVD, a DVD-ROM, a DVD-RAM, a BD (Blu-ray Disc), etc. ) and semiconductor memory. In addition, the present invention may be a computer program or a digital signal recorded in these recording media.

In addition, the present invention may be a computer program or a digital signal transmitted through an electronic communication circuit, a wireless/wired communication circuit, a network represented by the Internet, data broadcasting, or the like.

Also, the present invention may be a computer system equipped with a microprocessor and a memory in which a computer program is stored and the microprocessor operates in accordance with the computer program.

In addition, the present invention can be executed on another independent computer system by transmitting the program or digital signal in a form recorded on any recording medium, or by transmitting the program or digital signal via a network or the like.

(10) The present invention may be any combination of the embodiments and modified examples.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention can be applied in a manageable, continuous and repeated manner in the industry that provides computer game software to users, and in the production and sale of stationary game devices, portable game devices, and computer systems that can execute computer game software in the industry.

Claims (14)

1, a kind of games system comprises first game execution apparatus and second game execution apparatus with mutually different internal structure, wherein

Described first game execution apparatus comprises:

The first program reading unit is used for reading first games of indicating the process of playing from the first game records medium;

First role's reading unit is used for reading from portable recording medium the character data of the role's that occurs of the described recreation of indication feature;

First input block is used for receiving input operation from the user; And

The first recreation performance element, be used for according to the described input operation of receiving with by the indicated described process of described first games at described first input block, carry out described recreation, and according to the described character data that is read by described first role's reading unit described role is appeared in the described recreation, and

Described second game execution apparatus comprises:

The second program reading unit is used for reading from the second game records medium second games of process of the described recreation of indication;

Second role's reading unit is used for reading described character data from described portable recording medium;

Second input block is used for receiving input operation from described user; And

The second recreation performance element, be used for according to the described input operation of receiving with by the indicated described process of described second games at described second input block, carry out described recreation, and described role is appeared in the described recreation according to the described character data that is read by described second role's reading unit.

2, a kind of game execution apparatus of playing according to games comprises:

The program reading unit is used for reading the games of indicating the process of playing from the game records medium;

Role's reading unit is used for reading from portable recording medium the character data of the role's that occurs of the described recreation of indication feature;

Input block is used for receiving input operation from the user; And

The recreation performance element is used for carrying out described recreation according to described input operation and described process, and according to described character data described role is appeared in the described recreation.

3, game execution apparatus according to claim 2 also comprises:

Request unit is used for from the described character data of server apparatus request;

Acquiring unit is used for obtaining described character data by network from described server apparatus; And

Writing unit, the character data that is used for being obtained writes described portable recording medium.

4, game execution apparatus according to claim 2 also comprises:

Discriminating unit is used to check the reliability of described portable recording medium, wherein

When guaranteeing described reliability, described role's reading unit reads described character data.

5, game execution apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

In the described game records medium also storage be used to indicate whether to allow change the License Info of described role's feature,

Described role's reading unit also reads described License Info from described game records medium, and

When the License Info that is read was indicated for certain, along with the carrying out of described recreation, described recreation performance element changed described role's feature, and worked as the License Info that is read when indicating in the negative, and described recreation performance element forbids changing described role's feature.

6, game execution apparatus according to claim 5 also comprises:

Role's writing unit is used for when described recreation performance element changes described role's feature, and character data rewrites the described character data in the described portable recording medium after the change of the feature of the described role after changing with indication, wherein

Described role's reading unit also reads described change back character data from described portable recording medium, and

Along with the carrying out of described recreation, described recreation performance element according to the change of being read after character data change described role's feature.

7, game execution apparatus according to claim 5 also comprises:

Writing unit, the License Info that is used for being read writes described portable recording medium.

8, game execution apparatus according to claim 5, wherein

Also store explicitly for described role in the described game records medium and allow the degree that changes with described License Info, and

Along with the carrying out of described recreation, described recreation performance element changes described role's feature according to the degree of the described change of storing in the described game records medium.

9, a kind of portable recording medium comprises:

Memory cell, the wherein character data of the role's who occurs in the storage indication recreation feature;

Discriminating unit is used to check the reliability of game execution apparatus; And

Output unit is used for when guaranteeing described reliability, reads described character data from described memory cell, and the character data that is read is outputed to described game execution apparatus.

10, a kind of game actuating method that uses by game execution apparatus, the games of the process that described game execution apparatus is played as indicated carry out described recreation, and described game actuating method comprises:

The program read step is used for reading the games of indicating the process of playing from the game records medium;

Role's read step is used for reading from portable recording medium the character data of the role's that occurs of the described recreation of indication feature;

Input step is used for receiving input operation from the user; And

Game execution step is used for carrying out described recreation according to described input operation and described process, and according to described character data described role is appeared in the described recreation.

11, a kind of recreation performing a programme that uses by game execution apparatus, the games of the process that described game execution apparatus is played as indicated carry out described recreation, and described recreation performing a programme is carried out described game execution apparatus:

The program read step is used for reading the games of indicating the process of playing from the game records medium;

Role's read step is used for reading from portable recording medium the character data of the role's that occurs of the described recreation of indication feature;

Input step is used for receiving input operation from the user; And

Game execution step is used for carrying out described recreation according to described input operation and described process, and according to described character data described role is appeared in the described recreation.

12, recreation performing a programme according to claim 11 also makes described game execution apparatus carry out:

Request step is used for from the described character data of server apparatus request;

Obtain step, be used for obtaining described character data from described server apparatus by network; And

Write step, the character data that is used for being obtained writes described portable recording medium.

13, recreation performing a programme according to claim 12 is recorded in the computer readable recording medium storing program for performing.

14, a kind of computer readable recording medium storing program for performing is wherein stored by the employed recreation performing a programme of the game execution apparatus of playing according to games, and described games are indicated the process of described recreation, wherein

Described recreation performing a programme is carried out described game execution apparatus:

The program read step is used for reading the games of indicating the process of playing from the game records medium;

Role's read step is used for reading from portable recording medium the character data of the role's that occurs of the described recreation of indication feature;

Input step is used for receiving input operation from the user; And

Game execution step is used for carrying out described recreation according to described input operation and described process, and according to described character data described role is appeared in the described recreation.

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