Online crane game system and point processing method for online crane game system

Abstract

To provide an on line crane game that grants a game point which can be invested to a next game to a player who participates in the game on-line without the player receiving an acquired commodity.SOLUTION: An on line crane game system that provides an online crane game service comprises: an arm control unit 3-3-2 by which a user controls moving operations of catcher arms 2-1, 2-2 for acquiring a commodity which the user brought and lifting operations of catcher arms 2-1, 2-2 according to operations commanded by the player on a first data terminal 1, with commodities housed in an online tower game machine and the player viewing a moving image that shows the interior of the online tower game machine distributed from an operator; and a point granting unit 3-3-5 that grants a game point instead of an acquired commodity.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an online crane game system for remotely controlling a crane game machine online, and a point processing method for the online crane game system. [Background technology]

[0002] Among the various types of game machines available at amusement parks, crane game machines allow customers to drop coins into them, and the player operates a joystick to move the clamping member attached to the crane, causing the clamping member to move the desired amount in the XY directions on a flat surface, and once the position for the clamping part to descend is determined, the clamping part descends toward the product the player wants to pick up from a pile of products inside the game machine, for example, and the four legs of the clamping part open at a wide angle stop in a somewhat wide range that includes the target product. As the clamping part closes and gradually moves upwards, if the tower part is lucky enough to move to the product receiving port without the target product falling, the four legs will open and the player will be able to pick up the product. The playability of the game is enhanced by competing to see who can descend the clamping part to the appropriate position when various products are stacked. The products placed in the tower game machine are configured so that the degree of difficulty can be adjusted by adjusting the placement position and placement angle to different degrees.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses that "in order to provide a prize acquisition game device that makes it difficult for a player to recognize the behavior of the arm's gripping operation, the crane game machine 100 is equipped with a play field 2 on which a prize P is placed, a gripping device 200 having an arm 203 for gripping the prize P and capable of moving within the play field 2, an operation lever 81 and an operation button 82 that can be operated by a player, and a control unit 300 that moves the gripping device 200 in response to operation of the operation lever 81 and the operation button 82 and controls the gripping operation of the arm 203. The control unit 300 is capable of executing control in the gripping operation of the arm 203 to perform a gripping operation of the arm 203 with a second gripping force that is smaller than a set first gripping force, and then changing from the second gripping force to the first gripping force."

[0004] Meanwhile, in online crane game systems, unlike the crane game machine described in Patent Document 1 above, there are models that have a configuration in which the product cannot be lifted until a product storage box is placed on a product placement platform and the center of gravity is determined by operating the handle of the arm. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7162318 [Non-patent literature]

[0006] [Non-Patent Document 1] https: / / game.boom-app.com / entry / onkure-dmm?utm_source=ranking&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=onkure-dmm Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Meanwhile, an online crane game system has been put into practical use in which a video of the tower game machine described in Patent Document 1 above is made public, and the tower game machine is remotely controlled using a device connectable to a network, causing a stored product to be dropped into an insertion slot, and the product is delivered to the user operating the tower game machine.

[0008] However, many players are not interested in the items they have won, and would prefer not to have the items delivered, but would rather exchange them for online points to bet on the next game and concentrate on further tower games.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an online crane game system and a point processing method for an online crane game system, in which an operator brings an item into the online tower game machine, the player operates the online crane game machine with a data terminal while watching a broadcast video of the online tower game machine, and if the player is ultimately able to lift the item and drop it into the removal port, the item can be bought back and game points that can be invested in the next game can be returned to the player. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The online crane game system of the present invention for achieving the above object comprises the following configuration.

[0011] The online crane game system of the present invention provides an online crane game service by communication between a first data terminal operated by a player and a server device which controls the movement of the catcher arm of the crane game machine via a specified communication medium, and the server device is characterized in that it comprises: a camera which captures a video of the appearance of the crane game machine and the movement of the catcher arm; a distribution means which distributes the video captured by the camera to a second data terminal; an arm control means which controls the movement of the catcher arm and the raising and lowering movement of the catcher arm to acquire the product in accordance with actions instructed by the player on the first data terminal while the player is viewing the distributed video, with a specified product contained in the online tower game machine; a judgment means which judges whether a buy button has been pressed from the first data terminal at the timing when it is detected that the product has been lowered into the removal port; and a point return means which, when it is judged by the judgment means that the buy button has been pressed, returns the points inserted for the product to the first data terminal as buy points. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, there is provided an online crane game system and a point processing method for the online crane game system which, when a product is won by the catcher arm of the crane game machine, determines whether or not there is a buy-back instruction from the user, and can return game points which can be invested in the next game to the player without the player receiving the won product. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] The drawings show specific embodiments of the present invention, including essential features of the invention as well as alternative and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a hard crane game to which the present embodiment can be applied. [Diagram 2]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen of the online crane game system according to the embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of an online crane game system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 1 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an online crane game system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a program configuration of the server device shown in FIG. [Figure 6] 5 is a flowchart for explaining online processing on the first data terminal side in the point processing method for the online crane game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 7] 5 is a flowchart for explaining online processing on the server device side in the online crane game system according to the present embodiment. [Figure 8] 5 is a flowchart for explaining online processing on the server device side in the online crane game system according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0015] <System configuration> [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is an external view showing an example of a hard crane game to which this embodiment can be applied.

[0016] In Fig. 1, 10 denotes a crane-type game machine, in which the catcher body can be moved left and right or forward and backward by the user operating a left and right button 7, a front and back movement button 8, and a catch button 9. 2-1 and 2-2 denote catcher arms, which are configured to open when the catch button 9 is operated.

[0017] Reference numerals 5-1 and 5-2 denote loading bars that support the products, and are configured so that the interval between them can be adjusted according to the size of the products 6 to be placed. Also, there may be cases where a limit is set on the weight of the products 6 that can be placed on the bars, depending on the strength of the loading bars 5-1 and 5-2.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen of the online crane game system according to this embodiment, which is displayed when a player operating the first data terminal 1 operates the crane game machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 while looking at the screen of the data terminal, thereby remotely operating the hard crane game machine shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a first data terminal, which corresponds to a state in which a game operation screen presented by a server device that manages a crane type game machine 10 provided by an online crane game site is displayed.

[0020] Reference numerals 10-2 and 10-3 denote catcher arms which correspond to the catcher arms 2-1 and 2-2 shown in FIG. 1 and are configured so that the arms open when a catch button 10-9 is operated.

[0021] By operating a left / right button 10-7, a front / back movement button 10-8, and a catch button 10-9, the user can move the catcher arm portions 10-2, 10-3 left / right or front / back.

[0022] Reference numeral 10-6 denotes a product, which is placed so that both ends of the mounting rods 10-4 and 10-5 are hanging on it, thereby maintaining a stable stopped state. Also, there may be a limit set on the weight that can be placed on the product 10-6, depending on the strength of the mounting rods 10-4 and 10-5. Reference numeral 10-10 denotes a buy-back button, which functions as a button for instructing the server device 3 to buy back a product acquired by the player. Reference numeral 10-11 denotes a point indicator, which dynamically displays the points held and the points returned in association with the purchase of a product.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an outline of the online crane game system according to the present embodiment.

[0024] In this embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which a player operates the first data terminal 1 to log in to the server device 3, and then a player screen provided by the server device 3 is displayed on the display unit, allowing the player to select one of the hardware game machines NCG1 to NCG3 to play on. The configuration for controlling the hardware game machines NCG1 to NCG3 will be described later with reference to Fig. 4. In addition, the game device is provided with an update function that adds the purchase points refunded from the server device 3 to the currently displayed user points to update the points available for betting, and the update function is configured to also enable points minus the refund fee to be added to the user points.

[0025] In this online crane game system, merchandise provided by the operator is placed on the hardware game machines NCG1 to NCG3, and when the player is able to get the merchandise through a game using the first data terminal 1 operated by the player, if the player presses a buy back button to receive points, instead of shipping the merchandise, the points allocated to the purchased merchandise are added and displayed on the screen of the first data terminal 1 operated by the player during the game.

[0026] 4 is a block diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the online crane game system according to the present embodiment. This example corresponds to an example of an online tower game system in which a first data terminal 1, a second data terminal 4, and a server device 3 are connected to a network 2.

[0027] In the first data terminal 1 operated by a player participating in the online crane game, 1-1 is a CPU which executes a BIOS stored in ROM 1-2 to control devices connected to the internal bus. 1-3 is a RAM which executes various data processing operations by the CPU 1-1 executing programs stored in ROM 1-2 and applications 1-3-1 downloaded via network 2. 1-5 is a communication unit which communicates via network 2 using a specified protocol.

[0028] In the second data terminal 4 operated by an operator who puts up items for sale in the online crane game, 4-1 is a CPU which executes a BIOS stored in a ROM 4-2 to control devices connected to the internal bus. 4-3 is a RAM which performs various data processing operations by the CPU 4-1 executing programs stored in the ROM 4-2 and applications downloaded via the network 2. 4-5 is a communication unit which communicates via the network 2 using a predetermined protocol.

[0029] An application for remotely operating the crane game machine 10 shown in Fig. 1 is provided to the first data terminal 1 operated by a player participating in the online crane game. Note that the normal login (password, user ID) operation when starting the application in the first data terminal 1 is a well-known process, and details will be omitted. Also, the server device 3 manages the registration information of each player, and has a memory for storing the currently held points that can be used for playing.

[0030] In the server device 3, the CPU 3-1 expands applications stored in the ROM 3-2 and an external memory (not shown) into the RAM 3-3 and executes them to perform various functions including a network communication function, an online tower game service function, an electronic billing function, and a point redemption function based on product purchases.

[0031] 3-4 is an input / output interface (I / O), which controls the movement of the crane arm and the lowering operation of the catcher part via the device interface based on the button press state on the screen operated by the player of the first data terminal 1 of the hardware game machines NCG1 to NCG3, which correspond to the crane type game machine 10 shown in Figure 1.

[0032] In the hardware game machine NCG1, a camera 11 captures an image of the entire crane game machine 10 as a field of view, and also zooms the imaging lens to capture an image of the placement of the products put up for sale by the operator, and distributes the video to the first data terminal 1.

[0033] Reference numeral 12 denotes a game controller, which includes a sensor 12S and detects that a placed product has been dropped into a predetermined drop box by the operation of an arm 13, and notifies the CPU 3-1 of the server device 3 of that effect.

[0034] In the hardware game machine NCG2, a camera 21 captures an image of the entire crane game machine 10 with a viewing angle, and also zooms the imaging lens to capture an image of the placement of the product put up for sale by the operator, and delivers the video to the first data terminal 1.

[0035] Numeral 22 denotes a game controller, which includes a sensor 22S, detects that a placed product has been dropped into a predetermined drop box by the operation of an arm 23, and notifies the CPU3-1 of the server device 3 of that fact. Note that it is assumed that a product different from the hardware game machine NCG1 is placed on the game machine.

[0036] In the hardware game machine NCG3, a camera 31 captures an image of the entire crane game machine 10 as a field of view, and also zooms the imaging lens to capture an image of the placement of the product put up for sale by the operator, and delivers the video to the first data terminal 1.

[0037] Reference numeral 32 denotes a game controller, which includes a sensor 32S, detects that a placed product has been dropped into a predetermined drop box by the operation of an arm 33, and notifies the CPU 3-1 of the server device 3 of that fact. Note that it is assumed that a product different from the game hardware machines NCG1 and NCG2 will be placed on the game machine.

[0038] Fig. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the program configuration of the server device 3 shown in Fig. 4. It is assumed that the hardware game machine NCG1 shown in Fig. 4 is controlled. Also, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in Fig. 4.

[0039] In FIG. 5, 3-3-1 denotes a distribution unit which distributes a moving image captured by a camera 11 to a first data terminal 1 via a network 2.

[0040] 3-3-2 is an arm control unit which, when a user-brought product is contained within the online tower game machine, controls the movement of the catcher arms 10-1, 10-2 and the raising and lowering movement of the catcher arms 10-1, 10-2 to acquire the product in accordance with the actions instructed by the player on the first data terminal 1.

[0041] 3-3-3 is an instruction section which judges whether or not the user's brought goods are to be dropped into the goods delivery port based on the output of the sensor 12S, and issues a goods delivery instruction to the second data terminal 4, for example, by e-mail.

[0042] 3-3-4 is a judgment section which judges whether or not the player operating the first data terminal 1 has pressed the cash button to instruct the purchase of the acquired product, and notifies the server device 3 of the result of the judgment.

[0043] 3-3-5 is a point redemption unit which, when the judgment unit 3-3-4 judges whether the player operating the first data terminal 1 has pressed the redemption button to instruct the purchase of the acquired product, performs a process of returning game points equivalent to the redemption amount allocated to the acquired product as user points.

[0044] When shipping the product, the customer can choose between anonymous shipping and named shipping.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the online processing on the side of the first data terminal 1 in the point processing method of the online crane game system according to this embodiment. Note that (1) to (9) indicate each step, and each step is realized by the CPU 1-1 of the first data terminal 1 executing a program stored in the ROM 1-2.

[0046] A player operates a first data terminal 1 to connect to a service site provided by a server device 3, and then executes a login process based on user registration information. If the server device 3 determines that the login is OK (1), the player obtains a list of items being offered for sale (2), selects a gaming machine that has the item the player wants to get, and confirms a bet to start the game (3).

[0047] Next, the player presses the game start button (not shown) while looking at the screen shown in FIG. 2 (4), and the catcher body shown in FIG. 1 is prepared to move.

[0048] Next, the player operates buttons 10-7, 10-8, and 10-9 displayed on the first data terminal 1 to determine whether or not he has been able to obtain the product 10-6 placed on the placement rods 10-4 and 10-5 based on the response from the server device 3 (5). If it is determined that he has not been able to obtain the product 10-6, the process returns to step (3) and the process is repeated.

[0049] On the other hand, if it is determined in step (5) that the product 10-6 placed on the mounting rods 10-4 and 10-5 has been obtained, it is determined (6) whether or not a purchase instruction for the product 10-6 has been received from the operator operating the second data terminal 4. If it is determined that a purchase instruction has been received, a request is made to the server device 3 to purchase the product 10-6 (7). When the user points are updated by the server device 3 (8), the process is terminated.

[0050] On the other hand, if it is determined in step (6) that a purchase instruction has not been received, or if it is determined that an instruction to end the game has been given (9), this process is terminated.

[0051] 7 and 8 are flowcharts for explaining online processing on the server device 3 side in the online crane game system according to this embodiment. Note that (21) to (34) indicate each step, and each step is realized by the CPU 3-1 of the server device 3 executing a program stored in the WEB service program stored in the ROM 3-2 and a memory (not shown).

[0052] The game processing will be explained below assuming that when a player operates the first data terminal 1 to connect to an open screen provided by the online crane game system, the player connects to a URL as an unregistered player.

[0053] First, the CPU 3-1 of the server device 3 judges whether or not the connection from the first data terminal 1 is requesting player registration (21). If the CPU 3-1 judges that the connection from the first data terminal 1 is requesting player registration, it presents a registration user interface on a WEB page, performs player registration, issues the registered user ID to the first data terminal 1 (22), and returns to step (21).

[0054] On the other hand, if the CPU 3-1 determines in step (21) that the request is not for player registration, the CPU 3-1 of the server device 3 determines (23) whether the connection from the second data terminal 4 is requesting product registration, and if it determines that the request is not for product registration, the process proceeds to step (26).

[0055] On the other hand, if the CPU 3-1 determines in step (23) that it is product registration, it presents a product registration user interface on a web page, registers the product, and assigns points to be consumed in the game together with the product ID linked to the NCG1 (24). Next, the CPU 3-1 determines a bet value for each product, lines up the products in a management information memory (not shown), registers the products (25), and proceeds to step (26).

[0056] Next, the CPU 3-1 determines whether or not the already registered player is OK to log in as requested on the game start screen presented by the server device 3 based on the registered user information (26), and if it determines that the player is not a properly registered player, it terminates the process.

[0057] On the other hand, if in step (26) the CPU 3-1 determines that the player is a registered player, the CPU 3-1 presents a list of gaming machines to the first data terminal 1, and upon confirming that one of the gaming machines (selected by NCG1) has been selected (27), it activates the camera 11 installed on the selected gaming machine and accepts button operations on the operation screen displayed on the first data terminal 1 (28).

[0058] During this time, the CPU 3-1 judges whether the sensor 12S has detected that the products placed on the placement rods 10-4, 10-5 have descended to the product removal port (whether the product has been obtained) (29), and if the CPU 3-1 judges that the product has not been obtained, it judges whether a re-bet has been placed from the first data terminal 1 as a game fee in order to resume the game (30). If the CPU 3-1 judges that a re-bet has been placed, the process returns to step (27) and resumes the ongoing game.

[0059] On the other hand, if the CPU 3-1 determines in step (30) that a re-bet has not been placed, it determines whether the player wishes to sell the product he or she has pressed the cash button on the screen displayed on the first data terminal 1 (31). If the CPU 3-1 determines that the cash button has been pressed, it calculates the points to be returned for the purchase of the product he or she has won (32). Next, the CPU 3-1 adds the calculated points to the user points of the player operating the first data terminal 1 (33), and ends the process.

[0060] On the other hand, if in step (31) the CPU 3-1 determines that the cash button on the screen displayed on the first data terminal 1 has not been pressed, it notifies the player by email that the acquired product has been delivered (34), and terminates the process.

[0061] [Effects of the first embodiment] According to this embodiment, a player can freely construct a system in which, while watching a live video of the online crane game machine, he or she can operate the online crane game machine on a data terminal, and if the player is ultimately able to lift an item and drop it into the outlet, the item can be bought back and game points that can be invested in the next game can be returned to the player.

[0062] Second Embodiment In the above embodiment, a process was described in which if a player does not wish to have an acquired product delivered, the points are returned to the player to be used in the game. However, a process may also be incorporated in which the points returned for the acquired product and any remaining points can be used to request delivery of other products.

[0063] [Effects of the second embodiment] According to this embodiment, players can have exchangeable goods delivered using points they own and points that can be converted into cash, thereby improving product turnover while providing players with an opportunity to acquire convenient goods.

[0064] The present invention can also be realized by supplying a program (including the procedures (steps) shown in Figures 7 and 8) that realizes one or more of the functions of the above-mentioned embodiments to a system or device via a network 2 or a storage medium, and having one or more processors in a computer of the system or device read and execute the program. It can also be realized by a circuit (e.g., an ASIC) that realizes one or more functions. It can also be configured as a point processing method for the online crane game system shown in Figures 7 and 8. The disclosure regarding the present invention described above can be summarized at least in the following points.

[0065] (1) An online crane game system that provides an online crane game service by communication between a first data terminal operated by a player and a server device that controls the movement of the catcher arm of a crane game machine via a specified communication medium, wherein the server device comprises: a camera that captures a video of the appearance of the crane game machine and the movement of the catcher arm; a distribution means that distributes the video captured by the camera to a second data terminal; an arm control means that controls the movement of the catcher arm and the raising and lowering movement of the catcher arm to acquire the product in accordance with actions instructed by the player on the first data terminal while the player is viewing the distributed video, with a specified product contained in the online crane game machine; a judgment means that judges whether a buy button has been pressed from the first data terminal at the time when it is detected that the product has been lowered into an outlet; and a point return means that, when it is determined by the judgment means that the buy button has been pressed, returns the points inserted for the product to the first data terminal as buy points.

[0066] (2) The first data terminal is characterized by comprising an update means for updating the points available for betting by adding the buy-back points returned from the point return means to the currently displayed user points.

[0067] (3) The updating means is characterized in that it adds points minus a refund fee to the user points.

[0068] (4) A point processing method for an online crane game system in which a first data terminal operated by a player and a server device which controls the movement of the catcher arm of a crane game machine communicate with each other via a specified communication medium to provide an online crane game service, the server device comprising: a photographing step of photographing the exterior of the crane game machine and the movement of the catcher arm as a video with a camera; a distribution means for distributing the video photographed by the camera to the second data terminal; an arm control step of controlling the movement of the catcher arm and the raising and lowering movement of the catcher arm to acquire the product in accordance with actions instructed by the player on the first data terminal while a specified product is contained in the online crane game machine and the player is viewing the distributed video; a judgment step of judging whether a buy button has been pressed from the first data terminal at the timing when it is detected that the product has been lowered into an outlet; and a point return step of returning the points inserted for the product to the first data terminal as buy points if it is determined in the judgment step that the buy button has been pressed. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1 First Data Terminal 3. Server equipment 4 Second Data Terminal

Claims

1. An online crane game system for providing an online crane game service by communicating, via a predetermined communication medium, between a first data terminal operated by a player and a server device for controlling movement of a catcher arm of a crane game machine, The server device includes: a camera for capturing a video of the exterior of the crane game machine and the operation of the catcher arm; a distribution means for distributing the video captured by the camera to a second data terminal; an arm control means for controlling the movement of a catcher arm and the raising and lowering of the catcher arm to capture a predetermined product in accordance with a gesture instructed by the player on the first data terminal while the player is viewing the distributed video, while a predetermined product is contained within the online crane game machine; a determination means for determining whether or not a buy button has been pressed on the first data terminal at the timing when it is detected that the product has been lowered to the take-out port; a point redemption means for redeeming the points inserted for the product as redemption points to the first data terminal when the determination means determines that the purchase button has been pressed; An online crane game system comprising:

2. The first data terminal comprises:

2. The online crane game system according to claim 1, further comprising an update means for updating the points available for betting by adding the purchase points returned from the point return means to the currently displayed user points.

3. 3. The online crane game system according to claim 2, wherein the updating means adds the points obtained by subtracting a refund fee to the user points.

4. A point processing method for an online crane game system that provides an online crane game service by communicating between a first data terminal operated by a player and a server device that controls movement of a catcher arm of a crane game machine via a predetermined communication medium, comprising: The server device includes: a photographing step of photographing an external view of the crane game machine and an operation of the catcher arm as a video by a camera; a distribution means for distributing the video captured by the camera to the second data terminal; an arm control step of controlling the movement of the catcher arm and the lifting and lowering of the catcher arm to capture a predetermined product in accordance with a gesture instructed by the player on the first data terminal while the player is viewing the distributed video, while a predetermined product is contained within the online crane game machine; a determination step of determining whether or not a buy button has been pressed on the first data terminal at the timing when it is detected that the product has been lowered to the take-out port; a point redemption step of redeeming the points inserted for the product as redemption points to the first data terminal when it is determined in the determination step that the purchase button has been pressed; A point processing method for an online crane game system, comprising:

Images