Video game machine, video game machine server, and video game machine system

• US 20060052163A1
• Filed: 06/23/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Konami Gaming Incorporated (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Konami Corporation (Konami Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Aida, Eiji
• Application Number:
  US11/160,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052163A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/814 Musical performances, e.g. by evaluating the player's ability to follow a notation
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/90 Constructional details or arrangements of video game devices not provided for in groups A63F13/20 or A63F13/25, e.g. housing, wiring, connections or cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/50 characterized by details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8047 Music games

Abstract

A video game machine is disclosed which includes an image display unit for displaying game images, a touch screen for displaying operating elements used to operate the game, an attribute data memory, an attribute data output unit, an attribute assignment unit, and an assignment signal input unit for starting the attribute assignment unit. The attribute assignment unit receives a signal from the assignment signal input unit, reads attribute data for one attribute from the attribute data memory, associates the one attribute to an operating element having one function, and outputs the result as an image to the touch screen.

Claims

1. A video game machine comprising:

an image display unit which displays game images for a video game;

a touch screen which displays a plurality of operating elements which each have a single function and are used by a player to operate the video game, the touch screen arranged to be physically separate from the image display unit;

an attribute data memory which stores attribute data for the plurality of operating elements, the attribute data capable of providing each of the plurality of operating elements with a different attribute;

an attribute assignment unit which assigns attribute data for one attribute stored in the attribute data memory to each of the plurality of operating elements;

an assignment signal input unit which starts the attribute assignment unit; and

an attribute data output unit which outputs the assigned attribute data from the attribute data memory to the touch screen;

wherein the attribute assignment unit receives a signal from the assignment signal input unit, assigns attribute data for one attribute stored in the attribute data memory to each operating element, and outputs each assigned attribute data as an image to the touch screen.

2. The video game machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiving unit which receives attribute data over a network, and outputs the received attribute data to the attribute data memory.

3. The video game machine of claim 1, wherein the touch screen outputs an operating signal when each of the plurality of operating elements is operated by the player;

and

the image display unit displays an image associated with each operating signal output from the touch screen.

4. The video game machine of claim 1, wherein the attribute is one selected from the group consisting of the position, shape, pattern, color, size, appended text characters, and function description of each operating element.

5. A video game machine server, comprising:

a storage unit capable of communicating with at least one video game machine over a network, the storage unit storing attribute data for a plurality of operating elements which each have a single function, are displayed on a touch screen of the video game machine, and are used to operate the video game machine, the attribute data capable of providing each of the plurality of operating elements with a different attribute; and

a transmitting unit which sends attribute data to a receiving unit of the video game machine.

6. A video game machine system, comprising:

at least one video game machine and the server of claim 5;

the video game machine comprising;

a receiving unit which receives the attribute data from the server over a network;

an attribute data memory which stores the attribute data received by the receiving unit;

an image display unit which displays game images for a video game;

a touch screen which displays a plurality of operating elements which each have a single function and are used by a player to operate the video game, the touch screen arranged to be physically separate from the image display unit;

an attribute assignment unit which assigns attribute data for one attribute stored in the attribute data memory to each of the plurality of operating elements;

an assignment signal input unit which starts the attribute assignment unit; and

an attribute data output unit which outputs the assigned attribute data from the attribute data memory to the touch screen;

wherein the attribute assignment unit receives a signal from the assignment signal input unit, assigns attribute data for one attribute stored in the attribute data memory to each operating element, and outputs each assigned attribute data as an image to the touch screen.