Video game system, video game apparatus, controlling method therefor and a recording medium for video game program

• US 20050192100A1
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Haruo Asano, Hiroshi Udagawa, Kohei Nojiri, Koichiro Ishigami, Masato Nakamura, Yoichi Kobayashi
• Original Assignee: Haruo Asano, Hiroshi Udagawa, Kohei Nojiri, Koichiro Ishigami, Masato Nakamura, Yoichi Kobayashi
• Inventors: Ishigami, Koichiro, Nakamura, Masato, Udagawa, Hiroshi, Kobayashi, Yoichi, Nojiri, Kohei, Asano, Haruo
• Application Number:
  US11/119,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192100A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/49 Saving the game status; Pausing or ending the game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/95 Storage media specially adapted for storing game information, e.g. video game cartridges
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/30 characterized by output arrangements for receiving control signals generated by the game device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/554 by saving game or status data

Abstract

In progressing a video gate in accordance with a game software program read out from a video game program recording medium and in converting the contents for printing into printing data, which is printed, the printer driver stored in a non-volatile memory is to be updated to enable the printing by the latest printer driver. To this end, as a printer driver is read from the video game program recording medium at step S11, the version of the printer driver as read out is checked at step S12. If the printer driver as read out is of a new version, the printer driver in the memory card is updated at step S13.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A video game system in which a video game is progressed in accordance with a game software program read out from a video game program recording medium and, if there exist contents to be printed in the course of the progress of the video game, the contents are converted into printing data to be printed, said system comprising:

a video game apparatus which comprises;

video game software program readout means for reading out a video game software program from a video game program recording medium, having recorded thereon said video game software program, said video game software program being made up of a main portion of the video game software program, printing contents data and a printer driver for printing said printing contents data;

a non-volatile memory for storing a printer driver along with information on game progress;

printer driver updating means for updating the printer driver stored in said non-volatile memory by the new printer driver contained in the game software program read out by said video game software program readout means; and

printing controlling means for reading out the printer driver stored in said non-volatile memory to a work memory and for converting the printing contents data read out from said video game program recording medium by said video game software program readout means into printing data by using the printer driver on said work memory to output the printing data; and

a printing apparatus for printing said printing data;

wherein said printer driver includes;

a common engine module for performing a process which is not dependent on the printer type, and a plurality of dedicated engine modules, each corresponding to a respective type of printer, for performing a process which is dependent on the printer type.

wherein, in the respective modules, there are included the module sort information and the version information as the ancillary information.