JP3268602B2 - Game console system using memory cartridge and optical disk memory - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a memory cartridge and a memory cartridge.
Optical disk memory (hereinafter referred to as "CD-ROM")
Game machine system using, in particular, having an image processing function like a video game machine and as an information storage medium
The game is a combination of the memory cartridge and a CD-ROM about the <br/> line Uge over-time system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, information media storing game data include a memory cartridge (or memory card) having a built-in semiconductor memory (read only memory) and a CD-R.
OM is used. CD-RO as information storage medium
If you use M, you need a CD-R on your home video game machine.
An OM playback device is connected. As a CD-ROM reproducing device, for example, "CD-ROM2" for a video game machine (trade name "PC Engine") manufactured by NEC Home Electronics Co., Ltd. is known.

In a game machine system using these CD-ROM playback devices, a ROM card storing a startup program for the CD-ROM playback device is mounted on the game machine body, and the CD-ROM playback device is connected to the game machine. , CD-
After transferring the data in the ROM to the semiconductor RAM which can be accessed at high speed, the arithmetic processing unit (CPU) executes the game process by accessing the RAM at high speed. Here, comparing the characteristics of the CD-ROM and the semiconductor memory ,
Although CD-ROM has several tens to several hundreds times the capacity of the semiconductor ROM so large storage capacity example, several hundred megabytes because read time is longer than that of the semiconductor memory, the movement of the image than has been accessed directly Alternatively, the change is delayed, and the game property is impaired. In contrast, semiconductor memory
Although the storage capacity is small at 8 megabits (1 megabyte) or less, the access time is short, and it can sufficiently follow quick movements and changes of images for games. In view of the above, the above-mentioned prior art uses an image processing program for controlling image display data for a game (that is, font data of a plurality of characters of a moving image and a background image) on a CD-ROM having a slow access time. And audio data for generating game music and sound effects are stored in advance, and these data are stored in a program provided in association with the game machine at a desired timing before the start of the game or during the game. RAM, video RAM, sound RA
M and transferred to a semiconductor RAM such as M.

[0004]

However, in the prior art, if a small-capacity semiconductor RAM is provided in connection with a game machine, it is necessary to frequently transfer data stored in a CD-ROM or to interrupt the game. The responsiveness of the game operation is poor, and the image change is slow. On the other hand, if a large-capacity semiconductor RAM is provided, it becomes extremely expensive. In addition, since a program for image processing is also stored on the CD-ROM, if a user who is not familiar with precautions for use, such as an infant or an elementary school student, touches the CD-ROM with a finger or the like, data is destroyed. This is likely to cause an undesired game processing operation to be executed. This is because, in the case of an image processing program, even a small portion of data or a change in data becomes another operation instruction code, which appears as a different operation, and in some cases, the effect that the original game progress cannot be realized may occur. Because there is. Therefore, in the game machine, it is highly necessary to store and hold the image processing program in a highly reliable state.

[0005] On the other hand, the characters of the background image and the moving image appear only as a slight color difference or a change in the character design even if some data is lost or changed in the font data. There is no big effect as ghost. All game data is stored in semiconductor memory.
If ask stored in memory, since the memory capacity is small, there is a limit to the number of characters that can be used in image representation and 1 game software, there is a limit to the creation of a diverse game. Also,
Memory card as an information storage medium that stores
When using a cartridge and a CD-ROM together,
If the ridge and CD-ROM are not in a predetermined relationship,
Since the original operation of the software cannot be achieved,
Unless after verifying that the relationship, abnormal behavior
Will do.

[0006] The main object of therefore, this invention provides an erroneous
Cartridge and CD-RO which are not in a predetermined relationship
Memory that does not behave abnormally when M is used
An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine system using a cartridge and a CD-ROM .

Another object of the present invention is to take a long time to develop a program such as an image processing program, store data requiring reliability in a semiconductor memory , and take less time to develop such as image data and audio data. Provides a game machine system using a memory cartridge and a CD-ROM , in which a large amount of data is stored in a CD-ROM so that diverse game software can be efficiently developed. That is.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a memory cartridge is inserted.
Insertion slot is formed and the memory cartridge is
Optical system for game machines where
A disk memory playback device is provided in association with the
Memory cartridges and optical discs as information storage media
In combination with game the Kumemori a row Uge over-time system, and an optical disk memory, the memory cartridge
When provided with a gaming machine having a processing hand stage.

The optical disk memory has a storage capacity of
Large capacity and relatively slow access times
Ri, and an image data storage area for storing image data for displaying a plurality of character data image image for the game, the
Optical disk memory and other optical disk memory
A first identification storing first identification data for distinguishing
Data storage area . Memory cartridge
Access is smaller than optical disk memory
Includes semiconductor memories that are relatively fast in time. The semiconductor memory <br/> includes a first game process program storage area for storing a first program for the game image processing, optical de
A read program storage area for storing a program for controlling a disk memory reproducing device to read and control data in an optical disk memory;
Second identification data indicating that the response relation is a predetermined relation
And a second identification data storage area for storing

[0010]

The arithmetic processing means is provided in the first optical disk memory.
Identification data and the second identification stored in the semiconductor memory.
A collation with another data is executed, and the first identification data and the second
When it is determined that the identification data has a predetermined relationship,
A first game processing program stored in a semiconductor memory
Start the execution of the program, and
It controls the reading of the image data from the scientific disc memory.

[0011]

According to the present invention, an optical disk memo is provided.
First identification data for distinguishing the disk memory from other disk memories.
Data and store the data on the optical disc memory in the semiconductor memory.
A second identification indicating that the correspondence relationship with is a predetermined relationship
Since data is stored, the memory cartridge and optical
Operate only when the discipline disk memory is in the specified relationship
Memory cards that can be
The use of cartridges and optical disk memory
The resulting abnormal operation can be prevented. In addition, since the processing program for image processing is stored in the semiconductor memory , the processing program can be stored and held in a highly reliable state, and can be used by rough users such as infants and elementary school students. There is no destruction of the processing program and no change in data, no undesired image processing, no significant loss in the commercial value of the game software, and a large amount of image data such as characters in moving images and background images.
Since the images are stored in the CD-ROM having a large capacity, various images can be displayed .

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment for explaining the principle of the present invention. In the figure, the video game machine 10 includes a central processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as “CPU”) as an example of an arithmetic processing unit. The CPU 11 includes an edge connector 12 for connecting a ROM cartridge 20, which will be described later, and an image processing unit (hereinafter, referred to as “PPU”) 1.
3. An audio processing unit (APU) 14 and a working RAM (W-RAM) 15 for temporarily storing transfer data and processing data during arithmetic processing are connected. PPU13
Has a video RAM for storing font data of a moving image character and a background character for displaying an image.
(V-RAM) 16 is connected. The APU 14 has a sound RAM (S-RA) for storing audio data.
M) 17 is connected. Further, an operation device 18 operated by the player is connected to the CPU 11. The operation device 18 includes various switches for instructing the moving direction of the hero character in the game, selecting commands displayed on the screen, and instructing operations such as jumping and punching of the character.

[0013] In connection with the video game machine 10, together with R OM cartridge 20 is removably mounted, (hereinafter referred to as "CD-ROM") optical and disk memory 25
CD-ROM playback device 30 that reads out the stored data of. The ROM cartridge 20 is configured by housing a circuit board (not shown) on which a semiconductor read only memory (hereinafter, “ROM”) 21 is mounted in a cartridge case (not shown). The CD-ROM playback device 30 includes a drive mechanism 31 and a conversion / transfer control circuit 32. The drive mechanism 31 includes a drive system for driving the CD-ROM 25 to rotate, and a pickup system for reading data recorded optically on the CD-ROM 25. The conversion / transfer control circuit 32 transfers the data read by the drive mechanism 31 or converts the format of the data to give to the TV game machine 10.

Next, the details of the ROM cartridge 20 and the CD-ROM 25 will be described with reference to FIG. The semiconductor ROM 21 has a smaller storage capacity (for example, about 1 to 8 megabits) as compared with the CD-ROM 25, is extremely low in data changes and omissions, requires high reliability, and requires a small storage capacity. Various program data is stored. As the storage data of the semiconductor ROM 21, a storage area 21a storing a program for reading and controlling the recording data of the CD-ROM 25, a storage area 21b storing a game processing program, and an interruption processing program are stored. It includes a storage area 21c and a storage area 21d for storing important data (for example, main map data, important image data, important audio data, etc.), and preferably a storage area 21 for storing a collation program.
e is further included. Specifically, the game processing program stored in the storage area 21b includes a main routine program for the game, and a game processing program that stores each character based on the font data of the moving image character and the background character stored in the CD-ROM 25. An image processing program for deciding which coordinate position to display in which scene, and a sound processing program for arithmetic processing for generating sound based on sound data, and the like.

The CD-ROM 25 has a large storage capacity of several hundred megabytes, which is much larger than that of the semiconductor ROM 21, and optically stores data that does not require high reliability but requires a large capacity. . Specifically, C
As shown in FIG. 2, the D-ROM 25 includes an image data storage area 25a and an audio data storage area 25b. The image data storage area 25a stores font (dot) data of characters on a large number of screens constituting a moving image and a background image, and background display position designation data for designating a display position of a background character. Voice data storage area 2
5b stores PCM (pulse code modulation) data relating to audio data such as game music or sound effects. The data stored in the storage area 25a is transferred to the V-RAM 16 at the start of the game or at a certain timing during the game, and the data stored in the storage area 25b is transferred to the S-RAM 17 at the same timing. . More preferably, CD-ROM 25 includes a storage area 25c for storing a program of a subroutine that is not frequently used, a storage area 25d for storing submap data, an identification code storage area 25e, and the like. The storage areas 25c and 25c
The program or data stored in d is transferred to the W-RAM 15 and used as needed.

As described above, the game processing program is stored in the semiconductor ROM 21 and the image data and audio data are stored in the CD-ROM 25 for the following reasons.
When the game processing program is stored in the CD-ROM 25, when a user such as an elementary school student who does not pay sufficient attention to handling touches the CD-ROM 25 with a finger, a partial data reading error occurs, and This is because there may be a large influence on the progress (for example, the game stops in the middle of the game, moves differently from the original operation, or operates as if there is a so-called program bug). In addition, since the game processing program is manually created by a key input by a development designer, it takes time to create the program, and it takes a long time to develop a large capacity,
The image data and the audio data are only slight changes in the characters and slight changes in the generated sounds, and do not greatly affect the progress of the game. Further, the image data requires a large capacity in order to realize diversification of the game in accordance with a demand for an increase in the type of the character or an increase in the size of the character, and furthermore, the creation of the character data is easy. Similarly, if PCM audio is used for audio data, it is highly necessary to use a large-capacity memory. Therefore, if the information storage medium is changed according to the type of data as in this embodiment, it is advantageous in the development of game software.

On the other hand, the collation program is stored in the semiconductor ROM 21 and the identification code is stored in the CD-ROM 25 for the following reasons. Since the image data and the audio data are stored in the CD-ROM 25 and the game processing program is stored in the semiconductor ROM 21, the original operation of the game software cannot be achieved unless the ROM cartridge 20 and the CD-ROM 25 have a predetermined relationship. So
Only after verifying that the two are in the specified relationship,
It will behave abnormally. Therefore, in this embodiment, the identification data corresponding to the identification code of the CD-ROM 25 is stored in the storage area 21e, and the collation program is executed prior to the start of the game to check that the two have a predetermined relationship. are doing. Here, the identification code may be a game name, a game maker name, a product, a symbol, or the like. Note that the identification data of the semiconductor ROM 21 and the CD-
The identification codes of the ROM 25 may be made to correspond one-to-one, but a game that can share a certain part of the game processing program of one semiconductor ROM 21 (for example, a basic program of a baseball game is used, In a case where a game is performed based on data obtained by updating player personal data for each team, the ratio can be 1: N. In this case, a program that cannot be shared, such as player data by year or by team, is stored in the CD-ROM 25.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention. Next, a specific operation will be described according to a flowchart with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG.

Prior to the start of the game, the ROM cartridge 20 is mounted on the edge connector 12 of the game machine 10, and the CD-ROM playback device 30 having the CD-ROM 25 is connected to the game machine 10. Then, the operation starts when a power switch (not shown) is turned on. First,
In step (indicated by an abbreviated symbol “S” in the drawing) 1, the CPU 11 drives the drive mechanism 31 based on the read program stored in the storage area 21a, and stores the identification code stored in the storage area 25e. Is read and loaded into the W-RAM 15. CPU11
Executes the collation program stored in the storage area 21e in the subsequent step 2 to determine whether or not the identification data and the identification code stored in the semiconductor ROM 21 have a predetermined relationship, and determine that the predetermined relationship exists. Then, the data reading operation of the CD-ROM 25 shown in steps 3 to 8 is executed.

At step 4, the CPU 11
The ROM reproducing device 30 is driven to read the data stored in the storage areas 25a and 25b. In step 5, part of the image data stored in the storage area 25a is read out and transferred to the W-RAM 15 by the control circuit 32. In step 6, a part of the audio data stored in the storage area 25b is read, transferred to the W-RAM 15 by the control circuit 32, and stored.
In step 7, the image data is transferred to the V-RAM 7, and in step 8, the audio data is transferred to the S-RAM 17. As a result, image data and audio data for a certain number of screens are read out, and the RAM 1 in the game machine 10 is read out.
After that, the CPU 11 executes the game processing program described later in steps 10 to 13. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 3 that the identification codes do not have the predetermined relationship, the user has mounted the CD-ROM 25 and the ROM cartridge 20 that do not correspond to each other. After displaying a message (for example, "The CD-ROM and the ROM cartridge are not the predetermined ones, replace them with the predetermined ones"), and then terminate.

In step 10, the CPU 11 sets the PP
The CPU 13 controls the U13 and the APU 14 to perform image processing and audio output processing, and performs processing based on the operation state of the operation device 18. More specifically, when the CPU 11 provides the PPU 13 with a code specifying each character of the moving image to be displayed and the coordinate data specifying the display position, the PPU 1
3 reads out the font data of the corresponding moving image character stored in the V-RAM 16 at the timing to be displayed based on the data, and at the same time, responds based on the background display position designation data stored in the V-RAM 16. The font data of each background image character to be read is read out at the timing to be displayed, and given to the television. Furthermore, CPU1
1 is an APU for controlling data based on an audio processing program for generating music or sound effects related to a display image.
Give to 14. In response, the APU 14 sets the S-RA
The audio data stored in M17 is converted from digital to analog (A / D), and an audio signal is generated and supplied to a television. Thereafter, in step 11, the V-RAM 16
It is determined whether the processing for the image data and / or audio data temporarily stored in S-RAM 17 has been completed, and if it is determined that the processing has not been completed, the process proceeds to step 12. In step 12, it is determined whether or not the game is over. If the game is not over, the process returns to step 10, and steps 10 to 12 are performed.
Is repeated.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 11 that the processing has been completed, the process returns to step 4 and
In steps 4 to 8, the control of reading and transferring the data stored in the CD-ROM 25 is repeated. When it is determined in step 12 that the game is over, in the next step 13, the backup data relating to the progress of the game is transferred to the backup RAM 22, the backup processing is performed, and the process is terminated. .

[0023]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment showing the principle of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing storage areas of a semiconductor ROM and a CD-ROM. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a game machine, 11 is a CP.
U (arithmetic processing means), 13 is a PPU (image processing means),
14 is an APU (audio processing means), 15 is a working RA
M (W-RAM), 16 is a video RAM (V-RA
M), 17 is a sound RAM (S-RAM), 20 is R
An OM cartridge, 21 is a semiconductor ROM, 22 is a backup RAM, 25 is a CD-ROM (optical disk memory), and 30 is a CD-ROM playback device.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An insertion slot for inserting a memory cartridge is provided.
Is formed and the memory cartridge is
Optical disc memos for game machines
Replaying device associated therewith, whereby the information storage medium
The memory cartridge and an optical disk memory and for併<br/> the game a row Uge over beam system, the optical disk memory storage capacity in large as, A
Access is intended time is relatively slow, and the image data storage area for storing image data for displaying a plurality of character data image image for the game, the optical disc Notes
First to distinguish between optical disc memory and other optical disc memory
A first identification data storage area for storing identification data of the optical cartridge ;
Smaller capacity than disk memory and relatively fast access time
Includes a semiconductor memory, the semiconductor memory includes a first game process program storage area for storing a first <br/> program for game image processing, and controls the optical disk memory reproducing apparatus hand
A reading program storage area for storing a program for reading control data of the optical disk memory, wherein the light
Make sure that the correspondence with the disc
Identification data storing second identification data indicating
A storage area , wherein the game machine has a first identification of the optical disk memory.
Another data and a second identification stored in the semiconductor memory.
A collation with another data is executed, and the first identification data and the second
When it is determined that the identification data has a predetermined relationship,
The first game processing stored in the semiconductor memory;
Starting execution of the readout program
Reading the image data in the optical disk memory based on
Memory cartridge having arithmetic processing means for controlling output
Game machine system that uses an optical disk memory . 2. The optical disk memory according to claim 1, wherein
Game processor storing a second program for management
A processing program storage area, wherein the arithmetic processing means includes:
The the identification data is the stored in the semi-conductor memory 2
The first identification data is compared with the identification data of the first
It is determined that the identification data has a predetermined relationship with the identification data
The first game processing program and the second
2. The game processing program according to claim 1, wherein execution of the game processing program is started.
Use the specified memory cartridge and optical disk memory.
Game console system used.