Game machine to be connected to network, method of playing game and game system with use of the machine

Abstract

A game machine main body has a manual start button, sensor means for recognizing in an amusement parlor H the presence of a person who plays a game with the machine main body 1, and a CPU for receiving signals from the sensor means. Changeover means transmits a signal indicating that the machine main body is not usable to a terminal of a player in the case where the sensor means recognizes in the parlor H the presence of the person playing the game using the machine main body. The changeover means operates in conformity with an input from the terminal disregarding the manipulation of the start button when the sensor means detects in the parlor H the absence of the person playing the game with use of the machine main body and when the changeover means receives a signal indicating that the player at the terminal desires to use the machine main body from the terminal via the network.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game machine comprising a main body having a panel for displaying the contents of a game and connectable to a terminal of a player via a network, and a video camera connectable to the terminal via the network for capturing images of what is displayed on the panel, the game machine being characterized in that: 
 the machine main body is provided with a manipulation unit manually operable by a player in an amusement parlor H, sensor means for recognizing in the parlor H the presence of a person who plays the game using the machine main body, a CPU for receiving signals from the sensor means, and a changeover means provided between the CPU and the network,    the changeover means being operable to perform a first operation of transmitting a signal indicating that the machine main body is not usable to the terminal in the case where the sensor means recognizes in the parlor H the presence of the person playing the game using the machine main body,    the changeover means being operable to perform a second operation in conformity with an input from the terminal disregarding an input given by manually operating the manipulation unit when the sensor means detects in the parlor H the absence of the person playing the game with use of the machine main body and when the changeover means receives a signal indicating that the player at the terminal desires to use the machine main body from the terminal via the network.    
     
     
         2 . A game machine according to  claim 1  wherein in the second operation, the CPU displays on the panel that manual operation of the manipulation unit is prohibited.  
     
     
         3 . A game machine according to  claim 1  wherein when the machine main body is already accessed by a terminal of other player, the changeover means performing the first operation transmits to a terminal of a player subsequently gaining access to the machine main body a signal indicating that the machine main body is not usable.  
     
     
         4 . A method of playing a game with use of a game machine comprising a main body having a panel for displaying the contents of the game and connectable to a terminal of a player via a network, and a video camera connectable to the terminal via the network for capturing images of what is displayed on the panel, the method being characterized in that: 
 the machine main body is provided with a manipulation unit manually operable by a player in an amusement parlor H, sensor means for recognizing in the parlor H the presence of a person who plays a game using the machine main body, a CPU for receiving signals from the sensor means, and a changeover means provided between the CPU and the network,    the method having the steps of: 
 checking by the sensor means whether there is in the parlor H the person who plays the game using the machine main body, transmitting by the changeover means a signal indicating that the machine main body is not usable to the terminal in the case where the sensor means recognizes in the parlor H the presence of the person playing the game using the machine main body, and  
 permitting the changeover means to operate in conformity with an input from the terminal disregarding an input given by manually operating the manipulation unit when the sensor means detects in the parlor H the absence of the person playing the game with use of the machine main body and when the changeover means receives a signal indicating that the player at the terminal desires to use the machine main body from the terminal via the network.  
   
     
     
         5 . A game system comprising a game machine main body to be installed in an amusement parlor H and having a panel for displaying the contents of a game, a terminal of a player to be installed at a position away from the machine main body, a video camera for capturing images of what is displayed on the panel, and a network interconnecting the video camera and the terminal, the game system being characterized in that: 
 the machine main body is provided with a manipulation unit manually operable by a player in the parlor H, sensor means for recognizing in the parlor H the presence of a person who plays the game using the machine main body, a CPU for receiving signals from the sensor means, and a changeover means provided between the CPU and the network,    the changeover means being operable to perform a first operation of transmitting a signal indicating that the machine main body is not usable to the terminal in the case where the sensor means recognizes in the parlor H the presence of the person playing the game using the machine main body,    the changeover means being operable to perform a second operation in conformity with an input from the terminal disregarding an input given by manually operating the manipulation unit when the sensor means detects in the parlor H the absence of the person playing the game with use of the machine main body and when the changeover means receives a signal indicating that the player at the terminal desires to use the machine main body from the terminal via the network.