| US 7,452,277 B2 | ||
| Center server, game machine, methods of controlling the center server and game machine, and network game system including the center server and game machine | ||
| Kazuya Takahashi, Tokyo (Japan); and Masahiko Kami, Hyogo (Japan) | ||
| Assigned to Konami Corporation, Tokyo (Japan) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 13, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/386,945. | ||
| Claims priority of application No. P2002-069039 (JP), filed on Mar. 13, 2002. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2004/0127287 A1, Jul. 01, 2004 | ||
| Int. Cl. A63F 13/00 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 463—42 | 5 Claims |
| 1. A network game system, comprising:
a center server; and
a game machine, communicatively connected to the center server and operable to execute a game program, wherein:
the center server comprises a first transmitter, which transmits, to the game machine, first data indicating a settled play
amount out of a played amount which is represented by either an accumulated number or time period that the game program has
been executed; and
the game machine comprises:
a first storage, operable to store the first data;
a second storage, operable to store second data indicating the played amount;
a first receiver, which receives the first data transmitted by the first transmitter;
an updater, which updates the first data stored in the first storage with the first data received by the first receiver;
a third storage, operable to store third data indicating an allowable unsettled play amount which represents either an allowable
number or time period of which the game program is executed without settlement;
a comparator, which obtains an unsettled play amount as a difference between the first data and the second data, and compares
the unsettled amount with the third data; and
a controller, which allows execution of the game program when the unsettled play amount is no greater than a predetermined
amount, and inhibits execution of the game program when the unsettled amount is greater than the predetermined amount.
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