Abstract: A card game apparatus includes a game execution unit, a casing, a card arrangement panel, a luminous source that illuminates the panel with invisible light, an image sensor unit disposed such that it receives the invisible light from the panel and generates image data, and a data recognition unit configured to separate data of each card, as well as to detect positions of the cards on the panel. Each of the plurality of thinly formed cards is printed with a game character on one of its major surfaces and formed on the other of the major surfaces with a code pattern including data relating the game character. The sensor unit generates data of the image including the code patterns of the cards arranged on the panel. The data recognition unit separates data of each card, as well as detects position on play field of the cards arranged on the panel by the operator, from the data of the image and supply the information thus obtained to the game execution unit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a card stack reader, a card thereof, a card case, a method for manufacturing the card, a game machine using the same, and a computer-readable storage medium on which a game program is recorded. The card stack reader comprises an imaging unit which reads an image from a peripheral side portion of a stack of cards, each card having a read code along a peripheral side edge thereof, the read code identifying the card, and a code recognizing unit which recognizes the read code of each card from the image read by the imaging unit.

Abstract: A card game apparatus includes a large-size panel display, a main control unit that controls screens on the large-size panel display, and a plurality of terminal apparatuses that are communicably connected to the main control unit. A game player purchases an integrated circuit card and, for example, eleven player cards on each of which, a soccer player's photograph is printed. When the game player arranges the player cards on a player card arrangement panel of one of the terminal apparatuses, card data recorded on the back of the player card will be read by an internal image sensor. Then, a team is organized by the player cards, and a game starts. The game player can direct a player's position and formation by changing placement of the player card.