Abstract: A network game system is provided in which unfairness between players playing on first and second game machines can be corrected in a network game system in which the first game machine displays a game screen of a content corresponding to an operation executed in the first game machine and makes the second game machine display a game screen of a content corresponding to an operation executed in the second game machine by exchanging data with the second game machine through a communication network. A controlling unit (an operation information acquiring unit (34) and a display controller (36)) controls a length of a time period from a time when an operation is executed in the first game machine (game machine (12a)) to a time when a game screen of a content corresponding to the operation is displayed in the first game machine, based on data exchange time information related to a time period required for exchange of data between the first game machine and the second game machine (game machine (12b)).

Abstract: In order to cause players to feel as little communication delay as possible in a communication type match-up game, a task generating terminal records how a player dances (301) to a reproduction (300) of a music, generates a task (303) based on an input operation (302), and transmits (304) the task to a task receiving terminal. The task receiving terminal reproduces (306) a motion picture of how the opponent player dances (301) to a reproduction (305) of the music, presents (307) the task (303), and transmits a motion picture of how a player dances to the reproduction (301) of the music. The task generating terminal reproduces (313) how the opponent player dances (308) to the reproduction (311) of the music, presents (313) the task (303), and determines (315) a score based on an input operation (309, 314) for the presentation (307, 313) of the task.

Abstract: An air duct plate is provided on the back of a substrate on the surface of which a light emitting element group for display as well as an integrated circuit are disposed; a fan acts to send an air into a space surrounded by a case body extending over and around the air duct plate and the air duct plate; and a plurality of openings acting to blow a cooling air having been generated by the fan to a predetermined portion on the side of the substrate are formed in the air duct plate.

Abstract: A selection determining device (200) includes a detecting unit (201) which detects, when a point on a touch screen is pressed, a coordinate value of the point, detects, when two points in a two-dimensional plane are pressed, a coordinate value of a midpoint between the two points, and detects that none is pressed when no points is pressed, a determining unit (202) which determines, when it is determined that none is pressed, whether or not any of pressible predetermined regions is singularly selected, any two of the pressible predetermined regions are simultaneously selected, or none is selected based on a sequence of states detected by the detecting unit (201) by then, and a display unit (203) displaying a graphic symbol representing each of the pressible predetermined regions on the touch screen.

Abstract: In order to detect a fraudulent action, such as an attempt of invalidating a result of a match-up through a communication in a communication match-up game by changing the setting of a router device, in a communication system, a first terminal device (211) and a second terminal device (221) each attempts to communicate with the terminal device of a communication counterparty. When such attempt has failed, those terminal devices each attempts to communicate with a router device used by the local terminal device of the communication counterparty, and results of these communication attempts are specified in connection information status and the connection information status is transmitted to a server device (231).

Abstract: To suppress easy transmission of information on the hand of a player to another player through an audience when the audience can watch the status of a hand of each player of mah-jongg, a card game, or the like, in a game status presenting device (801), an identifier storing unit (802) stores an identifier of a hand of each player, a first correspondence-table acquisition unit (803) acquires a first correspondence table which associates an identifier with presentation information to be presented to a player, a second correspondence-table acquisition unit (804) acquires a second correspondence table which associates an identifier with presentation information to be presented to an audience, a player presentation unit (805) refers to an identifier stored in the identifier storing unit (802) as a hand of each player and the first correspondence table, and presents presentation information on the hand of the player to each player, and an audience presentation unit (806) refers to an identifier stored in the identi

Abstract: When providing a game that changes scene data according to the selection inputs of a plurality of players, in order to provide scene data without delay even in a case where there is a delay in selection input or where there is no selection input by some of the players, a designating unit (401) of a game server device (13) designates an order in which scene data are to be provided to the plurality of players, a providing unit (402) provides scene data in the designated order to each of the plurality of players, and a receiving unit (403) receives a selection input from each of the plurality of players. The designating unit (401), in a case where second scene data following first scene data are to be designated based on selection inputs, sets an input period, causes the receiving unit (403) to receive selection inputs from the plurality of players, and designates the second scene data based on the selection inputs received within the input period.

Abstract: A terminal management unit (202) manages characters or the like in a virtual space operated from a terminal. An event generation unit (203) causes game device to generate a verification event for verifying a player's manual operation based on the progress state of a game on the game device. A judgment unit (204) judges whether the manual operation is performed or not based on operation information on the terminal during the verification event. A game situation update unit (205) properly updates a game situation on the terminal based on the judgment result from the judgment unit (204).

Abstract: There is provided a terminal device or the like which can prevent a user from fall in trouble with an unknown third person when the user executes a network game or the like over a computer communication network. As terminal devices establish a connection in an ad-hoc mode, individual unique identification information thereof are exchanged and a communication for a game is carried out, the terminal devices saves the unique identification information of the communication counterparty. When the terminal devices establish a connection in an infrastructure mode, introduction requests each specifying the saved unique identification information are transmitted to a server device, the server device transmits introduction responses each informing an address of the terminal device to the terminal devices which have transmitted an introduction request specifying the unique identification information of the communication counterparty, and the terminal devices carry out a communication for the game.

Abstract: A distribution request sending unit (301) sends a distribution request to a server. When a terminal (12) is selected by the server as a highest-level node and introduced by the server to other nodes, a routing unit (302) of the selected terminal determines a distribution route among these nodes such that the route goes from higher-level to lower-level nodes, starting from the selected terminal. A data receiving unit (303) receives data distributed by an immediate higher-level node, to which it gains connection in accordance with the determined distribution route. A data sending unit (308) connects to an immediate lower-level node in the distribution route if such a node exists, and sends the received data there. In the case of a lowest-level node, its receipt acknowledge returning unit (309) returns a receipt acknowledge for the data received by the data receiving unit (303) to the highest-level node upon the data reception.

Abstract: A game machine on which a user allows a plurality of player characters of an operation subject team to perform linkage play involving the plurality of player characters using a pass with a relatively simple operation. A linkage partner selecting unit (72) selects a linkage partner player character from among fellow player characters based on the user's operation. A type of linkage play selecting unit (70) selects a type of linkage play. A linkage partner control unit (74) controls the position of a linkage partner player character based on a selected type of linkage play. In the case where a linkage partner player character is not selected, a pass execution unit (76) makes an operation subject player character execute a pass in a direction based on the content of a pass instruction operation according to the pass instruction by the user.

Abstract: When a game terminal (1) transmits progress status information including a score to a storage server (2), the storage server (2) stores the progress status information into a progress status information storage unit (204). At this time, in cases where the stored score is equal to or above a predetermined threshold, the storage server (2) transmits the score to a score server (3) that registers the received score into a ranking memory unit (301). The threshold is updated by a threshold update unit (306) of the score server (3) based on a predetermined threshold order and at a given timing. Scores below the threshold are deleted in a ranking deletion unit (307). The updated threshold is then transmitted to the storage server (2).

Abstract: A network game system is provided in which unfairness between players playing on first and second game machines can be corrected in a network game system in which the first game machine displays a game screen of a content corresponding to an operation executed in the first game machine and makes the second game machine display a game screen of a content corresponding to an operation executed in the second game machine by exchanging data with the second game machine through a communication network. A controlling unit (an operation information acquiring unit (34) and a display controller (36)) controls a length of a time period from a time when an operation is executed in the first game machine (game machine (12a)) to a time when a game screen of a content corresponding to the operation is displayed in the fist game machine, based on data exchange time information related to a time period required for exchange of data between the first game machine and the second game machine (game machine (12b)).

Abstract: A log-in information receiving unit (203) receives log-in information sent from a terminal (13). A user authentication unit (204) authenticates a user based on the relationship between to-be-authenticated information included in the log-in information and authentication information stored in an authentication information storage unit (201). When the user is authenticated, unique information included in the log-in information is stored in a historical information storage unit (202). A terminal authentication unit (205) authenticates the terminal (13) based on the history of the unique information stored in the historical information storage unit (202). When different pieces of unique information have amounted to ten pieces then, for example, the terminal authentication unit (205) detects an unauthorized use by a third party.

Abstract: A game machine is communicatively connected to a game server and display-outputs a game screen showing a content corresponding to the player's operation by exchanging data with the game server. The response time to the operation is stabilized, and consequently the player does not feel stress due to a variation of the response time to the operation. A reference time storage unit (38) stores a reference time from the player's operation to the display-output of the game screen showing contents corresponding to the player's operation. A waiting unit (32) awaits the display-output of the game screen showing a content corresponding to the player's operation according to the stored reference time.

Abstract: A position information storage unit (220) stores position information regarding a player character and other characters in three-dimensional space. When instruction information for instructing object rearrangement is supplied from an operation unit (230) according to an operation of a player, a control unit (240) selects any of characters located in the vicinity of the player character and rearranges the selected individual characters or the like appropriately. More specifically, a selection unit (241) determines a selection area around a position of the player character as the center and selects characters as selected characters, which are located within the selection area. Moreover, a rearrangement unit (242) rearranges the selected individual characters within a rearrangement area so as not to overlap any of therebetween. Further, an image creation unit (250) creates image data, based on a position information or the like regarding any of the characters rearranged by the rearrangement unit (242).

Abstract: In an online game in which game players are able to communicate with each other by voice utterance, in order that information such as audio information representing a voice uttered by one of the game players in synchronization with video image information may be output in synchronization with video image information in a terminal on the side of the other game player, a sending end terminal (301) of an online game system (201) plays back sending end video image information when a playback start condition is satisfied, accepts the input of audio information from the game player, transmits to a receiving end terminal (401) audio information (synchronous audio information) and other than the synchronous audio information (asynchronous audio information) both of which were input during the playback.

Abstract: Certification processing hardware is connected to a game apparatus utilized for connecting with a game server in a network game environment to execute a user certification process. The certification processing hardware includes: a storing unit which stores certification information of the user, such as a user ID and a password; a certification information transmitting unit which encrypts the certification information with an encryption key from the game server to transmit it to the game server; a certification result information receiving unit which receives certification result information from the game server; and a certification result decryption processing unit which decrypts the certification result information. Components of the certification information cannot be referred to and copied from outside the certification processing hardware, thereby ensuring the confidentiality of the certification information.

Abstract: In a sorting apparatus, a storage unit stores players by sorting them into any of a plurality of classes, a matching unit matches the players and makes the storage unit further store the matching results, an interchanging unit checks the stored matching results in order to compare players who are sorted in the same class, and interchanges players with a higher class and a lower class, the storage unit stores a handicap set for different classes, the matching unit adopts the set handicap in a case where players sorted in different classes are to be matched, and a setting unit updates the handicap in a manner to advantage the player who has achieved a lower result.

Abstract: Certification processing hardware is connected to a game apparatus utilized for connecting with a game server in a network game environment to execute a user certification process. The certification processing hardware includes: a storing unit which stores certification information of the user, e.g., a user ID and a password; a certification information transmitting unit which encrypts the certification information with an encryption key from the game server to transmit it to the game server; a certification result information receiving unit which receives certification result information from the game server; and a certification result decryption processing unit which decrypts the certification result information. Components of the certification information cannot be referred to and copied from outside the certification processing hardware, thereby ensuring the confidentiality of the certification information.