TERMINAL DEVICE, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME, INFORMATION RECORDING MEDIUM, AND PROGRAM

Abstract

A terminal device (201) that provides a communication competition game wherein competition histories of players are stored in a memory unit (202), an exchange unit (203) exchanges competition histories with an opponent with whom a communication competition is to be started, a determination unit (204) determines whether or not the opponent's competition history obtained through exchange contradicts the opponent's competition history stored in the memory unit (202), and when there is a contradiction, a warning unit (205) gives a warning that there is a contradiction, and when the communication competition is finished, an update unit (206) updates oneself's competition history and the opponent's competition history that are store in the memory unit (202) based on the result of the finished communication competition, the determination result, and the competition histories obtained through exchange, and rewrites and updates the old competition histories of players other than oneself and the opponent with the new competition history.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a terminal device, a method for controlling the terminal device, an information recording medium and a program that are suitable for preventing cheating when recording the results of a communication competition game.

BACKGROUND ART

Various kinds of communication competition games have been provided in the past. In a form where terminal devices are used to perform a competition game by direct communication without going through a server device, there are cases in which cheating occurs by turning OFF the power to a terminal, or disconnecting the network connection during the competition. Patent Literature 1 discloses technology for suppressing that kind of cheating.

• Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 2009-050323

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

In a system that does not use a server device, the results of the competition are saved on the terminal device. In this form, when a competition is lost, for example, there are cases of cheating in which a memory card is removed and replaced just before saving the results of the competition, and the memory card that was used before losing the competition is used as is in order that the score does not become poor.

Therefore, there is a strong demand to make it possible to adequately suppress this kind of cheating.

In order to solve a problem such as described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a terminal device, a method for controlling the terminal device, an information recording medium and a program that are suitable for preventing cheating in recording the results of a communication competition game.

Means for Solving the Problem

The present invention for accomplishing the object above is disclosed below according to the fundamentals of invention.

The terminal device according to a first aspect of the present invention provides a game that allows communication competition between players that respectively operate a plurality of terminal devices, and comprises a memory unit, an exchange unit, a determination unit, a warning unit and an update unit.

The memory unit stores competition histories of the players participating in the game.

Typically, the competition history of a player includes for each character that is used by a player, the name of the character, the competition record such as the number of wins and losses, and the number of acquired points during a communication competition using the character, the date and time of the last communication competition performed using the character, messages obtained from opponents of communication competitions as a result of communication competitions, date and time that the character was created, information indicating whether the character is currently alive (can be used) or dead (cannot be used) and the like.

The memory unit also typically stores, for each player, the date and time when the player last performed communication, and the number of various errors such as when communication was broken during a communication competition with the player.

In order to distinguish players, in addition to the name of the player, it is also possible to use the manufacturer's serial number or MAC (Media Access Control) address of the terminal device, or the serial number of the game software.

The exchange unit, before communication competition begins between a player (hereafter, referred to as “oneself”) that operates the terminal device and a player (hereafter, referred to as the “opponent”) that operates another terminal device, exchanges the competition history that is stored in the memory unit and the competition history that is stored in the memory unit of another terminal device.

In other words, the competition histories obtained from the opponent's terminal device before a communication competition begins are the competition history of other players that the opponent's terminal has, in addition to the competition history of the opponent. Therefore, by a certain player performing communication competition with various players, competition histories are spread like the spreading of a rumor. Consequently, competition histories are naturally shared among a plurality of terminal devices.

When performing an exchange, the exchange unit also exchanges date and time information of a real-time clock that the terminal devices have. When the discrepancy between the two is greater than a specified error range, preferably the players are prompted to adjust the time.

Furthermore, the determination unit determines whether or not a competition history of the opponent that is obtained through the exchange and a competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit contradict each other.

For example, there is the case where in the competition history in the memory unit, the opponent's character is dead, and in the competition history that was obtained from the opponent through exchange, the opponent's character is alive. In a game in which it is presumed that once a character has died, the character cannot come back to life, this condition is determined to be a contradiction.

The warning unit, when it was determined through the determination that there is contradiction, gives a warning indicating the contradiction.

When there is a contradiction in a competition history, there is a possibility that the opponent is cheating. Therefore, the warning unit typically gives a warning before starting the communication competition in order to allow the player to confirm whether to really perform the communication competition.

Furthermore, the update unit, when communication competition between oneself and the opponent is finished, updates a competition history of oneself and a competition history of the opponent that are stored in the memory unit based on the result of the finished communication competition, the results of the determination, and the competition history obtained through the exchange.

When it is determined that there is no contradiction, the update unit combines the competition history that was obtained through exchange and the competition history that is currently stored, and reflects the results of the finished communication competition such as the number of wins and losses, the date and time of the last communication performed by the player and the like in the combined competition history.

When it was determined that there is a contradiction because the opponent's character is dead, the update unit, in the combined result above, typically increases the number of errors for the opponent; however, maintains the old information that is stored in the memory unit without updating the competition record of the dead character or the information indicating the date and time of the last communication competition performed using the character.

When the capacity of the memory unit is limited, generally information is deleted starting from information having the oldest update date and time, or from information from the oldest time when communication was last performed by the player.

With this invention, by spreading competition histories, it is possible to discover cheating in recording the results of a communication competition game, and so it is possible to encourage players not to cheat.

Moreover, in the terminal device of the present invention, the update unit updates the competition record of players other than oneself and the opponent (hereafter, referred to as “others”) to the most recent competition history from among the competition histories of others that are stored in the memory unit and the competition history of others obtained through the exchange. The update unit also updates the competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit according to the results of the finished communication competition when it was determined through the determination that there was no contradiction, and updates the competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit according to information that indicates a contradiction when it was determined through the determination that there was a contradiction.

The present invention according to a preferred embodiment of the invention shares competition histories with others, and causes competition history to be reflected only when there is not contradiction for the opponent.

With the present invention, when communication is performed with a player whose competition history has a contradiction, the competition histories of other players are shared, so that the spread of competition histories is performed smoothly.

In the terminal device of the present invention, construction can be such that in the case where the communication competition is proceeded by the players using the characters created by the players, and after a character dies, the character can no longer be used; and the competition history includes the name of the character, the date and time that the character was created and information indicating that the character has been dead or alive, the determination unit is able to determine that there is a contradiction when the following conditions are satisfied. Those conditions are that: the name of the character and the date and time that the character was created match in both the competition history of the opponent that was obtained through exchange, and the competition history of the opponent that was stored in the memory unit, there is information in the competition history that was obtained through exchange indicating that the character is alive, and there is information in the competition history stored in the memory unit indicating that the character is dead.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the invention presumes a game in which when a character is “dead” or has “lost”, the character cannot come back to life. A character that is used by the player is distinguished by the name of the character and the date and time that the character was created, so that even though the name of the character that is displayed on the screen during a communication competition is the same, if the information indicating the date and time that the character was created is different, the character is handled as a different character.

With the present invention, when it is not possible to use a certain character name in a game in which once a character has died the character cannot come back to life, even though a character with the same name may be created, by handling both characters as different characters, it is possible for a player to use a character with the same name.

In the terminal device of the present invention, the memory unit can store the competition history on an information recording medium that is removable from the terminal device, and the communication competition and exchange by the exchange unit can be performed by peer-to-peer communication or ad hoc mode communication between the terminal device and another terminal device.

In the present invention, even though a server device is not prepared, it is possible to share competition histories, so preferably when performing a communication competition, the terminal devices are close together and wireless communication is performed in the ad hoc communication mode.

In addition, the invention can be applied to the case in which, after connecting to a lobby server device through a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) access point and via the Internet, and after being introduced to an opponent for a communication competition, competition is performed using peer-to-peer communication.

In the case of storing the competition history on an information recording medium that can be removed from the terminal device, such as a memory card form using EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, the following kind of cheating becomes easy. That is, cheating behavior in which, when a competition history is saved on a certain medium A before starting a communication competition, and then the communication competition is performed after exchanging the medium A with a different medium B, after which when the communication competition is lost, that medium B is discarded and medium A is used, becomes easy.

In the present invention, even though this kind of cheating behavior occurs, the cheating can be discovered, so that it becomes possible to suppress cheating by a player as much as possible.

The control method of another aspect of the present invention is a control method that controls a terminal device that provides a game that allows communication competition between players that respectively operate a plurality of terminal devices, where the terminal device comprises a memory unit, an exchange unit, a determination unit, a warning unit and an update unit; such that the memory unit stores competition histories of players participating in the game, and the control method comprises an exchange process, a determination process, a warning process and an update process, with construction being as described below.

In other words, in the exchange process, the exchange unit, before communication competition begins between a player (hereafter, referred to as “oneself”) that operates the terminal device and a player (hereafter, referred to as the “opponent”) that operates another terminal device, exchanges the competition history that is stored in the memory unit and the competition history that is stored in the memory unit of another terminal device.

On the other hand, in the determination process, the determination unit determines whether or not a competition history of the opponent that is obtained through the exchange and a competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit contradict each other.

Moreover, in the warning process, the warning unit, when it was determined through the determination that there is contradiction, gives a warning indicating the contradiction.

Furthermore, in the update process, the update unit, when communication competition between oneself and the opponent is finished, updates a competition history of oneself and a competition history of the opponent that are stored in the memory unit based on the result of the finished communication competition, the results of the determination, and the competition history obtained through the exchange.

The information recording medium of another aspect of the present invention stores a program for causing a computer to function as each of the parts of the terminal device above.

The program of another aspect of the present invention causes a computer to function as each of the parts of the terminal device above.

Moreover the program of the present invention can be recorded on an information recording medium that can be read by a computer, such as a compact disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, and magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk, a magnetic tape, a semiconductor memory and the like.

The program above can be distributed or sold independently from a computer that executes the program via a computer communication network. The information recording medium can also be distributed or sold independently from the computer.

Effect of the Invention

With the present invention, it is possible to provide a terminal device, a method for controlling the terminal device, an information recording medium and a program that are suitable for preventing cheating in recording the results of a communication competition game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic construction of a typical information processing device.

FIG. 2 is an explanative drawing illustrating a terminal device that is achieved by an information processing device executing a program that is recorded on a ROM cassette.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing for controlling a terminal device of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanative drawing illustrating an example of a display that is displayed on a liquid-crystal display.

FIG. 5 is an explanative drawing illustrating an example of a display that is displayed on a liquid-crystal display.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In the following, an embodiment of the present invention will be explained. In order to make the following explanation easier to understand, an embodiment in which the present invention is achieved by using an information processing device for a game will be explained; however, the embodiment below is only for explanation purposes, and does not limit the range of the present invention.

Therefore, it is possible for one skilled in the art to employ an embodiment in which some or all of these elements are replaced with equivalent elements; however, such an embodiment is also included within the scope of the present invention.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic construction of a typical information processing device that can function as a terminal device of this embodiment. This embodiment will be explained below with reference to FIG. 1.

The information processing device 101 that is illustrated in FIG. 1 is a portable multimedia terminal and comprises: a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 104, and input device 105, an image processing unit 106, a liquid-crystal display 107, an audio processing unit 108, headphones 109, a cassette reader 110, a ROM cassette 111, an external memory 112, a RTC (Real Time Clock) 113, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) interface 114, and a camera 115.

By mounting the ROM cassette 111, on which the program of this embodiment is recorded, in the information processing device 101, the terminal device of this embodiment is achieved. As a result, the player can use the information processing device 101 to play a communication competition game with another player.

Here, the CPU 102, together with each part of the information processing device 101, performs various kinds of calculation processes and judgment processes.

After the power is turned ON to the information processing device 101, the CPU 102 executes an IPL (Initial Program Loader) that is recorded on the ROM 104, and during the processing, moves to the processing of executing the program that is recorded on the ROM cassette 111 that connected by way of the cassette reader 110.

The game program and multimedia information playback program that are executed by the information processing device 101 are programs that are typically provided on a ROM cassette 111, however, these programs can also be prepared beforehand in the ROM 104.

A program set called a BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is prepared in the ROM 104. By executing this program set, the CPU 102 is able to perform control of the input device 105, the image processing unit 106 and the audio processing unit 108.

The RAM 103 is an area for storing temporarily information, and the external memory 112 is an area for storing non-volatile information. A hard disk that is mainly equipped inside the information processing device 101 is used as the external memory 112, however, it is also possible to use a memory that can be removed and inserted into the information processing device 101 such as various kinds of memory cards.

The input unit 105 is generally achieved by various buttons, a keyboard, a mouse, a joystick and the like. However, it is also possible to use a touch screen that is integrated in the liquid-crystal display 107 as the input device 105.

Image processing unit 106, according control from the CPU 102, causes the liquid-crystal display 107 to display various text information or image information, and generally the image processing unit 106 causes pixel information that is stored in a frame buffer that is prepared in the RAM 103 to be mirrored by the pixels of the liquid-crystal display 107 at each periodic vertical synchronization interrupt (typically, 1/30 second or 1/60 second).

Instruction input from a user is generally performed by moving a cursor that is displayed on the liquid-crystal display 107 by using movement buttons on the input device 105, and lining the cursor up with a desired menu item, then selecting the menu item by operating a set button; however, in the case of using a touch screen, the cursor is not needed. Moreover, when functions have been assigned to the buttons of the input device 105 in advance, it is not absolutely necessary to perform a display on the liquid-crystal display 107.

The audio processing unit 108 outputs audio data that has been prepared in the RAM 103, ROM 104, ROM cassette 111 and external memory 112 to the headphones 109. It is possible to use PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) data, which is digitized audio waveform data, or MP3 (MPeg audio layer-3) data, which is data that is reduced in size by compressing PCM data, as the audio data. In addition to this, it is possible to employ a method of preparing data, such as MIDI (Music Instruction Data Interface) data, that defines pitch, sound length, volume, tone and the like, then according to the data appropriately select, modify and play back source waveform data that has been prepared in advance.

The RTC 113 is for measuring the current date and time, where generally time adjustment is performed when using the information processing device 101 for the first time; however, it is possible to employ a form of automatically adjusting the time by connecting to an NTP (Network Time Protocol) server via the wireless LAN interface 114.

There is also an RTC 113 that has a function of generating alarm interrupts. In that case, an alarm is generated when reaching a set time, after which the CPU 102 temporarily stops the program currently being executed, and then after executing a preset interrupt handler, restarts the interrupted program.

The wireless LAN interface 114 makes it possible to connect to the Internet via a LAN access point at home, at work or on the street, and to establish an ad hoc communication path with another information processing device 101 that is located nearby and perform one-on-one communication.

The camera 115 allows the information processing device 101 to achieve the function of a digital camera, and it is possible to use technology such as a CCD (Charge Couple Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) imaging element. An image that is taken by the camera 115 is expanded in RAM 103, and is then stored in the external memory 112 or the like.

In addition, a business computer, a portable telephone, a PDA (Personal Data Assistant), a portable game device, a multi-functional television device, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) player, a portable music player and the like can also be used as the information processing device that achieves the terminal device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanative drawing illustrating the basic construction of a terminal device that is achieved by the information processing device 101 executing the program that is recorded on the ROM cassette 111. The following explanation will reference FIG. 2.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the terminal device 201 comprises a memory unit 202, an exchange unit 203, a determination unit 204, a warning unit 205, an update unit 206, and a competition unit 207, and provides a communication competition game to a player that uses the terminal device 201, and to a player that uses another terminal device 201 having the same construction as the terminal device 201. In the following, first the function of each part is explained, and then the function of each part will be explained in detail according to the flow of the actually performed control process.

First, the competition history of the player participating in the game is stored in the memory unit 202. In this embodiment, the memory unit 202 is the external memory 112.

On the other hand, before the player (hereafter, referred to as “oneself”) that is operating the terminal device 201, and the player (hereafter, referred to as the “opponent”) that is operating another terminal device 201 start the communication competition game by way of the competition unit 207, the exchange unit 203 exchanges the competition history that is stored in the memory unit 202 and the competition history that is stored in the memory unit 202 of another terminal device 201. Through this exchange, the competition histories of players other than oneself and the opponent (hereafter referred to as “others”) are also provided to the two terminal devices 201.

In this embodiment, under control from the CPU 102, the wireless LAN interface 114, together with the external memory 112, functions as the exchange unit 203.

Furthermore, the determination unit 204 determines whether or not the competition history of the opponent that was obtained through the exchange, and the competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit 202 contradict.

In this embodiment, the CPU 102, working together with the RAM 103 that temporarily stores the competition history obtained from the opponent's terminal device 201 and the external memory 112, function as the determination unit 204.

When it is determined that there is contradiction, the warning unit 205 outputs a warning indicating the contradiction.

In this embodiment, the CPU 102, together with the image processing unit 106, functions as the warning unit 205 by displaying a warning message on the liquid-crystal display 107, or in the case in which a list of competition histories is displayed on the liquid-crystal display 107, by displaying a change in the font or the color used for displaying players whose competition history contradicts and players whose competition history does not contradict.

Moreover, the competition unit 207 performs communication between the terminal device 201 and another terminal device 201, making it possible to perform a communication competition game. It is possible to apply the technology of various kinds of communication competition games to the competition unit 207.

Typically, processing as described below is performed. That is, the input device 105 receives instruction input from the player who is oneself, and the instruction input that is similarly performed by the player who is the opponent is collected at one of the terminal devices 201 by the wireless LAN interface 114, or is exchanged by both terminal devices 201. On the other hand, based on the instruction input, the CPU 102 updates the current status of the game that is stored in the RAM 103, and then by controlling the image processing unit 106 and displaying the status of the progression of the game on the liquid-crystal display 107, proceeds with the communication competition game. When all of certain conditions are satisfied, the communication competition game ends, and the outcome of the game is decided.

When the communication competition game has ended between oneself and the opponent, the update unit 206 updates a competition history of oneself and a competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit 202 based on the results of the completed communication competition game, the determination results, and the competition history obtained through exchange.

In this embodiment, the CPU 102, together with the RAM 103, which stores the determination results, the results of the communication competition game and the competition history of the opponent, and the external memory 112, which stores a competition history of oneself, functions as the update unit 206.

In the following, the processing that is performed by each part of the information processing device 101 in order to achieve these elements is explained in detail.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the flow of processing for controlling the terminal device 201 of this embodiment. The following explanation will reference FIG. 3.

After this processing starts, the CPU 102 references the external memory 112, and together with reading the information of the player who is oneself, or the information of the character that the player is using to the RAM 103, performs at the RAM 103 initialization of the information necessary for a communication competition game (step S301).

Here, the following information is stored in the external memory 112, which functions as the memory unit 202, for each character that is used by each player, as the competition history of the player.

(a) Character name

(b) History of wins, losses, acquired points and the like of communication competition that was performed using the character

(c) The last date and time that communication competition was performed using the character

(d) messages received from the competition opponent as a result of each communication competition

(e) Date and time that the character was created

(f) Whether the character is still living (can be used), or dead (cannot be used)

Moreover, the following information is stored for each player.

(a) Date and time the last time the player operated the terminal device 201 and performed communication with the player of another terminal device 201 (It is not absolutely necessary that a communication competition was established.)

(b) Number of errors such as interruption of communication during a communication competition with a player

(c) Number of times a contradiction in the competition history of the player was determined

In order to distinguish players, it is possible to use the serial number of the terminal device 201, the MAC (Media Access Control) address, serial number of the game software, or the like in addition to a player's name.

Next, the CPU 102 causes the wireless LAN interface 114 to operate, and tries ad hoc communication with another terminal device 201 that is located nearby (step S302). In the case that ad hoc communication is not established (step S302: NO), the CPU 102 tries infrastructure communication to connect to the Internet via a wireless LAN access point that is located nearby (step S303). In the case that infrastructure communication is also not established (step S303: NO), the CPU 102 displays a notification on the liquid-crystal display 107 indicating that communication competition is not possible (step S304), and ends this processing.

On the other hand, when infrastructure communication is established (step S303: YES), the CPU 102 performs communication with a specified lobby server, and requests an introduction of another terminal device 201 that is connected via the Internet (step S305). When this happens, the lobby server introduces another terminal device 201 that desires communication competition, so the CPU 102 starts one-on-one communication with another terminal device 201 in the infrastructure mode (step S306), and advances to step S308.

On the other hand, when ad hoc communication is established (step S302: YES), the CPU 102 starts one-on-one communication with the terminal device 201 of the communicating opponent in the infrastructure mode (step S307), and advances to step S308.

After one-on-one communication has started, the CPU 102 temporarily reads the competition information that is stored in the external memory 112 to the RAM 103 (step S308), and transmits the competition history to the opponent's terminal device 201 via the wireless LAN interface 114 (step S309).

Furthermore, the CPU 102 receives the competition history that is transmitted from the opponent's terminal device 201 via the wireless LAN interface 114 (step S310) and temporarily stores the competition history in the RAM 103 (step S311).

In other words, through the processing of step S308 to step S311, in addition to the competition history of the opponent, the competition history of other players that the opponent's terminal device 201 has is acquired from the opponent's terminal device 201 before communication competition begins.

During this exchange, preferably the CPU 102 will also exchange the date and time information of the RTC 113 of both terminal devices 201, and when the difference between the date and time of both is greater than a specified error range, will prompt the player to adjust the time.

Next, of the competition history that is collected by the terminal device 201, the CPU 102 combines the competition history of the other players (step S312). When combining the competition history, the CPU 102 performs processing such as below.

(a) When there is competition history in both for the same character of the same player, uses only the most recent according to the date and time of communication that was last performed by the player, and deletes the old competition history.

(b) When there is a limit to the amount that can be stored in the external memory 112, it is necessary to restrict the number of competition histories that can be stored. In that case, competition history is deleted starting from the competition history having the oldest date and time of when the player last performed communication.

(c) In addition, it is possible to give priority to players having high scores to leave their competition histories, and to suitably delete the competition histories of other players starting from the oldest. It is also possible to select the competition history to delete by calculating the priority of whether or not to delete a competition history based on both the score ranking and the newness of the competition history.

After combining competition histories, the CPU 102 writes the combined competition histories of other players to the external memory 112 (step S313). Through this processing, the area in the RAM 103 where the competition histories of other players were stored is released, and the released area can then be used for processing such as for communication competition.

By performing this kind of processing, the terminal device 201 of one player performs communication with the terminal devices 201 of various players, and through this, competition histories are naturally shared by many terminal devices 201 similar to spreading a rumor.

Next, the CPU 102 determines whether or not there is contradiction between (a) the competition history of an opponent from among the competition histories received in step S311, and (b) the competition history of the opponent that was read from the external memory 112 in step S308 (step S314).

In this embodiment, a game in a “serious fighting mode” is presumed in which when a character is defeated during a competition and the character's power parameter becomes “0”, the character becomes “dead” and updating the score parameter for the character is stopped and the character cannot be brought back to life.

The number of times that a certain player wins in the serious fighting mode or the number of characters that have died can be used as score information for the competition. The greater the number of wins, the higher the skill of the player becomes, and the greater the number of dead characters, the higher the enthusiasm of the player becomes.

In the information processing device 101 of this embodiment, a removable information recording medium that can be removed from the terminal device 201, such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) memory card, or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory, is used as the external memory 112.

In this case, cheating may be performed by (a) saving the current competition history on an information recording medium A before the communication competition begins, (b) removing the information recording medium A from the information processing device 101, (c) mounting another information recording medium B in the information processing device 101, and then performing communication competition, and (d) when the communication competition is lost, deleting the saved data that is recorded on the information recording medium B, and using the information recording medium A.

In this embodiment, the CPU 102 should determine there to be a contradiction when (a) even though there is a character in the opponent's competition history that was received from the opponent's terminal device 201 in step S311, and (b) the character is dead in the competition history that was read from the external memory 112 in step S308.

This is because when there is information from a player using a certain character that the character is alive even though information is spread through the exchange of competition information that the character has died, there is a high possibility that the player is cheating as described above.

Preferably a character is identified by comparing not just the character name, but also by comparing information such as the date and time that the character was created. This is because there is a possibility that a new character could be created that has the same name as a character that has already “died”.

The character that is used by a player is distinguished by the character name and the date and time that the character was created, so that when performing a communication competition, even though a character having the same name is displayed on the screen, as long as the information about the date and time that the character was created is different, the character is treated as a different character.

When a character having a certain name can no longer be used in a game in which a character cannot come back to life after having once died, and a character having the same name is created, by treating both character as different characters, the player can use a character with the same name.

In addition, in a game in which it is possible to select a “practice mode” in which a character “remains alive” even though the character loses and the character's power parameter becomes “0”, it is possible to determine whether or not there is a contradiction by referencing only the results of a game in the “serious fighting mode”.

When there is no contradiction for the opponent (step S314: NO), the CPU 102 controls the image processing unit 106 and displays the competition history on the liquid-crystal display 107 of the opponent and other players in the order of competition record (step S315).

FIG. 4 is an explanative diagram illustrating an example of a display that is displayed on the liquid-crystal display 107 in step S315. The following explanation references FIG. 4.

On the screen 401, the competition record 402 of a plurality of players/characters are displayed in the order of winning percentage, and the display of the competition record 402a of the opponent player/character is highlighted in the center of the screen.

Moreover, a message 403 indicating that it is possible to start or stop a communication competition is displayed by scrolling the display by operating the arrow keys on the input device 105, or by operating the A button or B button on the input device 105.

The current display position and current display range with respect to the total number of competition records 402 that are displayed is provided by the position and length of the scroll box 412 inside the scroll bar 411.

In addition to this, construction can be such that detailed information about the competition history of a character or player can be viewed by performing other input operations on this display screen.

On the other hand, when there is a contradiction for the opponent (step S314: YES), the CPU 102 controls the image processing unit 106, and when displaying the competition history on the liquid-crystal display 107 of the opponent and other players in the order of the competition record, also displays a message indicating that there is a contradiction for the opponent (step S316).

FIG. 5 is an explanative diagram illustrating an example of the display that is displayed on the liquid-crystal display 107 in step S316. The following explanation references FIG. 5.

The information that is displayed on the screen 401 is similar to the case in FIG. 4; however, a warning mark 404, indicating that there is a possibility that the player is cheating, is also displayed with the competition record 402a of the opponent player/character.

In step S315 and step S316, the CPU 102 appropriately updates the screen display based on the operation of the input device 105, and determines whether to start or stop communication competition based on the input instruction from the user (step S317).

When a communication competition is started (step S317: YES), the CPU 102 executes processing for the communication competition (step S318), and when competition ends, the CPU 102 rewrites a competition history of oneself that was read from the external memory 112 to the RAM 103 (step S319) and writes this new competition history in the external memory 112 (step S320).

The CPU 102 further checks whether or not a contradiction was determined in step S314 (step S321), and when it is determined that there is no contradiction (step S321: NO), the CPU 102 rewrites the competition history of the opponent that was received from the wireless LAN interface 114 and stored in the RAM 103 based on the competition results (step S322), and then writes the new competition history in the external memory 112 (step S323) and returns to step S302.

In step S322, the record of the opponent's character and messages, death information about the opponent's character, date and time of communication of the opponent player and the like are updated.

On the other hand, when it was determined that there is a contradiction (step S321: YES), the CPU 102 updates competition history of the opponent that was read from the external memory 112 to the RAM 103 by updating the last time that communication was performed and the number of times a contradiction was determined (step S324), then writes the new competition history in the external memory (step S325) and returns to step S302.

In this way, information about a character that was supposed to have “died” is maintained as is, and in communication competition after this as well, the information will be transmitted from the terminal device 201 to another terminal devices 201 like spreading a rumor.

When communication competition is stopped (step S317: NO), the CPU 102 checks whether or not a contradiction was determined in step S314 (step S326), and when it was determined that there was no contradiction (step S326: NO), the CPU 102 rewrites the competition history of the opponent that was received from the wireless LAN interface 114 and stored in the RAM 103 by rewriting the date and time that communication was performed last (step S327), and then writes this new competition history in the external memory 112 (step S328) and returns to step S302.

On the other hand, when it is determined that there is contradiction (step S326: YES), the CPU 102 updates the competition history of the opponent that was read from the external memory 112 to the RAM 103 by updating the date and time that the last communication was performed and the number of times that a contradiction has been determined (step S329), then writes this new competition history in the external memory (step S330), and returns to step S302.

In this way, when it is determined that there is no contradiction, the competition history that was obtained through exchange is combined with the currently saved competition history, and the results, number of wins and losses and number of acquired points of the finished communication competition, and the date and time of the last communication performed by the player, and the like are reflected in the competition history.

Particularly, when it was determined through judgment that there is no contradiction, the competition history of the opponent is updated using the results of the finished communication competition, and when it was determined through judgment that there is contradiction, the competition history of the opponent is updated by information expressing the contradiction.

When it was determined that there is contradiction because the opponent's character is dead, the number of times that a contradiction has been determined is increased in the combined results above, and the competition results for the dead character and information about the date and time when communication competition was performed using the character is maintained as is as the old information that is stored in the memory unit 202.

In this embodiment, by causing competition history to be spread in this way, it is possible to discover cheating in recording the results of a communication competition game, and to encourage the player not to cheat.

Moreover, with this embodiment, even when communicating with a player for which a contradiction occurred in the competition history, the competition histories of other players are shared, so the competition histories can be spread smoothly.

This application claims priority based upon Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-124809, with the disclosure of the above Japanese Patent Application being incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As explained above, with the present invention it is possible to provide a terminal device, a method for controlling the terminal device, an information recording medium and a program that are suitable for preventing cheating in recording the results of a communication competition game.

EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE NUMBERS

• 101 Information processing device
• 102 CPU
• 103 RAM
• 104 ROM
• 105 Input device
• 106 Image processing unit
• 107 Liquid-crystal display
• 108 Audio processing unit
• 109 Headphones
• 110 Cassette reader
• 111 ROM cassette
• 112 External memory
• 113 RTC
• 114 Wireless LAN interface
• 115 Camera
• 201 Terminal device
• 202 Memory unit
• 203 Exchange unit
• 204 Determination unit
• 205 Warning unit
• 206 Update unit
• 207 Competition unit
• 401 Screen
• 402 Competition record
• 403 Message
• 404 Warning mark
• 411 Scroll bar
• 412 Scroll box

Claims

1. A terminal device (201) that provides a game that allows communication competition between players that respectively operate a plurality of terminal devices (201), comprising:

a memory unit (202) that stores competition histories of the players participating in the game;

an exchange unit (203) that, before communication competition begins between a player (hereafter, referred to as “oneself”) that operates the terminal device (201) and a player (hereafter, referred to as the “opponent”) that operates another terminal device (201), exchanges the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) and the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) of another terminal device (201);

a determination unit (204) that determines whether or not a competition history of the opponent that is obtained through the exchange and a competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit (202) contradict each other;

a warning unit (205) that, when it was determined through the determination that there is contradiction, gives a warning indicating the contradiction; and

an update unit (206) that, when communication competition between oneself and the opponent is finished, updates a competition history of oneself and a competition history of the opponent that are stored in the memory unit (202) based on the result of the finished communication competition, the results of the determination, and the competition history obtained through the exchange.

2. The terminal device (201) according to claim 1, wherein

the update unit (206) updates the competition record of players other than oneself and the opponent (hereafter, referred to as “others”) to the most recent competition history from among the competition histories of others that are stored in the memory unit (202) and the competition history of others obtained through the exchange;

updates the competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit (202) according to the results of the finished communication competition when it was determined through the determination that there was no contradiction; and

updates the competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit (202) according to information that indicates a contradiction when it was determined through the determination that there was a contradiction.

3. The terminal device (201) according to claim 1, wherein

the communication competition is proceeded by players using characters created by the players, and a character becomes unusable after the character dies;

the name of the character, the date and time that the character was created, and information indicating whether the character is dead or alive being included in the competition history; and

the determination unit (204) determines there is a contradiction when in the opponent's competition history that was obtained through the exchange and the opponent's competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202), the name of the character and the date and time the character was created match, and in the competition history that is obtained through the exchange there is information that indicates that the character is alive, and in the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) there is information that indicates that the character is dead.

4. The terminal device (201) according to claim 1, wherein

the memory unit (202) stores the competition history on an information recording medium (111) that is removable from the terminal device (201); and

the communication competition and exchange by the exchange unit (203) are performed by peer-to-peer communication or ad hoc mode communication between the terminal device (201) and another terminal device (201).

5. A control method that controls a terminal device (201) that provides a game that allows communication competition between players that respectively operate a plurality of terminal devices (201), the terminal device (201) comprising a memory unit (202) that stores competition histories of players participating in the game;

the control method comprising:

an exchange process that, before communication competition begins between a player (hereafter, referred to as “oneself”) that operates the terminal device (201) and a player (hereafter, referred to as the “opponent”) that operates another terminal device (201), exchanges the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) and the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) of another terminal device (201);

a determination process that determines whether or not a competition history of the opponent that is obtained through the exchange and a competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit (202) contradict each other;

a warning process that, when it was determined through the determination that there is contradiction, gives a warning indicating the contradiction; and

an update process that, when communication competition between oneself and the opponent is finished, updates a competition history of oneself and a competition history that are stored in the memory unit (202) based on the result of the finished communication competition, the results of the determination, and the competition history obtained through the exchange.

6. An information recording medium that stores a program that causes a computer to function as a terminal device (201) that provides a game that allows communication competition between players that respectively operate a plurality of terminal devices (201); the program further causing the computer to function as:

a memory unit (202) that stores the competition histories of players that participate in the game;

an exchange unit (203) that, before communication competition begins between a player (hereafter, referred to as “oneself”) that operates the terminal device (201) and a player (hereafter, referred to as the “opponent”) that operates another terminal device (201), exchanges the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) and the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) of another terminal device (201);

a determination unit (204) that determines whether or not a competition history of the opponent that is obtained through the exchange and a competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit (202) contradict each other;

a warning unit (205) that, when it was determined through the determination that there is contradiction, gives a warning indicating the contradiction; and

an update unit (206) that, when communication competition between oneself and the opponent is finished, updates a competition history of oneself and a competition history of the opponent that are stored in the memory unit (202) based on the result of the finished communication competition, the results of the determination, and the competition history obtained through the exchange.

7. A program that causes a computer to function as a terminal device (201) that provides a game that allows communication competition between players that respectively operate a plurality of terminal devices (201); the program further causing a computer to function as:

a memory unit (202) that stores the competition histories of players that participate in the game;

an exchange unit (203) that, before communication competition begins between a player (hereafter, referred to as “oneself”) that operates the terminal device (201) and a player (hereafter, referred to as the “opponent”) that operates another terminal device (201), exchanges the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) and the competition history that is stored in the memory unit (202) of another terminal device (201);

a determination unit (204) that determines whether or not a competition history of the opponent that is obtained through the exchange and a competition history of the opponent that is stored in the memory unit (202) contradict each other;

a warning unit (205) that, when it was determined through the determination that there is contradiction, gives a warning indicating the contradiction; and

an update unit (206) that, when communication competition between oneself and the opponent is finished, updates a competition history of oneself and a competition history of the opponent that are stored in the memory unit (202) based on the result of the finished communication competition, the results of the determination, and the competition history obtained through the exchange.