Video game software selection data processing system

A game software service system connected to a monitor to display an image for games to be played on the monitor, comprising:

• a plurality of game memory means, each memory means for storing at least one game program, said plurality of game memory means being divided into a plurality of blocks, said plurality of blocks being connected to a respective set of data lines and address lines;
• a plurality of first bidirectional buffer means, respective ones of which are connected between respective ones of said data lines and a common data bus;
• a plurality of second buffer means, respective ones of which are connected between respective ones of said address lines and a common address bus;
• first operation means by which a game can be played by a player;
• processing means coupled to said first operation means for processing a game program in accordance with the operation of said first operation means, said processing means being connected to respective ones of said pluralities of first and second buffer means through said common address bus and said common data bus;
• second operation means by which the player is able to select any one of said plurality of game memory means by inputting selection information;
• said processing means including means responsive to said selection information for generating block selecting data, game memory means selecting data and buffer means selecting data;
• block selecting means for selecting a block from said plurality of blocks based upon said block selecting data generated by said processing means in accordance with said selection information;
• game memory means selecting means for selecting a game memory means from said plurality of game memory means included in a selected block based upon said game memory means selecting data generated by said processing means in accordance with said selection information, whereby a selected game memory means is enabled to permit the execution of a game program stored therein;
• and
• buffer selecting means for selecting a first buffer means of said plurality of first buffer means and a second buffer means of said plurality of second buffer means based upon said buffer means selecting data which is generated by said processing means in accordance with said selection information inputted by the player, whereby said processing means can read the game program stored in the game memory means included in the selected block through said common data bus and the selected first bus buffer means while the addresses of said game program are addressed by said processing means through said common address bus and the selected second bus buffer means.

A coin-operated game software service system connected to a monitor to display an image for games to be played on the monitor, comprising:

• a plurality of game memory means, each memory means for storing at least one game program, said plurality of game memory means being divided into a plurality of blocks;
• a plurality of bus buffer means for buffering information for said plurality of game memory means, a respective one of said bus buffer means being connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of blocks;
• first operation means by which a game can be played by a player;
• processing means, coupled to said first operation means, for processing a game program in accordance with the operation of said first operation means, said processing means being connected to respective ones of said plurality of bus buffer means through a common address bus and a common data bus;
• second operation means by which the player is able to select any one of said plurality of game memory means by inputting selection information;
• said processing means including means responsive to said selection information for generating block selecting data, and for generating bus buffer means selecting data;
• block selecting means for selecting a block from said plurality of blocks based upon said block selecting data generated by said processing means in accordance with said selection information, whereby the block is enabled to permit the execution of a game program stored in an identified game memory means;
• bus buffer selecting means for selecting a bus buffer means of said plurality of bus buffer means based upon said bus buffer means selecting data which is generated by said processing means in accordance with said selection information, whereby the gate program stored in the game memory means included in the selected block can be accessed by said processing means through the common address bus and the common data bus, and the selected bus buffer means;
• and
• a valuable medium insertion means for receiving a valuable medium,
• detecting means for detecting if a valuable medium has been inserted in said valuable medium insertion means,
• displaying means for displaying an image for a game on a screen when the insertion of a valuable medium is detected by said detecting means,
• timer means for counting a time related to the value of the valuable medium detected by said detecting means, and
• changing means responsive to said timer means and said processing means for changing a level of luminance of a screen of said monitor when a predetermined remaining time is identified by said timer means.