US20090318207A1 - Game machine - Google Patents
Game machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20090318207A1 US20090318207A1 US12/295,717 US29571707A US2009318207A1 US 20090318207 A1 US20090318207 A1 US 20090318207A1 US 29571707 A US29571707 A US 29571707A US 2009318207 A1 US2009318207 A1 US 2009318207A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- game
- ball
- case
- lottery
- control unit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F9/00—Games not otherwise provided for
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3286—Type of games
- G07F17/3297—Fairground games, e.g. Tivoli, coin pusher machines, cranes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to supply first game media and second game media to a play field section.
- medal pusher game machine As one type of game machines where game medium is used, there is well-known a so-called medal pusher game machine to allow a medal thrown into by a player to drop down to a play field section, by pushing out by a pusher table the medal having dropped down, arrangement of a clump of medals is changed, and because of the change, the medal which has fallen down from a predetermined range of the play field section is delivered to the player.
- a game machine where a second game medium (a ball for example) which is different from the medal as the first game media is supplied to the play field section in addition to the medal, the second game medium is allowed to move with the medal, a lottery processing is executed subject to the second game medium which has fallen down from the play field section, and a dividend depending on the lottery is delivered to the player.
- the second game medium is supplied to the play field section in addition to the first game media, and the second game medium is pushed out linked with the first game medium and ejected from the play field section. Thereby a chance for obtaining the dividend is imparted to the player.
- the motion of game medium such as the medal or the like is subject to physical law.
- the expectation of the player about obtaining the dividend gets higher. Accordingly, when the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases, the player recognizes that the situation is not good for obtaining the dividend, which can make the player lose his/her motive for sustaining the game. Especially, when the second game medium does not exist in the play field section, the inclination is enhanced. If such situation occurs at a game machine for commercial use, which will bring inexpedience such as a decrease of operation rate or a decrease of profit.
- the present invention aims to provide a game machine which supplies not only the first game medium but also the second game medium in the play field section, is capable of imparting a motive for sustaining a game to a player even if the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases.
- a game machine has a first game-medium supply device for supplying a first game medium to a play field section based on an operation by a player; a basic-game execution device for executing a basic game in association with an operation of the first game medium dropped to the play field section, and imparting to the player a dividend depending on a game result of the basic game; a second game-medium supply device for supplying to the play field section a second game medium different in kind from the first game medium, in a case that a predetermined situation occurs in the basic game; and a dividend chance imparting device for imparting a chance of obtaining dividend to the player.
- the game machine further includes a medium number-of-pieces detection device for detecting the number of the second game media existing in the game field; and a privilege imparting device for imparting privilege to be tied with a delivery of the dividend to the player, in a case that the number of the second game media detected by the medium number-of-pieces detection device decreases to less than a predetermined number.
- the game machine of the present invention in the case when the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases to less than a predetermined number, in response to this, the privilege tied to the delivery of dividend to the player is imparted by the privilege imparting device. Consequently, even if the number of the second game media decreases, it is possible to make the player feel an expectation for obtaining the dividend through the privilege newly imparted. Thereby, it is possible to impart to the player the motive for sustaining the game, and expect to improve of the operation rate and the profit performance and the like of the game machine.
- a game where a play chance is ensured to the player based on the drop of the first game medium can be employed to the basic game.
- the range of the basic game may be set in a coordinated fashion.
- the imparting of dividend in the basic game it can be employed that either the first game medium itself may be imparted to the player, or some game value exchangeable with the first game medium may be imparted to the player.
- the first game medium it can be employed that either the first game medium may be delivered directly to the player, or indirectly to the player such that the first game medium is delivered to the play field section and the like.
- the second game medium can be utilized as a medium for executing various processing such as a lottery and the others to be executed for delivering the dividend. Additionally, the second game medium itself can be delivered as the dividend to the player.
- the privilege imparted by the privilege imparting device can be any privilege as long as the privilege is tied to the delivery of dividend. For example, a lottery chance for determining dividend can be imparted to the player and the like, it is possible to impart as the privilege, a chance for delivering the dividend when an additional condition is satisfied in addition to the decrease of the second game media. Alternatively, it is possible to impart the delivery of the dividend itself as the privilege. Further, it is possible for the game machine of the present invention to include the following configurations.
- the privilege imparting device may impart the privilege by executing processing for increasing a probability that the predetermined situation is formed in the basic game. According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the probability that a predetermined situation is formed in the based game to supply the second game medium to the play field section. Therefore, in the case that the number of the second game media decreases, it is possible to expect to reduce a necessary time up to supply the next second medium. Thereby, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining the game to the player.
- the basic-game execution device may execute, as a game included in the basic game, a lottery game where a lottery processing in which the basic-game execution device executes a lottery processing to allow a winning case to occur in a case that the first game medium pass through a predetermined position in the play field section, while controlling win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law, and may deliver the dividend directly and indirectly to the player in a case that the winning case is formed, and the privilege imparting device may impart the privilege by executing at least either a processing for increasing a probability to form the winning case in the lottery game, or a processing for increasing amount of the delivery at the moment of forming the winning case.
- the first game medium may be a medal
- the basic-game execution device may execute, as games included in the basic game, a pusher game in which the basic-game execution device, while pushing out a cluster of medals accumulated in the play field section by a pusher table with a back-and-forth motion in the play field section, delivers to the player as the dividend the medal ejected from a predetermined range of the play field section
- a lottery game in which the basic-game execution device executes a lottery processing to allow a winning case to occur in a case that the medal passes through a predetermined position in the play field section, while controlling win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law, and may deliver to the player the medal as the dividend directly and indirectly in a case that the winning case is formed
- the second game-medium supply system may supply the second game medium, recognizing that the predetermined situation has occurred in the basic game in a case that a predetermined winning case of game-medium delivery is formed in the lottery game
- the lottery game when the medal is ejected from the predetermined range of the play field section in the pusher game, the lottery game is executed, and the winning case is formed in the lottery game, the medal is delivered as the dividend. Additionally, when the winning case of game-medium delivery is formed in the lottery game, the second game medium is supplied to the play field section. By ejecting the second game medium from the play field section, a chance for obtaining dividend is imparted to the player. Then, when the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases, the probability to form the winning case of game-medium delivery increases, the probability to form the winning case increases, or the dividend number of the medals to be delivered in response to formation of the winning case increases. Consequently, even if the number of the second game media in the play field section decreases, it is possible to make the player feel the expectation for obtaining more dividend. Thereby, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining the game to the player.
- the privilege imparting device in a case that a situation is detected that the second game medium does not exist in the play field section, may impart the privilege. According to this configuration, even if the situation occurs that no second game medium exists in the play field section, by imparting the privilege, it is possible to make the player feel the expectation for obtaining the dividend and possible to impart the motive for sustaining the game.
- the dividend chance imparting device may have a physical lottery system which takes the second game medium ejected from the play field section thereinto and selects at least one choice from a plurality of choices by imparting an physical operation to the second game medium, and may control the delivery of dividend to the player in association with a lottery result by the physical lottery system.
- the second game medium is settled as a medium for a lottery by the physical lottery system, and the delivery of dividend to the player is controlled in association with the result of the physical lottery.
- the lottery result of the physical lottery system depends on the physical operation of the medium, it is difficult to interpose the artifact by the game machine with respect to the lottery result.
- the physical lottery system has a merit that it is easy to increase the expectation of the player for obtaining the dividend.
- the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases, as the chance of lottery by the physical lottery system also decreases, the merit of the physical lottery system can not be performed satisfyingly, and thereby, it could occur that the motive of the player for sustaining the game is reduced.
- it is configured to impart the privilege for the decrease of the number of the second game media, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining of the game to the player until the moment when the number of the second game media increases.
- the game machine of the present invention by imparting a privilege tided to payment of dividend to a player when the number of the second game media decreases to over a predetermined number, it is possible to impart the expectation to obtain the dividend to the player, and thereby, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining a game to the player and expect to improve the operation rate, and the profit performance and the like of the game machine.
- FIG. 1 A diagram showing an schematic configuration of a game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 A perspective view showing a satellite unit and a station unit combined therewith.
- FIG. 3 A diagram showing a flow of a medal in the station unit.
- FIG. 4 A diagram showing a flow of a ball in the station unit.
- FIG. 5 A perspective view showing a center unit.
- FIG. 6 A block diagram showing an schematic configuration of a control system of the game machine.
- FIG. 7 A flow chart showing processing to be executed by a host control unit and a station control unit to manage payout rates.
- FIG. 8 A flow chart showing a game basic-control routine to be executed by the station control unit in response to a drop of medal.
- FIG. 9 A diagram showing a game image displayed on a monitor of the station unit.
- FIG. 10 A diagram showing details of a bingo game section provided in the game image shown in FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 11 A flow chart showing a satellite lottery routine to be executed by the satellite control unit.
- FIG. 12 A flow chart showing a win-probability determination routine to be executed by the host control unit.
- FIG. 13 A diagram showing data of the number of wins held by the host control unit.
- FIG. 14 A flow chart showing a bingo game routine to be executed by the station control unit in response to a notification of a result of a satellite lottery.
- FIG. 15 A diagram for explaining a way of rearrangement of numerals on a win line in the bingo game.
- FIG. 16 A flow chart showing a center lottery routine to be executed by a center control unit.
- FIG. 17 A flow chart showing a grand slot lottery routine to be executed by the host control unit.
- FIG. 18 A flow chart showing a premier mode routine to be executed by the station control unit instead of the game basic-control routine.
- FIG. 19 A diagram showing a schematic game image to be displayed on the monitor of the station at the moment of a premier mode.
- FIG. 20 A flow chart showing a premier-mode-end control routine to be executed by the station control unit to determine the end of the premier mode.
- FIG. 21 A flow chart showing a ball-count processing routine to be executed by the station control unit.
- FIG. 22 A flow chart showing a empty mode routine to be executed by the station control unit.
- FIG. 1 is an overhead view of the game machine G showing one embodiment of the present invention.
- the game machine G has one center unit CN, four satellite units SA, and six teen station units ST.
- Each satellite unit SA is placed such that the satellite units SA surround the center unit CN below the center unit CN, and each satellite unit SA is surrounded by four station units ST.
- the game machine G is configured such that the center unit CN is placed as the center, four satellite units SA are placed around the center unit CN, and further four station units ST are placed around each of the satellite units.
- each of a so-called pusher game where a medal is used as a game medium and a digital lottery game associated with the pusher game is implemented as a basic game.
- a satellite lottery is performed in association with a game result of the digital lottery game at the station unit SA.
- a center lottery or a grand slot lottery is performed as a center game, in association with a game result of the digital lottery game at the station unit ST, or a lottery result of the satellite lottery at the satellite unit SA.
- FIG. 2 shows one satellite unit SA and one station unit ST being combined therewith.
- the station unit ST has a left-right pair of operation sections 10 for the player's operation relating to the game, a play field section 12 where the medal pusher game is performed, a medal supply section 13 for supplying a medal M as the first game medium to the play field section 12 , a ball drop section 14 for dropping a ball B as the second play medium to the play field section 12 , a ball transfer section 15 for carrying the ball B to the satellite unit SA, and a station monitor 16 for displaying a game image and so on.
- the play field section 12 has a main table 20 and a sub table 21 which accumulate the medals M, and further has a pusher tables 22 , 23 which slide forward and backward on the tables 20 , 21 respectively.
- the medals M are accumulated such that the medals M are bed on the main table 20 and the sub table 21 .
- the play field section 12 is shielded against the outside because of being surrounded by a partition wall such as a transparent board.
- the outline of a flow of the medal M in the station unit ST will be described.
- a player drops the medal M from a medal drop slot (not shown) mounted in the operation section 10
- the medal M falls down on either one of the medal hoppers 13 a of the medal supply section 13 via a medal shoot 17 .
- the medals M have been delivered in each of medal ejection sections 18 , which are placed on the right side and the left side of the station unit ST, and the medals M are held in each of the medal ejection sections 18 for a drop to the play field section 12 .
- the medal M held in the medal ejection section 18 is transferred to a medal shooter 19 at the timing in synchronism with the drop of medal M by the player, and from the medal shooter 19 dropped onto the sub table 21 .
- the direction of shooter 19 is changeable in the right-left direction by operating levers 10 a mounted to the right side and the left side of operation sections 10 .
- the medal M dropped to the play field section 12 falls down on the sub table 21 , and is accumulated there or rolls down from the sub table 21 to the main table 20 . Because of pushing out the cluster of medals accumulated on the sub table 21 forwardly (the side where the player exists. Hereinafter, same meaning) by the back-and-forth motion of the pusher table 23 , the medal M is pushed out from the front edge of the sub table 21 , the medal M which ahs pushed out slides down in an incline section 24 to move to the main table 20 , and are accumulated there. Because of pushing out the cluster of medals M accumulated on the main table 21 by the back-and-forth motion of the pusher table 22 , the medal M falls down around the main table 20 .
- the medal M which has fallen down is retrieved to a lift-up hopper 25 shown in FIG. 2 .
- the same number of pieces of medals M as the medals having fallen down from the front edge of the main table 20 are delivered from the lift-up hopper 25 as the medals obtained by the player to a medal delivery section 11 mounted between the operation sections 10 .
- the medal delivery section 11 is placed at the outside of the partition wall covering the play field section 12 , it is possible for the player to accept the medals M delivered to the medal delivery section 11 .
- plural opening sections 24 a , 24 b , 24 c are mounted as a checker through which the medal M passes (fall).
- the passing through of the medal M is detected by a sensor, which is not shown.
- the digital lottery game is started on the station monitor 16 .
- the digital lottery game is one type of a slot game where three patterns are displayed on the station monitor 16 in a state that the patterns are aligned in a horizontal direction, and it is competed for whether the combination of the three patterns (pictures, symbols, numerals and so on) forms a predetermined winning case.
- a “BALL” is prepared as one of the winning cases of the digital lottery game. For example, in the case that three pictures of ball are displayed, the winning case “BALL” is formed. In the case that this winning case is formed, the ball B is dropped onto the main table 20 from the ball drop section 14 . This supply of the ball B to the ball drop section 14 will be described.
- different two kinds of balls that is, a normal ball B 1 and a special ball B 2 are prepared as the ball B. However, when it is not necessary to discriminate each of them, each is referred to as the ball B.
- FIG. 4 shows a transfer route of ball B by the ball transfer section 15 .
- the ball B which has fallen down from the main table 20 is taken into a ball lifter 27 via a ball duct 26 .
- the ball lifter 27 sends up the taken ball B along a slope 28 to transfer the ball B to the end (the top) of the slope 28 .
- the satellite lottery is performed by utilizing the ball B which has been transferred to the end of slope 28 .
- the satellite unit SA comprises a bingo stage 30 , a ball carrier 40 mounted at the outer circumference of the bingo stage 30 , a pair of ball supply systems 50 A, 50 B placed around the bingo stage 30 , and a pair of ball drop systems 60 A, 60 B placed across the bingo stage 30 from the ball supply systems 50 A, 50 B.
- the bingo stage 30 is driven to rotate around an axis of vertical direction in a predetermined direction by a driving system which is not shown.
- the upper surface of the bingo stage 30 is divided into an outer circumference section 32 A and an inner circumference section 32 B by a fence 31 in the shape of ring.
- winning prize pockets 32 a , 33 a in the shape of round each of which has a diameter allowing the ball B to pass through are mounted, such that each of the winning prize pockets 32 a , 33 a penetrates the bingo stage 30 .
- To the outer circumference section 32 A ten winning prize pockets 32 a are provided, and to the inner circumference section 32 B, five winning prize pockets 33 a are provided.
- To each of the winning prize pockets 32 a , 33 a a number or a picture to be a choice in the satellite lottery is assigned.
- any one of numbers from one to nine and a word “JP chance” is alternatively assigned.
- JP is used as an abbreviation of a word indicating “jack pot”, that is, a big win.
- jack pot a word which is properly combined from the numbers of one to nine
- JP chance is assigned to each of three winning prize pockets 33 a in the inner circumference section 32 B.
- the ball carrier 40 is capable of moving along the outer circumference of the bingo stage 30 .
- the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B from the ball supply system 50 A, 50 B to the ball drop section 14 in each station unit ST, and transfers the ball B from the ball transfer section 15 in each station unit ST to the ball drop system 60 A, 60 B.
- the ball B which has passed trough any one of the winning prize pockets 32 a , 33 a of the bingo stage 30 is guided selectively depending on the kind thereof to the below portion of ball supply system 50 A, 50 B.
- the normal ball B 1 is guided to the ball supply system 50 A
- the special ball B 2 is guided to the ball supply system 50 B.
- the ball supply system 50 A, 50 B takes the guided balls B into a screw feeder 51 to transfer the balls B upward, and delivers the balls B reaches the top end of the screw feeder 51 one by one from an ejection section 52 .
- the ball carrier 40 moves just below the ejection section 52 .
- the ball B ejected from the ball ejection section 52 is passed to a fork 41 of the ball carrier 40 .
- the ball carrier 40 which has accepted the ball B from the ball supply system 50 A, 50 B moves along the outer circumference of the bingo stage 30 up to the ball drop system 14 of the station unit ST to which the ball B should be transferred.
- the ball B is delivered to the top end of a slope 14 a of the ball drop section 14 .
- the delivered ball B slides along the slope 14 a , and is dropped onto an arbitrary position in the main table 20 via a drop-position selection system 14 b.
- the ball carrier 40 moves to the inner side of the slope 28 of the ball transfer section 15 where the ball B has been transferred to accept the ball B from the slope 28 . After that, the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B to the position of the ball drop system 60 A or 60 B. It is associated with the kind of ball B that the ball B should be transferred to which one of the ball drop systems 60 A or 60 B. For example, in the case of the normal ball B 1 , the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B 1 to the ball drop system 60 A, and on the other hand, in the case of the special ball B 2 , the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B 2 to the ball drop system 60 B.
- Each of the ball drop system 60 A, 60 B comprises a ball lifter 61 and a ball guide 62 .
- the ball lifter 61 is capable of reciprocating motion in an up-and-down direction.
- the ball lifter 61 of the ball drop system 60 A goes down.
- the fork 41 of the ball carrier 40 is inclined toward the side of ball lifter 61 , and thereby, the ball B 1 is passed to the ball lifter 61 from the ball carrier 40 .
- the ball lifter 61 which has accepted the ball B 1 goes up to the top end of the ball guide 62 .
- the ball lifter 61 is inclined to make a down slope toward the ball guide 62 .
- the normal ball B 1 is passed to the ball guide 62 .
- the normal ball B 1 which has been passed to the ball guide 62 is dropped to the outer circumference section 32 of the bingo stage 30 from the top end of the ball guide 62 .
- the ball lifter 61 of the ball drop system 60 B goes down to pass the ball B 2 from the ball carrier 40 to the ball lifter 61 .
- the ball lifter 61 operates in a manner similar to the ball drop system 60 A, and thereby the special ball B 2 is passed to the ball guide 62 of the ball drop system 60 B.
- the special ball B 2 which has been passed to the ball guide 62 is dropped to the inner circumference section 33 of the bingo stage 30 from the top end of the ball guide 62 .
- the center unit CN has a center monitor 70 , a grand roulette 71 , and a grand ball drop system 72 .
- the grand roulette 71 is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed in one direction by a driving system which is not shown.
- Plural winning prize pockets 71 a are disposed at the periphery of the grand roulette 71 .
- the number (or the multiple number) of the medals M or each kind of modes is assigned as a winning case.
- the grand ball 73 for the grand roulette is dropped to the outer circumference of the grand roulette 71 from the ball drop system 72 .
- the grand ball 73 While oscillating at the periphery of the grand roulette 71 according to the rotation of the grand roulette 71 , the grand ball 73 enters any one of the winning prize pockets 71 a .
- the privilege is imparted to the player depending on the winning prize pocket 71 a which the grand ball 73 has entered.
- illumination devices and sound devices are provided as rendering devices to raise the game mode.
- the illumination devices for example, in the station, plural LEDs (light emitting diodes) are provided along a transfer route from the drop of medals M up to the ejection of medal M to the play field 12 .
- LEDs light emitting diodes
- the satellite unit SA lamps are provided so that such illumination is obtained from the lower portion of the bingo stage 30 as the ring-shaped illumination the center of which is the rotation axis of the bingo stage 30 .
- the winning prize pockets 71 a of the grand roulette 71 in the center unit CN is fringed with plural LEDs.
- Speakers are provided as the sound devices, effect sounds and BGM (back ground music) are output properly from the speakers.
- a spacer SA is provided at each area between the satellite units SA of the game machine G.
- a moving light L and a speaker for show time are provided.
- a host control unit 100 As a computer unit for controlling operations of the game machine G, a host control unit 100 , a host PC (“PC” is an abbreviation word of a personal computer. “PC” is the same meaning hereinafter.) 110 , a center PC 120 , a center control unit 130 , a satellite control unit 140 and a station control unit 150 are mounted. Each one satellite control unit 140 is mounted to each one satellite unit SA as a configuration element of the satellite unit SA. Each one station control unit 150 is mounted to each one station unit ST as a configuration element of the station unit ST.
- PC is an abbreviation word of a personal computer. “PC” is the same meaning hereinafter.
- Each one satellite control unit 140 is mounted to each one satellite unit SA as a configuration element of the satellite unit SA.
- Each one station control unit 150 is mounted to each one station unit ST as a configuration element of the station unit ST.
- the whole of game machine G four satellite control units 140 and six teen station control units 150 are provided.
- the above mentioned units 110 to 150 connects with each other via a line for LAN 160 , and thereby the units 110 to 150 can communicate information necessary for controlling various games or lotteries to each other.
- a so-called star connection in which plural hubs are arranged at appropriate positions can be adopted to the line for LAN 160 .
- the host control unit 100 executes a whole management, a unified control and the like for the game machine G.
- the host PC 110 controls operations of a main-body rendering section 111 of the game machine G.
- rendering devices which belong to neither the center unit CN, the satellite unit SA, nor the station unit ST, such as the moving lights L and the speakers on the spacers SP, are included.
- the center PC 120 executes a display control of the center monitor 70 .
- the center control unit 130 controls to execute the center game and rendering in the game using the center unit CN, as operating a center drive section 132 and a center rendering section 133 , based on the state of the center unit CN detected by the sensors 131 .
- a win sensor for detecting whether the grand ball 73 enters each one of the winning prize pockets 71 a in the grand roulette 71 is included.
- a proximity switch, a reflection-type optical sensor, or a transmission-type optical sensor can be adopted to the win sensor.
- drive devices such as a motor for driving the rotation of grand roulette 71 and an actuator for driving the grand ball drop system 72 , are included.
- rendering devices unique to the center unit CN such as the lamps and the speakers, are included.
- the satellite control unit 140 controls to execute the satellite lottery, the transfer of ball B, the rendering in the game using the satellite unit SA, as operating the satellite drive section 142 and the satellite rendering section 143 based on the state of satellite unit SA detected by the sensors 141 .
- win sensors for detecting whether or not the ball B has passed trough in each of the winning prize pockets 32 a , 33 a in the bingo stage 30
- a carrier position sensor for detecting the position of the ball carrier 40 in a circumferential direction.
- a proximity switch, a reflection-type optical sensor, or a transmission-type optical sensor can be adopted to the win sensor.
- the following drive devices are included: a motor for driving the rotation of grand roulette 71 ; an actuator for driving the ball carrier 40 along the outer circumference of the bingo stage 30 ; an actuator for operating the fork 41 of the ball carrier 40 ; actuators for driving the screw feeder 51 of the ball supply systems 50 A, 50 B and the ball ejection section 52 respectively; and an actuator for driving the ball lifter 61 of the ball drop system 60 A, 60 B to go up.
- the rendering devices unique to the satellite unit SA such as the lamps and the speakers, are included.
- the station control unit 150 controls the pusher game and the digital lottery game to be executed at the station unit ST and the rendering of game using the station unit ST, as operating the station drive section 152 and the station rendering section 153 based on the state of station unit ST detected by the sensors 151 . Further, the station control unit 150 executes a display control of the station monitor 16 .
- medal sensors for detecting the medal M medal sensors for detecting the medal M
- ball sensors for detecting the ball B position sensors for detecting the position of movable portion such as the lever 10 a , and the pusher tables 22 , 23 .
- the following sensors are included: a medal drop sensor for detecting a drop of medal M from the medal drop slot; a medal ejection sensor for detecting the ejection of medal M from the medal ejection section 18 ; a checker sensor for detecting a fall of medal M to the opening sections 24 a to 24 c as the checker; a fall medal sensor for detecting the medal M which has fallen down from the front edge of the main table 20 ; a medal delivery sensor for detecting the medal M which has been delivered to the medal delivery section 11 from the lift up hopper 25 ; and the like. Similar to the medal sensor in the already-known medal game machine, a proximity switch, an optical sensor, a micro switch and the like can be adopted to the above sensors.
- the ball sensors the following sensors are included: a ball drop sensor for detecting that the ball B has been dropped from the ball drop section 14 ; a ball fall sensor for detecting the ball B which has fallen down from the main table 20 to be passed to the ball transfer section 15 ; and the like.
- the ball fall sensor also functions as a sensor for discriminating the kind of ball B, that is, which kind of the ball B has fallen, the normal ball B 1 or the special ball B 2 .
- the discrimination of the kind of ball B can be realized by adopting to the ball fall sensor, which outputs different signals depending on the kind of ball B 1 , B 2 .
- any one of either the ball B 1 or ball B 2 is a resin product and another one is a metal product
- a reflection-type optical sensor is adopted to the ball fall sensor to discriminate the kind of ball B depending on the strength of output signal from the sensor.
- the ball fall sensor discriminates the kind of ball B, it is possible to specify the ball drop system 60 A, 60 B to which the ball carrier 40 should transfer the ball B.
- a drive device for each of the medal hopper 13 a and the lift up hopper 25 an actuator for realizing the medal-ejection operation of the medal ejection section 18 , drive devices, such as motors, for reciprocating the pusher tables 22 , 23 , an actuator for operating the drop-position selection system 14 b of the ball drop system 14 , a drive device for driving the ball lifter 27 of the ball transfer section 15 , and the like.
- driving device such as lamps and speakers are included.
- each station control unit 150 counts the number of the dropped medals M and the number of the delivered medals M in each station unit ST, and calculates the payout rate at appropriate intervals for each station unit ST.
- NSTin the number of the dropped medals M detected in a predetermined calculation period by the medal drop sensor
- NSTout the number of the delivered medals M detected in the same period by the medal delivery sensor
- the game machine G has functions for executing a processing such that the number of the medals M which have been deposited from a player can be held as a credit number of medals M
- the medals M are dropped to the play field section 12 from the medal ejection section 18 in exchange for a withdrawal from the credit number and the delivery of medals M is treated by increasing the credit number
- the subtracted number from the credit number should be added to the number of the dropped medals NSTin and the added number to the credit number of should be added to the number of the delivered medals NSTout to calculate the payout rate POst.
- the processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed under a linkage between the host control unit 100 and the station control unit 150 .
- the host control unit 100 executes at moderate intervals, a routine for management of entire payout rate, and in synchronism with this, each of the station control unit 150 executes a routine for management of individual payout rate.
- the station control unit 150 notifies the host control unit 100 of the payout rate POst which has been calculated by the station control unit 150 .
- the host control unit 100 obtains the payout rate POst of each station unit ST at step S 21 , and subsequently at step S 22 , the host control unit 100 calculates the entire payout rate POall to notify each station control unit 150 of the calculation result.
- the entire payout rate POall can be, for example, a simple average of the payout rates POst of the station units ST.
- the station control unit 150 obtains the payout rate POall from the host control unit 100 at step S 12 , and subsequently at step S 13 , the station control unit 150 determines the target payout rate POsttgt of the own station unit ST based on the difference between the own payout rate POst and the entire payout rate POall.
- a standard target payout rate POsttgt is set as an initial value in advance.
- each station control unit 150 controls properly a win probability (rate of forming a winning case in the digital lottery game and the like, so that the payout rate POst to be calculated by the station control unit 150 itself is controlled to approach to the initial value of the target payout rate POsttgt.
- the station control unit 150 modifies the target payout rate POsttgt so as to decrease the difference. For example, in the case that the own payout rate POst is higher than the entire payout rate POall, the target payout rate POsttgt is set to be lower than the initial value.
- the target payout rate POsttgt is modified as mentioned above, and thereby, it is possible to reduce a dispersion of the payout rates POst in the station units ST.
- FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a game basic-control routine to be executed by the station control unit 150 in response to the detection of the drop of medal M from the medal drop slot.
- the station control unit 150 executes necessary processing to drop the medals M to the play field section 12 .
- the flow of the medal M at this moment is as explained in reference to FIG. 3 .
- the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the medal M has entered any one of the opening sections 24 a to 24 c as the checker. In the case of entering the checker, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 103 to start the slot lottery in the digital lottery game. Namely, the station control unit 150 displays a game image 200 shown in FIG. 9 on the station monitor 16 , and the patterns to be displayed at changeable display sections 201 a , 201 b , 201 c respectively are selected by using random numbers or the like, the changeable display sections 201 a , 201 b , 201 c being aligned in a lateral direction in the game image 200 .
- the processing for determining the patterns can be executed based on a control law similar to that of a general slot machine. Then the station control unit 150 displays the selected patterns at the changeable display sections 201 a , 201 b , 201 c respectively while adding a predetermined rendering effect (such as animation) to the patterns. Moreover, a bingo game section 210 is also provided in the game image 200 , and this will be described later.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 104 to determine whether the combination of the three patterns selected by the slot lottery is a losing case or not, and, in the case of the losing case, the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 105 and thereafter to execute the processing in accordance with the kind of winning case. Namely, the station control unit 150 , firstly at step S 105 , determines whether the winning case “BALL” has been formed or not.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 106 to deliver (drop) the normal ball B 1 to the play field section 12 .
- the delivery of the normal ball B 1 is requested to the satellite control unit 140 .
- the satellite control unit 140 ejects the normal ball B 1 from the ball supply system 50 A, and delivers the normal ball B 1 to the slope 14 a of the ball drop section 14 in the station unit ST by the ball carrier 40 .
- the station control unit 150 operates the drop-position selection system 14 b of the ball drop system 14 to drop the normal ball B 1 to a proper position of the play field section 12 .
- the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- step S 107 determines whether or not the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN” has been formed in the slot lottery.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 108 to execute the processing for supplying from the medal supply section 13 to the play field section 12 , the number of the medals M which corresponds to the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN”.
- a delivery of medal M means a delivery of medal M from the lift-up hopper 25 to the medal delivery section 11
- a supply of medal M means a supply of medal M from the medal supply section 13 to the play field section 12 .
- a route for the supply of medal M from the medal supply section 13 can be only a route via the medal ejection section 18 and the medal shooter 19 , but for the moment when a big amount of medals M are supplied to the play field section 12 at one time, it can be configured that the medals M are supplied via the other routes.
- step S 109 the station control unit 150 sets the mode of slot lottery to be a normal mode, and after that, ends the routine of this time.
- the mode of slot lottery will be described later.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 110 to determine whether or not the winning case “PROBABILITY-OSCILLATION PATTERN” has been formed.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 111 to supply to the play field section 12 , the medals M, the number of which corresponds to “probability-oscillation pattern”.
- the station control unit 150 sets the mode of slot lottery to be a probability-oscillation mode, and after that, ends the routine of this time.
- the probability-oscillation mode is a mode where the probability of forming the winning cases in the slot lottery is increased in comparison with the normal mode. Namely, when the winning case “PROBABILITY-OSCILLATION PATTERN” has been formed, at step S 112 , the probability-oscillation mode is started, or continued. Then, in the case that the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN” is formed during the probability-oscillation mode, by the processing of step S 109 , the probability-oscillation mode is ended.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 113 to determines whether or not the winning case “BINGO FEATURE” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “BINGO FEATURE” has been formed, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 114 to execute the bingo-card-feature setting processing.
- the bingo-card-feature setting processing is a processing to change an expectation value of player with respect to the number of the delivered medals M, by changing player's privilege in a bingo game to be executed by a combination of the satellite lottery performed in the satellite unit SA and a bingo card 211 displayed at the bingo game section 210 shown in FIG. 9 .
- the bingo game section 210 is specifically shown.
- the bingo card 211 is shown.
- the bingo card 211 has nine boxes which are arranged in the shape of matrix having three lines and three rows. In each box, a given number from 1 to 9 is disposed. These numbers correspond to the numbers assigned to the winning prize pockets 32 a , 33 a of the bingo stage 30 in the satellite unit SA.
- the ball B falls down to any one of winning prize pockets 32 a or 33 a , the number assigned to the winning prize pockets 32 a , 33 a becomes valid.
- a bingo feature display area 213 is provided at the left side and at the bottom side of the bingo card 211 .
- feature display sections 214 a to 214 h are provided in association with lines in a lateral direction, lines in a vertical direction, and lines in a diagonal direction of the bingo card 211 respectively.
- each of the feature display sections 214 a to 214 h when the bingo has been formed, namely three valid numbers are arranged at the corresponding line, a picture depending on a privilege to be imparted to the player in addition to a supply of the number of the medals M displayed in the odds display area 212 , is shown. Any one of these privileges directly or indirectly links with the delivery of medals to a player, and the influences of the privileges to the pay out rate are different from each other.
- the addition of a bonus number of medals to the number of the medals displayed odds display area 212 , the drop of the normal ball B 1 or the special ball B 2 to the play field section 12 , the imparting of “JP chance” and the like are prepared as the privileges.
- the picture indicating the drop of special ball B 2 appears in the feature display sections 214 a , 214 e respectively, the picture indicating the drop of normal ball B 1 appears in the feature display section 214 b , 214 d , 214 f , 21 h respectively, and the picture indicating the imparting of “JP chance” appears in the feature display section 214 c . Consequently, for example, when three valid numerals are aligned in a lateral direction at the top line in the bingo card 211 , the special ball B 2 is dropped to the play field section 12 because of formation of the bingo.
- the privilege to be imparted to a player at the moment of forming the bingo is changed by adding newly or changing the picture (privilege) to be allowed to appear at any one of the feature display sections 214 a to 214 h . Thereby, it is possible to control the payout rate of medals.
- the payout rate POst is lower than the target payout rate POsttgt, if a privilege the influence of which for a direction of increasing the payout rate is big, namely, a privilege linking with a delivery of bigger number of medals is selected within privileges prepared in advance by priority in comparison with the other privileges, it is possible for the payout rate POst to approach the target payout rate POsttgt more earlier.
- the present payout rate POst is higher than the target payout rate POsttgt
- a privilege the influence of which for a direction of increasing the payout rate is small namely, a privilege linking with a delivery of comparatively smaller number of medals
- the payout rate POst it is possible for the payout rate POst to approach the target payout rate POsttgt more earlier.
- the measure of each influence for the payout rate caused by each privilege is qualified, and the probability to select each of the privileges is basically set depending on the qualified value.
- the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 115 to determine whether or not the winning case “DIRECT SATELLITE” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “DIRECT SATELLITE” has been formed, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 123 . On the other hand, in the case that the winning case “DIRECT SATELLITE” has not been formed, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 116 to recognize that the winning case “DIRECT CENTER” has been formed. Subsequently at step S 123 , the station control unit 150 requests to execute the center lottery to the center control unit 130 , and after that, ends the routine of this time. In this case, as the ball B is not transferred to the ball transfer section 15 , the ball B 1 is delivered from the ball supply system 50 A to the ball carrier 40 , and the ball B 1 is transferred to the ball drop system 60 A to execute the satellite lottery.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 120 to determine whether or not the ball B has fallen down from the main table 20 .
- the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 121 to determine whether or not the ball B which has fallen is the special ball B 2 or not.
- the way of determining the kind of ball B is as explained about the sensors 151 in FIG. 6 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 122 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at the inner circumference section 33 of the bingo stage 30 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 123 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at the outer circumference section 32 of the bingo stage 30 . After determining the area where the satellite lottery should be executed, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 124 to request the satellite lottery to the satellite control unit 140 . In this case, the station control unit 150 also provides the satellite control unit 140 with information indicating whether the satellite lottery should be executed at the outer circumference section 32 or the inner circumference section 33 . After requesting the satellite lottery, the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. In addition to the request of the satellite lottery, the station control unit 150 controls the operations of ball transfer section 15 so that the ball B which has fallen is transferred to the end of the slope 28 .
- FIG. 11 shows a flow chart of a satellite lottery routine to be executed by the satellite control unit 140 in response to the request of the satellite lottery from the station control unit 150 .
- the satellite control unit 150 determines whether or not the satellite lottery should be executed at the outer circumference section 32 or at the inner circumference section 33 , in reference to the information provided from the station control unit 150 .
- the satellite control unit 140 advances to step S 202 to control the operations of the ball carrier 40 and the ball drop system 60 A so that the ball B (the normal ball B 1 in this case) transferred by the ball transfer section 15 of the station unit ST is dropped to the outer circumference section 32 from the ball drop system 60 A.
- the satellite control unit 140 advances to step S 203 to control the operations of the ball carrier 40 and the ball drop system 60 B so that the ball B (the special ball B 2 in this case) transferred by the ball transfer section 15 of the station unit ST is dropped to the inner circumference section 33 from the ball drop system 60 B.
- step S 204 the satellite control unit 140 determines whether or not the winning prize pocket 32 a (or 33 a ) into which the ball B has fallen is a JP-chance pocket, that is, a winning prize pocket where the word “JP chance” are represented. Then in the case of the JP-chance pocket, the satellite control unit 140 advances to step S 206 to request the center lottery to the center control unit 130 . In the case when the winning prize pocket is not the JP-chance pocket, the processing of step S 206 is skipped.
- the satellite control unit 140 notifies the host control unit 100 and the station control unit 150 (note that, the station control unit 150 which has requested the satellite lottery.) of the number or the word of the winning prize pocket 32 a (or 33 a ) which the ball B has fallen into. After the notification, the satellite control unit 140 ends the satellite lottery routine.
- FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of a win-probability determination routine to be executed by the host control unit 100 in response to the notification of the number or the word of the winning prize pocket from the satellite control unit 140 .
- the probability of fall of the ball B (the ease of fall of the ball B) for each winning prize pocket 32 a , 33 a in the bingo stage 30 is not equalized to each other because of influence of mechanical error.
- This routine is executed to recognize the dispersion of the probabilities and reflect the dispersion to the control of the game.
- the host control unit 100 updates the number-of-win data in response to the notification of the winning-prize-pocket number from the satellite control unit 140 .
- the number-of-win data is stored data that, for example as shown in FIG. 13 , each number for winning prize pocket (the numerals of 1 to 9 and “JP”) assigned to each winning prize pocket 32 a , 33 a and each number-of win N 1 to N 9 , Njp indicating the number of wins for each number for winning prize pocket are associated with each other.
- the number-of-win is counted within a proper sampling period (for example, 1000 times of lotteries in the past).
- the notification that the ball B 1 has entered the winning prize pocket 32 a which the number “1” is assigned to in the satellite lottery is received, one is added to the number-of-win N 1 for the pocket number “1”, and one is subtracted from the number-of-win Nx for the pocket number x (x is any one of the numerals 1 to 9 or jp) corresponding to the oldest lottery chance in the sampling period.
- the host control unit 100 calculates the win probability for each pocket number.
- the calculation is for obtaining a value that the number-of-win N 1 to N 9 , Njp for each pocket number is divided by the number of lotteries within the sampling period. It is possible to omit the calculation about the win possibility of the pocket mumber JP corresponding to “JP chance”.
- the host control unit 100 notifies the station control unit 150 of the calculated win probability of each pocket number, and after that, ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 which is the destination of notification at step S 303 is the station control unit 150 of each of four station units ST combined with the satellite unit SA having the satellite control unit 140 which has notified of the result of satellite lottery. Namely, the win-probability determination routine is individually executed for each one unit including one of the satellite unit SA and four of the station units ST combined therewith.
- FIG. 14 shows a flow chart of a bingo game routine to be executed by the station control unit 150 at the moment when the number for winning prize pocket is notified from the satellite control unit 140 .
- the station control unit 150 validates on the bingo card 211 , the same number as the number for winning prize pocket 32 a , 33 a notified from the satellite control unit 140 . However, in the case that the winning prize pocket is “JP chance”, the validation is not executed.
- the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the bingo has been formed on the bingo card 211 , that is, three valid numbers has been aligned on one line.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 133 to supply to the play field section 12 as a prize of forming bingo, the number of the medals M obtained by adding the number of bingo WIN and the number of repeat WIN.
- the number of bingo WIN is the number displayed at the odds display area 212 shown in FIG. 10 .
- the number of repeat WIN is the number displayed at the repeat-number display area 215 shown in FIG. 10 . The repeat-number will be described later.
- the station control unit 150 imparts to the player, the privilege corresponding to the picture appearing in the display section of the line or row where the bingo has been formed (referred to as the win line hereinafter.), within the feature display sections 214 a to 214 h in the bingo game section 210 .
- the privilege is imparted, such as the addition of the number of the delivered medals, the drop of ball B, the imparting of “JP chance” or the like.
- the imparting of “JP chance” is a request of the center lottery in a manner similar to the case when the processing advances from step S 205 to step S 206 in FIG. 12 .
- step S 135 the station control unit 150 resets the feature on the win line, that is, erases the privilege corresponding to the win line. After that, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 136 to obtain the win probability of each pocket number notified from the host control unit 100 . Subsequently at step S 137 , the station control unit 150 rearranges the numbers on the win line, in reference to the win possibilities of pocket numbers and the difference between the payout rate POst and the target payout rate POsttgt. For example, the following will describe about the case shown in FIG.
- the numerals on the win line are 7, 6, and 4, and the win probabilities P 7 , P 6 , and P 4 corresponding to the numerals 7, 6, and 4 respectively have a relation such as P 7 >P 6 >P 4 .
- the sequence of these three numerals arranged on the win line is predetermined.
- the box placed at the center in the bingo card is a box included in any lines of vertical direction, lateral direction and diagonal direction. When a numeral the win probability of which is high is placed at this box, the probability to form the bingo increases relatively in comparison with a case that a numeral the win probability of which is low is placed at the box.
- the target payout rate POsttgt is enough higher than the actual payout rate POst
- the number 7 having the highest win probability is disposed at the central box, and the other numerals are assigned to the right and the left boxes respectively.
- the target payout rate POsttst is enough lower than the actual payout rate POst
- the numeral 4 having the lowest win probability is disposed at the central box, and the other numerals are assigned to the right and the left boxes respectively.
- the station control unit 150 After rearranging the numerals on the win line, the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. Additionally, each numeral on the win line after the rearrangement, becomes an initial state where the numeral is invalid. On the other hand, when the bingo has not been formed at step S 132 , the station control unit 150 advances to step S 140 to determine whether or not the winning prize pocket is “REPEAT”. In the case that the numeral notified in the satellite lottery has been already valid on the bingo card 211 , it is determined to be “REPEAT”.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 141 to increase a repeat step by one step, that is, change the repeat WIN number displayed at the repeat-number display area 215 to a one-step bigger value.
- the repeat WIN number gradually increases such as 10, 20, 40 in accordance with the repeat number of 1, 2, 3 respectively.
- the repeat WIN number of medals according to the repeat number are supplied to the play field section 12 (refer to step S 133 ).
- step S 412 the station control unit 150 delivers the normal ball B 1 to the play field section 12 .
- This processing can be the same as step S 106 in FIG. 16 .
- the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 advances step 143 to supply the predetermined number of medals M, and after that, ends the routine of this time.
- FIG. 16 shows a flow chart of a center lottery routine to be executed by the center control unit 130 in response to the request of the center lottery.
- the center lottery is requested, in the case that the bingo feature which is imparted at step S 133 in FIG. 14 is “JP chance”, as well as at step S 117 in FIG. 8 and at step S 206 in FIG. 11 .
- the center control unit 130 executes the center lottery at step S 401 . Namely, while rotating the ground roulette 71 , the center control unit 130 makes the grand-ball drop system 72 drop the grandball 73 .
- the center control unit 130 determined whether or not the grand ball 73 has entered the winning prize pocket 71 a defined as a JP prize pocket. In the case that it takes a somewhat long time from the drop of grand ball 73 to the enter of the ball, it is possible to stop the processing ones at the moment of the drop of the grand ball 73 , and restart the processing in FIG. 16 by a trigger which is a detection that the grand ball 73 has been taken into any one of winning prize pocket 71 a in the grand roulette 71 .
- the center control unit 130 advances to step S 403 to instruct the station control unit 150 which has requested the center lottery, to supply to the play field section 12 , the medals the number of which corresponds to the JP win. After instructing the medal supply, the center control unit 130 ends the routine of this time. Note that, in the case that the center lottery is requested from the satellite control unit 140 , it is the station control unit 150 which has requested the satellite lottery to the satellite control unit 140 that is the destination to be notified of the instruction of medal supply.
- step S 402 the center control unit 130 advances to step S 404 to determine whether or not the grand ball 73 has been taken into the winning prize pocket 71 a defined as the grand slot pocket.
- step S 405 the center control unit 130 advances to step S 405 to request the host control unit 100 to execute the grand slot lottery, and after that, ends the routine of this time.
- the center control unit 140 advances to step S 406 to instruct the station control unit 150 to supply to the play field section 12 , the medals M the number of which corresponds to the center lottery.
- the number of the medals M to be supplied in this case is enough smaller than the number instructed at step S 403 . It is possible to instruct different number of medals depending on the kind of winning prize pocket 71 a into which the grand ball 73 has been taken.
- the destination to be notified of the medal-supply instruction is the same as the case of step S 403 .
- the center control unit 130 ends the routine of this time.
- FIG. 17 shows a flow chart of a grand-slot-lottery routine to be executed by the host control unit 100 in response to the request (of step S 405 in FIG. 16 ) of the grand slot lottery from the center control unit 130 .
- the grand slot lottery routine firstly the host control unit 100 executes the grand slot lottery at step S 501 .
- the grand slot lottery is a slot lottery where it is competed whether or not a combination of three patterns forms a winning case like the digital lottery game executed on the station monitor 16 in the station unit ST.
- the game image of the grand slot lottery is displayed on the center monitor 70 via the center PC 120 .
- the entire payout rate POall calculated in the processing in FIG. 7 may be referred.
- the host control unit 100 After executing the grand slot lottery, the host control unit 100 advances to step S 502 to determine whether or not the winning case “PREMIER MODE” has been formed in the grand slot lottery. In the case that the winning case “PREMIRE MODE” has been formed, the host control unit 100 advances to step S 503 to request the station control unit 150 to shift to the premier mode.
- the destination of the request in this case is the station control unit 150 which has requested to the center control unit 130 , the center lottery which has caused the request of the grand slot lottery at step S 405 in FIG. 16 .
- the host control unit 100 ends the routine of this time.
- the host control unit 100 advances to step S 504 to determine whether or not the winning case “SATELLITE GAME” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “SATELLITE GAME” has been formed, the host control unit 100 advances to step S 505 to request the satellite control unit 140 which has requested the center lottery to execute a predetermined center game. After the request, the host control unit 100 ends the routine of this time.
- the satellite control unit 140 which has been requested to execute the satellite game executes the satellite game in accordance with a predetermined procedure, and instructs the station control unit 150 (the same as the destination of request at step S 503 ) to supply the number of the medals M depending on the game result.
- step S 506 the host control unit 100 advances to step S 506 to determine whether or not the winning case “MEDAL WIN” has been formed.
- step S 507 the host control unit 100 advances to step S 507 to instruct the station control unit 150 to supply medals the number of which is obtained by adding the number of the medals corresponding to the winning case “MEDAL WIN” to the JP number of medals (the supplied number of medals instructed at S 403 in FIG. 16 ).
- the destination of direction is also the same as the case of step S 503 .
- the host control unit 100 ends the routine of this time.
- step S 506 the host control unit 100 advances to step S 508 to request the center control unit 130 to re-execute the center lottery.
- the center control unit 130 re-executes the center lottery in FIG. 16 .
- the host control unit 100 ends the routine of this time.
- FIG. 18 shows a flow chart of a premier mode routine to be executed by the station control unit 150 in the case that the shift to the premier mode has been requested from the host control unit 100 (the case of step S 503 in FIG. 17 ).
- This routine is executed instead of the game basic-control routine in FIG. 8 , in the case that the drop of medal M to the play field section 12 has been detected. Namely, at the moment of executing the premier mode, the game control based on the game basic-control routine is not executed. Additionally, in the case that the premier mode is executed, the game image 220 shown in FIG. 19 instead of the game image 200 shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the station monitor 16 .
- the game image 220 resembles the game image 200 in a point that three changeable display sections 201 a , 201 b , 201 c are aligned in the lateral direction. However, the game image 220 is different from the game image 200 in a point that a continuation-condition display section 221 is provided instead of the bingo game section 210 .
- the numerals 1 to 9 are aligned in the lateral direction, and each of them is displayed in a different state depending on whether the numeral is valid or invalid for continuing the premier mode. In FIG. 19 , a round symbol is given to each valid numeral, and a symbol “x” is given to each invalid numeral.
- the station control unit 150 executes the medal drop processing at step S 151 , and subsequently at step S 152 , determines whether or not the medals M has entered the checker.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 153 to execute the slot lottery as the digital lottery game executed on the station monitor 16 .
- the winning case of this time is limited to a case that three same numerals appear. Additionally, the win probability is set to be higher than the one at step S 103 in FIG. 8 .
- the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the combination of patterns obtained in the slot lottery is a losing case, and in the case of forming the losing case, ends the routine of this time.
- step S 154 in the case of not forming the losing case, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 155 to supply to the play field section, the medals M the number of which is depending on the winning case formed in the slot lottery.
- step S 156 the station control unit 150 switches the state of winning numeral, three of which have appeared, between valid sate and invalid sate. For example, as shown in FIG. 19 , in the case that three of numeral 3 have appeared to form a winning case, the state of numeral 3 is switched between valid sate and invalid sate. For example, in FIG.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 160 to determine whether or not the ball B has fallen down from the main table 20 . In the case that the ball B has not fallen, the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this routine. On the other hand, in the case that the ball B has fallen, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 161 to determine whether or not the ball B which has fallen is the special ball B 2 .
- the determination of the kind of ball B is as explained with respect to the sensors 151 in FIG. 6 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 162 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at the inner circumference section 33 of the bingo stage 30 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 163 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at the outer circumference section 32 in the bingo stage 30 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 164 to request the satellite lottery to the satellite control unit 140 .
- the station control unit 150 also provides to the satellite control unit 140 , the information specifying which section the satellite lottery should be executed, the outer circumference section 32 or inner circumference section 33 .
- the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 controls the operation of the ball transfer section 15 , so that the ball B which has fallen is transferred to the end of slope 28 .
- the satellite control unit 140 to which the satellite lottery is requested by the processing at step S 164 in FIG. 18 , executes the satellite lottery in accordance with the procedure shown in FIG. 11 .
- the station control unit 150 receives the result of the satellite lottery, and executes a premier-mode-end control routine shown in FIG. 20 . This routine is for a control whether the premier mode is continued or ended.
- the station control unit 150 obtains the number of winning prize pocket notified from the satellite control unit 140 .
- the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the winning prize pocket obtained at step S 171 is “JP”, namely, whether or not the ball B has entered the JP chance pocket.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 173 to end the premier mode, and returns to the game basic-control shown in FIG. 8 . After that, the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. Note that, the station control unit 150 only ends the premier mode here. In the case that the “JP chance” in the satellite lottery occurs, the processing advances to the center lottery and after in FIG. 16 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to the step S 174 to determine whether or not the winning-prize-pocket number is the invalid numeral.
- the invalid numeral used here is the numeral to which the symbol “x” is given at the continuation-condition display section 221 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 173 .
- the station control unit 150 skips step S 173 to end the routine of this time.
- the premier mode ends, when the ball has fallen into the winning prize pocket the number of which is equal to the invalid numeral in the satellite lottery, or when the processing advances to the center lottery because the JP chance has occurred in the satellite lottery. Accordingly, in the case that the number of winning prize pocket, into which the ball B has fallen in the satellite lottery is equal to the valid numeral, the premier mode continues.
- the station control unit 150 further has a function for changing the game contents of the station control unit ST based on the number of the balls B existing in the play field section 12 .
- the station control unit 150 executes the processing for increasing the expectation value of the medal obtainment of the player.
- the contents of processing will be explained in reference to FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 .
- FIG. 21 shows a flow chart of a ball-count processing routine to be executed by the station control unit 150 to detect the number of the balls B existing in the play field section 12 .
- the station control unit 150 while the medal game is executed in the station unit ST, repeatedly executes the routine in FIG. 21 at a predetermined interval.
- the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the ball has dropped onto the play field section 12 . This determination can be realized by using the ball drop sensor of the ball sensors included in the sensors 151 . However, not using the sensors, it is possible to determine whether or not the ball B has dropped depending on whether or not the drop of ball B has been instructed, namely, whether or not either the processing at step S 106 in FIG. 8 or the processing at step S 142 in FIG. 14 has been executed between the moment of executing the routine in FIG. 21 of the prior time and the moment of executing the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 182 to add one to the counting value of the ball counter to memorize the number of the balls B. After that, the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the ball counter may be a virtual counter retained in a RAM and the like in the station control unit 150 .
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 183 to determine whether or not the fall of the ball B from the play field section 12 has been detected. The determination can be realized by using the ball fall sensor of the ball sensors included in the sensors 151 .
- the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 advances to the step S 184 to subtract one from the counting value of the ball counter.
- the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the number of the balls B memorized in the ball counter is zero. In the case that the number of the balls B is zero, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 186 to instruct to start an empty mode, and after that, ends the routine of this time. At the moment when the empty mode starts, the start of the empty mode can be notified to the player, for example, by displaying a special image on the station monitor 16 . On the other hand, in the case that the number of the balls B is not zero, the station control unit 150 skips step S 186 and ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 executes an empty mode routine shown in FIG. 22 instead of the game basic-control routine in FIG. 8 .
- the station control unit 150 in the case that the drop of medal M to the play field section 12 has been detected, executes the routine in FIG. 22 instead of the game basic-control routine in FIG. 8 .
- step S 191 the station control unit 150 executes the medal drop processing, and subsequently at step S 192 , determines whether or not the medal M has entered the checker.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 193 to execute the slot lottery as the digital lottery game executed on the station monitor 16 .
- the slot lottery two kinds of winning case are set, that is, a winning case “BALL” which means the drop of ball B, and a winning case “MEDAL” which means the supply of medal M to the play field section 12 .
- the probability to win the winning case “BALL” is set to be higher than the probability to win the winning case “BALL” in the slot lottery executed in accordance with the game basic-control routine in FIG. 8 .
- the probability to win the winning case “MEDAL” is set to be higher than the probability to win the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN” in the slot lottery executed in accordance with the game basic-control routine in FIG. 8 .
- the win probabilities are set so that the player's expectation value for obtaining medals is made higher than the expectation value of the slot lottery executed in the game basic-control routine.
- the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the winning case “BALL” has been won. In the case of winning the “BALL”, the station control unit 150 advances to step S 195 to request to deliver the normal ball B 1 to the satellite control unit 140 .
- the satellite control unit 140 makes the ball supply system 50 A eject the normal ball B 1 , and delivers the ball B 1 to the slope 14 a of the ball drop section 14 in the station unit ST by using the ball carrier 40 .
- the station control unit 150 operates the drop-position selection system 14 b of the ball drop section 14 to drop the normal ball B 1 to a proper position in the play field section 12 .
- step S 196 the station control unit 150 advances to step S 196 to end the empty mode. Namely, by the delivery of the normal ball B 1 , the empty mode is ended. Thereby, the station control unit 150 returns to the game basic-control routine in FIG. 8 . After executing the processing at step S 196 , the station control unit 150 ends the routine of this time.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 197 to determine whether or not the winning case “MEDAL” has been won in the slot lottery.
- the station control unit 150 advances to step S 198 to execute the processing for supplying a predetermined number of medals M from the medal supply section 13 to the play field section 12 .
- the supplied medals M is the same as the number of the supplied medals M at step S 108 in FIG. 8 , but more number of medals M can be supplied to the play field section 12 .
- the station control unit 150 After supplying the medals M, the station control unit 150 returns to step S 191 . Note that, in the case that a negative determination results at step S 192 , or in the case that a negative determination results at step S 197 , the station control unit 150 returns to step S 191 .
- the winning case “BALL” is formed with a higher probability than the probability that the normal ball B 1 is dropped in the game basic-control routine and the normal ball B 1 is dropped to the play field section 12 . Consequently, in comparison to the case of executing the game basic-control routine, it is possible to expect a reduce of the duration time of the state that the ball B does not exist in the play field section 12 . Moreover, as the win probability to win the winning case “MEDAL” also increases, the expectation value of medal obtainment itself also gets higher than the expectation value in the state controlled by the game basic-control routine. Thereby, even if the ball B does not exist in the play field section 12 , it is possible to impart the motivation of game continuation to the player. That makes the operating rate and the profit performance of the game machine G higher.
- the medal supply section 13 of the station unit ST corresponds to a first game-medium supply device.
- the configuration for executing the pusher game and the digital lottery game in the station unit ST corresponds to a basic-game execution device.
- the ball supply system 50 A, 50 B and the carrier 40 of the satellite unit SA, and the ball drop section 14 of the station unit ST for dropping the ball B to the play field section 12 correspond to a second game-medium supply device.
- the ball transfer section 15 of the station unit ST, the satellite unit SA, and the station control unit 150 for executing the satellite lottery by using the ball B and the bingo game responding to the lottery result of the satellite lottery correspond to a dividend-chance imparting device.
- the station control unit 150 functions as a medium number-of-pieces detection device by executing the routine in FIG. 21 , and functions as a privilege imparting device by executing the routine in FIG. 22 .
- the satellite unit SA corresponds to the physical lottery system.
- the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but is possible to be executed in various embodiments. Proper change of the privilege which the privilege imparting device imparts and proper addition to the privilege can be allowed.
- the privilege can be imparted by executing the slot lottery in the probability oscillation mode.
- the privilege can be imparted by changing the medal transfer route in the play field section 12 so that the medal M is easier to enter the opening section 24 a , 24 b , 24 c as the checker. It is possible to issue some privilege with respect to the bingo feature. It is possible to impart the privilege by delivering to the play field section 12 , the special ball B 2 instead of the normal ball B 1 , in the case that the winning case “BALL” is won in the slot lottery.
- the basic game is not limited to the combination of the pusher game and the slot lottery, and can be changed variously as long as the a game is executed in association with the motion of the first game medium.
- the pin ball or the like can be executed as the basic game.
- the privilege is imparted, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.
- the number of the balls B decreases to over a predetermined number which is 2 or more than 2, though the balls B remains in the play field section 12 , it is possible to impart some privilege.
- the predetermined number By setting plural numerals as the predetermined numbers which are criteria for imparting the privilege, it is possible to impart the privilege in stages depending on decrease of the number of the balls B. In this case, it is possible to change to more advantageous privilege, as the number of pieces more decreases.
- the predetermined number to be a criterion for imparting privilege, as the predetermined number is allowed to be changed depending on the game situation, for example, a change of payout rate.
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Abstract
A medal as the first game medium and a ball as the second game medium are supplied to a play field section based on the player's operation, a basic game is executed in association with the operation of the medal, and while a dividend depending on the game result of the basic game is imparted to the player, a chance for obtaining dividend is imparted to the player, when the ball is ejected from the play field section due to the operation of the ball linked with the operation of medal, the number of the balls as the game media existing in the game field section is detected, and a privilege tied to delivery of dividend is imparted depending on a decrease of the number of the balls.
Description
- This is a U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International PatentApplication No. PCT/JP2007/052695 filed Feb. 15, 2007, and claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-102486 filed Apr. 3, 2006. The International Application was published in Japanese on Oct. 11, 2007 as WO 2007/113943 A1 under PCT Article 21(2). The contents of these priority applications are incorporated by reference in their entireties into the present disclosure.
- The present invention relates to supply first game media and second game media to a play field section.
- As one type of game machines where game medium is used, there is well-known a so-called medal pusher game machine to allow a medal thrown into by a player to drop down to a play field section, by pushing out by a pusher table the medal having dropped down, arrangement of a clump of medals is changed, and because of the change, the medal which has fallen down from a predetermined range of the play field section is delivered to the player. Moreover, as this type of pusher game, there is also provided a game machine where a second game medium (a ball for example) which is different from the medal as the first game media is supplied to the play field section in addition to the medal, the second game medium is allowed to move with the medal, a lottery processing is executed subject to the second game medium which has fallen down from the play field section, and a dividend depending on the lottery is delivered to the player. According to the game machine like this, the second game medium is supplied to the play field section in addition to the first game media, and the second game medium is pushed out linked with the first game medium and ejected from the play field section. Thereby a chance for obtaining the dividend is imparted to the player. The motion of game medium such as the medal or the like is subject to physical law. Therefore, if it is set to impart the chance for obtaining dividend depending on the motion of the game medium, while it is possible to remove an impression of adding an intentional operation by the game machine, it is possible to make the player expect more dividend in comparison with a game machine where one kind of game medium is used.
- In the above mentioned game machine, as more number of pieces of the second game medium existing in the play field section, the expectation of the player about obtaining the dividend gets higher. Accordingly, when the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases, the player recognizes that the situation is not good for obtaining the dividend, which can make the player lose his/her motive for sustaining the game. Especially, when the second game medium does not exist in the play field section, the inclination is enhanced. If such situation occurs at a game machine for commercial use, which will bring inexpedience such as a decrease of operation rate or a decrease of profit.
- Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a game machine which supplies not only the first game medium but also the second game medium in the play field section, is capable of imparting a motive for sustaining a game to a player even if the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases.
- The present invention solves the above problems by the following configuration. A game machine has a first game-medium supply device for supplying a first game medium to a play field section based on an operation by a player; a basic-game execution device for executing a basic game in association with an operation of the first game medium dropped to the play field section, and imparting to the player a dividend depending on a game result of the basic game; a second game-medium supply device for supplying to the play field section a second game medium different in kind from the first game medium, in a case that a predetermined situation occurs in the basic game; and a dividend chance imparting device for imparting a chance of obtaining dividend to the player. In a case that the second game medium is ejected from the play field section by an operation of the second game medium linked with the operation of the first game medium, wherein the game machine further includes a medium number-of-pieces detection device for detecting the number of the second game media existing in the game field; and a privilege imparting device for imparting privilege to be tied with a delivery of the dividend to the player, in a case that the number of the second game media detected by the medium number-of-pieces detection device decreases to less than a predetermined number.
- According to the game machine of the present invention, in the case when the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases to less than a predetermined number, in response to this, the privilege tied to the delivery of dividend to the player is imparted by the privilege imparting device. Consequently, even if the number of the second game media decreases, it is possible to make the player feel an expectation for obtaining the dividend through the privilege newly imparted. Thereby, it is possible to impart to the player the motive for sustaining the game, and expect to improve of the operation rate and the profit performance and the like of the game machine.
- In addition, in the game machine of the game machine, a game where a play chance is ensured to the player based on the drop of the first game medium can be employed to the basic game. The range of the basic game may be set in a coordinated fashion. With respect to the imparting of dividend in the basic game, it can be employed that either the first game medium itself may be imparted to the player, or some game value exchangeable with the first game medium may be imparted to the player. In the case that the first game medium is delivered, it can be employed that either the first game medium may be delivered directly to the player, or indirectly to the player such that the first game medium is delivered to the play field section and the like. The second game medium can be utilized as a medium for executing various processing such as a lottery and the others to be executed for delivering the dividend. Additionally, the second game medium itself can be delivered as the dividend to the player. The privilege imparted by the privilege imparting device can be any privilege as long as the privilege is tied to the delivery of dividend. For example, a lottery chance for determining dividend can be imparted to the player and the like, it is possible to impart as the privilege, a chance for delivering the dividend when an additional condition is satisfied in addition to the decrease of the second game media. Alternatively, it is possible to impart the delivery of the dividend itself as the privilege. Further, it is possible for the game machine of the present invention to include the following configurations.
- In one configuration of the game machine according to the present invention, the privilege imparting device may impart the privilege by executing processing for increasing a probability that the predetermined situation is formed in the basic game. According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the probability that a predetermined situation is formed in the based game to supply the second game medium to the play field section. Therefore, in the case that the number of the second game media decreases, it is possible to expect to reduce a necessary time up to supply the next second medium. Thereby, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining the game to the player.
- In one configuration of the game machine according to the present invention, the basic-game execution device may execute, as a game included in the basic game, a lottery game where a lottery processing in which the basic-game execution device executes a lottery processing to allow a winning case to occur in a case that the first game medium pass through a predetermined position in the play field section, while controlling win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law, and may deliver the dividend directly and indirectly to the player in a case that the winning case is formed, and the privilege imparting device may impart the privilege by executing at least either a processing for increasing a probability to form the winning case in the lottery game, or a processing for increasing amount of the delivery at the moment of forming the winning case. According to this configuration, when the number of the second game media decreases, the probability that the winning case is formed in the lottery game executed as one of the basic game increases, or the amount of delivery when the winning case is formed increases. Consequently, even if the number of the second game media decreases, it is possible to make the player feel an expectation for obtaining more dividend than usual through the lottery game. Thereby, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining the game to the player.
- In one configuration of the game machine according to the present invention, the first game medium may be a medal, the basic-game execution device may execute, as games included in the basic game, a pusher game in which the basic-game execution device, while pushing out a cluster of medals accumulated in the play field section by a pusher table with a back-and-forth motion in the play field section, delivers to the player as the dividend the medal ejected from a predetermined range of the play field section, and a lottery game in which the basic-game execution device executes a lottery processing to allow a winning case to occur in a case that the medal passes through a predetermined position in the play field section, while controlling win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law, and may deliver to the player the medal as the dividend directly and indirectly in a case that the winning case is formed, the second game-medium supply system may supply the second game medium, recognizing that the predetermined situation has occurred in the basic game in a case that a predetermined winning case of game-medium delivery is formed in the lottery game, and the privilege imparting device may deliver the privilege by executing at least either a processing for increasing a probability to form a winning case of the game-medium delivery in the lottery game, a processing for increasing a probability to form the winning case in the lottery game, or a processing for increasing number of medals as the dividend at a moment of winning the winning case.
- According to this configuration, when the medal is ejected from the predetermined range of the play field section in the pusher game, the lottery game is executed, and the winning case is formed in the lottery game, the medal is delivered as the dividend. Additionally, when the winning case of game-medium delivery is formed in the lottery game, the second game medium is supplied to the play field section. By ejecting the second game medium from the play field section, a chance for obtaining dividend is imparted to the player. Then, when the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases, the probability to form the winning case of game-medium delivery increases, the probability to form the winning case increases, or the dividend number of the medals to be delivered in response to formation of the winning case increases. Consequently, even if the number of the second game media in the play field section decreases, it is possible to make the player feel the expectation for obtaining more dividend. Thereby, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining the game to the player.
- In one configuration of the game machine of the present invention, the privilege imparting device, in a case that a situation is detected that the second game medium does not exist in the play field section, may impart the privilege. According to this configuration, even if the situation occurs that no second game medium exists in the play field section, by imparting the privilege, it is possible to make the player feel the expectation for obtaining the dividend and possible to impart the motive for sustaining the game.
- In one configuration of the game machine of the present invention, the dividend chance imparting device may have a physical lottery system which takes the second game medium ejected from the play field section thereinto and selects at least one choice from a plurality of choices by imparting an physical operation to the second game medium, and may control the delivery of dividend to the player in association with a lottery result by the physical lottery system. In the game machine of this configuration, the second game medium is settled as a medium for a lottery by the physical lottery system, and the delivery of dividend to the player is controlled in association with the result of the physical lottery. As the lottery result of the physical lottery system depends on the physical operation of the medium, it is difficult to interpose the artifact by the game machine with respect to the lottery result. Therefore, the physical lottery system has a merit that it is easy to increase the expectation of the player for obtaining the dividend. On the contrary, when the number of the second game media existing in the play field section decreases, as the chance of lottery by the physical lottery system also decreases, the merit of the physical lottery system can not be performed satisfyingly, and thereby, it could occur that the motive of the player for sustaining the game is reduced. However, if it is configured to impart the privilege for the decrease of the number of the second game media, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining of the game to the player until the moment when the number of the second game media increases.
- As mentioned above, according to the game machine of the present invention, by imparting a privilege tided to payment of dividend to a player when the number of the second game media decreases to over a predetermined number, it is possible to impart the expectation to obtain the dividend to the player, and thereby, it is possible to impart the motive for sustaining a game to the player and expect to improve the operation rate, and the profit performance and the like of the game machine.
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FIG. 1 A diagram showing an schematic configuration of a game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 A perspective view showing a satellite unit and a station unit combined therewith. -
FIG. 3 A diagram showing a flow of a medal in the station unit. -
FIG. 4 A diagram showing a flow of a ball in the station unit. -
FIG. 5 A perspective view showing a center unit. -
FIG. 6 A block diagram showing an schematic configuration of a control system of the game machine. -
FIG. 7 A flow chart showing processing to be executed by a host control unit and a station control unit to manage payout rates. -
FIG. 8 A flow chart showing a game basic-control routine to be executed by the station control unit in response to a drop of medal. -
FIG. 9 A diagram showing a game image displayed on a monitor of the station unit. -
FIG. 10 A diagram showing details of a bingo game section provided in the game image shown inFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 11 A flow chart showing a satellite lottery routine to be executed by the satellite control unit. -
FIG. 12 A flow chart showing a win-probability determination routine to be executed by the host control unit. -
FIG. 13 A diagram showing data of the number of wins held by the host control unit. -
FIG. 14 A flow chart showing a bingo game routine to be executed by the station control unit in response to a notification of a result of a satellite lottery. -
FIG. 15 A diagram for explaining a way of rearrangement of numerals on a win line in the bingo game. -
FIG. 16 A flow chart showing a center lottery routine to be executed by a center control unit. -
FIG. 17 A flow chart showing a grand slot lottery routine to be executed by the host control unit. -
FIG. 18 A flow chart showing a premier mode routine to be executed by the station control unit instead of the game basic-control routine. -
FIG. 19 A diagram showing a schematic game image to be displayed on the monitor of the station at the moment of a premier mode. -
FIG. 20 A flow chart showing a premier-mode-end control routine to be executed by the station control unit to determine the end of the premier mode. -
FIG. 21 A flow chart showing a ball-count processing routine to be executed by the station control unit. -
FIG. 22 A flow chart showing a empty mode routine to be executed by the station control unit. - Using
FIGS. 1 to 5 , the outline of construction of game machine G of the present invention will be described.FIG. 1 is an overhead view of the game machine G showing one embodiment of the present invention. The game machine G has one center unit CN, four satellite units SA, and six teen station units ST. Each satellite unit SA is placed such that the satellite units SA surround the center unit CN below the center unit CN, and each satellite unit SA is surrounded by four station units ST. Than is, the game machine G is configured such that the center unit CN is placed as the center, four satellite units SA are placed around the center unit CN, and further four station units ST are placed around each of the satellite units. At the station unit ST, each of a so-called pusher game where a medal is used as a game medium and a digital lottery game associated with the pusher game is implemented as a basic game. At the satellite unit SA, a satellite lottery is performed in association with a game result of the digital lottery game at the station unit SA. At the center unit CN, a center lottery or a grand slot lottery is performed as a center game, in association with a game result of the digital lottery game at the station unit ST, or a lottery result of the satellite lottery at the satellite unit SA. -
FIG. 2 shows one satellite unit SA and one station unit ST being combined therewith. The station unit ST has a left-right pair ofoperation sections 10 for the player's operation relating to the game, aplay field section 12 where the medal pusher game is performed, amedal supply section 13 for supplying a medal M as the first game medium to theplay field section 12, aball drop section 14 for dropping a ball B as the second play medium to theplay field section 12, aball transfer section 15 for carrying the ball B to the satellite unit SA, and astation monitor 16 for displaying a game image and so on. Theplay field section 12 has a main table 20 and a sub table 21 which accumulate the medals M, and further has a pusher tables 22, 23 which slide forward and backward on the tables 20, 21 respectively. The medals M are accumulated such that the medals M are bed on the main table 20 and the sub table 21. Theplay field section 12 is shielded against the outside because of being surrounded by a partition wall such as a transparent board. - In reference to
FIG. 3 , the outline of a flow of the medal M in the station unit ST will be described. When a player drops the medal M from a medal drop slot (not shown) mounted in theoperation section 10, the medal M falls down on either one of themedal hoppers 13 a of themedal supply section 13 via amedal shoot 17. In advance of the drop of medal by the player, the medals M have been delivered in each ofmedal ejection sections 18, which are placed on the right side and the left side of the station unit ST, and the medals M are held in each of themedal ejection sections 18 for a drop to theplay field section 12. The medal M held in themedal ejection section 18 is transferred to amedal shooter 19 at the timing in synchronism with the drop of medal M by the player, and from themedal shooter 19 dropped onto the sub table 21. In addition, the direction ofshooter 19 is changeable in the right-left direction by operatinglevers 10 a mounted to the right side and the left side ofoperation sections 10. - The medal M dropped to the
play field section 12 falls down on the sub table 21, and is accumulated there or rolls down from the sub table 21 to the main table 20. Because of pushing out the cluster of medals accumulated on the sub table 21 forwardly (the side where the player exists. Hereinafter, same meaning) by the back-and-forth motion of the pusher table 23, the medal M is pushed out from the front edge of the sub table 21, the medal M which ahs pushed out slides down in anincline section 24 to move to the main table 20, and are accumulated there. Because of pushing out the cluster of medals M accumulated on the main table 21 by the back-and-forth motion of the pusher table 22, the medal M falls down around the main table 20. The medal M which has fallen down is retrieved to a lift-uphopper 25 shown inFIG. 2 . Then, the same number of pieces of medals M as the medals having fallen down from the front edge of the main table 20 are delivered from the lift-uphopper 25 as the medals obtained by the player to amedal delivery section 11 mounted between theoperation sections 10. As themedal delivery section 11 is placed at the outside of the partition wall covering theplay field section 12, it is possible for the player to accept the medals M delivered to themedal delivery section 11. - Returning to
FIG. 2 , in theincline section 24, plural openingsections opening section incline section 24, the passing through of the medal M is detected by a sensor, which is not shown. By using the detection signal as a trigger, the digital lottery game is started on thestation monitor 16. The digital lottery game is one type of a slot game where three patterns are displayed on the station monitor 16 in a state that the patterns are aligned in a horizontal direction, and it is competed for whether the combination of the three patterns (pictures, symbols, numerals and so on) forms a predetermined winning case. A “BALL” is prepared as one of the winning cases of the digital lottery game. For example, in the case that three pictures of ball are displayed, the winning case “BALL” is formed. In the case that this winning case is formed, the ball B is dropped onto the main table 20 from theball drop section 14. This supply of the ball B to theball drop section 14 will be described. In this embodiment, different two kinds of balls, that is, a normal ball B1 and a special ball B2 are prepared as the ball B. However, when it is not necessary to discriminate each of them, each is referred to as the ball B. - The ball B dropped onto the main table 20 are pushed out gradually toward the front of the main table 20 together with the medals M, due to the back-and-forth motion of the pusher table 22. When the ball B falls down from the front edge of the main table 20, the ball B which has fallen down is transferred to the satellite unit SA by the
ball transfer section 15.FIG. 4 shows a transfer route of ball B by theball transfer section 15. The ball B which has fallen down from the main table 20 is taken into aball lifter 27 via aball duct 26. Theball lifter 27 sends up the taken ball B along aslope 28 to transfer the ball B to the end (the top) of theslope 28. At the satellite unit SA, the satellite lottery is performed by utilizing the ball B which has been transferred to the end ofslope 28. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , the satellite unit SA comprises abingo stage 30, aball carrier 40 mounted at the outer circumference of thebingo stage 30, a pair ofball supply systems bingo stage 30, and a pair ofball drop systems bingo stage 30 from theball supply systems bingo stage 30 is driven to rotate around an axis of vertical direction in a predetermined direction by a driving system which is not shown. The upper surface of thebingo stage 30 is divided into an outer circumference section 32A and an inner circumference section 32B by afence 31 in the shape of ring. In the sections 32A, 32B, winning prize pockets 32 a, 33 a in the shape of round each of which has a diameter allowing the ball B to pass through are mounted, such that each of the winning prize pockets 32 a, 33 a penetrates thebingo stage 30. To the outer circumference section 32A, ten winning prize pockets 32 a are provided, and to the inner circumference section 32B, five winning prize pockets 33 a are provided. To each of the winning prize pockets 32 a, 33 a, a number or a picture to be a choice in the satellite lottery is assigned. To each of the winning prize pockets 32 a in the outer circumference section 32A, any one of numbers from one to nine and a word “JP chance” is alternatively assigned. In this embodiment, “JP” is used as an abbreviation of a word indicating “jack pot”, that is, a big win. On the other hand, to each of three winning prize pockets 33 a in the inner circumference section 32B, three numbers which are properly combined from the numbers of one to nine are assigned, and to each of remaining two winning prize pockets 33 a, the word “JP chance” is assigned. - The
ball carrier 40 is capable of moving along the outer circumference of thebingo stage 30. Theball carrier 40 transfers the ball B from theball supply system ball drop section 14 in each station unit ST, and transfers the ball B from theball transfer section 15 in each station unit ST to theball drop system bingo stage 30 is guided selectively depending on the kind thereof to the below portion ofball supply system ball supply system 50A, and the special ball B2 is guided to theball supply system 50B. Theball supply system screw feeder 51 to transfer the balls B upward, and delivers the balls B reaches the top end of thescrew feeder 51 one by one from anejection section 52. Linking with the delivery of the ball B from theejection section 52, theball carrier 40 moves just below theejection section 52. Thereby, the ball B ejected from theball ejection section 52 is passed to afork 41 of theball carrier 40. Theball carrier 40 which has accepted the ball B from theball supply system bingo stage 30 up to theball drop system 14 of the station unit ST to which the ball B should be transferred. After that, as thefork 41 is inclined outward, the ball B is delivered to the top end of aslope 14 a of theball drop section 14. The delivered ball B slides along theslope 14 a, and is dropped onto an arbitrary position in the main table 20 via a drop-position selection system 14 b. - On the other hand, in the case that the ball B is transferred to the
ball transfer section 15 of the station unit ST, theball carrier 40 moves to the inner side of theslope 28 of theball transfer section 15 where the ball B has been transferred to accept the ball B from theslope 28. After that, theball carrier 40 transfers the ball B to the position of theball drop system ball drop systems ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B1 to theball drop system 60A, and on the other hand, in the case of the special ball B2, theball carrier 40 transfers the ball B2 to theball drop system 60B. - Each of the
ball drop system ball lifter 61 and aball guide 62. Theball lifter 61 is capable of reciprocating motion in an up-and-down direction. In the case that the normal ball B1 is transferred from theball carrier 40 to theball drop system 60A, theball lifter 61 of theball drop system 60A goes down. After that, thefork 41 of theball carrier 40 is inclined toward the side ofball lifter 61, and thereby, the ball B1 is passed to the ball lifter 61 from theball carrier 40. The ball lifter 61 which has accepted the ball B1 goes up to the top end of theball guide 62. After that, theball lifter 61 is inclined to make a down slope toward theball guide 62. Thereby, the normal ball B1 is passed to theball guide 62. The normal ball B1 which has been passed to the ball guide 62 is dropped to theouter circumference section 32 of thebingo stage 30 from the top end of theball guide 62. In the case that the special ball B2 is transferred from theball carrier 40 to theball drop system 60B, theball lifter 61 of theball drop system 60B goes down to pass the ball B2 from theball carrier 40 to theball lifter 61. After that, theball lifter 61 operates in a manner similar to theball drop system 60A, and thereby the special ball B2 is passed to the ball guide 62 of theball drop system 60B. The special ball B2 which has been passed to the ball guide 62 is dropped to theinner circumference section 33 of thebingo stage 30 from the top end of theball guide 62. - The center unit CN, as shown in
FIG. 5 , has acenter monitor 70, agrand roulette 71, and a grandball drop system 72. Thegrand roulette 71 is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed in one direction by a driving system which is not shown. Plural winning prize pockets 71 a are disposed at the periphery of thegrand roulette 71. To each of the winning prize pockets 71 a, the number (or the multiple number) of the medals M or each kind of modes is assigned as a winning case. When the center game starts, thegrand ball 73 for the grand roulette is dropped to the outer circumference of thegrand roulette 71 from theball drop system 72. While oscillating at the periphery of thegrand roulette 71 according to the rotation of thegrand roulette 71, thegrand ball 73 enters any one of the winning prize pockets 71 a. The privilege is imparted to the player depending on the winningprize pocket 71 a which thegrand ball 73 has entered. - Additionally, in each of the station unit ST, the satellite unit SA, and the center unit CN, illumination devices and sound devices are provided as rendering devices to raise the game mode. As the illumination devices, for example, in the station, plural LEDs (light emitting diodes) are provided along a transfer route from the drop of medals M up to the ejection of medal M to the
play field 12. In the satellite unit SA, lamps are provided so that such illumination is obtained from the lower portion of thebingo stage 30 as the ring-shaped illumination the center of which is the rotation axis of thebingo stage 30. The winning prize pockets 71 a of thegrand roulette 71 in the center unit CN is fringed with plural LEDs. Speakers are provided as the sound devices, effect sounds and BGM (back ground music) are output properly from the speakers. As shown inFIG. 1 , at each area between the satellite units SA of the game machine G, a spacer SA is provided. Under each spacer SP, a moving light L and a speaker for show time are provided. - Next, the configuration of control system of the game machine will be described. As shown in
FIG. 6 , in the game machine G, as a computer unit for controlling operations of the game machine G, ahost control unit 100, a host PC (“PC” is an abbreviation word of a personal computer. “PC” is the same meaning hereinafter.) 110, acenter PC 120, acenter control unit 130, asatellite control unit 140 and astation control unit 150 are mounted. Each onesatellite control unit 140 is mounted to each one satellite unit SA as a configuration element of the satellite unit SA. Each onestation control unit 150 is mounted to each one station unit ST as a configuration element of the station unit ST. Namely, in the whole of game machine G, foursatellite control units 140 and six teenstation control units 150 are provided. The above mentionedunits 110 to 150 connects with each other via a line forLAN 160, and thereby theunits 110 to 150 can communicate information necessary for controlling various games or lotteries to each other. In addition, a so-called star connection in which plural hubs are arranged at appropriate positions can be adopted to the line forLAN 160. - The
host control unit 100 executes a whole management, a unified control and the like for the game machine G. Thehost PC 110 controls operations of a main-body rendering section 111 of the game machine G. In the main-body rendering section 111, rendering devices which belong to neither the center unit CN, the satellite unit SA, nor the station unit ST, such as the moving lights L and the speakers on the spacers SP, are included. Thecenter PC 120 executes a display control of thecenter monitor 70. - The
center control unit 130 controls to execute the center game and rendering in the game using the center unit CN, as operating acenter drive section 132 and acenter rendering section 133, based on the state of the center unit CN detected by thesensors 131. In thesensors 131, a win sensor for detecting whether thegrand ball 73 enters each one of the winning prize pockets 71 a in thegrand roulette 71 is included. For example, a proximity switch, a reflection-type optical sensor, or a transmission-type optical sensor can be adopted to the win sensor. In thecenter drive section 132, drive devices, such as a motor for driving the rotation ofgrand roulette 71 and an actuator for driving the grandball drop system 72, are included. In thecenter rendering section 133, rendering devices unique to the center unit CN, such as the lamps and the speakers, are included. - The
satellite control unit 140 controls to execute the satellite lottery, the transfer of ball B, the rendering in the game using the satellite unit SA, as operating thesatellite drive section 142 and thesatellite rendering section 143 based on the state of satellite unit SA detected by thesensors 141. In thesensors 141, win sensors for detecting whether or not the ball B has passed trough in each of the winning prize pockets 32 a, 33 a in thebingo stage 30, and a carrier position sensor for detecting the position of theball carrier 40 in a circumferential direction are included. For example, a proximity switch, a reflection-type optical sensor, or a transmission-type optical sensor can be adopted to the win sensor. In thesatellite drive section 142, the following drive devices are included: a motor for driving the rotation ofgrand roulette 71; an actuator for driving theball carrier 40 along the outer circumference of thebingo stage 30; an actuator for operating thefork 41 of theball carrier 40; actuators for driving thescrew feeder 51 of theball supply systems ball ejection section 52 respectively; and an actuator for driving theball lifter 61 of theball drop system satellite rendering section 143, the rendering devices unique to the satellite unit SA, such as the lamps and the speakers, are included. - The
station control unit 150 controls the pusher game and the digital lottery game to be executed at the station unit ST and the rendering of game using the station unit ST, as operating thestation drive section 152 and thestation rendering section 153 based on the state of station unit ST detected by thesensors 151. Further, thestation control unit 150 executes a display control of thestation monitor 16. In thesensors 151, medal sensors for detecting the medal M, ball sensors for detecting the ball B, position sensors for detecting the position of movable portion such as thelever 10 a, and the pusher tables 22, 23. - In the medal sensors, the following sensors are included: a medal drop sensor for detecting a drop of medal M from the medal drop slot; a medal ejection sensor for detecting the ejection of medal M from the
medal ejection section 18; a checker sensor for detecting a fall of medal M to the openingsections 24 a to 24 c as the checker; a fall medal sensor for detecting the medal M which has fallen down from the front edge of the main table 20; a medal delivery sensor for detecting the medal M which has been delivered to themedal delivery section 11 from the lift uphopper 25; and the like. Similar to the medal sensor in the already-known medal game machine, a proximity switch, an optical sensor, a micro switch and the like can be adopted to the above sensors. In the ball sensors, the following sensors are included: a ball drop sensor for detecting that the ball B has been dropped from theball drop section 14; a ball fall sensor for detecting the ball B which has fallen down from the main table 20 to be passed to theball transfer section 15; and the like. The ball fall sensor also functions as a sensor for discriminating the kind of ball B, that is, which kind of the ball B has fallen, the normal ball B1 or the special ball B2. The discrimination of the kind of ball B can be realized by adopting to the ball fall sensor, which outputs different signals depending on the kind of ball B1, B2. For example, when any one of either the ball B1 or ball B2 is a resin product and another one is a metal product, it is possible to discriminate the kind of ball B1, B2 by using a metal sensor. When the reflection rates of the balls B1 and B2 are different from each other, a reflection-type optical sensor is adopted to the ball fall sensor to discriminate the kind of ball B depending on the strength of output signal from the sensor. As the ball fall sensor discriminates the kind of ball B, it is possible to specify theball drop system ball carrier 40 should transfer the ball B. - In the
station drive section 152, a drive device for each of themedal hopper 13 a and the lift uphopper 25, an actuator for realizing the medal-ejection operation of themedal ejection section 18, drive devices, such as motors, for reciprocating the pusher tables 22, 23, an actuator for operating the drop-position selection system 14 b of theball drop system 14, a drive device for driving theball lifter 27 of theball transfer section 15, and the like. In thestation rendering section 153, rendering device unique to the station unit ST such as lamps and speakers are included. - Next, in reference to
FIGS. 7 to 20 , various processing to be executed in the game machine G will be described. First, the management of payout rate in the game machine G will be described. In the game machine G in this embodiment, eachstation control unit 150 counts the number of the dropped medals M and the number of the delivered medals M in each station unit ST, and calculates the payout rate at appropriate intervals for each station unit ST. When the number of the dropped medals M detected in a predetermined calculation period by the medal drop sensor is referred to as NSTin, and the number of the delivered medals M detected in the same period by the medal delivery sensor is referred to as NSTout, by calculating a percentage of the value to be obtained by dividing the latter by the former NSTout/NSTin, it is possible to specify the payout rate POst in the present situation of the station unit ST in the predetermined calculation term. However, when the game machine G has functions for executing a processing such that the number of the medals M which have been deposited from a player can be held as a credit number of medals M, the medals M are dropped to theplay field section 12 from themedal ejection section 18 in exchange for a withdrawal from the credit number and the delivery of medals M is treated by increasing the credit number, the subtracted number from the credit number should be added to the number of the dropped medals NSTin and the added number to the credit number of should be added to the number of the delivered medals NSTout to calculate the payout rate POst. - In the game machine G of this embodiment, so that the payout rate POst of each of the station units ST is moderately equalized, the processing shown in
FIG. 7 is executed under a linkage between thehost control unit 100 and thestation control unit 150. Namely, thehost control unit 100 executes at moderate intervals, a routine for management of entire payout rate, and in synchronism with this, each of thestation control unit 150 executes a routine for management of individual payout rate. When these routines are started, firstly, at step S11 thestation control unit 150 notifies thehost control unit 100 of the payout rate POst which has been calculated by thestation control unit 150. Receiving this, thehost control unit 100 obtains the payout rate POst of each station unit ST at step S21, and subsequently at step S22, thehost control unit 100 calculates the entire payout rate POall to notify eachstation control unit 150 of the calculation result. The entire payout rate POall can be, for example, a simple average of the payout rates POst of the station units ST. - The
station control unit 150 obtains the payout rate POall from thehost control unit 100 at step S12, and subsequently at step S13, thestation control unit 150 determines the target payout rate POsttgt of the own station unit ST based on the difference between the own payout rate POst and the entire payout rate POall. In eachstation control unit 150, a standard target payout rate POsttgt is set as an initial value in advance. Then, eachstation control unit 150 controls properly a win probability (rate of forming a winning case in the digital lottery game and the like, so that the payout rate POst to be calculated by thestation control unit 150 itself is controlled to approach to the initial value of the target payout rate POsttgt. Further, at step S13, when the difference between the own payout rate POst and the entire payout rate POall is getting bigger than an allowable range, thestation control unit 150 modifies the target payout rate POsttgt so as to decrease the difference. For example, in the case that the own payout rate POst is higher than the entire payout rate POall, the target payout rate POsttgt is set to be lower than the initial value. The target payout rate POsttgt is modified as mentioned above, and thereby, it is possible to reduce a dispersion of the payout rates POst in the station units ST. - Next, in reference to
FIG. 8 , the control for games in the station unit ST will be described. In each station unit ST, while the pusher tables 22, 23 repeats the back-and-forth motion at predetermined intervals, the medal M is dropped to the play filedsection 12 in response to the drop of medals M from the medal drop slot. Thereby the pusher game is performed.FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a game basic-control routine to be executed by thestation control unit 150 in response to the detection of the drop of medal M from the medal drop slot. In the game basic-control routine shown inFIG. 8 , firstly at step S101, thestation control unit 150 executes necessary processing to drop the medals M to theplay field section 12. The flow of the medal M at this moment is as explained in reference toFIG. 3 . - At next step S102, the
station control unit 150 determines whether or not the medal M has entered any one of the openingsections 24 a to 24 c as the checker. In the case of entering the checker, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S103 to start the slot lottery in the digital lottery game. Namely, thestation control unit 150 displays agame image 200 shown inFIG. 9 on thestation monitor 16, and the patterns to be displayed atchangeable display sections changeable display sections game image 200. The processing for determining the patterns can be executed based on a control law similar to that of a general slot machine. Then thestation control unit 150 displays the selected patterns at thechangeable display sections bingo game section 210 is also provided in thegame image 200, and this will be described later. - After the slot lottery ends, the
station control unit 150 advances to step S104 to determine whether the combination of the three patterns selected by the slot lottery is a losing case or not, and, in the case of the losing case, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. On the other hand, in the case of not the losing case at step S104, that is, in the case of forming a winning case at the slot lottery, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S105 and thereafter to execute the processing in accordance with the kind of winning case. Namely, thestation control unit 150, firstly at step S105, determines whether the winning case “BALL” has been formed or not. When the winning case “BALL” has been formed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S106 to deliver (drop) the normal ball B1 to theplay field section 12. Namely, the delivery of the normal ball B1 is requested to thesatellite control unit 140. In response to the request, thesatellite control unit 140 ejects the normal ball B1 from theball supply system 50A, and delivers the normal ball B1 to theslope 14 a of theball drop section 14 in the station unit ST by theball carrier 40. In synchronism with the delivery of the normal ball B1, thestation control unit 150 operates the drop-position selection system 14 b of theball drop system 14 to drop the normal ball B1 to a proper position of theplay field section 12. After completing the drop of normal ball B1, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. - When the winning case “BALL” has not been formed at step S105, the
station control unit 150 advances to step S107 to determine whether or not the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN” has been formed in the slot lottery. In the case of forming the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN”, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S108 to execute the processing for supplying from themedal supply section 13 to theplay field section 12, the number of the medals M which corresponds to the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN”. Hereinafter, a delivery of medal M means a delivery of medal M from the lift-uphopper 25 to themedal delivery section 11, and a supply of medal M means a supply of medal M from themedal supply section 13 to theplay field section 12. A route for the supply of medal M from themedal supply section 13 can be only a route via themedal ejection section 18 and themedal shooter 19, but for the moment when a big amount of medals M are supplied to theplay field section 12 at one time, it can be configured that the medals M are supplied via the other routes. - Subsequently at step S109, the
station control unit 150 sets the mode of slot lottery to be a normal mode, and after that, ends the routine of this time. The mode of slot lottery will be described later. In the case that the winning case “ORDINALY PATTERN” has not been formed at step S107, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S110 to determine whether or not the winning case “PROBABILITY-OSCILLATION PATTERN” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “PROBABILITY-OSCILLATION PATTERN” has been formed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S111 to supply to theplay field section 12, the medals M, the number of which corresponds to “probability-oscillation pattern”. Subsequently at step S112, thestation control unit 150 sets the mode of slot lottery to be a probability-oscillation mode, and after that, ends the routine of this time. The probability-oscillation mode is a mode where the probability of forming the winning cases in the slot lottery is increased in comparison with the normal mode. Namely, when the winning case “PROBABILITY-OSCILLATION PATTERN” has been formed, at step S112, the probability-oscillation mode is started, or continued. Then, in the case that the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN” is formed during the probability-oscillation mode, by the processing of step S109, the probability-oscillation mode is ended. - In the case that the winning case “PROBABILITY-OSCILLATION PATTERN” has not been formed at step S110, the
station control unit 150 advances to step S113 to determines whether or not the winning case “BINGO FEATURE” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “BINGO FEATURE” has been formed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S114 to execute the bingo-card-feature setting processing. The bingo-card-feature setting processing is a processing to change an expectation value of player with respect to the number of the delivered medals M, by changing player's privilege in a bingo game to be executed by a combination of the satellite lottery performed in the satellite unit SA and abingo card 211 displayed at thebingo game section 210 shown inFIG. 9 . - In
FIG. 10 , thebingo game section 210 is specifically shown. In thebingo game section 210, thebingo card 211 is shown. Thebingo card 211 has nine boxes which are arranged in the shape of matrix having three lines and three rows. In each box, a given number from 1 to 9 is disposed. These numbers correspond to the numbers assigned to the winning prize pockets 32 a, 33 a of thebingo stage 30 in the satellite unit SA. When in the satellite lottery, the ball B falls down to any one of winning prize pockets 32 a or 33 a, the number assigned to the winning prize pockets 32 a, 33 a becomes valid. When the three valid numbers are aligned in either a vertical direction, a lateral direction or a diagonal direction of thebingo card 211, the bingo is formed, and the number of the medals displayed in the odds displayarea 212 are supplied to theplay field section 12. At the left side and at the bottom side of thebingo card 211, a bingofeature display area 213 is provided. In the bingofeature display area 213,feature display sections 214 a to 214 h are provided in association with lines in a lateral direction, lines in a vertical direction, and lines in a diagonal direction of thebingo card 211 respectively. In each of thefeature display sections 214 a to 214 h, when the bingo has been formed, namely three valid numbers are arranged at the corresponding line, a picture depending on a privilege to be imparted to the player in addition to a supply of the number of the medals M displayed in the odds displayarea 212, is shown. Any one of these privileges directly or indirectly links with the delivery of medals to a player, and the influences of the privileges to the pay out rate are different from each other. In this embodiment, the addition of a bonus number of medals to the number of the medals displayed odds displayarea 212, the drop of the normal ball B1 or the special ball B2 to theplay field section 12, the imparting of “JP chance” and the like are prepared as the privileges. In the example shown inFIG. 10 , the picture indicating the drop of special ball B2 appears in thefeature display sections feature display section feature display section 214 c. Consequently, for example, when three valid numerals are aligned in a lateral direction at the top line in thebingo card 211, the special ball B2 is dropped to theplay field section 12 because of formation of the bingo. - In the bingo-card-feature setting processing at step S114 shown in
FIG. 8 , the privilege to be imparted to a player at the moment of forming the bingo is changed by adding newly or changing the picture (privilege) to be allowed to appear at any one of thefeature display sections 214 a to 214 h. Thereby, it is possible to control the payout rate of medals. For example, in the case that the present payout rate POst is lower than the target payout rate POsttgt, if a privilege the influence of which for a direction of increasing the payout rate is big, namely, a privilege linking with a delivery of bigger number of medals is selected within privileges prepared in advance by priority in comparison with the other privileges, it is possible for the payout rate POst to approach the target payout rate POsttgt more earlier. On the contrary, in the case that the present payout rate POst is higher than the target payout rate POsttgt, if a privilege the influence of which for a direction of increasing the payout rate is small, namely, a privilege linking with a delivery of comparatively smaller number of medals is selected within privileges prepared in advance by priority in comparison with the other privileges, it is possible for the payout rate POst to approach the target payout rate POsttgt more earlier. For selecting these privileges, for example, the measure of each influence for the payout rate caused by each privilege is qualified, and the probability to select each of the privileges is basically set depending on the qualified value. When the payout rate should be controlled to increase, the probability to select the privilege which has a bigger influence for the payout rate (the influence to a direction of increasing the payout rate) is made higher than the basic setting. On the contrary, when the payout rate should be controlled to decrease, the probability to select the privilege which has a smaller influence to the payout rate is made higher than the basic setting. When the feature setting processing completes at step S114, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. - In the case that the winning case “BINGO FEATURE” has not been formed at step S113 in
FIG. 8 , thestation control unit 150 advances to step S115 to determine whether or not the winning case “DIRECT SATELLITE” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “DIRECT SATELLITE” has been formed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S123. On the other hand, in the case that the winning case “DIRECT SATELLITE” has not been formed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S116 to recognize that the winning case “DIRECT CENTER” has been formed. Subsequently at step S123, thestation control unit 150 requests to execute the center lottery to thecenter control unit 130, and after that, ends the routine of this time. In this case, as the ball B is not transferred to theball transfer section 15, the ball B1 is delivered from theball supply system 50A to theball carrier 40, and the ball B1 is transferred to theball drop system 60A to execute the satellite lottery. - When the medal M has not entered the checker at step S102 in
FIG. 8 , thestation control unit 150 advances to step S120 to determine whether or not the ball B has fallen down from the main table 20. When the ball B has not fallen, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. On the other hand, when the ball B has fallen, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S121 to determine whether or not the ball B which has fallen is the special ball B2 or not. The way of determining the kind of ball B is as explained about thesensors 151 inFIG. 6 . In the case that the ball B which has fallen is the special ball B2, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S122 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at theinner circumference section 33 of thebingo stage 30. On the other hand, in the case that the ball B which has fallen is not the special ball B2, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S123 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at theouter circumference section 32 of thebingo stage 30. After determining the area where the satellite lottery should be executed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S124 to request the satellite lottery to thesatellite control unit 140. In this case, thestation control unit 150 also provides thesatellite control unit 140 with information indicating whether the satellite lottery should be executed at theouter circumference section 32 or theinner circumference section 33. After requesting the satellite lottery, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. In addition to the request of the satellite lottery, thestation control unit 150 controls the operations ofball transfer section 15 so that the ball B which has fallen is transferred to the end of theslope 28. -
FIG. 11 shows a flow chart of a satellite lottery routine to be executed by thesatellite control unit 140 in response to the request of the satellite lottery from thestation control unit 150. In the satellite lottery routine, firstly at step S201, thesatellite control unit 150 determines whether or not the satellite lottery should be executed at theouter circumference section 32 or at theinner circumference section 33, in reference to the information provided from thestation control unit 150. In the case of executing at theouter circumference section 32, thesatellite control unit 140 advances to step S202 to control the operations of theball carrier 40 and theball drop system 60A so that the ball B (the normal ball B1 in this case) transferred by theball transfer section 15 of the station unit ST is dropped to theouter circumference section 32 from theball drop system 60A. On the other hand, in the case of executing the satellite lottery at theinner circumference section 33, thesatellite control unit 140 advances to step S203 to control the operations of theball carrier 40 and theball drop system 60B so that the ball B (the special ball B2 in this case) transferred by theball transfer section 15 of the station unit ST is dropped to theinner circumference section 33 from theball drop system 60B. - After dropping the ball B, the
satellite control unit 140 advances to step S204 to detect which of the winning prize pockets 32 a (or 33 a) the dropped ball B has fallen into, based on the detection signal of the win sensor included in thesensors 141. Subsequently at step S205, thesatellite control unit 140 determines whether or not the winningprize pocket 32 a (or 33 a) into which the ball B has fallen is a JP-chance pocket, that is, a winning prize pocket where the word “JP chance” are represented. Then in the case of the JP-chance pocket, thesatellite control unit 140 advances to step S206 to request the center lottery to thecenter control unit 130. In the case when the winning prize pocket is not the JP-chance pocket, the processing of step S206 is skipped. - At next step S207, the
satellite control unit 140 notifies thehost control unit 100 and the station control unit 150 (note that, thestation control unit 150 which has requested the satellite lottery.) of the number or the word of the winningprize pocket 32 a (or 33 a) which the ball B has fallen into. After the notification, thesatellite control unit 140 ends the satellite lottery routine. -
FIG. 12 shows a flow chart of a win-probability determination routine to be executed by thehost control unit 100 in response to the notification of the number or the word of the winning prize pocket from thesatellite control unit 140. The probability of fall of the ball B (the ease of fall of the ball B) for each winningprize pocket bingo stage 30 is not equalized to each other because of influence of mechanical error. This routine is executed to recognize the dispersion of the probabilities and reflect the dispersion to the control of the game. In this routine, firstly at step S301, thehost control unit 100 updates the number-of-win data in response to the notification of the winning-prize-pocket number from thesatellite control unit 140. The number-of-win data is stored data that, for example as shown inFIG. 13 , each number for winning prize pocket (the numerals of 1 to 9 and “JP”) assigned to each winningprize pocket prize pocket 32 a which the number “1” is assigned to in the satellite lottery is received, one is added to the number-of-win N1 for the pocket number “1”, and one is subtracted from the number-of-win Nx for the pocket number x (x is any one of thenumerals 1 to 9 or jp) corresponding to the oldest lottery chance in the sampling period. - Next, at step S302 the
host control unit 100 calculates the win probability for each pocket number. The calculation is for obtaining a value that the number-of-win N1 to N9, Njp for each pocket number is divided by the number of lotteries within the sampling period. It is possible to omit the calculation about the win possibility of the pocket mumber JP corresponding to “JP chance”. Subsequently at step S302, thehost control unit 100 notifies thestation control unit 150 of the calculated win probability of each pocket number, and after that, ends the routine of this time. Thestation control unit 150 which is the destination of notification at step S303 is thestation control unit 150 of each of four station units ST combined with the satellite unit SA having thesatellite control unit 140 which has notified of the result of satellite lottery. Namely, the win-probability determination routine is individually executed for each one unit including one of the satellite unit SA and four of the station units ST combined therewith. -
FIG. 14 shows a flow chart of a bingo game routine to be executed by thestation control unit 150 at the moment when the number for winning prize pocket is notified from thesatellite control unit 140. In the bingo game routine, firstly at step S131 thestation control unit 150 validates on thebingo card 211, the same number as the number for winningprize pocket satellite control unit 140. However, in the case that the winning prize pocket is “JP chance”, the validation is not executed. - Subsequently at step S132, the
station control unit 150 determines whether or not the bingo has been formed on thebingo card 211, that is, three valid numbers has been aligned on one line. When the bingo has been formed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S133 to supply to theplay field section 12 as a prize of forming bingo, the number of the medals M obtained by adding the number of bingo WIN and the number of repeat WIN. The number of bingo WIN is the number displayed at the odds displayarea 212 shown inFIG. 10 . The number of repeat WIN is the number displayed at the repeat-number display area 215 shown inFIG. 10 . The repeat-number will be described later. Moreover, at step S133, thestation control unit 150 imparts to the player, the privilege corresponding to the picture appearing in the display section of the line or row where the bingo has been formed (referred to as the win line hereinafter.), within thefeature display sections 214 a to 214 h in thebingo game section 210. In this embodiment, for example, the privilege is imparted, such as the addition of the number of the delivered medals, the drop of ball B, the imparting of “JP chance” or the like. The imparting of “JP chance” is a request of the center lottery in a manner similar to the case when the processing advances from step S205 to step S206 inFIG. 12 . - At next step S135, the
station control unit 150 resets the feature on the win line, that is, erases the privilege corresponding to the win line. After that, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S136 to obtain the win probability of each pocket number notified from thehost control unit 100. Subsequently at step S137, thestation control unit 150 rearranges the numbers on the win line, in reference to the win possibilities of pocket numbers and the difference between the payout rate POst and the target payout rate POsttgt. For example, the following will describe about the case shown inFIG. 15 , where the center line in the bingo card has become the win line, the numerals on the win line are 7, 6, and 4, and the win probabilities P7, P6, and P4 corresponding to thenumerals number 7 having the highest win probability is disposed at the central box, and the other numerals are assigned to the right and the left boxes respectively. Thereby, it is possible to increase the probability to form the bingo. On the other hand, when the target payout rate POsttst is enough lower than the actual payout rate POst, thenumeral 4 having the lowest win probability is disposed at the central box, and the other numerals are assigned to the right and the left boxes respectively. Aforementioned, due to the rearrangement of the numerals depending on the win probabilities to change the probability to form the bingo, it is possible to make the payout rate POst approach the target payout rate POsttgt more earlier. - Returning to
FIG. 14 , the description continues. After rearranging the numerals on the win line, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. Additionally, each numeral on the win line after the rearrangement, becomes an initial state where the numeral is invalid. On the other hand, when the bingo has not been formed at step S132, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S140 to determine whether or not the winning prize pocket is “REPEAT”. In the case that the numeral notified in the satellite lottery has been already valid on thebingo card 211, it is determined to be “REPEAT”. When it is determined to be “REPEAT”, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S141 to increase a repeat step by one step, that is, change the repeat WIN number displayed at the repeat-number display area 215 to a one-step bigger value. In the example inFIG. 10 , the repeat WIN number gradually increases such as 10, 20, 40 in accordance with the repeat number of 1, 2, 3 respectively. At the moment of forming the bingo, the repeat WIN number of medals according to the repeat number are supplied to the play field section 12 (refer to step S133). - Subsequently at step S412, the
station control unit 150 delivers the normal ball B1 to theplay field section 12. This processing can be the same as step S106 inFIG. 16 . After delivering the normal ball B1, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. In the case that the winning-prize-pocket number is not “REPEAT” at step S140, thestation control unit 150 advances step 143 to supply the predetermined number of medals M, and after that, ends the routine of this time. -
FIG. 16 shows a flow chart of a center lottery routine to be executed by thecenter control unit 130 in response to the request of the center lottery. The center lottery is requested, in the case that the bingo feature which is imparted at step S133 inFIG. 14 is “JP chance”, as well as at step S117 inFIG. 8 and at step S206 inFIG. 11 . In the center lottery routine, firstly thecenter control unit 130 executes the center lottery at step S401. Namely, while rotating theground roulette 71, thecenter control unit 130 makes the grand-ball drop system 72 drop thegrandball 73. Subsequently at step S402, thecenter control unit 130 determined whether or not thegrand ball 73 has entered the winningprize pocket 71 a defined as a JP prize pocket. In the case that it takes a somewhat long time from the drop ofgrand ball 73 to the enter of the ball, it is possible to stop the processing ones at the moment of the drop of thegrand ball 73, and restart the processing inFIG. 16 by a trigger which is a detection that thegrand ball 73 has been taken into any one of winningprize pocket 71 a in thegrand roulette 71. - In the case that the
grand ball 73 has been taken into the JP prize pocket at step S402, thecenter control unit 130 advances to step S403 to instruct thestation control unit 150 which has requested the center lottery, to supply to theplay field section 12, the medals the number of which corresponds to the JP win. After instructing the medal supply, thecenter control unit 130 ends the routine of this time. Note that, in the case that the center lottery is requested from thesatellite control unit 140, it is thestation control unit 150 which has requested the satellite lottery to thesatellite control unit 140 that is the destination to be notified of the instruction of medal supply. On the other hand, in the case that thegrand ball 73 has not been taken into the JP prize pocket at step S402, thecenter control unit 130 advances to step S404 to determine whether or not thegrand ball 73 has been taken into the winningprize pocket 71 a defined as the grand slot pocket. In the case that thegrand ball 73 has been taken into the grand slot pocket, thecenter control unit 130 advances to step S405 to request thehost control unit 100 to execute the grand slot lottery, and after that, ends the routine of this time. - In the case that the
grand ball 73 has not been taken into the grand slot pocket at step S404, thecenter control unit 140 advances to step S406 to instruct thestation control unit 150 to supply to theplay field section 12, the medals M the number of which corresponds to the center lottery. The number of the medals M to be supplied in this case is enough smaller than the number instructed at step S403. It is possible to instruct different number of medals depending on the kind of winningprize pocket 71 a into which thegrand ball 73 has been taken. The destination to be notified of the medal-supply instruction is the same as the case of step S403. After instructing the medal supply, thecenter control unit 130 ends the routine of this time. -
FIG. 17 shows a flow chart of a grand-slot-lottery routine to be executed by thehost control unit 100 in response to the request (of step S405 inFIG. 16 ) of the grand slot lottery from thecenter control unit 130. In the grand slot lottery routine, firstly thehost control unit 100 executes the grand slot lottery at step S501. The grand slot lottery is a slot lottery where it is competed whether or not a combination of three patterns forms a winning case like the digital lottery game executed on the station monitor 16 in the station unit ST. The game image of the grand slot lottery is displayed on the center monitor 70 via thecenter PC 120. For determining the combination of patterns in the grand slot lottery, in other words, for determining the win probability in the grand slot lottery, the entire payout rate POall calculated in the processing inFIG. 7 may be referred. - After executing the grand slot lottery, the
host control unit 100 advances to step S502 to determine whether or not the winning case “PREMIER MODE” has been formed in the grand slot lottery. In the case that the winning case “PREMIRE MODE” has been formed, thehost control unit 100 advances to step S503 to request thestation control unit 150 to shift to the premier mode. The destination of the request in this case is thestation control unit 150 which has requested to thecenter control unit 130, the center lottery which has caused the request of the grand slot lottery at step S405 inFIG. 16 . After requesting the shift to the premier mode, thehost control unit 100 ends the routine of this time. - In the case that the winning case “PREMIER MODE” has not been formed at step S502, the
host control unit 100 advances to step S504 to determine whether or not the winning case “SATELLITE GAME” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “SATELLITE GAME” has been formed, thehost control unit 100 advances to step S505 to request thesatellite control unit 140 which has requested the center lottery to execute a predetermined center game. After the request, thehost control unit 100 ends the routine of this time. Thesatellite control unit 140 which has been requested to execute the satellite game executes the satellite game in accordance with a predetermined procedure, and instructs the station control unit 150 (the same as the destination of request at step S503) to supply the number of the medals M depending on the game result. - In the case that the winning case “SATELLITE GAME” has not been formed at step S504, the
host control unit 100 advances to step S506 to determine whether or not the winning case “MEDAL WIN” has been formed. In the case that the winning case “MEDAL WIN” has been formed, thehost control unit 100 advances to step S507 to instruct thestation control unit 150 to supply medals the number of which is obtained by adding the number of the medals corresponding to the winning case “MEDAL WIN” to the JP number of medals (the supplied number of medals instructed at S403 inFIG. 16 ). In this case, the destination of direction is also the same as the case of step S503. After requesting the medal supply, thehost control unit 100 ends the routine of this time. - In the case that the winning case “MEDAL WIN” has not been formed at step S506, the
host control unit 100 advances to step S508 to request thecenter control unit 130 to re-execute the center lottery. In response to this, thecenter control unit 130 re-executes the center lottery inFIG. 16 . After requesting the re-execution of the center lottery, thehost control unit 100 ends the routine of this time. -
FIG. 18 shows a flow chart of a premier mode routine to be executed by thestation control unit 150 in the case that the shift to the premier mode has been requested from the host control unit 100 (the case of step S503 inFIG. 17 ). This routine is executed instead of the game basic-control routine inFIG. 8 , in the case that the drop of medal M to theplay field section 12 has been detected. Namely, at the moment of executing the premier mode, the game control based on the game basic-control routine is not executed. Additionally, in the case that the premier mode is executed, thegame image 220 shown inFIG. 19 instead of thegame image 200 shown inFIG. 9 is displayed on thestation monitor 16. Thegame image 220 resembles thegame image 200 in a point that threechangeable display sections game image 220 is different from thegame image 200 in a point that a continuation-condition display section 221 is provided instead of thebingo game section 210. At the continuation-condition display section 221, thenumerals 1 to 9 are aligned in the lateral direction, and each of them is displayed in a different state depending on whether the numeral is valid or invalid for continuing the premier mode. InFIG. 19 , a round symbol is given to each valid numeral, and a symbol “x” is given to each invalid numeral. - In the premier mode routine, firstly the
station control unit 150 executes the medal drop processing at step S151, and subsequently at step S152, determines whether or not the medals M has entered the checker. When the medals M has entered the checker, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S153 to execute the slot lottery as the digital lottery game executed on thestation monitor 16. The winning case of this time is limited to a case that three same numerals appear. Additionally, the win probability is set to be higher than the one at step S103 inFIG. 8 . Subsequently at step S154, thestation control unit 150 determines whether or not the combination of patterns obtained in the slot lottery is a losing case, and in the case of forming the losing case, ends the routine of this time. - On the other hand, at step S154, in the case of not forming the losing case, the
station control unit 150 advances to step S155 to supply to the play field section, the medals M the number of which is depending on the winning case formed in the slot lottery. Subsequently at step S156, thestation control unit 150 switches the state of winning numeral, three of which have appeared, between valid sate and invalid sate. For example, as shown inFIG. 19 , in the case that three ofnumeral 3 have appeared to form a winning case, the state ofnumeral 3 is switched between valid sate and invalid sate. For example, inFIG. 19 , as the round symbol is given to thenumeral 3 at the continuation-condition display section 221, when three ofnumeral 3 appear, the sate ofnumeral 3 is switched from valid sate to invalid sate. According to this, the state of numeral 3 displayed at the continuation-condition display section 221 is switched from the sate with the round symbol to the sate with the symbol “x”. After switching between valid sate and invalid sate, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this routine. - On the other hand, in the case that the medals M has not entered the checker at step S152, the
station control unit 150 advances to step S160 to determine whether or not the ball B has fallen down from the main table 20. In the case that the ball B has not fallen, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this routine. On the other hand, in the case that the ball B has fallen, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S161 to determine whether or not the ball B which has fallen is the special ball B2. The determination of the kind of ball B is as explained with respect to thesensors 151 inFIG. 6 . In the case that the ball B which has fallen is the special ball B2, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S162 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at theinner circumference section 33 of thebingo stage 30. On the other hand, the ball B which has fallen is not the special ball B2, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S163 to determine that the satellite lottery should be executed at theouter circumference section 32 in thebingo stage 30. After determining the section where the satellite lottery should be executed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S164 to request the satellite lottery to thesatellite control unit 140. In this case, thestation control unit 150 also provides to thesatellite control unit 140, the information specifying which section the satellite lottery should be executed, theouter circumference section 32 orinner circumference section 33. After requesting the satellite lottery, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. In addition to the request of satellite lottery, thestation control unit 150 controls the operation of theball transfer section 15, so that the ball B which has fallen is transferred to the end ofslope 28. - The
satellite control unit 140, to which the satellite lottery is requested by the processing at step S164 inFIG. 18 , executes the satellite lottery in accordance with the procedure shown inFIG. 11 . Thestation control unit 150 receives the result of the satellite lottery, and executes a premier-mode-end control routine shown inFIG. 20 . This routine is for a control whether the premier mode is continued or ended. At the first step S171, thestation control unit 150 obtains the number of winning prize pocket notified from thesatellite control unit 140. At next step S172, thestation control unit 150 determines whether or not the winning prize pocket obtained at step S171 is “JP”, namely, whether or not the ball B has entered the JP chance pocket. When the winning-prize-pocket number is “JP”, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S173 to end the premier mode, and returns to the game basic-control shown inFIG. 8 . After that, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. Note that, thestation control unit 150 only ends the premier mode here. In the case that the “JP chance” in the satellite lottery occurs, the processing advances to the center lottery and after inFIG. 16 . - In the case that the winning-prize-pocket number is not “JP” at step S172 in
FIG. 20 , thestation control unit 150 advances to the step S174 to determine whether or not the winning-prize-pocket number is the invalid numeral. The invalid numeral used here is the numeral to which the symbol “x” is given at the continuation-condition display section 221. Then, in the case that the winning-prize-pocket number is equal to the invalid number, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S173. In the case that the winning-prize-pocket number is not the invalid number, thestation control unit 150 skips step S173 to end the routine of this time. According to the above routine, the premier mode ends, when the ball has fallen into the winning prize pocket the number of which is equal to the invalid numeral in the satellite lottery, or when the processing advances to the center lottery because the JP chance has occurred in the satellite lottery. Accordingly, in the case that the number of winning prize pocket, into which the ball B has fallen in the satellite lottery is equal to the valid numeral, the premier mode continues. - The
station control unit 150 further has a function for changing the game contents of the station control unit ST based on the number of the balls B existing in theplay field section 12. Concretely, in the case that the number of the balls B existing in theplay field section 12 is zero, namely, the ball B dose not exist in theplay field section 12, thestation control unit 150 executes the processing for increasing the expectation value of the medal obtainment of the player. Hereinafter, the contents of processing will be explained in reference toFIG. 21 andFIG. 22 . -
FIG. 21 shows a flow chart of a ball-count processing routine to be executed by thestation control unit 150 to detect the number of the balls B existing in theplay field section 12. Thestation control unit 150, while the medal game is executed in the station unit ST, repeatedly executes the routine inFIG. 21 at a predetermined interval. In the ball-count processing routine, firstly at step S181, thestation control unit 150 determines whether or not the ball has dropped onto theplay field section 12. This determination can be realized by using the ball drop sensor of the ball sensors included in thesensors 151. However, not using the sensors, it is possible to determine whether or not the ball B has dropped depending on whether or not the drop of ball B has been instructed, namely, whether or not either the processing at step S106 inFIG. 8 or the processing at step S142 inFIG. 14 has been executed between the moment of executing the routine inFIG. 21 of the prior time and the moment of executing the routine of this time. - In the case that it is determined that the ball B has been dropped, the
station control unit 150 advances to step S182 to add one to the counting value of the ball counter to memorize the number of the balls B. After that, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. The ball counter may be a virtual counter retained in a RAM and the like in thestation control unit 150. On the other hand, at step S181, in the case that it is determined that the ball B has not been dropped, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S183 to determine whether or not the fall of the ball B from theplay field section 12 has been detected. The determination can be realized by using the ball fall sensor of the ball sensors included in thesensors 151. In the case that it is determined that the ball B has not fallen, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. On the other hand, in the case that the ball has fallen, thestation control unit 150 advances to the step S184 to subtract one from the counting value of the ball counter. At the next step S185, thestation control unit 150 determines whether or not the number of the balls B memorized in the ball counter is zero. In the case that the number of the balls B is zero, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S186 to instruct to start an empty mode, and after that, ends the routine of this time. At the moment when the empty mode starts, the start of the empty mode can be notified to the player, for example, by displaying a special image on thestation monitor 16. On the other hand, in the case that the number of the balls B is not zero, thestation control unit 150 skips step S186 and ends the routine of this time. - In the case that the start of empty mode is instructed at step S186 in
FIG. 21 , thestation control unit 150 executes an empty mode routine shown inFIG. 22 instead of the game basic-control routine inFIG. 8 . Namely, thestation control unit 150, in the case that the drop of medal M to theplay field section 12 has been detected, executes the routine inFIG. 22 instead of the game basic-control routine inFIG. 8 . - In the empty-mode routine in
FIG. 22 , firstly at step S191, thestation control unit 150 executes the medal drop processing, and subsequently at step S192, determines whether or not the medal M has entered the checker. In the case that the medal M enters the checker, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S193 to execute the slot lottery as the digital lottery game executed on thestation monitor 16. Note that, in the slot lottery, two kinds of winning case are set, that is, a winning case “BALL” which means the drop of ball B, and a winning case “MEDAL” which means the supply of medal M to theplay field section 12. Additionally, the probability to win the winning case “BALL” is set to be higher than the probability to win the winning case “BALL” in the slot lottery executed in accordance with the game basic-control routine inFIG. 8 . Moreover, the probability to win the winning case “MEDAL” is set to be higher than the probability to win the winning case “ORDINARY PATTERN” in the slot lottery executed in accordance with the game basic-control routine inFIG. 8 . In essence, the win probabilities are set so that the player's expectation value for obtaining medals is made higher than the expectation value of the slot lottery executed in the game basic-control routine. - Subsequently at step S194, the
station control unit 150 determines whether or not the winning case “BALL” has been won. In the case of winning the “BALL”, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S195 to request to deliver the normal ball B1 to thesatellite control unit 140. In response to the request, thesatellite control unit 140 makes theball supply system 50A eject the normal ball B1, and delivers the ball B1 to theslope 14 a of theball drop section 14 in the station unit ST by using theball carrier 40. In synchronism with the delivery of the normal ball B1, thestation control unit 150 operates the drop-position selection system 14 b of theball drop section 14 to drop the normal ball B1 to a proper position in theplay field section 12. When the drop of normal ball B1 is completed, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S196 to end the empty mode. Namely, by the delivery of the normal ball B1, the empty mode is ended. Thereby, thestation control unit 150 returns to the game basic-control routine inFIG. 8 . After executing the processing at step S196, thestation control unit 150 ends the routine of this time. - In the case that the winning case “BALL” has not been won at step S194 in
FIG. 22 , thestation control unit 150 advances to step S197 to determine whether or not the winning case “MEDAL” has been won in the slot lottery. In the case of winning the “MEDAL”, thestation control unit 150 advances to step S198 to execute the processing for supplying a predetermined number of medals M from themedal supply section 13 to theplay field section 12. In this case, it is possible that the supplied medals M is the same as the number of the supplied medals M at step S108 inFIG. 8 , but more number of medals M can be supplied to theplay field section 12. After supplying the medals M, thestation control unit 150 returns to step S191. Note that, in the case that a negative determination results at step S192, or in the case that a negative determination results at step S197, thestation control unit 150 returns to step S191. - According to the above empty mode, in the case that the ball B does not exist in the
play field section 12, the winning case “BALL” is formed with a higher probability than the probability that the normal ball B1 is dropped in the game basic-control routine and the normal ball B1 is dropped to theplay field section 12. Consequently, in comparison to the case of executing the game basic-control routine, it is possible to expect a reduce of the duration time of the state that the ball B does not exist in theplay field section 12. Moreover, as the win probability to win the winning case “MEDAL” also increases, the expectation value of medal obtainment itself also gets higher than the expectation value in the state controlled by the game basic-control routine. Thereby, even if the ball B does not exist in theplay field section 12, it is possible to impart the motivation of game continuation to the player. That makes the operating rate and the profit performance of the game machine G higher. - In the above embodiment, the
medal supply section 13 of the station unit ST corresponds to a first game-medium supply device. The configuration for executing the pusher game and the digital lottery game in the station unit ST corresponds to a basic-game execution device. Theball supply system carrier 40 of the satellite unit SA, and theball drop section 14 of the station unit ST for dropping the ball B to theplay field section 12 correspond to a second game-medium supply device. Theball transfer section 15 of the station unit ST, the satellite unit SA, and thestation control unit 150 for executing the satellite lottery by using the ball B and the bingo game responding to the lottery result of the satellite lottery correspond to a dividend-chance imparting device. Thestation control unit 150 functions as a medium number-of-pieces detection device by executing the routine inFIG. 21 , and functions as a privilege imparting device by executing the routine inFIG. 22 . Moreover, the satellite unit SA corresponds to the physical lottery system. - The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but is possible to be executed in various embodiments. Proper change of the privilege which the privilege imparting device imparts and proper addition to the privilege can be allowed. In the case that the ball does not exist, the privilege can be imparted by executing the slot lottery in the probability oscillation mode. The privilege can be imparted by changing the medal transfer route in the
play field section 12 so that the medal M is easier to enter theopening section play field section 12, the special ball B2 instead of the normal ball B1, in the case that the winning case “BALL” is won in the slot lottery. - The basic game is not limited to the combination of the pusher game and the slot lottery, and can be changed variously as long as the a game is executed in association with the motion of the first game medium. For example, the pin ball or the like can be executed as the basic game. Also, it is possible to change variously the dividend chance to be imparted when the second game medium is ejected from the play field section. For example, responding to ejecting the second game medium from the play field section, it is possible to deliver the dividend without the lottery processing such as the second game medium.
- In the above embodiment, in the case that it is detected that the ball B does not exist in the
play field section 12, the privilege is imparted, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in the case that the number of the balls B decreases to over a predetermined number which is 2 or more than 2, though the balls B remains in theplay field section 12, it is possible to impart some privilege. By setting plural numerals as the predetermined numbers which are criteria for imparting the privilege, it is possible to impart the privilege in stages depending on decrease of the number of the balls B. In this case, it is possible to change to more advantageous privilege, as the number of pieces more decreases. Moreover, it is possible to change the predetermined number to be a criterion for imparting privilege, as the predetermined number is allowed to be changed depending on the game situation, for example, a change of payout rate.
Claims (10)
1. A game machine comprising:
a first game-medium supply device supplying a first game medium to a play field section based on an operation by a player;
a basic-game execution device executing a basic game in association with an operation of the first game medium dropped to the play field section, and imparting to the player a dividend depending on a game result of the basic game;
a second game-medium supply device supplying to the play field section a second game medium different in kind from the first game medium, in a case that a predetermined situation occurs in the basic game; and
a dividend chance imparting device imparting a chance of obtaining dividend to the player, in a case that the second game medium is ejected from the play field section by an operation of the second game medium linked with the operation of the first game medium,
a medium number-of-pieces detection device detecting the number of the second game media existing in the game field; and
a privilege imparting device imparting privilege to be tied with a delivery of the dividend to the player, in a case that the number of the second game media detected by the medium number-of-pieces detection device decreases to less than a predetermined number.
2. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the privilege imparting device imparts the privilege by executing processing for increasing a probability that the predetermined situation is formed in the basic game.
3. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the basic-game execution device executes, as a game included in the basic game, a lottery game where a lottery processing in which the basic-game execution device executes a lottery processing to allow a winning case to occur in a case that the first game medium pass through a predetermined position in the play field section, while controlling win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law,
and delivers the dividend directly and indirectly to the player in a case that the winning case is formed, and
the privilege imparting device imparts the privilege by executing at least either a processing for increasing a probability to form the winning case in the lottery game, or a processing for increasing amount of the delivery at the moment of forming the winning case.
4. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the first game medium is a medal,
the basic-game execution device executes, as games included in the basic game, a pusher game in which the basic-game execution device, while pushing out a cluster of medals accumulated in the play field section by a pusher table with a back-and-forth motion in the play field section, delivers to the player as the dividend the medal ejected from a predetermined range of the play field section, and a lottery game in which the basic-game execution device executes a lottery processing to allow a winning case to occur in a case that the medal passes through a predetermined position in the play field section, while controlling win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law,
and delivers to the player the medal as the dividend directly and indirectly in a case that the winning case is formed,
the second game-medium supply system supplies the second game medium, recognizing that the predetermined situation has occurred in the basic game in a case that a predetermined winning case of game-medium delivery is formed in the lottery game, and
the privilege imparting device delivers the privilege by executing at least either a processing for increasing a probability to form a winning case of the game-medium delivery in the lottery game, a processing for increasing a probability to form the winning case in the lottery game, or a processing for increasing number of medals as the dividend at a moment of winning the winning case.
5. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein the privilege imparting device, in a case that a situation is detected that the second game medium does not exist in the play field section, imparts the privilege.
6. The game machine according to claim 1 , wherein
the dividend chance imparting device has a physical lottery system which takes the second game medium ejected from the play field section thereinto and selects at least one choice from a plurality of choices by imparting an physical operation to the second game medium, and
controls the delivery of dividend to the player in association with a lottery result by the physical lottery system.
7. The game machine according to claim 2 , wherein
the dividend chance imparting device has physical lottery system which takes the second game medium ejected from the play field section thereinto, and selects at least one choice from a plurality of choices by imparting an physical operation to the second game medium, and
controls the delivery of dividend to the player in association with a lottery result by the physical lottery system.
8. The game machine according to claim 3 , wherein
the dividend chance imparting device has physical lottery system which takes the second game medium ejected from the play field section thereinto, and selects at least one choice from a plurality of choices by imparting an physical operation to the second game medium, and
controls the delivery of dividend to the player in association with a lottery result by the physical lottery system.
9. The game machine according to claim 4 , wherein
the dividend chance imparting device has physical lottery system which takes the second game medium ejected from the play field section thereinto, and selects at least one choice from a plurality of choices by imparting an physical operation to the second game medium, and
controls the delivery of dividend to the player in association with a lottery result by the physical lottery system.
10. The game machine according to claim 5 , wherein
the dividend chance imparting device has physical lottery system which takes the second game medium ejected from the play field section thereinto, and selects at least one choice from a plurality of choices by imparting an physical operation to the second game medium, and
controls the delivery of dividend to the player in association with a lottery result by the physical lottery system.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2006-102486 | 2006-04-03 | ||
JP2006102486A JP2007275140A (en) | 2006-04-03 | 2006-04-03 | Game machine |
PCT/JP2007/052695 WO2007113943A1 (en) | 2006-04-03 | 2007-02-15 | Game machine |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20090318207A1 true US20090318207A1 (en) | 2009-12-24 |
Family
ID=38563216
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US12/295,717 Abandoned US20090318207A1 (en) | 2006-04-03 | 2007-02-15 | Game machine |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20090318207A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2007275140A (en) |
KR (1) | KR20080104075A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101484218B (en) |
GB (1) | GB2450273A (en) |
TW (1) | TW200806375A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2007113943A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8292721B1 (en) * | 2011-07-14 | 2012-10-23 | Kyoraku Industrial Co., Ltd. | Game machine |
US20180122186A1 (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2018-05-03 | Andamiro Co., Ltd. | Medal circulation device and amusement machine using thereof |
US10140806B2 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2018-11-27 | Interblock D.D. | Wide area roulette display system with group arena play |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5178556B2 (en) * | 2009-01-30 | 2013-04-10 | 株式会社バンダイナムコゲームス | Medal game device |
JP5327638B2 (en) * | 2009-12-16 | 2013-10-30 | 株式会社セガ | GAME DEVICE AND GAME PROGRAM |
JP5603633B2 (en) * | 2010-03-30 | 2014-10-08 | 株式会社バンダイナムコゲームス | Medal game device |
JP5939431B2 (en) * | 2012-04-20 | 2016-06-22 | 株式会社セガゲームス | Play equipment |
JP6212692B2 (en) * | 2015-01-30 | 2017-10-18 | 株式会社コナミデジタルエンタテインメント | Game machine and program |
JP6923387B2 (en) * | 2017-07-31 | 2021-08-18 | グリー株式会社 | Programs, information processing devices, and control methods |
JP7114123B1 (en) * | 2021-07-19 | 2022-08-08 | 株式会社コナミアミューズメント | GAME SYSTEM, GAME SYSTEM OPERATING METHOD AND PROGRAM |
Citations (3)
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US5713572A (en) * | 1995-08-17 | 1998-02-03 | Sigma, Incorporated | Pusher game apparatus |
US6209868B1 (en) * | 1999-11-10 | 2001-04-03 | David A. Norton | Article dispenser comprising a game of chance |
US6264197B1 (en) * | 1999-03-09 | 2001-07-24 | Benchmark Entertainment Lc | Dozer pusher amusement game |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP4074394B2 (en) * | 1998-11-20 | 2008-04-09 | アルゼ株式会社 | Medal game machine |
JP2001038037A (en) * | 1999-07-29 | 2001-02-13 | Sigma Corp | Pusher game device |
JP3234590B2 (en) * | 2000-02-24 | 2001-12-04 | コナミ株式会社 | Medal game machine |
JP3518862B2 (en) * | 2001-01-22 | 2004-04-12 | コナミ株式会社 | Gaming machine |
JP3821442B2 (en) * | 2004-09-16 | 2006-09-13 | 株式会社コナミデジタルエンタテインメント | Pusher game machine and game machine |
-
2006
- 2006-04-03 JP JP2006102486A patent/JP2007275140A/en active Pending
-
2007
- 2007-02-15 WO PCT/JP2007/052695 patent/WO2007113943A1/en active Application Filing
- 2007-02-15 CN CN2007800108828A patent/CN101484218B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2007-02-15 KR KR1020087026264A patent/KR20080104075A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2007-02-15 US US12/295,717 patent/US20090318207A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2007-02-15 GB GB0818078A patent/GB2450273A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2007-03-16 TW TW096109203A patent/TW200806375A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5713572A (en) * | 1995-08-17 | 1998-02-03 | Sigma, Incorporated | Pusher game apparatus |
US6264197B1 (en) * | 1999-03-09 | 2001-07-24 | Benchmark Entertainment Lc | Dozer pusher amusement game |
US6209868B1 (en) * | 1999-11-10 | 2001-04-03 | David A. Norton | Article dispenser comprising a game of chance |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8292721B1 (en) * | 2011-07-14 | 2012-10-23 | Kyoraku Industrial Co., Ltd. | Game machine |
US10140806B2 (en) * | 2016-05-31 | 2018-11-27 | Interblock D.D. | Wide area roulette display system with group arena play |
US20180122186A1 (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2018-05-03 | Andamiro Co., Ltd. | Medal circulation device and amusement machine using thereof |
US10304286B2 (en) * | 2016-10-31 | 2019-05-28 | Andamiro Co., Ltd. | Medal circulation device and amusement machine using thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2007113943A1 (en) | 2007-10-11 |
TWI326611B (en) | 2010-07-01 |
GB0818078D0 (en) | 2008-11-05 |
CN101484218B (en) | 2011-12-14 |
CN101484218A (en) | 2009-07-15 |
KR20080104075A (en) | 2008-11-28 |
JP2007275140A (en) | 2007-10-25 |
TW200806375A (en) | 2008-02-01 |
GB2450273A (en) | 2008-12-17 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OKUAKI, MASATO;NAKAMOTO, HIROTO;OMOTO, TORU;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:023339/0419 Effective date: 20080916 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |