GB2458601A

GB2458601A - Game machine

Info

Publication number: GB2458601A
Application number: GB0912183A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Masato Okuaki; Shinya Suga; Daisuke Matsuki; Atsushi Inoue; Toru Omoto
Original assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Konami Digital Entertainment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2007-01-16
Filing date: 2009-07-13
Publication date: 2009-09-30
Also published as: HK1132699A1; WO2008087878A1; TWI366477B; TW200848133A; TWI366478B; TW201138915A; GB0912183D0

Abstract

A game machine comprising a medal supply part (20) for sending a medal (M) through a rail (23) hidden from the player to a main supply port (11) of the upper game board surface (2A) in response to the input of the medal (M) into the medal input port (1) by the player, a display part (3) for causing a physical variation according to the decrease of the distance from the medal (M) moving along the rail (23) to the main supply port (11) when the medal (M) is sent to the main supply port (11) in the form in which the player can feel the physical variation, and a control unit (30).

Description

DESCRI PT ION

GAME MACHINE

Technical Field

[00011 The present invention relates to a game machine that supplies a game medium to a game board surface.

Background Art

[0002] Agamemachineinwhichaplayerplaysthegamebyphysically moving a game medium such as a medal on a game board surface is well known. In such game machines, a game machine in which the player plays the game by utilizing a game medium different from the game medium slotted in the game machine is well known in addition to a game machine in which the player plays the game by directly utilizing the game medium slotted in the game machine.

Usually, in order that the player enjoys the game on the game board surface, it is necessary that the player perform an operation for slotting the game medium in a medium slot.

[0003] In the game machine in which the player plays the game by utilizing the game medium different from the game medium slotted in the game machine, because the game medium slotted by the player is not utilized, it is necessary to adjust supply timing until another game medium is delivered to a medium supply port since the gamemediumis slotted. This is because the player

U

develops an illusion that game medium slotted by the player is delivered. Therefore, when the supply timing is unnaturally short or long, possibly the player loses an interest in the game.

10004) Further, in the above described game machine, because the game is played only the number of times according to the game medium slot operation performed by the player, there is a risk that a game element possessed by the game machine cannot sufficiently be exerted to the player.

[0005] An object of the invention is to provide a game machine that can stage-manage the natural supply timing of the game medium.

Another object of the invention is to provide a game machine in which the player can supply the game medium to the game board surface in the operation except for the game medium slot operation.

Means for solving the Problem [0006] A game machine according to an aspect of the present invention comprising: a medium supply device that delivers a game medium to a predetermined medium supply port on a game board surface through a guide path hidden from a player in response to a slot operation of the game medium to a medium slot device by the player; and a supply timing notification device that generates a physical change in a mode in which the player can sense the physical change corresponding to a decrease in distance ( between the medium supply port and the game medium moving in the guide path when the medium supply device delivers the game medium to the medium supply port.

[0007] Accordingly, in the game machine described above, when the player slots the game medium in the medium slot device, the supply timing notification device causes the player to feel like the game medium is moved from the medium slot device to the medium supplyport. Therefore, the player can obtain a natural feeling of slotting the game medium even if the player cannot visibly recognize the actual movement of the game medium. Accordingly, the natural supply timing of the game medium can be stage-managed even if the passage of the game medium through the invisible movement path takes time.

[0008] In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention, the supply timing notification device may comprise: a display device in which variable display portions are arranged from a predetermined start point to an end point, a display mode being able to be changed in the variable display portions; and a display control device that controls the display mode of each of the variable display portions such that a change position of the display mode is progressively moving from the start point to the end point corresponding to the decrease in distance.

Accordingly, the display modes of the variable display portions of the display device are controlled so as to be sequentially changed from the start point to the end point, which allows the

C

movement of the game medium to be exhibited in a simulated manner.

Therefore, the natural feeling of slotting the game medium can be given to the player.

[0009] In the game machine according to an aspect of the invention which provided with the display device, an indicating lamp may be provided in each of the variable display portions of the display device, andthedisplayrnodemaybechangedbylightingafldtUrfliflg off the indicating lamp. Accordingly, the indicating lamps are lit and turned off from the start point to the end point in slotting the game medium, so that the player can easily feels the movement of the game medium.

[0010] In the game machine according to an aspect of the invention which provided with the display device, the display device may be provided in a region where the player can visually recognize the display device such that the start point is disposed near the medium slot device while the end point is disposed near the medium supply port. Accordingly, the movement of the game medium from the medium slot device to the medium supply port can be exhibited in the simulated manner to the player.

[0011] In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention, a first supply position corresponding to the medium supply port and a second supply position may be provided on the game board surface, the second supply position being disposed farther than the first supply position in relation to the medium

C

slot device, the first supply position and the second supply position being positions to which the game medium should be supplied, the second supply position is connected to the guide path with a branch path interposed therebetween, supply position selecting device that selects one of the first supply position and the second supply position is provided as a game medium supply destination at a branch position of the guide path and the branch path, and the supply timing notification device generates the physical change in the mode in which the player can sense the physical change corresponding to a decrease in distance between the supply position selected by the supply position selecting device and the game medium moved in the guide path or the branch path when the medium supply device delivers the game medium to the first supply position or the second supply position.

Accordingly, the supply timing notification device causes the player to feel like the game medium is moved to the game medium supply destination selected by the supply position selecting device. The movement of the game medium can be exhibited in the simulated manner according to the game medium supply destination.

[0012] In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention which provided with the first supply position and the second supply position, the supply timing notification device maycomprise: adisplaydeviceinwhichvariabledisplayportions are arranged from a neighborhood of the medium slot device to a neighborhood of the first supply position and a neighborhood of the second supply position, the display mode being able to be changed in the variable display portion; a display control device that controls the display mode of each of the variable display portions such that a change position of the display mode is progressively moved from the neighborhood of the medium slot device to the supply position selected by the supply position selecting device corresponding to the decrease in the distance; and the branch position is located farther than the first supply position in relation to the medium slot device, the guide path is provided from the neighborhood of the medium slot device to the first supply position through the branch position, and the variable display portions of the display device are arranged from the neighborhood of the medium slot device to the neighborhood of the first supply position along a path that is shorter than the guide path. Accordingly, the game medium is moved longer than a linear distance from the medium slot device to the first supply position. The arrangement of the display device is shorter than the guide path, so that the movement of the game medium can smoothly be exhibited. Further, the display modes of the variable display portions of the display device are controlled so as to be sequentially changed, so that the display can be performed at a natural moving speed of the game medium to the player.

10013] In the game machine according to an aspect of the invention which the arrangement of the display device is shorter than the guidepath, adifference in height exists on thegameboard surface,

I

the second supply position and the branch position are disposed above the first supply position, the medium slot device is disposed below the first supply position, the medium supply device includes a medium delivery device that delivers upward the game medium from below the game board surface, the guide path is provided from the medium delivery device to the first supply position through a folding back point which is disposed above the first supply position so as to be returned downward, and a path in which the variable display portions are arranged may be provided so as to shorten the guide path to reach the neighborhood of the first supply position while being extended upward along the guide path from the neighborhood of the medium slot device. In cases where first supply position differs from the second supply position in a installation height, because the guide path goes long way around in order to deliver the game medium to the first supply position located at a relatively lower position, the variable display portion is installed such that a path from the medium slot device to the first supply position is shortened. The movement of the game medium is naturally displayed by the variable display portions, so that the natural feeling of slotting the game medium can be given to the player.

[0014] In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention which the variable display portion is provided to shorten the guide path, the branch position may be provided near the folding back point, the branch path may be provided sideways from the branch position to the second supply position, and the

I

path in which the variable display portions are arranged may be provided so as to reach the neighborhood of the branch position through the neighborhood of the first supply position while being extended upward along the guide path from the neighborhood of the medium slot device. Accordingly, because the second supply position is provided sideways from the branch position, the second supply position and the branch position are provided at the substantially same level. Therefore, the variable display portion is provided so as to reach the neighborhood of the branch position from the neighborhood of the medium slot device through the neighborhood of the first supply position, which allows the movement of the game medium to be naturally displayed to the second supply position.

[00151 A game machine according to another aspect of the present invention which supplies a game medium to a game board surface in response to a slot operation of the game medium from a medium slot by a player and provides a game utilizing motion of the game medium to the player within a game range which is defined according to a game value symbolized by the game medium slotted bythe player, the gamemachine solves the abovedescribedproblem by comprising: a medium storage device in which the game medium is stored; a medium supply device that supplies the game medium stored in the medium storage device to the game board surface; a input device that receives an input operation by the player, the input operation being different from the operation for slotting the game medium in the medium slot; anda supply control

I

device that operates the medium supply device such that the game medium is supplied from the medium storage device to the game board surface in response to the input operation performed to the input device by the player when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game within the game range.

[0016] In the game machine described above, when the player slots the game medium in the medium slot, the game medium is supplied to the game board surface to start the game. When the predetermined condition is satisfied in the game, the player can supply the game medium to the game board surface by input operation to the input device. Therefore, the player can supply the game medium to the game board surface even by the operation other than the game medium slot operation, and the game element possessed by the game machine can sufficiently be exerted to the player even in the small number of game mediums are plotted.

[0017] In the game machine according to another aspect of the invention, a game medium supply position corresponding to the slot operation and a game medium supply position corresponding to the input operation may be set on an identical game board surface. Accordingly, even if the game medium is slotted by performing the input operation to the input device, the game can be played on the game board surface to which the game medium slotted in the medium slot is supplied. Therefore, the game medium is slotted by the input operation while the game is continued, so that the game content can be branched to provide

I

various game elements to the players.

[0018] In the game machine according to another aspect of the present invention, a game medium supply position corresponding to the slot operation and a game medium supply position corresponding to the input operation may be set on an identical game board surface and at different positions. Accordingly, the slot operation is different by difference between the slot operation and the input operation, so that the game content can be diversified by imparting the special meaning to slotting the game medium by the input operation or slot operation.

[0019] In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention which a game medium supply position corresponding to the slot operation and a game medium supply position corresponding to the input operation are set at different positions, the supply position may be set such that the game medium supplied in response to the slot operation is guided to a normal region through which the gamemedium supplied in response to the slot operation can be passed after the game medium supplied in response to the input operation is passed through a specific region through which the game medium supplied in response to the input operation can not be passed on the game board surface.

Accordingly, the game can be played in the specific region only by the input operation for slotting the game medium. The game can be played in the normal region after the game medium is passed through the specific region. Therefore, motivation to slot the

I

game medium from the input operation can be given to the player.

[0020] In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention which a game medium supply position corresponding to the slot operation and a game medium supply position corresponding to the input operation are set at different positions, the supply position may be set such that the game mediums supplied in response to one of the input operation and the slot operation are guided to a normal region through which both game mediums supplied in response to the input operation or the slot operation can be passedafter the gamemediurns supplied is passed through a specific region through which the game medium supplied in response to the other of the input operation and the slot operation cannot be passed on the game board surface.

Accordingly, the game can be played in the specific region only by slotting the game medium by one of the operations, and the game can also be played in the normal region after the game medium is passed through the specific region. Therefore, the player's motivation to slot the game medium from the operation can be enhanced. Further, crispness may be imparted to the progress of the game by making a difference in development of the game between the slot operation and the input operation. A wave can be imparted to the progress of the game.

[0021) In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention which the specific region and the normal region are provided on the game board surface, the game machine may comprise

S

a medium detecting device that is partially disposed in the specific region to detect the passage of the game medium; and a game control device for changing a game content or result within the game range when the medium detecting device detects the passage of the game medium. Accordingly, a special meaning can be given to the game in the specific region to enhance an interest of the game.

[0022] In the game machine according to an aspect of the present invention which the specific region and the normal region are provided on the game board surface, a difference in height may exist on the game board surface, and the specific region may be disposed above the normal region. Accordingly, the game medium can be moved from the specific region to the normal region by the drop of the game medium.

[0023] In the game machine of the invention, when the player slots the game medium in the medium slot device, the supply timing notification device causes the player to feel like the game medium is moved from the medium slot device to the medium supply port.

Therefore, the player can obtain a natural feeling of slotting the game medium even if the player cannot visibly recognize the actual movement of the game medium. Accordingly, the natural supply timing of the game medium can be stage-managed. When the player slots the game medium in the medium slot, the game medium is supplied to the game board surface to start the game.

When the predetermined condition is satisfied in the game, the

I

player can supply the game medium to the game board surface by input operation to the input device. Accordingly, the player can supply the game medium to the game board surface even by the operation other than the game medium slot operation, and the game element possessed by the game machine can sufficiently be exerted to the player even in the small number of game mediums are plotted.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a game machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the game machine according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a game board surface.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a medal supply portion in the game machine.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating lighting of a display lamp when a medal is supplied to a normal region from a main supply port.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating lighting of the display lamp when the medal is supplied to a special region from a sub-supply port.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a game machine control system.

FIG. Ba flowchart illustrating a checker prize winning process.

I

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an additional medal slotting process.

Best Mode for carrying out the Invention

[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view of the game machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. A game machine G is a so-called medal game machine in which a medal M is used as a game medium. The game machineG includes a medal slot 1, an upper game board surface 2A, a lower game board surface 2B, a display portion 3, a medal withdrawal portion 4, and a slot button B. The medal slot 1 serves as a medium slot device for slotting the medal M. The upper game board surface 2A serves as a game board surface on which a game is played through physical movement of the medal M. A game different from the game on the upper game board surface 2A is played on the lower game board surface 2B. The display portion 3 serves as a display device for stage-managing a game content and the like in the game machine G. The medal withdrawal portion 4 withdraws the medal M according to the game details.

The slot button B serves as a input device for allowing a slot operation of the medal M when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game. The medal slots 1 and the slot buttons B are disposed on either side of the game machine G, so that the game machine G is allowed to be played by one or two players.

In the following description, it is assumed that the player plays I, the game machine G on the right side of the game machine G. [0026] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper game board surface 2A. On the upper game board surface 2A, pins P are provided at predetermined intervals in order to impart directionality to the movement of the medal M. A game range on the upper game board surface 2A includes a normal region S in which a normal game is played and a special region F in which a special game is played when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the normal region S. The special region Fis located above the normal region S. Main supply ports 11, main checkers 12, and display plates 13 are provided in the normal region S. The main supply ports 11 are the first supply positions that are individually provided for the right and left players to supply the medal M to the normal region S. The main checker 12 detects passage of the supplied medal M. The display plate 13 corresponding to each main checker 12 is placed to display the stage management.

A sub-supply port 14, sub-checkers 15, and sensor lamps 16 are provided in the special region F. The sub-supply port 14 is the second supply position that is commonly placed for the right and left players to supply the medal M to the special region F. The sub-checker 15 detects the passage of the supplied medal N. The sensor lamp 16 corresponding to each sub-checker 15 is providedinfrontofthesub-checkerl5. Amonitor 17 is provided at a position bridged between the normal region S and the special region F on the upper game board surface 2A to display the stage management according to the game content.

S

[0027] The main checker 12 and the sub-checker 15 are configured with, for example, commercially available sensors such as a photoelectric sensor to detect the passage of the medal M. The display plate 13 is configured with an LED display, and is placed in front of the corresponding main checker 12. The display plate 13 performs the stage management in order to notify the player of a state of the corresponding main checker 12, for example, display of a sign indicating validity/invalidity of the main checker 12 or the detection of the medal M by the main checker 12. The sensor lamp 16 is lit or blinked to inform the player that the medal M is passed through the corresponding sub-checker 15. The monitor 17 is configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display, and the sub-checker 15 is placed on the surface of the monitor 17. The monitor 17 displays and stage-manages various video games according to the game content.

[0028] A so-called medal pusher game is played on the lower game board surface 2B. The lower game board surface 2B includes a table 2Ba and a pusher table 2Bb, on which the medal M moved from the upper game board surface 2A is stored. The medals M are stored so as to be spread over the table 2Ba and pusher table 2Bb. The pusher table 2Bb is reciprocated back and forth on

the table 2Ba.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a medal supply portion 20 that is of the medium supply device in the game machine

I

G. The medal supply portion 20 guides the medal M stored in a bucket 21, which serves as a medium storage device in the game machine G, to the main supply port 11 or the sub-supply port 14. The medal supply portion 20 includes a medal hopper 22, a rail 23, a branch rail 24, anda solenoid 25. Thernedal hopper 22 serves as a medium delivery device that delivers the medal M stored in the bucket 21. The rail 23 serves as a guide path through which the medal M delivered by the medal hopper 22 is guided to the main supply port 11. The branch rail 24 serves as a branch path through which the medal M, delivered by the medal hopper 22 and branched from the rail 23, is guided to the sub-supply port 14. The solenoid 25 serves as a supply position selecting device that is provided at the branch position to select a destination of the medal M delivered by the medal hopper 22.

[0030] The medal hopper 22 is driven by an electric motor or the like, and delivers the medal M to the main supply port 11 through the rail 23, or to the sub-supply port 14 through the rail 23 and branch rail 24. The rail 23 is placed so as to upwardly guide the medal t"i delivered by the medal hopper 22. The rail 23 is folded at a folding back point t located above, to guide the medal M downward. The branch position between the rail 23 and the branch rail 24 is located above the main supply port 11. In the example illustrated, the branch position is located near the folding back point t. The branch rail 24 is placed sideways. Although a part of the rail 23 is provided on the upper game board surface 2A, the rail 23 is hidden from the player ( by a concealing plate 18 (FIG. 2) placed on the upper game board surface 2A. The solenoid 25 drives an iron core in a reciprocating manner by magnetization and demagnetization of a built-in solenoid coil. A movable rail is attached to the iron core, and the movable rail can be connected to the rail 23 or branch rail 24.

[0031] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the display portions 3. The display portions 3 are disposed on right and left sides of the upper game board surface 2A. Display lamps 3a that are of the indicating lamps are lined upward from medal slots 1 to neighborhoods of the sub-supply ports 14 to form the variable display portions. Commercially available various electric lamps, fluorescent lamps, and the like may be used as the display lamps 3a.

[0032J AflowofthemedalMwjllschematicallybedescrjbedbelow When the player slots the medal M in the medal slot 1, the medal Mis storedinthebucket2lthroughamedal shoot (not illustrated) The medal hopper 22 delivers the prepared medal N when the player slots the medal N. Since the movable rail is connected to the rail 23, the delivered medal N is supplied from the main supply port 11 to the normal region S. The normal game is played by a supplied medal Ml. The medal Ml passes through one of the main checkers 12. For example, marks "x" are displayed on the display plates 13 corresponding to some main checkers 12. When the medal Ml is passed through the main checker 12 in which the

I

mark "x" is not displayed, the normal game is ended, and the medal Ml drops on the pusher table 2Bb on the lower game board surface 2B. When the medal Ml is passed through the main checker 12 in which the mark "x" is displayed, a game such as a slot Whenapredetermined winning combination is formed in the game on the monitor 17, the medals M are withdrawn onto the pusher table 2B on the lower game board surface 2B according to thewinningcombiriation. The medals dropping on the pusher table 2Bb are stored on the pusher table 2Bb or rolls down from the pusher table 2Bb to the table 2Ba. The group of medals M stored on the pusher table 2Bb is brought into contact with a wall portion 2Bc by the reciprocating movement of the pusher table 2Bb, and the group of medals M is relatively pushed forward (to the side on which the player is located, the same holds true for the following description) Therefore, the medal N is pushed out from a front end of the pusher table 2Bb and the medal N is moved to and stored in the table 2Ba. The group of medals N stored on the pusher table 2Ba is pushed forward by the reciprocating movement of the pusher table 2Bb, and whereby the medal N drops on a medal drop groove 2Bd. The dropping medal N is withdrawn to the player from the medal withdrawal portion 4 through a count hopper (not illustrated) . The medal N dropping on a recovery groove (not illustrated) or the medal N dropping in other lottery hole or the like is recovered in the bucket 21 according to conditions.

[0033] When a special picture is displayed in the slot game on

I

the monitor 17, or when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the normal game, the special game can be played in the special region F. In the special game, when the player presses the slot button B, the medal N is supplied to the special region F. The solenoid 25 of the medal supply portion 20 is driven to connect the movable rail to the branch rail 24. A medal M2 delivered from the medal hopper 22 is supplied to the sub-supply port 14 through the branch rail 24. The supplied medal M2 is passed through one of the sub-checkers 15. A state of each sub-checker l5isdisplayedonthemonjtorl7, andthestateofeachsub-checker is reflected on the game content according to the sub-checker through which the medal M2 is passed. The medal M2 goes into the normal region S after being passed through the sub-checker 15. The normal game is also played by the medal M2. A dividend is withdrawn to the player based on performance in the normal game and special game.

[0034] A configuration of a control system in the game machine Gwillbedescrjbedbelow. FIG. 7 isablockdiagramillustrating the configuration of the control system in the game machine G. The game machine G includes a control unit 30 that performs various control processes for playing a predetermined game. A slot sensor 31 that detects the medal N is provided near the medal shoot through which the medal N is slotted in the medal slot 1. As input devices to the control unit 30,the slot button B, the slot sensor 31, the main checker 12, and the sub-checker 15, are connected to the control unit 30. As control targets

S

of the control unit 30, the display portion 3, the medal hopper 22, the solenoid 25, and the monitor 17, are connected to the control unit 30.

[0035] A checker prize winning process, which is performed by the control unit 30 when the medal M goes into the main checker 12, will be described with reference to FIG. 8. The checker prize winning process is performed on the condition that the medal M is detected by the predetermined main checker 12. In StepSi, the control unit 30 performsa slot lotterytobedisplayed on the monitor 17. In the slot lottery, one of kinds of predetermined symbols is selected by utilizing a random number or the like. In Step S2, the control unit 30 determines whether the result of the slot lottery is the special game. When the result of the slot lottery is not the special game, the control unit 30 goes to Step S3, and then performs a process according to the result of the slot lottery to thereby end the present process.

[00361 In the case of the special game, the control unit 30 goes to Step S4, and then carries out a predetermined video game to thereby output to the monitor 17. One of the video games stored in a storage device of the control unit 30 is played according to the result of the slot lottery, and the video game is displayed on the monitor 17. Settings of the sub-checkers 15 are also changed according to the played video game. In Step S5, the control unit 30 determines whether each sub-checker 15 detects the medal M. In the special game, for example, a limitation is placed such that the number of supplied medals M is fixed or such that a game time is restricted to such as predetermined time. When the medal M is not detected even if the video game is ended based on the limitation, the control unit 30 ends the present process. When the medal M is detected in Step S5, the control unit 30 goes to Step S6, performs a process according to the setting of the sub-checker 15 that detects the medal M, and then ends the present process.

[0037] As described above, in the checker prize winning process, when the main checker 12 that is of the prize winning target detects the medal M, the slot lottery is performed, and is displayed on the monitor 17 with a predetermined stage management.

The control unit 30 performs the process according to the result of the slot lottery. When the transition to the special game is made as a result of the lottery, a prize winning condition of each sub-checker 15 is set according to contents of the video game displayed on the monitor 17. The process such as the withdrawal to the player is performed according to the setting of the sub-checker 15 that detects the medal M. [0038] An additional medal slotting process performed by the control unit 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The additional medal slotting process is performed in the special game in order to supply the medal M to the special region F. In Step Sli, the control unit 30 drives the solenoid 25 to connect

I

the movable rail to the branch rail 24. In Step S12, the control unit 30 determines whether a signal is supplied from the slot button B by the operation of the player. When the signal is not supplied from the slot button B, the control unit 30 waits for the signal supplied from the slot button B. When the signal is supplied from the slot button B, the control unit 30 goes to Step S13, and then drives the medal hopper 22 to thereby end the present process. The medal Mdelivered by driving the medal hopper 22 is moved from the rail 23 to the branch rail 24, and is supplied from the sub-supply port 14 to the special region F. [0039] As described above, in the additional medal slotting process, when the player presses the slot button B, the medal M is delivered from the medal hopper 22 in response to the signal supplied from the slot button B. The movable rail is connected tothebranchrail 24 bydrivingthe solenoid25, andthedeljvered medal M is supplied from the Sub-supply port 14 to the special region F. Therefore, the player can supply the game medium to the game board surface even by the operation other than the game medium slot operation, so that the game element possessed by the game machine can sufficiently exerted to the player even if the small number of game mediums are slotted.

[0040] A supply timing notification made by the display portion 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The display portion 3 and the control unit 30 act as the supply timing notification device. In FIGS. 5 and 6, the lighted display lamp 3a (lighted lamp 3a1) is expressed by a double circle, and the turned-off display lamp 3a (turned-off lamp 3a2) is expressed byablack-outcircle. FIG. 5isaviewillustratingthe lighting of the display lamp 3a when the medal M is supplied to the normal region S fromthemain supplyport 11. WhenthemedalMis slotted in the medal slot 1, and the slot sensor 31 supplies a detection signal by slotting the medal hopper 22 delivers the medal M. Thernedal Mis passed through the branch position, turned, guided downward by the rail 23, and supplied from the main supply port 11 to the normal region S. The movement path of the medal M is hidden fromthe player by the concealingplate 18. The display lamps 3a are lit from a start point s near the medal slot 1 to a main end point el near the main supply port 11. The movement of the medal M is exhibited in the simulated manner to the player by sequentially lighting the display lamps 3a from the start point s to the main end point el until the medal M appears in the main supply port 11 since the medal M is slotted.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the lighting of the display lamp 3a when the medal N is supplied to the special region F from the sub-supply port 14. When the player presses the slot button B, the medal hopper 22 delivers the medal N. The medal N is passed through the branch position, guided sideways, and supplied from the sub-supply port 14 to the special region F. The display lamps 3a are lit from the start point s to a sub-end point e2 near the sub-supply port 14. Similarly to the supply of the medal M to the normal region S, the movement of the medal M is exhibited in the simulated manner to the player by sequentially lighting the display lamps 3a from the start point s to the sub-end point e2 until the medal M appears in the sub-supplyport 14 sincetheslotbuttonsispressed. Therefore, the player is allowed to sense the movement of the medal M through the display of the display portion 3, so that the player can obtain the natural feel of slotting the medal M. Accordingly, the natural supply timing of the game medium can be stage-managed even if the passage of the medal M through the invisible movement path takes time.

[0042] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, however can be carried out in various embodiments.

In the embodiment, the display lamps 3a are used as the variable display portion, however it is not limited to those, a liquid crystal display may be used. As with the display lamps 3a, the liquid crystal display can exhibit the movement of the medal M in the simulated manner. It may be possible to make the player sensethemovementofthemedalMbysound. Forexample, speakers are placed as the supply timing notification device, the player may sense the movement of the medal M by the movement of the sound. The player may sense the movement of the medal M by changingapitchora tone of the sound. Using thedisplaylamps or the liquid crystal display, the player may sense the movement of the medal M by the sound and video image.

[0043] In the embodiment, the start point of the display portion 3 is set near the medal slot 1, and the end point of the display portion 3 is set near the main supply port 11, however the present invention is not limited to that embodiment, the displayportion 3 may be set a part of between the medal slot 1 and the main supply port 11. Since the start point and the end point are set at arbitrary positions, so that a degree of freedom of the design can be enhanced. The same holds true for the sub-supply port 14.

[0044] The medal N is used as the game medium in the embodiment.

Alternatively, a coin, a ball or the like may be used as the gamemediurn. In the embodiment, the game is playedby delivering the medal N upward and causing the medal N to drop, however, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the present invention can also be applied in cases where the medal N is supplied in the distance in the medal pusher game.

[0045] In the embodiment, slotting the medal N in the medal slot 1 is described as the medium slot device. Alternatively, It may be possible to make the player sense the movement of the medal N by the display portion 3 even if the medal N is slotted by the slot button B. [0046] In the embodiment, slotting the medal M in the medal slot 1 differs from slotting the medal M by the slot button B in the supply position. Alternatively, the supply position in

L

slotting the medal M in the medal slot 1 may be identical to the supply position in slotting the medal M by the slot button B. At this point, the player can play the game many times by slotting the small number of medals M, and the game element possessed by the game machine can sufficiently be exerted. The medal M slotted in the medal slot 1 may be supplied to the sub-supply port 14, and the medal M slotted by the slot button B may be supplied to the main supply port 11. Contents of the game that is to be played in the special region F by slotting the medal M in the medal slot 1 may change contents of the game that is to be played in the normal region by slotting the medal M by the slot button B. The inflection may be imparted to the progress of the game by making a difference in development of the game between slotting the medal M in the medal slot 1 and slotting the medal &1 by the slot button B. The fluctuation can be imparted to the progress of the game.

[0047] In the embodiment, the slot button B is used as the input device. Alternatively, a lever or a handle may be used as the input device. The input device may be placed according to the game content as long as the player can operate the input device.

[0048] As an aspect of the present invention to change the content or result of the game, the change in feature on the pusher table may be generated so as to change the movement of the game medium in the pusher game. For example, the movement of the game medium on the pusher table is obstructed or biased by the change in ( feature on the pusher table, whereby a probability that the game medium enters the prize winning portion or a portion in which the lottery is started may be increased or decreased, or a probability that the game medium enters a losing portion or the recovery port may be increased or decreased to change the content or result of the game. For example, in a game apparatus, in which a second game medium, such as a ball, which is different from the game medium is supplied onto the pusher table and the game content or result is changed by the lottery drawn by the movement of the second game medium, the movement of the second game medium on the pusher table is obstructed or biased by the change in feature on the pusher table, whereby the probability that the second game medium enters the prize winning portion or the portion in which the lottery is started may be increased or decreased, or the probability that the second game medium enters the losing portion or the recovery port may be increased or decreased to change the content or result of the game. (

Claims

CLAIMS1. A game machine comprising: a medium supply device that delivers a game medium to a predetermined medium supply port on a game board surface through a guide path hidden from a player in response to a slot operation of the game medium to a medium slot device by the player; and a supply timing notification device that generates a physical change in a mode in which the player can sense the physical change corresponding to a decrease in distance between the medium supply port and the game medium moving in the guide path when the medium supply device delivers the game medium to the medium supply port.
2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein the supply timing notification device comprising: a display device in which variable display portions are arranged from a predetermined start point to an end point, a display mode being able to be changed in the variable display portions; and a display control device that controls the display mode of each of the variable display portions such that a change position of the display mode is progressively moving from the start point to the end point corresponding to the decrease in distance.
3. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein an indicating lamp is provided in each of the variable display portions of the display device, and the display mode is changed by lighting and turning off the indicating lamp.
4. The game machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the display device is provided in a region where the player can visually recognize the display device such that the start point is disposed near the medium slot device while the end point is disposed near the medium supply port.
5. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein a first supply position corresponding to the medium supply port and a second supply position are provided on the game board surface, the second supply position being disposed farther than the first supply position in relation to the medium slot device, the first supply position and the second supply position being positions to which the game medium should be supplied, the second supply position is connected to the guide path with a branch path interposed therebetween, supply position selecting device that selects one of the first supply position and the second supply position is provided as a game medium supply destination at a branch position of the guide path and the branch path, and the supply timing notification device generates the physical change in the mode in which the player can sense the physical change corresponding to a decrease in distance between the supply position selected by the supply position selecting device and the game medium moved in the guide path or the branch path when the medium supply device delivers the game medium to the first supply position or the second supply position.
6. The game machine according to claim 5, wherein the supply timing notification device comprising: a display device in which variable display portions are arranged from a neighborhood of the medium slot device to a neighborhood of the first supply position and a neighborhood of the second supply position, the display mode being able to be changed in the variable display portion; a display control device that controls the display mode of each of the variable display portions such that a change position of the display mode is progressively moved from the neighborhood of the medium slot device to the supply position selected by the supply position selecting device corresponding to the decrease in the distance; and the branch position is located farther than the first supply position in relation to the medium slot device, the guide path is provided from the neighborhood of the medium slot device to the first supply position through the branch position, and the variable display portions of the display device are arranged from the neighborhood of the medium slot device to the neighborhood of the first supply position along a path that is shorter than the guide path.
Thegamemachine accordingtoclairn6, whereinadifference in height exists on the game board surface, the second supply position and the branch position are disposed above the first supply position, the medium slot device is disposed below the first supplyposition, thernediumsupplydeVice includes amedium delivery device that delivers upward the game medium from below thegameboardsurfaCe, theguidepath isprovidedfromthemediUm delivery device to the first supply position through a folding back point which is disposed above the first supply position so as to be returned downward, and a path in which the variable display portions are arranged is provided so as to shorten the guide path to reach the neighborhood of the first supply position while being extended upward along the guide path from the neighborhood of the medium slot device.
8. The game machine according to claim 7, wherein the branch position is provided near the folding back point, the branch path is provided sideways from the branch position to the second supply position, and the path in which the variable display portions are arranged is provided so as to reach the neighborhood of the branch position through the neighborhood of the first supply position while being extended upward along the guide path from the neighborhood of the medium slot device.
9. In a game machine which supplies a game medium to a game board surface in response to a slot operation of the game medium from a medium slot by a player and provides a game utilizing motion of the game medium to the player within a game range which is defined according to a game value symbolized by the game medium slotted by the player, the game machine comprising: a medium storage device in which the game medium is stored; a medium supply device that supplies the game medium stored in the medium storage device to the game board surface; a input device that receives an input operation by the player, the input operation being different from the operation for slotting the game medium in the medium slot; and a supply control device that operates the medium supply device such that the game medium is supplied from the medium storage device to the game board surface in response to the input operation performed to the input device by the player when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the game within the game range.
10. ThegarnemachineaccOrdiflgtOcla3m9, whereinagamemedium supply position corresponding to the slot operation and a game medium supply position corresponding to the input operation are set on an identical game board surface.
11. ThegamemachineaCCOrdiflgtoclaim9, whereinagamemediUm supply position corresponding to the slot operation and a game medium supply position corresponding to the input operation are set on an identical game board surface and at different positions.
12. The game machine according to claim 11, wherein the supply position is set such that the game medium supplied in response to the slot operation is guided to a normal region through which the game medium supplied in response to the slot operation can be passed after the game medium supplied in response to the input operation is passed through a specific region through which the game medium supplied in response to the input operation can not be passed on the game board surface.
13. The game machine according to claim 11, wherein the supply position is set such that the game mediums supplied in response to one of the input operation and the slot operation are guided to a normal region through which both game mediums supplied in response to the input operation or the slot operation can be passed after the game mediums supplied is passed through a specific region through which the game medium supplied in response to the other of the input operation and the slot operation cannot be passed on the game board surface.
14. The game machine according to claim 12, wherein the game machine comprising: a medium detecting device that is partially disposed in the specific region to detect the passage of the game medium; and agarne control device for changing a game content or result within the game range when the medium detecting device detects the passage of the game medium.
15. The game machine according to claim 12 or 13, wherein a difference in height exist on the game board surface, and the ( specific region is disposed above the normal region.