JP2000185132A - Electronic game machine and system for controlling the game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To judge whether a ROM is proper or not easily in a short period of time according to an inspector's convenience, etc. SOLUTION: Programs and data for developing a game in accordance with laws and regulations are memorized in a program memory area of a game controlling ROM 35, and code information including users' codes specific to each game machine maker is memorized in a judgement code memory area of the ROM. When the propriety of the game controlling ROM 35 is judged, the machine is set to be in the inspection mode by operation of a key switch 21, then a settlement switch 22 is pressed. Whenever the settlement switch 22 is pressed, various codes in the judgement code memory area are read out in order and displayed on a saved medal number display device 25.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic game machine (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "game machine") such as a pachinko game machine and a slot machine, and in particular, this kind of game machine is operated by a legal control program. The present invention relates to a technique for judging whether or not the user is performing the operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko hall, a plurality of gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines and slot machines are provided.
These gaming machines incorporate a control board on which electronic circuit components are mounted, and the operation of the gaming machine is controlled in a series.

[0003] By the way, it is necessary to control a game machine of this type of customs business model based on laws and regulations, and each game machine maker has a circuit configuration of a control board and a control program for actually operating the game machine. Is created in accordance with this law and regulation. After the created control board is inspected, it is sealed in a case, built into the machine, and delivered to the pachinko hall.After delivery, the seal is broken and the ROM in which the control program is written is illegal. There is a possibility that an illegal act of replacing with an inappropriate one may be performed.

[0004] In order to detect such illegal activities,
For each gaming machine, it is necessary to check the seal of the control board inside the machine, and in some cases, to break the seal and check the suitability of the internal control board, which requires a great deal of labor and time. To solve this problem, when manufacturing the control board,
A method has been proposed in which an algorithm for checking a control program in a ROM is set in a control unit, and the control program in the ROM is checked based on the algorithm, as appropriate. However, this method includes
Since the suitability of the ROM is checked using the entire control program, it takes a great deal of time to make a determination, and there is a disadvantage that the game cannot be executed unless the game is being executed, such as when the power of the apparatus is turned on. Further, the algorithm for the discrimination process is decrypted to manufacture an improper ROM so as to be judged to be proper, or a proper RO on the control board.
Improper ROM is installed while leaving M
Unauthorized acts that go through the above-described discrimination process, such as executing a game by operating an inappropriate ROM after performing the discrimination process for M, have also appeared.

[0005] In view of these problems, the applicant has recently
Using the discrimination code storage area of the ROM, unique code information such as a game machine manufacturer is recorded in the ROM by a semiconductor logic configuration, and this code information is read out as appropriate to determine whether the code is appropriate. A method was proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 10-127915). According to this method, it is impossible to rewrite the code information once written, and a false R
Since it is also difficult to manufacture an OM, highly reliable determination processing can be performed. In addition, since it is only necessary to determine the suitability of the code information, it is possible to check the suitability of the ROM in a very short time, and it is possible to appropriately perform the determination process even during the execution of the game.

[0006]

However, in the above method, the control unit performs the automatic discrimination process of the code information, and the discrimination process is performed independently for each gaming machine.
When inspecting the adequacy of each gaming machine in the amusement arcade in order, check the adequacy of the ROM of each amusement arcade according to the convenience of the inspector, check the adequacy of the ROM of each amusement arc all at once, It is difficult to use it for applications such as checking.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and outputs identification information indicating the suitability of a ROM in response to an external instruction or displays the identification information in an appropriate place, thereby improving the convenience of the inspector. In addition, a first object is to easily and appropriately determine the suitability of a ROM in a short time.

[0008] The present invention also provides a control device, which is provided from a plurality of gaming machines in a game arcade at appropriate locations inside and outside the game arcade, and includes a ROM
It is a second object of the present invention to output identification information indicating the suitability of a game machine so that the suitability of the ROM of each gaming machine can be determined all at once, or can be determined even in a place away from the game arcade.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic gaming machine in which a program for controlling a game is stored, and code information for identifying whether the program is appropriate is stored in a determination code storage area. ROM written
Code information reading means for reading code information written in the discrimination code storage area in the ROM in response to an instruction from outside, and information for outputting the code information read by the code information reading means to the outside of the machine. Output means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electronic game machine having a ROM and code information reading means having the same structure as in the first aspect, a display unit for displaying predetermined information relating to a game, and the code information. Display control means for displaying the code information read by the reading means on the display unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the electronic game machine according to any one of the first and second aspects, the instruction for reading the code information is set to be performed by using an operation unit for executing a game. Is done.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine management system in which a control device is connected to a plurality of electronic gaming machines having a ROM storing a game control program via a communication line. Thus, in the invention of claim 4,
Command transmission means for transmitting, to the control device, a command requesting each electronic gaming machine or a specific electronic gaming machine to transmit code information written in a discrimination code storage area in the ROM; Determining means for determining whether the ROM of the electronic gaming machine is appropriate based on a return result of the code information from the electronic gaming machine of the transmission destination;

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a command transmitting means similar to the fourth aspect, a display unit for displaying information, and an electronic gaming machine to which a command is transmitted by the command transmitting means are transmitted to the control device. And display control means for displaying the return result of the code information on the display unit.

[0014]

Since information is stored in the discrimination code storage area of the ROM by the logic configuration of the semiconductor, it is almost impossible to rewrite the once fixed code information. Making a ROM is extremely difficult. Therefore, if code information indicating that the program of the ROM is proper is written in the discrimination code storage area, the ROM is proper.

In the electronic gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention,
Code information for identifying that the control program in the ROM is appropriate is written in the discrimination code storage area, and the code information is read and output in response to an external instruction. On the other hand, incorrect ROM
In the gaming machine provided with the above, either no information is output or the inappropriate information is output in response to the instruction, so only instructing the gaming machine to output the code information, Can be checked, and the ROM can be easily checked as necessary.

In the electronic gaming machine according to the invention of claim 2,
In response to an external instruction, the code information is displayed on a display for displaying information relating to the game. On the other hand, in a gaming machine having an improper ROM, in response to the instruction, no information is displayed on the display unit, or improper code information is displayed. The suitability of the ROM can be easily confirmed by visually checking the display contents.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the instruction for reading the code information is issued using the operation unit for executing the game, the suitability of the ROM of the gaming machine can be determined by a simple operation.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the game machine is a proper game machine, the code information written in the discrimination code storage area in the ROM of the own device is returned in response to a command from the control device. However, in a gaming machine having an improper ROM, the code information is not returned, or the improper information is returned. Therefore, the control device can easily determine the suitability of the ROM of the gaming machine from the return result of the code information. In addition, it is possible to check the adequacy of each gaming machine in the amusement arcade outside the amusement arc by configuring the ROM to output the adequacy determination result outside the amusement arcade or by providing the control device itself outside.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the control device receives the return of the code information from the gaming machine by the same command transmission as described above, the control device displays the return result. It is possible to easily confirm the suitability of the ROM provided for each gaming machine in the gaming arcade or a specific gaming machine.

[0020]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an electronic game machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 shows the internal structure of the machine. The illustrated gaming machine 1 is a slot machine, and has a box-shaped main body 2 with a door 3 openably and closably attached to a front opening. A reel block 4 and a control board 5 enclosed in a transparent resin case 5a and the like are incorporated in the upper part of the hollow interior of the main body part 2, and a hopper 6a for accommodating a large number of medals in the lower part. Is installed.

The reel block 4 comprises a metal frame 7
, Three reels 8a, 8b, 8c are assembled together with stepping motors 9a, 9b, 9c serving as driving sources. On the outer peripheral surface of each of the reels 8a, 8b, 8c, a plurality of types of symbols such as symbols, characters, and numbers are drawn, and some of the symbols constitute winning symbols for establishing a winning.

The main body of the door portion 3 is formed of a metal frame having a predetermined thickness, and three panels 11, 12, and 13 are provided on the front opening thereof, and a wiring board for various indicators and operation switches is provided on the rear surface. (Not shown) and the like.

The operating portion 10 between the front panel 11 and the lower panel 13 includes a start lever 14 and a stop button switch 15.
a, 15b, 15c, bet button switches 17, 18, 1
9, various operation switches such as a settlement switch 22 are provided, and a medal slot 16 for directly inserting medals into the machine, and a key switch 21 for switching the machine to an inspection mode described later are provided. Can be
A medal payout outlet 23, a medal tray 24, and the like are provided below the lower panel 13.

The panels 11, 12, and 13 are formed by performing silk screen printing on the surface of a transparent synthetic resin plate or tempered glass, and the upper panel 12 and the lower panel 13 have model names, game information, and the like. Is drawn. The central front panel 11 is formed with a symbol display section 20 (shown in FIG. 3) including three uncolored and transparent symbol display windows 20a, 20b, and 20c.
Behind the symbol display windows 20a, 20b, 20c, three reels 8a, 8b,
8c is located, and when the reel is stopped, the symbol display window 20
The symbols displayed on the outer peripheral surface of each of the reels 8a, 8b, 8c can be visually recognized for three frames from a, 20b, 20c.

As shown in FIG. 3, a total of five stop lines L, upper, middle, lower, and oblique, cross each symbol display window 20a, 20b, 20c on the surface of the front panel 11, as shown in FIG.
1 to L5, and when the reels are stopped, the reels 8a, 8b,
8c are aligned. Note that the stop lines L1 to L5
Is activated according to the number of inserted medals. When the number of inserted medals is one, only the central stop line L1 is activated. When the number of inserted medals is two, the upper, middle, and lower three lines are used. The stop lines L1 to L3 are activated. When three more medals are inserted, all the stop lines L1 to L5
Is activated.

The gaming machine 1 of this embodiment is a credit-type machine in which a large number of medals are stored in an electronic data format in a machine body and a game is executed while consuming the stored medals. The bet button switch 17 provided on the overhanging surface below the panel 11 is for consuming three stored medals and playing a game. A bet button switch 18 provided on a vertical surface below the
Numeral 19 is for consuming two and one stored medals, respectively. The settlement switch 22 is used to settle the stored medals and to pay out the medals from the medal payout exit 23. It should be noted that a credit type slot machine is known, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

The symbol display section 20 of the front panel 11
At the left side of the display, a medal number display 25 for displaying the number of medals stored in the fuselage and a hit number display for displaying the number of medals newly added to the stored medals at the time of winning. 26 are deployed. These displays 25 and 26 are composed of a liquid crystal display panel or a segmented LE.
It is a display device using D or the like, and can display alphabetic characters in addition to numbers.

In the slot machine 1 having the above-described structure, a predetermined number of stop lines are activated by medal insertion from the medal insertion slot 16 or consumption of stored medals by operating any of the bet button switches 17, 18, and 19. Is done.
Next, when the starting lever 14 is operated, the three reels 8
a, 8b, 8c are started simultaneously, and thereafter, each time the stop button switches 15a, 15b, 15c are operated, the corresponding reels 8a, 8b, 8c are stopped. All reels 8
When the combination of the winning symbols is established on the activated stop line when a, 8b, and 8c are stopped, a winning is achieved, and a predetermined number of medals are discharged from the medal discharge port 23 to the medal tray 24 or stored medals. Is added to When the settlement switch 22 is pressed, the number of stored medals stored in the control unit is cleared, and the medal dispensing machine 6 is operated to discharge medals corresponding to the stored medal number.

FIG. 4 shows an electric configuration of the slot machine. In the figure, reference numeral 30 denotes a control circuit on the circuit board 5, which includes a main control unit 31 by a microcomputer,
A ROM 35 storing programs and various setting data for causing a series of operations related to the game to be performed in each part of the machine is mounted (hereinafter, the ROM 35 is referred to as a “game control ROM 35”). The game control ROM 3
The programs and data stored in 5 are set so that the game content conforming to the laws and regulations is developed.

The main control unit 31 is a CPU 3 serving as a control subject.
2, a ROM 33 for storing programs and fixed data for controlling the basic operation of the machine, a RAM 34 for reading and writing data, and the like, which are integrally formed in one chip. On the other hand, the game control ROM 35 is formed in a single chip independently of the main control unit 31.

The control circuit 30 is connected to the start lever 14, the stop button switches 15a, 15b,
15c, bet button switches 17, 18, 19, an input unit such as a settlement switch 22, a key switch 21 and the like, and indicators such as the stored medal number display 25 and the payout medal number display 26 are connected. 9a, 9
The reel drive unit 36 including the b and 9c and the medal payout machine 6 are connected. The CPU 32 controls the basic operation of the machine in accordance with the program stored in the ROM 33 of the main control unit 31, reads out code information described later, and executes a display process. In addition, according to the program in the game control ROM 35, the above-mentioned input / output unit is controlled in series to execute a credit type or medal insertion type game.

[0032] The game control ROM35 is of the same construction as the ROM that circulates in the general market, as shown in FIG. 5, two types of storage areas of the program storage area R _pro and the discrimination code storage area R _{c od} Is set. Data d _{1 to} d _n stored in the program storage area R _pro
Is data for the control program and setting described above.
In the discrimination code storage area R _cod , code information MK (hereinafter, referred to as “manufacturer code MK”) indicating the component maker that manufactured the game control ROM 35 and the storage capacity of the game control ROM 35 are indicated by a combination of semiconductor logics. Code information DV (hereinafter referred to as “device code DV”) and code information (US) indicating a maker or a manufacturing association of the slot machine in which the game control ROM 35 is incorporated are stored.

The slot machine of this embodiment reads out each code information MK, DV, and US in the discrimination code storage area R _cod so that it can be easily confirmed that the slot machine has an appropriate game control ROM 35. Thus, the number of stored medals is displayed on the display 25.

In the reading and displaying process, in a state where the game is not executed, first, the machine is set to the inspection mode by rotating the key switch 21 and then the settlement switch 22 of the operation unit 10 is pressed. It is performed by By this pressing operation, the CPU 32 reads out the maker code MK in the discrimination code storage area R _cod and
It is displayed on the stored medal number display 25. Thereafter, by pressing the payment switch 22 again, the device code DV is read out and displayed on the stored medal number display 25 in the same manner, and by pressing the payment switch 22 again, the user code US is set. It is read and displayed on the stored medal count display 25. Hereinafter, similarly, each time the settlement switch 22 is pressed, the display content of the stored medal number display 25 is switched, and each code information MK, DV, US is displayed.
Are displayed in order.

Here, three types of code information UK, D
Although V and US are displayed in order, the code information UK, SV and US may be displayed simultaneously if the display space of the stored medal number display 25 can be configured to be large using a liquid crystal plate or the like. . However, this game control ROM
To show the suitability of 35, it is sufficient that the user code US can be displayed at a minimum.

Manufacturer code MK, device code DV
Is also written in the same kind of parts distributed in the market, but since the user code US is code information specified only by the manufacturer of the slot machine 1, a third party obtains the same kind of ROM. It is inconceivable to do so unless the part maker performs unauthorized sales or theft. Therefore, this user code US is used as the stored medal number display 2
When the number is displayed in 5, the slot machine 1 can be determined to have the appropriate game control ROM 35.
On the other hand, if no display is made or incorrect code information is displayed in response to the above-mentioned operation, an incorrect game control ROM 35
Can be determined to be incorporated. The suitability of the game control ROM 35 can be checked at any time by such a simple operation.

The display for displaying the code information is not limited to the number of stored medals display 25 but may be a display of the number of paid medals 26 or another display not shown. Similarly, for the instruction operation for displaying the code information, other components of the operation unit 10 such as the start lever 14 and the bet button switch 17 may be used in addition to the settlement button switch 22. In the above-described embodiment, the slot machine is used. However, similarly for other gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines, the discrimination of the internal game control ROM 35 is performed on the game display in response to the operation of the game operation switch. It is possible to display the code information in the code storage area.

When inspecting the inside of a game arcade in which the gaming machine 1 having such a configuration is arranged, the inspector selects an arbitrary game arcade 1 in the game arcade and executes the above-described operation. When the appropriate code information is displayed on a predetermined display in response to this operation, the gaming machine 1 has the appropriate game control ROM 35. On the other hand, the game control ROM 35 of the operated gaming machine 1 is replaced with an inappropriate one, or the control board 5 including the main control unit 31 is replaced.
If the whole is replaced with an incorrect one, either no code information is displayed or incorrect code information is displayed for the operation.

Therefore, the inspector can easily determine whether or not the gaming machine 1 is appropriate just by looking at the displayed contents.
Conventionally, in this type of inspection, the door 3 is opened and the control board 5 is opened.
It was necessary to check whether the seal was properly sealed, and in some cases, to break the seal and check the suitability of each part on the board.However, the above method significantly reduced the labor and time required for inspection. Can be reduced.

Further, since an operation for instructing display of code information and a display thereof are performed using switches and indicators used in the game, it is not necessary to incorporate extra parts for determining the suitability of the ROM. Costs can be reduced. Moreover, it is difficult to read from the appearance of the machine that the special functions that are not included in a normal machine are incorporated. The possibility of detecting that the function for judging suitability is incorporated is extremely low.

Further, the above-described operation for displaying the discrimination code is executed even if the machine is in the game control mode, as long as the medals are not paid out according to reel rotation or winning. It is possible to provide two appropriate and inappropriate game control ROMs 35 on the control board, and to access the appropriate game control ROM 35 when the game is not executed, It is also possible to counter the injustice of switching the access destination to the game control ROM 35 side.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the gaming machine management system according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a host computer 37 is arranged at an appropriate place in a game arcade, and each gaming machine 1 in the game arcade is connected to the host computer 37 via a communication line L. It is configured to exchange information with each other.

In the gaming machine management system of this embodiment, in response to the host computer 37 transmitting a predetermined command to each gaming machine 1, the gaming machine 1 has its own game control ROM 35 discriminating code storage area. The code information in R _cod is read and returned to the host computer 37. In the host computer 37, appropriate code information MK, DV, and CD are registered in advance in the game control ROM 35 of each gaming machine 1, and the code information returned from each gaming machine 1 is stored in the registration information. By comparing each game control RO
Whether M35 is appropriate or not is determined.

Transmission of a command from the host computer 37 to each of the gaming machines 1 is performed by inputting a predetermined command to the host computer 37 at the time of inspection by an inspector or the like. The result of the determination of the code information transmitted from each of the gaming machines 1 is provided to the inspector by being displayed in a list on a monitor (not shown) or printed out. Instead of the host computer 37 determining whether the code information of each gaming machine 1 is appropriate, the code information transmitted from each gaming machine 1 may be displayed as a list. Also, it is not always necessary to display the determination result and the code information in a list, and only the determination result and the code information of the specific gaming machine 1 or each of the gaming machines 1 relating to the specific model are displayed in accordance with the manual input. It may be. In this case, at the stage of transmitting the command requesting the code information, the gaming machine 1 to be the target of the command may be selected, or after acquiring the code information of all the gaming machines 1, Only the information relating to the gaming machine 1 may be selected and output.

According to the gaming machine management system having the above configuration,
During the business hours of the amusement arcade, code information can be appropriately collected from each operating gaming machine 1 to check whether or not the game is being executed under the appropriate game control ROM 35. In this case, the gaming machine 1
Since the time required to read the code information in the determination code storage area of the 35 is very short, even if a command is received during the execution of the game, the code information can be read and returned in a short free time. Inspection can be performed without hindering the progress of the game.

Further, the above host computer 37
It is possible to connect to an external computer via a public line or the like. In this case, a command for requesting information for inspection is transmitted from the external computer to the host computer 37, and the host computer 37 collects code information from the gaming machine 1 according to the command, and performs the above-described determination. Processing or code information itself can be returned to an external computer. According to this method, it is possible to check the suitability of the game control ROM 35 provided in each of the gaming machines 1 from a point distant from the amusement arcade, thereby reducing labor and time required to visit the amusement arcade for inspection. can do. The method of performing the inspection outside the game arcade is not limited to the above, and the host computer 37 itself may be arranged outside the game arcade, and each gaming machine 1 may be connected to the host computer 37 via a relay device or the like.

[0047]

According to the electronic gaming machine of the first aspect of the present invention, code information indicating that the control program is appropriate is written in a discrimination code storage area of a ROM in which a game control program is stored. Since the code information is read out and output in response to an instruction from the outside, it is possible to easily determine the suitability of the ROM outside the machine in accordance with the convenience of the inspector.

In the electronic gaming machine according to the invention of claim 2,
The code information of the ROM is read in response to an instruction from the outside, and is displayed at an appropriate position on the machine. Therefore, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the ROM is appropriate by visually checking the presence or absence of the display or the displayed content.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the instruction for reading the code information is issued using the operation unit for executing the game, the suitability of the ROM of the gaming machine can be determined by a simple operation without increasing the cost.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control device requests each gaming machine or a specific gaming machine to transmit the code information written in the discrimination code recording area of the ROM, and returns the code information from the gaming machine. ROM of each game machine using the result
Is determined, the RO of any gaming machine
The suitability of M can be determined easily and quickly. It is also possible to simultaneously check the suitability of the ROM of each gaming machine in the game arcade or to check the suitability of the ROM outside the game arcade.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the code information is returned from each gaming machine or a specific gaming machine in response to a command transmitted from the control device, and is displayed. It is possible to easily determine the suitability of the ROM of each of the gaming machines or the specific gaming machine.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of an electronic gaming machine (slot machine) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal configuration of the slot machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a configuration of a front panel.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of the slot machine.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a data configuration of a game control ROM.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a gaming machine management system.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gaming machine 22 Settlement switch 25 Reserved medal number display 30 Control circuit 31 CPU 35 Game control ROM R _cod discrimination code storage area

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A ROM in which a game control program is stored, and code information for identifying whether the program is appropriate is written in a determination code storage area.
Code information reading means for reading the code information written in the discrimination code storage area in the ROM in response to an instruction from the outside; information for outputting the code information read by the code information reading means to the outside of the machine An electronic game machine comprising output means. 2. A ROM in which a game control program is stored and code information for identifying whether the program is appropriate is written in a determination code storage area.
Code information reading means for reading code information written in a discrimination code storage area in the ROM in response to an external instruction; a display unit for displaying predetermined information relating to a game; An electronic gaming machine comprising: display control means for displaying the code information read by the means on the display unit. 3. The electronic gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the instruction to read the code information is issued using an operation unit for executing a game. 4. A gaming machine management system in which a control device is connected via a communication line to a plurality of electronic gaming machines having a ROM in which a game control program is stored, wherein the control device is Command transmission means for transmitting a command requesting transmission of the code information written in the discrimination code storage area in the ROM to each electronic gaming machine or a specific electronic gaming machine; and an electronic transmission destination of the command. A gaming machine management system comprising: a determination unit that determines whether the ROM of the electronic gaming machine is appropriate based on a return result of the code information from the gaming machine. 5. A gaming machine management system comprising a plurality of electronic gaming machines having a ROM in which a game control program is stored and connected to a control device via a communication line, wherein the control device is A display unit for displaying information, and a command transmission for transmitting a command to each electronic gaming machine or a specific electronic gaming machine to request transmission of code information written in a discrimination code storage area in the ROM. And a display control means for displaying a return result of the code information from the electronic gaming machine to which the command is transmitted on the display unit.