JP2002177593A - Information control system in game parlor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an information control system in a game parlor enabling a game player to simply refer to game data useful for selecting a game machine and disabling a game player from referring to the information except the game information previously set to be referred to. SOLUTION: A management control device 1 installed in the game parlor for generally managing various information and the game machines 2 for actually playing a game by the game players are connected through terminal information control devices 6, whereby when a request for presenting information is given from a game player through the terminal information control devices 6, within a preset presentation enabling range, the information requested by the game player is presented to the game player by the terminal information control devices 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology relating to information management control and information display control of a game arcade where a plurality of gaming machines are installed. The present invention relates to an information control system capable of presenting information to a clerk or the like, and enabling a player to easily use game information and the like related to the game of each gaming machine as needed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game store having a large number of gaming machines typified by pachinko machines and pachislot machines is generally provided with a management control device for managing a plurality of gaming machines in a comprehensive manner. This management control device obtains game information related to the game (the number of safe balls, the number of out balls, the number of occurrences of special games, etc.) from each of the gaming machines, and performs information processing and unified management,
Operation control such as hit control is performed for each gaming machine. As described above, the information control system in the conventional game store is constructed with the main purpose of realizing information grasp and operation control of each gaming machine on the game store side.

[0003]

However, since the conventional information control system as described above is constructed for the main purpose of being used by the game store, ordinary players cannot use the past information of the game machine. May not be able to refer to the game, and only a part of the player who is familiar with the progress information of the gaming machine by playing a game in the game store for a relatively long time may obtain a large gaming profit. The fact that equilibrium is likely to occur and the closure of past game information has been a major frustration for ordinary players.

In recent years, jackpot information (number of occurrences of special games that have occurred in the past in the game machine, etc.), which is useful information for a player to select a game machine for playing a game, is displayed. There is also an information control system, but this only displays the number of occurrences of special games that have occurred since the start of business on the day, etc., and actively presents game information etc. before the day before necessary for the player. Not something.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information control system in a game store in which a player can easily take out useful game information permitted by the game store.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an information control system in a game store according to a first aspect of the present invention manages and controls a plurality of game machines (2) installed in the game store. A management control device (1), provided for each gaming machine, acquires game information relating to the game of the gaming machine, sends it to the management control device, and stores and holds game information for a predetermined period. And a terminal information control device (6) for acquiring and displaying information requested to be presented from the management control device.

[0007] An information control system in a game store according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a management control device (1) for managing and controlling a plurality of game machines (2) installed in the game store,
A terminal information control device (6) provided for each gaming machine, for acquiring and storing game information relating to the game of the gaming machine, and receiving an information request from a player; and an island facility comprising a plurality of gaming machine rows (4) provided for each game machine, obtains game information from the terminal information control device corresponding to each game machine in the island facility, transmits the acquired game information to the management control device, and plays a game required for a game machine of another island facility. An island facility information control device (23) for receiving information from the management control device and supplying game information to each terminal information control device in response to an information request from each terminal information control device.

Therefore, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the player operates the terminal information control device provided for each gaming machine, not only the game information of the gaming machine but also information of another gaming machine can be obtained. By acquiring the information required by the terminal information control device from the management control device that comprehensively manages the information of the gaming machines in the game arcade, it is possible to present the information to the player.

In the second invention, the information of all the gaming machines in the game arcade is managed and controlled by the management control device, and the information of the group of gaming machines in the island equipment consisting of the gaming machine rows is transmitted to the island equipment. Since the information control device manages the information secondarily, it is possible to present desired information to the player while reducing the load of the management control device devoted to information presentation, information management, and the like.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of an information control system in a game arcade according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a device configuration for realizing an information control system. A management control device 1 installed in a game store, a large number of gaming machines 2... Are connected, and the management control device 1 manages and controls the gaming machine 2 and the in-store speakers 3. It should be noted that a number of island-like island facilities 4 in which a plurality of gaming machines 2 typified by pachinko machines and pachislots are juxtaposed are formed in the game store. Island edge lamp 5 provided in good condition ...
By turning on (or blinking), the information such as “the gaming machine 2 executing the special game in which the player can obtain a relatively large amount of gaming profit is present in the island facility 4” is transmitted to the gaming clerk. Or to a player or the like.

The above-mentioned management control device 1 is secured so that it can be operated only by persons involved in the management of the game store, and only receives and stores data such as game information from all the game machines 2 in the store. It is also possible to process the collected data from each of the gaming machines 2... Useful for determining a management policy, and to issue an operation control command to a function or the like in each of the gaming machines 2. Therefore, the management control device 1 includes not only the main processing function but also the input terminal 1a, the monitor 1b, the printer 1c, and the like, and has a large capacity necessary for storing and holding collected data over a long period of time. A storage device 1d is provided.

The gaming machine 2 performs a game using a game medium such as a game ball or a game coin. The game medium is borrowed by a player to play a game in a game store. The gaming machine 2 shown in the drawing is a sealed ball type in which a player can play a game without directly touching the game medium, and by inserting a gaming card obtained by the player in advance into the gaming machine 2, The gaming machine reads the remaining card number (or balance information), player information, and the like of the game card, and allows the player to provide a game ball selected within the frequency range to the game. Information such as the number of balls obtained in the game and the game is written to a game card and returned to the player.

According to the gaming machine 2, equipment and labor for collecting bills, coins and the like and circulating a large amount of gaming media are not required. There is an advantage that it is not necessary for the player to handle complicated game media. Furthermore, by preventing the player from directly touching the game medium, it is possible to prevent sweat and dust from adhering to the game medium, to facilitate recycling of the game medium, and to scatter the game medium in the store, The game media is not taken out of the store.

Each of the gaming machines 2 is provided with a corresponding terminal information control device 6. The terminal information control device 6 acquires game information relating to the game of the gaming machine 2. The game information is transmitted to the management control device 1 and the game information for a predetermined period in the gaming machine 2 is stored and held. That is, the game information transmitted from each of the gaming machines 2 to the management control device 1 is transmitted through the terminal information control device 6.

Further, the terminal information control device 6 includes the island facility 4
(A "calling lamp" for calling a game clerk, a "big hit lamp" for illuminating and displaying the state of occurrence of a special game, etc.) are provided in the upper part of each gaming machine 2. In addition, the arrangement is such that visibility can be improved from a player playing a game with each of the gaming machines 2 and operation from the player is easy (see FIG. 2). This allows the player to operate the terminal information control device 6 to make an information request, and the information for which the information request has been made by the player is displayed to the player. In addition, the terminal information control device 6 can acquire information from the management control device 1 and display the information to the player, not only the game information relating to the gaming machine 2 but also information relating to other gaming machines 2. is there.

The island equipment 4 is provided with an island decoration device 7 for notifying (visually displaying or outputting audio) various kinds of information related to the game and for effectively decorating the exterior of the island equipment 4. Is provided. The island decoration device 7 includes, for example, an island decoration information display 8, a speaker 9, a decoration lamp 10, and the like (see FIG. 2). The operation of the island decoration device 7 shown in the present embodiment is controlled by the management control device 1.

The above-mentioned island information display 8 uses a matrix lamp type horizontally long display capable of displaying, for example, Chinese numerals and the like, and includes "notice from hall (regular holiday, etc.)", "lucky number, Unlucky number (a specific number string used in connection with the game in the gaming machine 2), "notification of service time", "prize information", "excellent platform (a gaming machine having a game progress history advantageous to the player) No. 2 display), “Island production display (display that a special game has occurred in the gaming machine 2 in the island facility 4 or display of a special game type, etc.) Enhancement) "and" General information (weather forecast, news, etc.) "are displayed.

The decorative lamp 10 has a function equivalent to a conventional jackpot lamp.
And a two-color light emission display of a green lamp and a red lamp. Then, when a special game occurs in the gaming machine 2, for example, a red lamp is displayed in a blinking manner, and the probability control for the progress of the game of the gaming machine 2 is changed to a state advantageous to the player. For example, a green lamp is displayed blinking. Also, unlike the conventional jackpot lamp, since the operation and control of all the decoration lamps 10 can be controlled from the management control device 1 in a comprehensive manner, the decoration of the island equipment 4 is moved by moving the decoration lamps 10 in parallel and blinking. It is also possible to perform a display that enhances the effect.

The detailed appearance of the front panel which controls the user interface of the terminal information control device 6 is, as shown in FIG. 3, a decorative device 12 (for example, a liquid crystal type display 11). A display is provided in which a region in which variable color light emission can be displayed by three-color diodes of green, orange, and red is arranged in a ring shape, and a reservation operation unit 13 (such as a numeric keypad or a reservation button) used for key input by a player. Display switching switch 1 for switching reference data, etc.
4. A call switch 15 for calling a game clerk, a remote control receiving section 16 for receiving a signal from a remote control device carried by the game clerk, and the like are provided at appropriate positions. Speakers 17 are arranged on both left and right sides of the terminal information control device 6 so that a player sitting on the front of the gaming machine 2 can hear sound effects of the gaming machine and various information notifications as stereo sound. It is.

A system configuration showing an outline of the configuration of an information control system in a game arcade using the terminal information control device 6 as described above is as shown in FIG. Are connected to each other. Each of the terminal information control devices 6 is connected to the gaming machine 2 in a one-to-one correspondence.
The terminal information control device 6 stores and holds the game information of each of the gaming machines 2, and inactivates the gaming function of the gaming machines 2 in order to perform a stand reservation control (to be described in detail later). In addition, by receiving a signal from the remote control device 18 possessed by the clerk of the game store, it is also possible to display table adjustment data and the like that cannot be pulled out by a normal player.

In the example of the system configuration shown in FIG. 4, each terminal information control device 6 and the management control device 1 are connected to each other. Network management (maintenance such as connection of signal lines) in the store may be simplified. In addition, a relay terminal group provided for each island facility 4 and the management control device 1 may be connected by wireless communication.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the terminal information control device 6. The functions of the control circuit 19 comprising a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM are used to execute the above-mentioned reservation operation section 13,
While receiving signals from the display changeover switch 14, the call switch 15 and the remote control receiving unit 16, the display 11, the decorative device 12, and the speaker 17 notify information and the like. The control circuit 19 is connected to the gaming machine 2 via the interface circuit 20a and to the management control device 1 via the interface circuit 20b, and can transmit and receive various game information and control commands. is there.

The information collected by the terminal information control device 6 from the gaming machine 2 includes, for example, information on occurrence of a big hit, start of a slot or the like (start of determination of a game state transition condition), occurrence of a start winning ball (game state). The occurrence of a winning ball as a start condition of the transition condition determination), the probability variation state (the variation state of the probability for the game state transition condition determination), the number of safe balls (the number of general winning balls),
Count winning prize (number of winning prizes in the variable winning device converted to a state advantageous to the player in the special game), number of V winning (number of winning prizes in the special winning opening in the variable winning device), out ball Number (the number of balls collected from the out mouth without entering any prize area), the number of prize balls (the number of prize balls paid out to the player with the occurrence of the prize balls), the number of ball lending (local The number of gaming balls lent from the gaming machine 2 to the player) and card information (money information and player information recorded on the gaming card).

The various collected data as described above is processed into predetermined processing data by the control circuit 19 of the terminal information control device 6, and the processed data and the collected game data are transmitted to the management control device 1 together. By doing so, the data processing capability of the management control device 1 can be given a margin, and the management device 1 can also display the collected data in real time.

The control circuit 19 transmits information obtained from the gaming machine 2 to the management control device 1 and independently stores and holds the information in, for example, a nonvolatile storage circuit 21. Therefore, even after the power supply from the power supply circuit 22 is cut off at the end of business hours, the game information of the gaming machine 2 is stored and held in the storage circuit 21, and the gaming machine 2 to which the terminal control device 6 is connected is connected. If it is game information, even if it is game information before the previous day, the player can check with the terminal information control device 6 and game data etc. will be distributed and stored in addition to the management control device 1, so that data management It is safe in terms of. It should be noted that even if information of another gaming machine 2 that is not a gaming machine to which the terminal information control device 6 is connected (hereinafter referred to as a local gaming machine) is obtained from the management control device 1, the display 11 It is possible to display to.

An example of a normal display performed by the display 11 and the decoration device 12 of the terminal information control device 6 as described above is as shown in FIG.
In addition to displaying the "number of balls" read from the game card inserted in the display unit 11 in the center of the display 11, the decoration device 12 provides an indication of the number of balls held. For example, if the number of possessed balls is 5000 or more, the light is emitted in red,
When the number is from 3000 to 4999, the light is emitted in orange, when the number is from 1,000 to 2999, the light is emitted in green, and when the number is less than 1,000, none of the lamps are turned on. This makes it easy to recognize whether or not the number of remaining balls is sufficient.

The content displayed on the display 11 as a normal display is not limited to the number of balls held by the player, and past game data of the local gaming machine 2 may be displayed. Alternatively, a description of the game content that tends to be complicated or a simple demonstration may be displayed as a normal display. In such a case, since it becomes complicated that the player has to call up the display of the number of balls that can be provided for the game one by one, the game card information such as the number of balls held by the player is displayed on the operating unit of the gaming machine 2. It is desirable to provide it near.

FIG. 7 shows an example of table adjustment data to be displayed when a game store clerk makes a table adjustment. For example, the difference between the start of business and the end of business the day before (" The difference obtained by subtracting the "total number of prize balls paid out to the player as prize balls" from the "total number of game balls hit and used", the number of special prizes (number of occurrences of special games), the number of times of change (special games) ), The base value (the number of prize balls paid out for 100 hit balls), and the special prize probability (“the number of times the game state transition condition to the special game is satisfied”). (Probability value divided by “number of times game condition transition condition determination to special game is performed”), number of special prize balls (total number of prize balls paid out to player during occurrence of special game), probability setting value ( Criteria used to judge the game state transition condition to special games In the gaming machine provided with a plurality of probability values is the displaying the rank value) or the like which is set. At this time, when the difference ball number is negative (when the number of balls obtained by the player is large), the decoration device 12 performs red display, and when the difference ball number is positive, the decoration device 12 performs green display. If this is the case, the rough calculation of the balance in the gaming machine 2 can be easily grasped.

The game data which can be displayed on the display 11 by the player operating the display changeover switch 14 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). For example, when the display changeover switch 14 is pressed, the display of the display 11 on which the normal display of the number of balls held is performed is switched to standard game data (see FIG. 8A). When the number of the gaming machine 2 for which detailed display is desired is designated by inputting numeric keys or the like, detailed gaming data (see FIG. 8B) as detailed gaming information on the designated gaming machine is displayed.

Here, if the designated gaming machine from which the player has requested the detailed gaming data is not the local gaming machine 2, a designated gaming machine information transmission request signal is transmitted to the management control device 1 once. The game information about the designated gaming machine sent from the management device 1 is visually displayed on the display 11.
That is, the player only selects the designated gaming machine for which the information presentation request is made, and the information that the player can acquire with respect to the designated gaming machine is limited to information that the terminal information control device 6 can accept. Since the information sent by the management control device 1 to the terminal information control device 6 can also be set to a limited information content in advance, important management data for business etc. can be directly extracted from the management control device 1 as the host computer by the player. There is no danger of hacking compared to a simple system,
High reliability in security.

The terminal information control device 6 allows the player to request information not only relating to game data and the like, but also to arbitrarily extracting information transmitted from the game store such as prize exchange information and service information. Is also good. As one of such information services, an example will be described in which a reservation for a game console is designated. For example, when the player presses the “reservation button” of the reservation operation unit 13 of the terminal information control device 6, a message prompting the user to input the machine number of the gaming machine 2 for which reservation is specified is displayed on the display 11 (FIG. a)). Enter the car number according to this instruction, the reservation acceptance of the designated car is completed,
The display returns to the normal display screen.

In this way, the reservation request received by the terminal information control device 6 is transmitted to the management control device 1 together with the player information of the player who made the reservation, and the management control device 1 responds to the designated gaming machine 2 The reservation request signal is transmitted to the terminal information control device 6 that performs the reservation. Upon receiving the reservation request signal, the terminal information control device 6 performs reservation control of the local gaming machine 2 (when the local gaming machine 2 is in use, displays reservation reception, and the local gaming machine 2 is not If it is in use, a display indicating that the machine is reserved is displayed and the local gaming machine 2 is set in a gaming disabled state).

Based on such reservation control, when the terminal information control device 6 having received the reservation designation sets the preferential use right of the local gaming machine 2 to the reservation person, the terminal information control device 6 makes a reservation to the management control device 1. By transmitting the platform availability information, the platform availability information is transmitted from the management control device 1 to the terminal information control device 6 that has designated the reservation. Then, the display 11 indicates that the reserved table is available (see FIG. 9).
(Refer to (b)) to prompt the user to move to the reservation table. At this time, the notification may be made by voice from the speaker 9 or the in-store speaker 3 in addition to the display by the display 11. Note that the priority use right of the reserved table is valid only for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). A display indicating that the player who does not have the card cannot use the game is displayed (see FIG. 9C).

Accordingly, in the information control system constructed by connecting the management control device 1, the gaming machines 2,... And the terminal information control devices 6 to the LAN, while playing a game with a certain gaming machine 2, the other gaming machines 2 ( For example, it is possible to reserve a game machine or the like in which the player has found a possibility of playing a game more advantageous than the one currently in use, which can greatly contribute to the convenience of the player. If the game machine 2 designated for reservation is in use, the player cannot judge when the reservation stand can be used. Information or the like may be displayed. Further, the reservation table may be configured to be cancelable by the player, or when the player ends the game in the gaming machine 2, the reservation table may be canceled or the reservation specification may be canceled. You may be comprised so that selection whether to continue can be performed.

In the above-described embodiment of the information control system in the amusement store, the terminal information control device which can be used by using each of the gaming machines 2 can provide desired game information to the player. It is desirable that the game information can be used even when the gaming machine 2 is not used. Therefore, an embodiment of an information control system that enables a player who does not use a specific gaming machine 2 to use game information will be described below.

FIG. 10 shows that an island facility information control device 23 is provided for each island facility 4, and a management control device 1, a game machine 2
.., An example of a system configuration in the case where an information control system in a game arcade is configured together with the terminal information control device 6. The same components as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The island facility information control device 23 can perform the same control as the information request and the information presentation using the terminal information control device 6, and includes a display 24 capable of displaying various information and a terminal operation unit. 25 (comprising a reservation operation unit, a game data display operation unit, and the like). That is, by using the display 24 and the terminal operating unit 25, each of the gaming machines 2... (The gaming machines 2 in the island facility 4 and the gaming machines of the other island facilities 4) performed by the terminal information control device 6. 2)), game information can be presented, and a table reservation can be made.

Further, the island facility information control device 23 is provided with a setting operation section 26 which can be operated only by a game clerk or the like of the amusement shop, and information which is normally notified by the island decoration device 7 of the island facility 4 is provided. Can be set. The operation panel of the setting operation unit 26 is always stored in the housing, and for example,
Only those having the dedicated keys pull out the operation panel of the setting operation section 26 and can perform various setting operations, thereby preventing general players from operating.
The configuration of the setting operation unit 26 is not limited to this. For example, the setting operation may be performed from the terminal operation unit 25 by inputting a setter ID, a password, or the like with a remote control device possessed only by a game clerk or the like. good. Further, by sending various kinds of setting information from the management control device 1 to the island facility information control devices 23 of the island facilities 4, collective setting or individual setting may be performed.

An example of the configuration of an information control system using the above-described island facility information control device 23 is as shown in FIG. 11, in which the management device 1 and the island facility information control devices 23 of each of the island facilities 4. Are connected to each other, the terminal information control devices 23 are connected to all the terminal information control devices 6 in the island device 4, and the terminal information control devices 23 are each connected to the local gaming machines 2. In the information control system thus configured,
The information collected and processed by each terminal information control device 6 from each local gaming machine 2 (for example, simple processing such as counting) is further collected and processed by the island facility information control device 6 (different data from various data). A relatively advanced processing such as arithmetic processing) is performed and transmitted to the management control device 1.

According to the information control system in the amusement store described above, the above embodiment (the management control device 1 and the gaming machine 2)
.. And the terminal information control device 6), the information can be dispersed and the processing load on the management control device 1 can be reduced. Efficient real-time processing becomes possible, and useful information, which is a key to business, can be promptly reflected in the business policy of a game store, and an information control system with extremely high practical value is obtained.

In the information control system as described above, an example is shown in which a star network is configured with the management control device 1 as a core, but the island equipment information control devices 23 of each island equipment 4 are connected in a ring. To form a ring network (indicated by a dashed arrow in FIG. 11). In this manner, for information control performed between the island facilities 4, such as a reservation for a vehicle, information is directly transmitted and received between the island facility information control units 23 of the island facilities 4 without passing through the management control unit 1. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the load on the management control device 1 and also to perform a quick stand reservation process.

Next, a detailed processing operation of the terminal information control device 6 constituting the information control system described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the terminal information control device 6. And a notification of information and the like is performed by the display 11, the decorative device 12, and the speaker 17. The control circuit 19 is connected to the gaming machine 2 via the interface circuit 20a and to the island equipment information control device 23 via the interface circuit 20b, and can transmit and receive various game information and control commands. Things.

A series of main processes related to information control of the terminal information control device 6 having the above-described configuration is shown in FIG.
The flow is as shown in FIG. That is, first, communication processing with the island facility information control device 23 is performed via the interface circuit 20b (step S1), and then various game information is received from the local gaming machine 2 and predetermined processing is performed ( In step S2), the process branches to a process corresponding to the process number with reference to the process number set when the main process is performed (step S3). For example, when the processing number is set to "0", the normal processing (step S4) is performed, and when the processing number is set to "1", the table adjustment data display processing (step S5). When the processing number is set to "2", the game data display processing (step S6) is performed. When the processing number is set to "3", the reservation receiving processing (step S7) )I do.

When any of the above processes due to branching is completed, a reservation control process for performing a reservation control for the local gaming machine 2 is performed (step S8), and the game state such as an auxiliary game or a special game is displayed on the decoration device. A game state notification process for notifying using the button 12 is performed (step S9), and a call process for calling a game clerk when the player operates the call switch 15 is performed (step S10). The collected data, new set values, and the like are stored in the storage circuit 21, and the process ends.

The details of the normal display processing performed when the processing number is set to "0" are as shown in FIG. 14. First, the "number of lent balls", "number of out balls", and "prize balls"number"
Is calculated (step S4-1), the number of held balls, which is the calculation result, is displayed on the display 11 (step S4-2), and the collection button of the game card is operated. A predetermined event is detected, and it is determined whether or not the player will be replaced (step S4-3). Only when the player is replaced, the display of the number of possessed balls is returned to zero and the final holding of the game card is performed. The number of balls is written (step S4-
4).

Next, information display of the lucky number and the unlucky number related to the game continuation conditions after the end of the special game is performed (step S4-5). Information set by the terminal information control device 6
Needless to say, the player can check the island information display 8 without visually displaying it on the display 11. However, for example, when the lucky number setting is changed due to service time, etc., the information display of the lucky number and the unlucky number is given priority over the display of the number of balls in order to draw the player's attention for a predetermined time. That is, a process that causes only the interruption is performed.

After performing the above processing, it is determined whether or not a signal from the remote controller 18 has been detected by the remote controller receiver (step S4-6). The process number is set to "1" assuming that a display request has been made (step S4-7), and the process branches to the table adjustment data display process in the next main routine. Next, it is determined whether or not there is an input based on the operation of the display changeover switch 14 (Step S).
4-8) If there is an input from the display changeover switch 14, it is assumed that a request for game data display has been made, and the processing number is set to "2" (step S4-9), and the next main routine is executed. The process branches to game data display processing. Next, it is determined whether or not a reservation input has been made based on the operation of the reservation operation unit 13 (step S4-10). Is set to "3" (step S4-11), and the process branches to the reservation receiving process in the next main routine.

The details of the table adjustment data display processing performed when the processing number is set to "1" are as shown in FIG. 15. First, the type of the table adjustment data to be displayed and the designation of the storage date and the like are specified. It is determined whether or not it has been received (step S5-
1) If the designation has been received, the table adjustment data of the designated day is retrieved from the storage circuit 21 (step S).
5-2) Display the table adjustment data on the display 11 (step S5-3). When data outside the storage range of the storage circuit 21 is requested (for example, when the table adjustment data or the like 10 days ago is requested despite the storage capacity of the storage circuit 21 being one week) In (2), an error message may be displayed to prompt re-entry, or the corresponding data may be requested and displayed from the island facility information control device 23, the management control device 1, or the like.

When the table adjustment data has not been specified and after the specified table adjustment data has been displayed, it is determined whether or not a request for terminating the display of the table adjustment data has been received (step S5). -4), if a display end request for table adjustment data has been received, the processing number is set to "0" to end the table adjustment data display processing (step S5-5), and the next main routine is executed. The process branches to return to the normal display process. In this embodiment, the table adjustment data display processing is continued until the table adjustment data display processing request is issued.
After displaying the table adjustment data for a predetermined time, the processing may be automatically returned to the normal display processing, or the table adjustment data display processing may be forcibly terminated by selecting another processing.

The details of the game data display process performed by setting the process number to "2" are as shown in FIG. 16, and first, the data displayed on the display 11 is the game data. Is determined (step S6-
1) If the display has not yet been switched to the game data (normal display such as the number of held balls is being performed), a predetermined local gaming machine 2 is stored in the storage circuit 21.
Is retrieved (step S6-2), and is visually displayed on the display 11 (step S6-3).
Next, it is determined whether or not the display switch 14 has been operated again (step S6-4).
Is turned on, the process number is set to "0" and the process returns to the normal process (step S6-5).

In the present embodiment, each time the display changeover switch 14 is selected, predetermined game data display and normal display on the local gaming machine 2 are alternately switched. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Not something
As in the above-described embodiment, display of standard game data (displays a simplified list of information on a plurality of gaming machines 2...) And display of detailed game data (displays only detailed game data of a specific gaming machine 2) May be selected. Further, even when the game data of the local gaming machine 2 is displayed in a limited manner, the content of the game data to be displayed may be arbitrarily selectable.

The details of the reservation accepting process performed by setting the process number to "3" are as shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the display changeover switch 14 (step S7-1). If there is an input from the display changeover switch 14, detailed game data of the selected gaming machine 2 is displayed for a predetermined time. (Step S7-2). Note that the terminal information control device 6 displays a list of standard game data for a plurality of gaming machines 2 (excluding the local gaming machines 2) in accordance with the operation of the display changeover switch 14, and displays When the player inputs the number, the gaming machine 2 displaying the detailed game data is selected.

If there is no input from the display changeover switch 14, it is determined whether or not a reservation input has been made by the reservation operation unit 13 (step S7-3). The player information written on the card is read (step S7-4), and the reservation information such as the reservation table number and the reservation person information input from the reservation operation unit 13 are transmitted to the island facility information control device 23 (step S7-4). S7-5),
Along with the completion of the transmission to the island facility information control device 23, a message indicating that the reservation of the vehicle has been received is displayed on the display 11 for a predetermined time (step S7-6), and the process number is set to "0". To return to the normal display process (step S7-7).

The details of the reservation control processing performed after the branch processing corresponding to the processing number as described above is completed are as shown in FIG. Is set and it is impossible for a third party to use the local gaming machine 2) (step S8-1). It is determined whether a reservation for another gaming machine 2 has been received (step S8-2),
If the vehicle reservation has not been received, the island facility information control device 2
Then, it is determined whether or not a reservation has been received from another device via the server 3 (step S8-3).

If the reservation reception for the other gaming machine 2 has been completed in the above-described reservation reception processing, information indicating that the reserved table can be used (vehicle reservation standby information) is transmitted from the island facility control device 23. It is determined whether or not the reception desk is available based on whether or not the reservation is available (step S8-4). If the reservation desk is available, a display indicating that the reservation desk is available is displayed on the display 11. (Step S8-5). It should be noted that the speaker 17 may be informed that the reserved table can be used so that the player can easily confirm the available state of the reserved table. Also, if the user does not move to the reserved table within the predetermined time, which is the maximum valid time of the reserved table, the reserved table becomes invalid, so for example, even if a certain time elapses after the reserved table becomes available, the reserved When the player continues playing the game at the local gaming machine 2, it may be configured to notify the user of a request to move to a reserved table or request a determination as to whether or not to cancel the reserved table. good.

If it is determined in step S8-3 that there is a car reservation, it is determined whether or not a game is being played on the local gaming machine 2 (step S8-).
6) If the local gaming machine 2 is playing a game, a display is made to the gaming machine 2 to indicate that a reservation has been made using the display 11 or the decorative equipment 12 (step S8-).
7) The game of the local gaming machine 2 is continued.
It should be noted that the determination of whether or not a game is being performed is not limited to a case where the game using the game medium is actually continued (a state in which the hitting ball launching device or the like is operating), and a case where a game card is inserted. A state in which a game can be performed may be regarded as being in a game.

Also, after a reservation is made for the local game machine 2 in use as described above, the local game machine 2 is not empty even after a predetermined time has elapsed (the game played by the first user is not available). If the terminal information control device 6 forcibly cancels the reservation, the reservation waiting time may be prolonged and the reservation may be disadvantageous to the reservation person. Control may be performed. In such a case, the terminal information control device 6 transmits a reservation release signal to the island facility information control device 23 to notify that the reservation of the island facility information control device 23 or the management control device 1 has been released to the vehicle reservation person. What is necessary is just to set so that notification may be performed. Of course, when the reservation person plays a game with a specific gaming machine 2, the terminal information control device 6 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 may be set to notify that fact.

If it is determined in step S8-6 that the game is not being played, the display 11 of the gaming machine 2 displays that the reservation has been set (step S8-8). By disabling the operation, the game on the gaming machine 2 is forcibly disabled (step S8-).
9), the reservation information indicating that the local gaming machine 2 is being reserved is transmitted to the island facility information control device 23, and the clocking of the predetermined time which is the maximum valid time of the reservation is started (step S8-10). ). At the time of shifting to the stand reservation state, by refusing to accept a game card other than the game card of the stand reservation setter, it becomes impossible to play until the game card of the stand reservation person is inserted into the local gaming machine 2. It is.

As described above, after the vehicle is being reserved, the display of the reserved vehicle on the display 11 is updated (step S8).
-11), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, which is the maximum valid time of the vehicle reservation, has elapsed (step S8-12). If the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, it is determined whether or not the use by the reservation person has been started, for example, by inserting the game card of the reservation person into the local gaming machine 2 (step S).
8-13). Updating the reservation reservation display performed in step S8-11 is, for example, updating the display of the remaining time until the maximum valid time of the reservation reservation expires.

If the use of the reservation by the reservation person is started before the elapse of the predetermined time for validating the reservation, the display of the reservation on the display 11 of the local gaming machine 2 is cleared with the start of use. At the same time, a stand reservation cancel signal is transmitted to the island facility information control device to return the game to a state in which the game can be performed by the reservation person (step S8-11). If the predetermined time elapses without the use of the reservation being started by the user, the reservation reservation display on the display device 11 of the local gaming machine 2 is cleared and the reservation cancellation signal is output as the predetermined time elapses. The information is transmitted to the equipment information control device to return the local gaming machine 2 to a normal state (a state in which anyone can use it) (step S8-11).

Next, based on FIGS. 19 to 23, the island equipment information control device 23 constituting the information control system described above will be described.
Will be described in detail.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the island facility information control device 23. The functions of a control circuit 27 comprising a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM are used by a reservation operation unit 28 and a game data While receiving signals from the display operation unit 29 and the setting operation unit 26, the information display 2
4 and the island decoration device 7 (the island information display 8, the speaker 9, the decoration lamp 10, the island end lamp 5, etc.) informs the information. Further, the control circuit 27 is connected to the terminal information control device 6 via the interface circuit 30a in the island facility.
Are connected to the management control device 1 via the out-of-island facility interface circuit 30b, and are capable of transmitting and receiving various game information, control commands, and the like. The island equipment information control device 23 is provided with a storage circuit 31, and the power supply circuit 3
After the power supply from the terminal 2 is cut off, the terminal information control device 6 ...
Game information and information obtained by processing the information can be stored and held.

A series of main processes related to the information control of the island facility information control device 23 having the above configuration has a flow as shown in FIG. That is, first, communication processing with the management control device 1 is performed via the interface 30b outside the island facility (step S11), and then communication processing for receiving various game information from the terminal information control devices 6 ... in the island facility 4 is performed. (Step S12), an arithmetic process for processing the game data collected from each terminal information control device 6 is performed (step S13), and the collected game data and the processed game data are stored in the storage circuit 31. A data storage process is performed (step S14).

Then, control processing of the island decoration device 7 including the island information display 8, the speaker 9 and the decoration lamp 10 is performed (step S15), the display control of the island edge lamp 5 is performed (step S16), and the reservation operation section is performed. In addition to accepting a stand reservation based on an operation input from the server 28, a reservation control process for notifying the received reservation table availability information is performed (step S17), and game data based on an operation input from the game data display operation unit 29. A game data display process for displaying is performed (step S18), and a setting input process for setting display information or decoration information is performed (step S18).
19).

The details of the reservation control process are as shown in FIG. 21. First, it is determined whether or not a reservation input of the gaming machine 2 has been received via the reservation operation section 28 (step S1).
7-1) If the reservation input from the reservation operation unit 28 has not been received, it is determined whether or not the reservation stand that has completed the reservation reception has entered a usable standby state (step S17).
-2) If there is no reservation stand in the standby state, the reservation control process is temporarily terminated.

If it is determined in step S17-1 that there is a reservation input, it is determined whether or not the selected gaming machine 2 is present in the island facility 4 (step S17-).
3) If there is a selected gaming machine 2 in the island facility 4 managed and controlled by the island facility control device 23, the reservation information and the like are read from the terminal information control device 6 which has transmitted the reservation for the unit (step S17-). At the same time, the reservation information is transmitted to the terminal information control device 6 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 selected as the reservation stand (step S17-5). On the other hand, the island facility control device 23
If there is no selected gaming machine 2 in the island facility 4 managed and controlled by the user, the reservation information and the like are read from the terminal information control device 6 that has transmitted the reservation (step S17-6), and the reservation table information and The reservation person information is transmitted to the management control device 1 (step S17-7).

In step S17-2,
If the reservation stand standby information has been received from the management control device 1 or the terminal information control device 6.
And the like, and notifies the reservation table availability information (step S17).
-8). The terminal operation unit 2 of the island facility information control device 23
The standby information of the reservation table accepted for reservation by 5 is
It is not limited to the management and control performed by each of the island facility information control devices 23. The management control device 1 may perform an overall process of notifying available information to the stand reservation received by the all-island facility information control devices 23. .

The details of the game data display process are as shown in FIG. 22. It is determined whether or not a game data display request has been made via the game data display operation section 29 (step S18-1). If there is a data display request, it is determined whether or not the selected gaming machine 2 requested to display data exists in the island facility 4 (step S18-).
2). When the selected gaming machine 2 exists in the island facility 4 managed by the island facility information control device 23, the selected gaming machine 2
Is read from the storage circuit 31 (step S18).
-3), the data is displayed for a predetermined time (step S1)
8-4).

On the other hand, when the selected gaming machine 2 does not exist in the island equipment 4 managed by the island equipment control device 4, the data of the selected gaming machine is requested to the management control device 1 (step S18-5). ), The game data received from the management control device 1 is displayed for a predetermined time (step S18-6). Note that if direct communication control can be performed between the island facility control devices 23..., Game information may be exchanged between the island facility control devices without the intervention of the management control device 1.

The details of the setting input process are as shown in FIG. 23. It is determined whether or not a request for setting display information has been made via the setting operation section 26 (step S19-1).
If there is a display information setting request, the display content based on the setting operation is set to be displayed on the island information display 8 of the island decoration device 7 (step S19-2). Further, it is determined whether a decoration information setting request has been made via the setting operation unit 26 (step S19-3). If there is a decoration information setting request, the display content based on the setting operation is decorated. A setting is made so that decoration display is performed by the lamp 10 (step S
19-4).

[0073]

As described above, according to the information control system in the game store according to the first invention, the player operates the terminal information control device provided for each game machine, so that The terminal information control device can acquire necessary information from the management control device and present it to the player, even if it is information of other gaming machines, as well as game information, so that the player can use a specific gaming machine. While playing a game, it is possible to know game information related to the game of another gaming machine.

As a result, it is possible to broaden the range of choice of the gaming machine by the player, so that the player's willingness to play the game is aroused and the interest in the game is increased, and the profit of the game store is expected to be improved. Can be. Further, since the information that can be obtained by the player is limited to the information that can be received by the terminal information control device, it is more secure than a system in which the player directly derives information from the management control device that is the host computer. Is also highly reliable.

Further, according to the information control system in the game store according to the second invention, the information of all the game machines in the game store is managed and controlled by the management control device, and the information of the game machine group in the island facility is also controlled. Since the island facility information control device manages the information as a subsidiary, it is possible to present the desired information to the player while reducing the load on the management control device devoted to information presentation and information management. Even when information requests and the like from players are concentrated, desired game information can be promptly presented without significantly lowering the processing speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the configuration of an information control system in a game arcade.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an island information display device and a terminal information control device provided at an upper portion of the island facility on the side of the gaming machine array.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a front panel of the terminal information control device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an information control system including a management control device, a terminal information control device group, and a game machine group.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal information control device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device which is displaying information on the number of possessed balls.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device displaying the table adjustment data.

FIG. 8A is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device displaying standard game data. (B) It is a schematic front view of the display part of the terminal information control device which is displaying detailed game data.

FIG. 9A is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device displaying a message for starting reservation of a vehicle. (B) It is the schematic front view of the display part of the terminal information control apparatus which is displaying the message which the reservation stand became available. (C) It is the schematic front view of the display part of the terminal information control apparatus which is displaying the message which is a reservation stand which cannot be used.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a configuration of an information control system in a game arcade having an island facility information control device in the island facility.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an information control system including a management control device, an island facility information control device group, a terminal information control device group, and a game machine group.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal information control device.

FIG. 13 is a general flowchart showing a flow of an operation related to information control performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a normal display process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a platform adjustment data display process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a game data display process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a reservation process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a reservation receiving process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an island facility information control device.

FIG. 20 is a general flowchart showing a flow of an operation related to information control performed by the island facility information control device.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a reservation process performed by the island facility information control device.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a game data display process performed by the island facility information control device.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a setting input process performed by the island facility information control device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 management control device 2 gaming machine 4 island equipment 6 terminal information control device 23 island equipment information control device

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] December 10, 2001 (2001.12.
10)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Information control system in a game arcade

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology relating to information management control and information display control of a game arcade where a plurality of gaming machines are installed. The present invention relates to an information control system capable of presenting information to a clerk or the like, and enabling a player to easily use game information and the like related to the game of each gaming machine as needed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A game store having a large number of gaming machines typified by pachinko machines and pachislot machines is generally provided with a management control device for managing a plurality of gaming machines in a comprehensive manner. This management control device obtains game information related to the game (the number of safe balls, the number of out balls, the number of occurrences of special games, etc.) from each of the gaming machines, and performs information processing and unified management,
Operation control such as hit control is performed for each gaming machine. As described above, the information control system in the conventional game store is constructed with the main purpose of realizing information grasp and operation control of each gaming machine on the game store side.

[0003]

However, since the conventional information control system as described above is constructed for the main purpose of being used by the game store, ordinary players cannot use the past information of the game machine. May not be able to refer to the game, and only a part of the player who is familiar with the progress information of the gaming machine by playing a game in the game store for a relatively long time may obtain a large gaming profit. The fact that equilibrium is likely to occur and the closure of past game information has been a major frustration for ordinary players.

In recent years, jackpot information (number of occurrences of special games that have occurred in the past in the game machine, etc.), which is useful information for a player to select a game machine for playing a game, is displayed. There is also an information control system, but this only displays the number of occurrences of special games that have occurred since the start of business on the day, etc., and actively presents game information etc. before the day before necessary for the player. Not something.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an information control system in a game store in which a player can easily take out useful game information permitted by the game store.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a plurality of game consoles installed in a game store.
Are connected in a one-to-one correspondence with each of the
An end provided with an indicator for displaying game information relating to a gaming machine
Connected to the terminal information control device and the terminal information control device.
Control device that manages and controls multiple gaming machines
The terminal information control device is an information control system in a game store that acquires and displays information requested by the player from the management control device , the terminal information control device comprising :
The terminal information control device determines a player from a game card
To be able to read player information for
In addition, games other than gaming machines corresponding to the terminal information control device
For a player to designate a reservation as a reservation designated gaming machine
A reservation operation unit is provided, and the management is performed by operating the reservation operation unit.
A reservation request signal is transmitted to the controller, and the reservation designated gaming machine is
The terminal information control device corresponding to
Game machine receives a reservation request signal of
It is determined whether or not the game is in progress.
Will be unable to execute the game on the reservation designated gaming machine.
Transfer the reservation-designated gaming machine to the reservation state, and
The terminal information control device that transmitted the request signal transmits the management control device.
Terminal information control corresponding to the reservation designated gaming machine through the device
Information that the reservation-designated gaming machine has been placed in the reservation state from the device
Is determined after the reception of the
Playback corresponding to the terminal information control device that transmitted the reservation request signal
If the gamer is playing a game at the machine,
Alerts the player to move to the designated gaming machine
It is characterized by the following .

[0007] The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to the above claim.
In the information control system in the amusement shop according to 1,
The terminal information control device corresponding to the reservation designated gaming machine
The reserved designated gaming machine that has been transferred to the
The reservation state is maintained until the fixed time elapses, and the reservation request signal
The terminal information control device that has transmitted the
Before the time elapses, a certain time elapses
Notify the requester to move to the designated gaming machine
It is characterized by doing so .

[0008] The invention according to claim 3 is the above-mentioned claim.
An information control system in a game shop according to claim 1 or claim 2.
In the terminal information control device, the reservation operation section operates the terminal information control device.
The player information of the game card is added to the reservation request signal when it is made
A terminal corresponding to the reservation-designated gaming machine
The information control device transmits the player information included in the reservation request signal.
Reservation designation in which a game card with information is shifted to the reservation state
The reservation status is released by being inserted into the gaming machine,
Returning the reservation designated gaming machine to a state in which a game can be played.
It is characterized by the following .

[0009] The invention according to claim 4 is the above-mentioned claim.
Information in the game store according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
In the control system, the terminal information control device
To determine if a gaming card has been inserted into a gaming machine
To determine whether or not the gaming machine is in play.
It is characterized by doing so .

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of an information control system in a game arcade according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a device configuration for realizing an information control system. A management control device 1 installed in a game store, a large number of gaming machines 2... Are connected, and the management control device 1 manages and controls the gaming machine 2 and the in-store speakers 3. It should be noted that a number of island-like island facilities 4 in which a plurality of gaming machines 2 typified by pachinko machines and pachislots are juxtaposed are formed in the game store. Island edge lamp 5 provided in good condition ...
By turning on (or blinking), the information such as “the gaming machine 2 executing the special game in which the player can obtain a relatively large amount of gaming profit is present in the island facility 4” is transmitted to the gaming clerk. Or to a player or the like.

The above-mentioned management control device 1 is secured so that it can be operated only by persons involved in the management of the game store, and only receives and stores data such as game information from all the game machines 2 in the store. It is also possible to process the collected data from each of the gaming machines 2... Useful for determining a management policy, and to issue an operation control command to a function or the like in each of the gaming machines 2. Therefore, the management control device 1 includes not only the main processing function but also the input terminal 1a, the monitor 1b, the printer 1c, and the like, and has a large capacity necessary for storing and holding collected data over a long period of time. A storage device 1d is provided.

The gaming machine 2 performs a game using a game medium such as a game ball or a game coin. The game medium is borrowed by a player to play a game in a game store. The gaming machine 2 shown in the drawing is a sealed ball type in which a player can play a game without directly touching the game medium, and by inserting a gaming card obtained by the player in advance into the gaming machine 2, The gaming machine reads the remaining card number (or balance information), player information, and the like of the game card, and allows the player to provide a game ball selected within the frequency range to the game. Information such as the number of balls obtained in the game and the game is written to a game card and returned to the player.

According to the gaming machine 2, equipment and labor for collecting bills, coins and the like and circulating a large amount of gaming media are not required. There is an advantage that it is not necessary for the player to handle complicated game media. Further, since the player does not directly touch the game medium, it is possible to prevent sweat and dust from adhering to the game medium, to facilitate recycling of the game medium, and to scatter the game medium in the store, The game media is not taken out of the store.

Each of the gaming machines 2 is provided with a corresponding terminal information control device 6. The terminal information control device 6 acquires game information relating to the game of the gaming machine 2. The game information is transmitted to the management control device 1 and the game information for a predetermined period in the gaming machine 2 is stored and held. That is, the game information transmitted from each of the gaming machines 2 to the management control device 1 is transmitted through the terminal information control device 6.

Further, the terminal information control device 6 includes the island facility 4
(A "calling lamp" for calling a game clerk, a "big hit lamp" for illuminating and displaying the state of occurrence of a special game, etc.) are provided in the upper part of each gaming machine 2. In addition, the arrangement is such that visibility can be improved from a player playing a game with each of the gaming machines 2 and operation from the player is easy (see FIG. 2). This allows the player to operate the terminal information control device 6 to make an information request, and the information for which the information request has been made by the player is displayed to the player. In addition, the terminal information control device 6 can acquire information from the management control device 1 and display the information to the player, not only the game information relating to the gaming machine 2 but also information relating to other gaming machines 2. is there.

The island equipment 4 is provided with an island decoration device 7 for notifying (visually displaying or outputting audio) various kinds of information related to the game and for effectively decorating the exterior of the island equipment 4. Is provided. The island decoration device 7 includes, for example, an island decoration information display 8, a speaker 9, a decoration lamp 10, and the like (see FIG. 2). The operation of the island decoration device 7 shown in the present embodiment is controlled by the management control device 1.

The above-mentioned island information display 8 uses a matrix lamp type horizontally long display capable of displaying, for example, Chinese numerals and the like, and includes "notice from hall (regular holiday, etc.)", "lucky number, Unlucky number (a specific number string used in connection with the game in the gaming machine 2), "notification of service time", "prize information", "excellent platform (a gaming machine having a game progress history advantageous to the player) No. 2 display), “Island production display (display that a special game has occurred in the gaming machine 2 in the island facility 4 or display of a special game type, etc.) Enhancement) "and" General information (weather forecast, news, etc.) "are displayed.

The decorative lamp 10 has a function equivalent to a conventional jackpot lamp.
And a two-color light emission display of a green lamp and a red lamp. Then, when a special game occurs in the gaming machine 2, for example, a red lamp is displayed in a blinking manner, and the probability control for the progress of the game of the gaming machine 2 is changed to a state advantageous to the player. For example, a green lamp is displayed blinking. Also, unlike the conventional jackpot lamp, since the operation and control of all the decoration lamps 10 can be controlled from the management control device 1 in a comprehensive manner, the decoration of the island equipment 4 is moved by moving the decoration lamps 10 in parallel and blinking. It is also possible to perform a display that enhances the effect.

The detailed appearance of the front panel which controls the user interface of the terminal information control device 6 is, as shown in FIG. 3, a decorative device 12 (for example, a liquid crystal type display 11). A display is provided in which a region in which variable color light emission can be displayed by three-color diodes of green, orange, and red is arranged in a ring shape, and a reservation operation unit 13 (such as a numeric keypad or a reservation button) used for key input by a player. Display switching switch 1 for switching reference data, etc.
4. A call switch 15 for calling a game clerk, a remote control receiving unit 16 for receiving a signal from a remote control device possessed by the game clerk, and the like are provided at appropriate positions. Speakers 17 are arranged on both left and right sides of the terminal information control device 6 so that a player sitting on the front of the gaming machine 2 can hear sound effects of the gaming machine and various information notifications as stereo sound. It is.

A system configuration showing an outline of the configuration of an information control system in a game arcade using the terminal information control device 6 as described above is as shown in FIG. Are connected to each other. Each of the terminal information control devices 6 is connected to the gaming machine 2 in a one-to-one correspondence.
The terminal information control device 6 stores and holds the game information of each of the gaming machines 2, and inactivates the gaming function of the gaming machines 2 in order to perform a stand reservation control (to be described in detail later). In addition, by receiving a signal from the remote control device 18 possessed by the clerk of the game store, it is also possible to display table adjustment data and the like that cannot be pulled out by a normal player.

In the example of the system configuration shown in FIG. 4, each terminal information control device 6 and the management control device 1 are connected to each other. Network management (maintenance such as connection of signal lines) in the store may be simplified. In addition, a relay terminal group provided for each island facility 4 and the management control device 1 may be connected by wireless communication.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the terminal information control device 6. The functions of the control circuit 19 comprising a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM are used to execute the above-mentioned reservation operation section 13,
While receiving signals from the display changeover switch 14, the call switch 15 and the remote control receiving unit 16, the display 11, the decorative device 12, and the speaker 17 notify information and the like. The control circuit 19 is connected to the gaming machine 2 via the interface circuit 20a and to the management control device 1 via the interface circuit 20b, and can transmit and receive various game information and control commands. is there.

The information collected by the terminal information control device 6 from the gaming machine 2 includes, for example, information on occurrence of a big hit, start of a slot or the like (start of determination of a game state transition condition), occurrence of a start winning ball (game state). The occurrence of a winning ball as a start condition of the transition condition determination), the probability variation state (the variation state of the probability for the game state transition condition determination), the number of safe balls (the number of general winning balls),
Count winning prize (number of winning prizes in the variable winning device converted to a state advantageous to the player in the special game), number of V winning (number of winning prizes in the special winning opening in the variable winning device), out ball Number (the number of balls collected from the out mouth without entering any prize area), the number of prize balls (the number of prize balls paid out to the player with the occurrence of the prize balls), the number of ball lending (local The number of gaming balls lent from the gaming machine 2 to the player) and card information (money information and player information recorded on the gaming card).

The various collected data as described above is processed into predetermined processing data by the control circuit 19 of the terminal information control device 6, and the processed data and the collected game data are transmitted to the management control device 1 together. By doing so, the data processing capability of the management control device 1 can be given a margin, and the management device 1 can also display the collected data in real time.

The control circuit 19 transmits information obtained from the gaming machine 2 to the management control device 1 and independently stores and holds the information in, for example, a nonvolatile storage circuit 21. Therefore, even after the power supply from the power supply circuit 22 is cut off at the end of business hours, the game information of the gaming machine 2 is stored and held in the storage circuit 21, and the gaming machine 2 to which the terminal control device 6 is connected is connected. If it is game information, even if it is game information before the previous day, the player can check with the terminal information control device 6 and game data etc. will be distributed and stored in addition to the management control device 1, so that data management It is safe in terms of. It should be noted that even if information of another gaming machine 2 that is not a gaming machine to which the terminal information control device 6 is connected (hereinafter referred to as a local gaming machine) is obtained from the management control device 1, the display 11 It is possible to display to.

An example of a normal display performed by the display 11 and the decoration device 12 of the terminal information control device 6 as described above is as shown in FIG.
In addition to displaying the "number of balls" read from the game card inserted in the display unit 11 in the center of the display 11, the decoration device 12 provides an indication of the number of balls held. For example, if the number of possessed balls is 5000 or more, the light is emitted in red,
When the number is from 3000 to 4999, the light is emitted in orange, when the number is from 1,000 to 2999, the light is emitted in green, and when the number is less than 1,000, none of the lamps are turned on. This makes it easy to recognize whether or not the number of remaining balls is sufficient.

The content displayed on the display 11 as a normal display is not limited to the number of balls held by the player, and past game data of the local gaming machine 2 may be displayed. Alternatively, a description of the game content that tends to be complicated or a simple demonstration may be displayed as a normal display. In such a case, since it becomes complicated that the player has to call up the display of the number of balls that can be provided for the game one by one, the game card information such as the number of balls held by the player is displayed on the operating unit of the gaming machine 2. It is desirable to provide it near.

FIG. 7 shows an example of table adjustment data to be displayed when a game store clerk makes a table adjustment. For example, the difference between the start of business and the end of business the day before (" The difference obtained by subtracting the "total number of prize balls paid out to the player as prize balls" from the "total number of game balls hit and used", the number of special prizes (number of occurrences of special games), the number of times of change (special games) ), The base value (the number of prize balls paid out for 100 hit balls), and the special prize probability (“the number of times the game state transition condition to the special game is satisfied”). (Probability value divided by “number of times game condition transition condition determination to special game is performed”), number of special prize balls (total number of prize balls paid out to player during occurrence of special game), probability setting value ( Criteria used to judge the game state transition condition to special games In the gaming machine provided with a plurality of probability values is the displaying the rank value) or the like which is set. At this time, when the difference ball number is negative (when the number of balls obtained by the player is large), the decoration device 12 performs red display, and when the difference ball number is positive, the decoration device 12 performs green display. If this is the case, the rough calculation of the balance in the gaming machine 2 can be easily grasped.

The game data which can be displayed on the display 11 by the player operating the display changeover switch 14 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b). For example, when the display changeover switch 14 is pressed, the display of the display 11 on which the normal display of the number of balls held is performed is switched to standard game data (see FIG. 8A). When the number of the gaming machine 2 for which detailed display is desired is designated by inputting numeric keys or the like, detailed gaming data (see FIG. 8B) as detailed gaming information on the designated gaming machine is displayed.

Here, if the designated gaming machine from which the player has requested the detailed gaming data is not the local gaming machine 2, a designated gaming machine information transmission request signal is transmitted to the management control device 1 once. The game information about the designated gaming machine sent from the management device 1 is visually displayed on the display 11.
That is, the player only selects the designated gaming machine for which the information presentation request is made, and the information that the player can acquire with respect to the designated gaming machine is limited to information that the terminal information control device 6 can accept. Since the information sent by the management control device 1 to the terminal information control device 6 can also be set to a limited information content in advance, important management data for business etc. can be directly extracted from the management control device 1 as the host computer by the player. There is no danger of hacking compared to a simple system,
High reliability in security.

The terminal information control device 6 allows the player to request information not only relating to game data and the like, but also to arbitrarily extracting information transmitted from the game store such as prize exchange information and service information. Is also good. As one of such information services, an example will be described in which a reservation for a game console is designated. For example, when the player presses the “reservation button” of the reservation operation unit 13 of the terminal information control device 6, a message prompting the user to input the machine number of the gaming machine 2 for which reservation is specified is displayed on the display 11 (FIG. a)). Enter the car number according to this instruction, the reservation acceptance of the designated car is completed,
The display returns to the normal display screen.

In this way, the reservation request received by the terminal information control device 6 is transmitted to the management control device 1 together with the player information of the player who made the reservation, and the management control device 1 responds to the designated gaming machine 2 The reservation request signal is transmitted to the terminal information control device 6 that performs the reservation. Upon receiving the reservation request signal, the terminal information control device 6 performs reservation control of the local gaming machine 2 (when the local gaming machine 2 is in use, displays reservation reception, and the local gaming machine 2 is not If it is in use, a display indicating that the machine is reserved is displayed and the local gaming machine 2 is set in a gaming disabled state).

Based on such reservation control, when the terminal information control device 6 having received the reservation designation sets the preferential use right of the local gaming machine 2 to the reservation person, the terminal information control device 6 makes a reservation to the management control device 1. By transmitting the platform availability information, the platform availability information is transmitted from the management control device 1 to the terminal information control device 6 that has designated the reservation. Then, the display 11 indicates that the reserved table is available (see FIG. 9).
(Refer to (b)) to prompt the user to move to the reservation table. At this time, the notification may be made by voice from the speaker 9 or the in-store speaker 3 in addition to the display by the display 11. Note that the priority use right of the reserved table is valid only for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes). A display indicating that the player who does not have the card cannot use the game is displayed (see FIG. 9C).

Accordingly, in the information control system constructed by connecting the management control device 1, the gaming machines 2,... And the terminal information control devices 6 to the LAN, while playing a game with a certain gaming machine 2, the other gaming machines 2 ( For example, it is possible to reserve a game machine or the like in which the player has found a possibility of playing a game more advantageous than the one currently in use, which can greatly contribute to the convenience of the player. If the game machine 2 designated for reservation is in use, the player cannot judge when the reservation stand can be used. Information or the like may be displayed. Further, the reservation table may be configured to be cancelable by the player, or when the player ends the game in the gaming machine 2, the reservation table may be canceled or the reservation specification may be canceled. You may be comprised so that selection whether to continue can be performed.

In the above-described embodiment of the information control system in the amusement store, the terminal information control device which can be used by using each of the gaming machines 2 can provide desired game information to the player. It is desirable that the game information can be used even when the gaming machine 2 is not used. Therefore, an embodiment of an information control system that enables a player who does not use a specific gaming machine 2 to use game information will be described below.

FIG. 10 shows that an island facility information control device 23 is provided for each island facility 4, and a management control device 1, a game machine 2
.., An example of a system configuration in the case where an information control system in a game arcade is configured together with the terminal information control device 6. The same components as those in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The island facility information control device 23 can perform the same control as the information request and the information presentation using the terminal information control device 6, and includes a display 24 capable of displaying various information and a terminal operation unit. 25 (comprising a reservation operation unit, a game data display operation unit, and the like). That is, by using the display 24 and the terminal operating unit 25, each of the gaming machines 2... (The gaming machines 2 in the island facility 4 and the gaming machines of the other island facilities 4) performed by the terminal information control device 6. 2)), game information can be presented, and a table reservation can be made.

Further, the island facility information control device 23 is provided with a setting operation section 26 which can be operated only by a game clerk or the like of the amusement shop, and information which is normally notified by the island decoration device 7 of the island facility 4 is provided. Can be set. The operation panel of the setting operation unit 26 is always stored in the housing, and for example,
Only those having the dedicated keys pull out the operation panel of the setting operation section 26 and can perform various setting operations, thereby preventing general players from operating.
The configuration of the setting operation unit 26 is not limited to this. For example, the setting operation may be performed from the terminal operation unit 25 by inputting a setter ID, a password, or the like with a remote control device possessed only by a game clerk or the like. good. Further, by sending various kinds of setting information from the management control device 1 to the island facility information control devices 23 of the island facilities 4, collective setting or individual setting may be performed.

An example of the configuration of an information control system using the above-described island facility information control device 23 is as shown in FIG. 11, in which the management device 1 and the island facility information control devices 23 of each of the island facilities 4. Are connected to each other, the terminal information control devices 23 are connected to all the terminal information control devices 6 in the island device 4, and the terminal information control devices 23 are each connected to the local gaming machines 2. In the information control system thus configured,
The information collected and processed by each terminal information control device 6 from each local gaming machine 2 (for example, simple processing such as counting) is further collected and processed by the island facility information control device 6 (different data from various data). A relatively advanced processing such as arithmetic processing) is performed and transmitted to the management control device 1.

According to the information control system in the amusement store described above, the above embodiment (the management control device 1 and the gaming machine 2)
.. And the terminal information control device 6), the information can be dispersed and the processing load on the management control device 1 can be reduced. Efficient real-time processing becomes possible, and useful information, which is a key to business, can be promptly reflected in the business policy of a game store, and an information control system with extremely high practical value is obtained.

In the information control system as described above, an example is shown in which a star network is configured with the management control device 1 as a core, but the island equipment information control devices 23 of each island equipment 4 are connected in a ring. To form a ring network (indicated by a dashed arrow in FIG. 11). In this manner, for information control performed between the island facilities 4, such as a reservation for a vehicle, information is directly transmitted and received between the island facility information control units 23 of the island facilities 4 without passing through the management control unit 1. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the load on the management control device 1 and also to perform a quick stand reservation process.

Next, a detailed processing operation of the terminal information control device 6 constituting the information control system described above will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the terminal information control device 6. And a notification of information and the like is performed by the display 11, the decorative device 12, and the speaker 17. The control circuit 19 is connected to the gaming machine 2 via the interface circuit 20a and to the island equipment information control device 23 via the interface circuit 20b, and can transmit and receive various game information and control commands. Things.

A series of main processes related to information control of the terminal information control device 6 having the above-described configuration is shown in FIG.
The flow is as shown in FIG. That is, first, communication processing with the island facility information control device 23 is performed via the interface circuit 20b (step S1), and then various game information is received from the local gaming machine 2 and predetermined processing is performed ( In step S2), the process branches to a process corresponding to the process number with reference to the process number set when the main process is performed (step S3). For example, when the processing number is set to "0", the normal processing (step S4) is performed, and when the processing number is set to "1", the table adjustment data display processing (step S5). When the processing number is set to "2", the game data display processing (step S6) is performed. When the processing number is set to "3", the reservation receiving processing (step S7) )I do.

When any of the above processes due to branching is completed, a reservation control process for performing a reservation control for the local gaming machine 2 is performed (step S8), and the game state such as an auxiliary game or a special game is displayed on the decoration device. A game state notification process for notifying using the button 12 is performed (step S9), and a call process for calling a game clerk when the player operates the call switch 15 is performed (step S10). The collected data, new set values, and the like are stored in the storage circuit 21, and the process ends.

The details of the normal display processing performed when the processing number is set to "0" are as shown in FIG. 14. First, the "number of lent balls", "number of out balls", and "prize balls"number"
Is calculated (step S4-1), the number of held balls, which is the calculation result, is displayed on the display 11 (step S4-2), and the collection button of the game card is operated. A predetermined event is detected, and it is determined whether or not the player will be replaced (step S4-3). Only when the player is replaced, the display of the number of possessed balls is returned to zero and the final holding of the game card is performed. The number of balls is written (step S4-
4).

Next, information display of the lucky number and the unlucky number related to the game continuation conditions after the end of the special game is performed (step S4-5). Information set by the terminal information control device 6
Needless to say, the player can check the island information display 8 without visually displaying it on the display 11. However, for example, when the lucky number setting is changed due to service time, etc., the information display of the lucky number and the unlucky number is given priority over the display of the number of balls in order to draw the player's attention for a predetermined time. That is, a process that causes only the interruption is performed.

After performing the above processing, it is determined whether or not a signal from the remote controller 18 has been detected by the remote controller receiver (step S4-6). The process number is set to "1" assuming that a display request has been made (step S4-7), and the process branches to the table adjustment data display process in the next main routine. Next, it is determined whether or not there is an input based on the operation of the display changeover switch 14 (Step S).
4-8) If there is an input from the display changeover switch 14, it is assumed that a request for game data display has been made, and the processing number is set to "2" (step S4-9), and the next main routine is executed. The process branches to game data display processing. Next, it is determined whether or not a reservation input has been made based on the operation of the reservation operation unit 13 (step S4-10). Is set to "3" (step S4-11), and the process branches to the reservation receiving process in the next main routine.

The details of the table adjustment data display processing performed when the processing number is set to "1" are as shown in FIG. 15. First, the type of the table adjustment data to be displayed and the designation of the storage date and the like are specified. It is determined whether or not it has been received (step S5-
1) If the designation has been received, the table adjustment data of the designated day is retrieved from the storage circuit 21 (step S).
5-2) Display the table adjustment data on the display 11 (step S5-3). When data outside the storage range of the storage circuit 21 is requested (for example, when the table adjustment data or the like 10 days ago is requested despite the storage capacity of the storage circuit 21 being one week) In (2), an error message may be displayed to prompt re-entry, or the corresponding data may be requested and displayed from the island facility information control device 23, the management control device 1, or the like.

When the table adjustment data has not been specified and after the specified table adjustment data has been displayed, it is determined whether or not a request for terminating the display of the table adjustment data has been received (step S5). -4), if a display end request for table adjustment data has been received, the processing number is set to "0" to end the table adjustment data display processing (step S5-5), and the next main routine is executed. The process branches to return to the normal display process. In this embodiment, the table adjustment data display processing is continued until the table adjustment data display processing request is issued.
After displaying the table adjustment data for a predetermined time, the processing may be automatically returned to the normal display processing, or the table adjustment data display processing may be forcibly terminated by selecting another processing.

The details of the game data display process performed by setting the process number to "2" are as shown in FIG. 16, and first, the data displayed on the display 11 is the game data. Is determined (step S6-
1) If the display has not yet been switched to the game data (normal display such as the number of held balls is being performed), a predetermined local gaming machine 2 is stored in the storage circuit 21.
Is retrieved (step S6-2), and is visually displayed on the display 11 (step S6-3).
Next, it is determined whether or not the display switch 14 has been operated again (step S6-4).
Is turned on, the process number is set to "0" and the process returns to the normal process (step S6-5).

In the present embodiment, each time the display changeover switch 14 is selected, predetermined game data display and normal display on the local gaming machine 2 are alternately switched. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Not something
As in the above-described embodiment, display of standard game data (displays a simplified list of information on a plurality of gaming machines 2...) And display of detailed game data (displays only detailed game data of a specific gaming machine 2) May be selected. Further, even when the game data of the local gaming machine 2 is displayed in a limited manner, the content of the game data to be displayed may be arbitrarily selectable.

The details of the reservation accepting process performed by setting the process number to "3" are as shown in FIG.
First, it is determined whether or not there is an input from the display changeover switch 14 (step S7-1). If there is an input from the display changeover switch 14, detailed game data of the selected gaming machine 2 is displayed for a predetermined time. (Step S7-2). Note that the terminal information control device 6 displays a list of standard game data for a plurality of gaming machines 2 (excluding the local gaming machines 2) in accordance with the operation of the display changeover switch 14, and displays When the player inputs the number, the gaming machine 2 displaying the detailed game data is selected.

If there is no input from the display changeover switch 14, it is determined whether or not a reservation input has been made by the reservation operation unit 13 (step S7-3). The player information written on the card is read (step S7-4), and the reservation information such as the reservation table number and the reservation person information input from the reservation operation unit 13 are transmitted to the island facility information control device 23 (step S7-4). S7-5),
Along with the completion of the transmission to the island facility information control device 23, a message indicating that the reservation of the vehicle has been received is displayed on the display 11 for a predetermined time (step S7-6), and the process number is set to "0". To return to the normal display process (step S7-7).

The details of the reservation control processing performed after the branch processing corresponding to the processing number as described above is completed are as shown in FIG. Is set and it is impossible for a third party to use the local gaming machine 2) (step S8-1). It is determined whether a reservation for another gaming machine 2 has been received (step S8-2),
If the vehicle reservation has not been received, the island facility information control device 2
Then, it is determined whether or not a reservation has been received from another device via the server 3 (step S8-3).

If the reservation reception for the other gaming machine 2 has been completed in the above-described reservation reception processing, information indicating that the reserved table can be used (vehicle reservation standby information) is transmitted from the island facility control device 23. It is determined whether or not the reception desk is available based on whether or not the reservation is available (step S8-4). If the reservation desk is available, a display indicating that the reservation desk is available is displayed on the display 11. (Step S8-5). It should be noted that the speaker 17 may be informed that the reserved table can be used so that the player can easily confirm the available state of the reserved table. Also, if the user does not move to the reserved table within the predetermined time, which is the maximum valid time of the reserved table, the reserved table becomes invalid, so for example, even if a certain time elapses after the reserved table becomes available, the reserved When the player continues playing the game at the local gaming machine 2, it may be configured to notify the user of a request to move to a reserved table or request a determination as to whether or not to cancel the reserved table. good.

If it is determined in step S8-3 that there is a car reservation, it is determined whether or not a game is being played on the local gaming machine 2 (step S8-).
6) If the local gaming machine 2 is playing a game, a display is made to the gaming machine 2 to indicate that a reservation has been made using the display 11 or the decorative equipment 12 (step S8-).
7) The game of the local gaming machine 2 is continued.
It should be noted that the determination of whether or not a game is being performed is not limited to a case where the game using the game medium is actually continued (a state in which the hitting ball launching device or the like is operating), and a case where a game card is inserted. A state in which a game can be performed may be regarded as being in a game.

Also, after a reservation is made for the local game machine 2 in use as described above, the local game machine 2 is not empty even after a predetermined time has elapsed (the game played by the first user is not available). If the terminal information control device 6 forcibly cancels the reservation, the reservation waiting time may be prolonged and the reservation may be disadvantageous to the reservation person. Control may be performed. In such a case, the terminal information control device 6 transmits a reservation release signal to the island facility information control device 23 to notify that the reservation of the island facility information control device 23 or the management control device 1 has been released to the vehicle reservation person. What is necessary is just to set so that notification may be performed. Of course, when the reservation person plays a game with a specific gaming machine 2, the terminal information control device 6 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 may be set to notify that fact.

If it is determined in step S8-6 that the game is not being played, the display 11 of the gaming machine 2 displays that the reservation has been set (step S8-8). By disabling the operation, the game on the gaming machine 2 is forcibly disabled (step S8-).
9), the reservation information indicating that the local gaming machine 2 is being reserved is transmitted to the island facility information control device 23, and the clocking of the predetermined time which is the maximum valid time of the reservation is started (step S8-10). ). At the time of shifting to the stand reservation state, by refusing to accept a game card other than the game card of the stand reservation setter, it becomes impossible to play until the game card of the stand reservation person is inserted into the local gaming machine 2. It is.

As described above, after the vehicle is being reserved, the display of the reserved vehicle on the display 11 is updated (step S8).
-11), it is determined whether or not a predetermined time, which is the maximum valid time of the vehicle reservation, has elapsed (step S8-12). If the predetermined time has not yet elapsed, it is determined whether or not the use by the reservation person has been started, for example, by inserting the game card of the reservation person into the local gaming machine 2 (step S).
8-13). Updating the reservation reservation display performed in step S8-11 is, for example, updating the display of the remaining time until the maximum valid time of the reservation reservation expires.

If the use of the reservation by the reservation person is started before the elapse of the predetermined time for validating the reservation, the display of the reservation on the display 11 of the local gaming machine 2 is cleared with the start of use. At the same time, a stand reservation cancel signal is transmitted to the island facility information control device to return the game to a state in which the game can be performed by the reservation person (step S8-11). If the predetermined time elapses without the use of the reservation being started by the user, the reservation reservation display on the display device 11 of the local gaming machine 2 is cleared and the reservation cancellation signal is output as the predetermined time elapses. The information is transmitted to the equipment information control device to return the local gaming machine 2 to a normal state (a state in which anyone can use it) (step S8-11).

Next, based on FIGS. 19 to 23, the island equipment information control device 23 constituting the information control system described above will be described.
Will be described in detail.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the island facility information control device 23. The functions of a control circuit 27 comprising a CPU, a ROM, and a RAM are used by a reservation operation unit 28 and a game data While receiving signals from the display operation unit 29 and the setting operation unit 26, the information display 2
4 and the island decoration device 7 (the island information display 8, the speaker 9, the decoration lamp 10, the island end lamp 5, etc.) informs the information. Further, the control circuit 27 is connected to the terminal information control device 6 via the interface circuit 30a in the island facility.
Are connected to the management control device 1 via the out-of-island facility interface circuit 30b, and are capable of transmitting and receiving various game information, control commands, and the like. The island equipment information control device 23 is provided with a storage circuit 31, and the power supply circuit 3
After the power supply from the terminal 2 is cut off, the terminal information control device 6 ...
Game information and information obtained by processing the information can be stored and held.

A series of main processes related to the information control of the island facility information control device 23 having the above configuration has a flow as shown in FIG. That is, first, communication processing with the management control device 1 is performed via the interface 30b outside the island facility (step S11), and then communication processing for receiving various game information from the terminal information control devices 6 ... in the island facility 4 is performed. (Step S12), an arithmetic process for processing the game data collected from each terminal information control device 6 is performed (step S13), and the collected game data and the processed game data are stored in the storage circuit 31. A data storage process is performed (step S14).

Then, control processing of the island decoration device 7 including the island information display 8, the speaker 9 and the decoration lamp 10 is performed (step S15), the display control of the island edge lamp 5 is performed (step S16), and the reservation operation section is performed. In addition to accepting a stand reservation based on an operation input from the server 28, a reservation control process for notifying the received reservation table availability information is performed (step S17), and game data based on an operation input from the game data display operation unit 29. A game data display process for displaying is performed (step S18), and a setting input process for setting display information or decoration information is performed (step S18).
19).

The details of the reservation control process are as shown in FIG. 21. First, it is determined whether or not a reservation input of the gaming machine 2 has been received via the reservation operation section 28 (step S1).
7-1) If the reservation input from the reservation operation unit 28 has not been received, it is determined whether or not the reservation stand that has completed the reservation reception has entered a usable standby state (step S17).
-2) If there is no reservation stand in the standby state, the reservation control process is temporarily terminated.

If it is determined in step S17-1 that there is a reservation input, it is determined whether or not the selected gaming machine 2 is present in the island facility 4 (step S17-).
3) If there is a selected gaming machine 2 in the island facility 4 managed and controlled by the island facility control device 23, the reservation information and the like are read from the terminal information control device 6 which has transmitted the reservation for the unit (step S17-). At the same time, the reservation information is transmitted to the terminal information control device 6 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 selected as the reservation stand (step S17-5). On the other hand, the island facility control device 23
If there is no selected gaming machine 2 in the island facility 4 managed and controlled by the user, the reservation information and the like are read from the terminal information control device 6 that has transmitted the reservation (step S17-6), and the reservation table information and The reservation person information is transmitted to the management control device 1 (step S17-7).

In step S17-2,
If the reservation stand standby information has been received from the management control device 1 or the terminal information control device 6.
And the like, and notifies the reservation table availability information (step S17).
-8). The terminal operation unit 2 of the island facility information control device 23
The standby information of the reservation table accepted for reservation by 5 is
It is not limited to the management and control performed by each of the island facility information control devices 23. The management control device 1 may perform an overall process of notifying available information to the stand reservation received by the all-island facility information control devices 23. .

The details of the game data display process are as shown in FIG. 22. It is determined whether or not a game data display request has been made via the game data display operation section 29 (step S18-1). If there is a data display request, it is determined whether or not the selected gaming machine 2 requested to display data exists in the island facility 4 (step S18-).
2). When the selected gaming machine 2 exists in the island facility 4 managed by the island facility information control device 23, the selected gaming machine 2
Is read from the storage circuit 31 (step S18).
-3), the data is displayed for a predetermined time (step S1)
8-4).

On the other hand, when the selected gaming machine 2 does not exist in the island equipment 4 managed by the island equipment control device 4, the data of the selected gaming machine is requested to the management control device 1 (step S18-5). ), The game data received from the management control device 1 is displayed for a predetermined time (step S18-6). Note that if direct communication control can be performed between the island facility control devices 23..., Game information may be exchanged between the island facility control devices without the intervention of the management control device 1.

The details of the setting input process are as shown in FIG. 23. It is determined whether or not a request for setting display information has been made via the setting operation section 26 (step S19-1).
If there is a display information setting request, the display content based on the setting operation is set to be displayed on the island information display 8 of the island decoration device 7 (step S19-2). Further, it is determined whether a decoration information setting request has been made via the setting operation unit 26 (step S19-3). If there is a decoration information setting request, the display content based on the setting operation is decorated. A setting is made so that decoration display is performed by the lamp 10 (step S
19-4).

[0073]

As described above, according to the information control system in a game arcade according to the present invention , the terminal information control device can acquire necessary information from the management control device and present it to the player , In addition, a player plays a game on a certain gaming machine.
While doing, you can reserve other gaming machines,
It can greatly contribute to the player's flight. Also book
After receiving information that the designated gaming machine has been
If the reserved person is playing a game even after the fixed time has passed, specify the reservation
No need to make a reservation for a machine, as it will notify you to move to a gaming machine.
Can be suppressed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of the configuration of an information control system in a game arcade.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of an island information display device and a terminal information control device provided at an upper portion of the island facility on the side of the gaming machine array.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a front panel of the terminal information control device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of an information control system including a management control device, a terminal information control device group, and a game machine group.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal information control device.

FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device which is displaying information on the number of possessed balls.

FIG. 7 is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device displaying the table adjustment data.

FIG. 8A is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device displaying standard game data. (B) It is a schematic front view of the display part of the terminal information control device which is displaying detailed game data.

FIG. 9A is a schematic front view of a display unit of the terminal information control device displaying a message for starting reservation of a vehicle. (B) It is the schematic front view of the display part of the terminal information control apparatus which is displaying the message which the reservation stand became available. (C) It is the schematic front view of the display part of the terminal information control apparatus which is displaying the message which is a reservation stand which cannot be used.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an outline of a configuration of an information control system in a game arcade having an island facility information control device in the island facility.

FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of an information control system including a management control device, an island facility information control device group, a terminal information control device group, and a game machine group.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a terminal information control device.

FIG. 13 is a general flowchart showing a flow of an operation related to information control performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of a normal display process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a platform adjustment data display process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a game data display process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a reservation process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of a reservation receiving process performed by the terminal information control device.

FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an island facility information control device.

FIG. 20 is a general flowchart showing a flow of an operation related to information control performed by the island facility information control device.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart of a reservation process performed by the island facility information control device.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a game data display process performed by the island facility information control device.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a setting input process performed by the island facility information control device.

[Description of Signs] 1 management control device 2 gaming machine 4 island equipment 6 terminal information control device 23 island equipment information control device

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A management control device that comprehensively manages and controls a plurality of gaming machines installed in an amusement store, and obtains game information related to a game of the gaming machine and is provided for each of the gaming machines. A terminal information control device that transmits to the device and stores and retains game information for a predetermined period of time, and obtains and displays information requested by the player from the management control device, and a terminal information control device. Information control system in a game store. 2. The terminal information control device according to claim 1, wherein the game information obtained from the gaming machine is processed into preset data and transmitted to a management control device. Information control system in a game store. 3. The terminal control device according to claim 2, wherein the terminal control device receives a request for displaying game information within a predetermined period of the gaming machine, and reads and displays the game information from an internal storage circuit. An information control system in a game store according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The terminal information control device receives a request for game information related to another game machine from a connected game machine, and designates a designated game machine for requesting game information related to the requested designated game machine. An information transmission request signal is transmitted to the management control device, and the management control device supplies game information relating to the designated gaming machine to the terminal control device based on receiving the designated gaming machine information transmission request signal from the terminal control device. The information control system in a game shop according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the information control system is configured as described above. 5. The terminal information control device receives a reservation request for another game machine from a connected game machine, and transmits a reservation request signal for the designated game machine that has received the reservation request to the management control device. 2. A reservation control of a connected gaming machine based on receiving a reservation request signal from the management control device.
The information control system in a game store according to any one of claims 4 to 4. 6. A management control device that comprehensively manages and controls a plurality of gaming machines installed in a gaming store, and acquires, stores and holds game information provided for each gaming machine and related to a game of the gaming machine. , A terminal information control device for receiving an information request from a player, and a game information provided from a terminal information control device provided for each of the island facilities comprising a plurality of gaming machine rows and corresponding to each of the gaming machines in the island facility. And transmits to the management control device, receives the required game information for the gaming machines of other island facilities from the management control device, and transmits the game information corresponding to the information request from each terminal information control device to each terminal information control device. An information control system in an amusement shop, comprising: an island facility information control device for supplying to an island facility. 7. The designated game machine for accepting a request for game information related to another game machine from a connected game machine and requesting game information related to the designated designated game machine. An information transmission request signal is transmitted to the island facility information control device, and the island facility information control device includes:
7. The information in a game store according to claim 6, wherein game information relating to the designated gaming machine is supplied to the terminal control device based on receiving a designated gaming machine information transmission request signal from the terminal control device. Control system. 8. The island facility information control device includes a terminal operation unit, and is capable of displaying game information relating to a designated gaming machine designated by an input from the terminal operation unit. An information control system in the game store according to claim 7. 9. The terminal information control device receives a reservation request for another game machine from a connected game machine, and sends a reservation request signal for the designated game machine that has received the reservation request to the island facility information control device. Transmitted to the management control device via the island facility information control device, based on receiving a reservation request signal from the management control device via the island facility information control device, it is characterized by performing the reservation control of the connected gaming machine The information control system in a game store according to any one of claims 6 to 8. 10. The island facility information control device includes a terminal operation unit, receives a reservation request for a designated gaming machine specified by an input from the terminal operation unit, and transmits a reservation request signal to the management control device. The information control system in a game store according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein: 11. The island facility information control device includes a terminal operation unit, receives a reservation request for a designated game machine designated in the island facility by an input from the terminal operation unit, and transmits a reservation request signal to the designated game machine. The information control system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the information is transmitted to a terminal information control device corresponding to (i). 12. The island facility information control device includes a terminal operation unit, and local data effective only in a group of gaming machines in the island facility can be set by an input from the terminal operation unit. The information control system in a game store according to any one of claims 6 to 11. 13. The island facility information control device includes a terminal operation unit, and is capable of variably setting island information to be displayed on an island information display device provided in the island facility by an input from the terminal operation unit. Claims 6 to 1 characterized by the following:
3. The information control system in a game store according to any one of 2.