JP2002239075A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a reader system game machine capable of constructing a system for providing medal exchange for a unit, which is not less than 100 yen, while setting whether or not a consumption tax is to be collected for each amusement site or increasing the quantity of medals to lend per unit amount just for a specified period. SOLUTION: A CPU 17a is configured to change the quantity of medals to lend based on receiving of a lending permitting signal from a card reader on the basis of setting of a dial switch 41.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko machine, a slot machine, etc., and more particularly, to a game based on a lending permission signal from a recording medium reading means such as a card reader. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with payout means for renting a predetermined amount of gaming objects such as pachinko balls and medals.

Conventionally, a so-called leader type pachinko machine called a CR machine has been known as this type of game machine. This pachinko machine is configured to lend a predetermined amount of pachinko balls based on a lending permission signal from a card reader that reads balance information of a recording medium called a packy card. The player inserts the pre-purchased card into the card reader attached next to the pachinko machine and presses a ball change button, so that the desired amount of the balance recorded on the card is obtained. Replace with pachinko only for minutes. The changed pachinko balls are paid out from the payout port of the pachinko machine and enter the ball hitting device.

[0003] In such a reader-type pachinko machine, once the packy card is inserted into the card reader, the balance can be replaced with the required amount of pachinko balls at any time. It is possible to omit a troublesome operation such as replenishing balls by feeding the machine.

[0004]

By the way, in a game arcade where a game is provided by a pachinko machine, in order to simplify the operation of exchanging pachinko balls for cash and the like, for example, 25 pachinko balls for 100 yen are used. In general, it is common sense to introduce a ball change system in units that do not divide 100 yen.

[0005] In a game arcade in which such a ball change system is introduced, in order to overcome the fierce customer acquisition competition, as in the case of a bulking service often performed in a general sales business, a certain amount of money per unit price is used during a specific period. There is a good possibility that services will be provided to increase the amount of extra balls than usual.

However, such a service cannot be provided by a conventional reader-type pachinko machine. In the near future, there is a good possibility that a gaming machine such as a slot machine will adopt the leader system, but even if it is adopted, it is impossible to provide the same service.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and provides a reader-type gaming machine that can provide a service for increasing the amount of game material paid out per unit amount during a specific period. That is.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to rent a game necessary for a game of a game machine based on information read from a recording medium. It is arranged together with a recording medium reading that sends out a lending permission signal based on the result of the judgment when a lending instruction is issued, and the game object is reduced by a predetermined amount based on the reception of the lending permission signal. In a gaming machine provided with a payout means, a payout amount setting means for variably setting a payout amount of the payout means based on reception of the lending permission signal is provided.

In this gaming machine, similar to a conventional CR pachinko machine, a game object such as a pachinko ball or a medal is provided based on a lending permission signal from a recording medium reading means for reading information on a recording medium such as a packy card. A leader system that rents out only a predetermined amount is adopted. However, unlike the conventional CR pachinko machine, which is set uniformly to rent 25 pachinko balls per reception of a lending permit signal (equivalent to lending for 100 yen for pachinko machines) The payout amount per reception can be changed by the setting of the amount setting means. In such a configuration,
By setting the payout amount per reception more than usual only during a specific period, it is possible to provide a service for increasing the payout amount per game amount.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine of the first aspect, a payout amount display means for displaying the payout amount is provided.

In this gaming machine, the payout amount of the game object can be variably set by, for example, operation of an adjustment knob or the like, which is a payout amount setting means. A situation in which the number of paid out items is not understood unless counted is not caused, and it can be easily confirmed by looking at the display of the paid out amount display means. With this configuration, a clerk at the game hall can easily check the payout amount set by another clerk. Further, even if the payout amount is set incorrectly, the incorrect setting can be easily noticed by the display of the payout amount display means. Furthermore, even if the payout amount is illegally set by someone, the illegal setting can be easily noticed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine of the second aspect, the payout amount display means is provided so that the display of the payout amount can be visually recognized even from outside the gaming machine main body. It is a feature.

In this gaming machine, for example, although the payout amount display means is provided outside or inside the housing of the gaming machine main body, only the display portion is exposed from the housing. The display of the payout amount can be visually recognized from outside the gaming machine main body, such as being disposed or being disposed at a position where the display unit can be visually recognized from a window provided in the housing. In such a configuration, a situation in which only a clerk who can unlock the door of the gaming machine main body can check the payout amount displayed in the housing does not occur, and even a player who cannot unlock the lock can pay out the payout amount. Can be easily confirmed. Therefore, the player can easily know the payout amount of the game material per unit price by the display of the payout amount display means without counting the number of the game material actually paid out.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine of the first, second, or third aspect, the payout amount setting means is configured to accept the setting of the payout amount only during a specific period. It is assumed that.

In this gaming machine, the player who knows the role of the payout amount setting means and the method of changing the setting of the payout amount unlocks the door of the game machine body by some means, and increases the payout amount. Even if such a setting change operation is performed improperly, the payout amount cannot be increased without a specific period. In such a configuration, if the specific period is set to a period that makes it difficult for the player to change the setting, for example, to a period before opening of the store where entry to the game hall is permitted, the payout is performed by the player. It is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where the amount is set to be improperly large.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine of the fourth aspect, the setting of the payout amount is accepted only for a certain period after the power switch of the gaming machine body is turned on as the specific period. The above-mentioned payout amount setting means is constituted.

In this gaming machine, the power switch is set to the ON state during the period in which the setting change operation for the payout amount setting means can be accepted.
By limiting to only a certain period after N, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation where the payout amount is improperly set by the player.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine of the fourth aspect, the payout amount setting means has a lock corresponding to a specific key, and the lock of the lock is released as the specific period. It is characterized in that the setting of the payout amount is accepted only during the period.

In this gaming machine, the payout amount setting means includes:
Only during a period in which a person having a key corresponding to the lock or a substitute for the lock unlocks the lock, the payout amount setting change operation is accepted. In such a configuration, the payout amount by the player is more than the gaming machine according to claim 5, wherein the specific period is determined based on ON of a power switch that can be operated even by a person who does not own the key or a substitute for the key. Can be surely prevented from being set in an unauthorized manner.

The invention according to claim 7 is based on claims 1, 2, 3,
4, 5 or 6, wherein the payout means includes a medal payout means for paying out a medal which is a gaming object as the payout means, and a lottery means for performing a lottery process for a predetermined prize mode; A variable display unit having a plurality of variable displays for variably displaying a plurality of symbols in a predetermined order, and display stop means for stopping the variable display of each variable display, and being set so as to straddle each variable display. When the combination of symbols stopped on the winning line constitutes a hand corresponding to the winning mode won by the lottery means, the medal payout means pays out an amount of medals according to the winning mode. Is what you do.

In this gaming machine, like a slot machine, when a symbol combination arranged on a winning line of a variable display unit constitutes a role corresponding to the winning mode selected by the lottery means and wins, A commensurate amount of medals will be paid out. In addition to the payout of medals based on such winnings, a leader type payout in which the number of medals set by the payout amount setting means is paid out based on a lending permission signal from the recording medium reading means is also performed. In such a leader-type payout, it is possible to provide a service for increasing the medal payout amount per unit amount only during a specific period.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of a slot machine of a leader type will be described below as a gaming machine to which the present invention is applied. First, a basic configuration of the slot machine according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the slot machine according to the embodiment. The slot machine 1 has a box-shaped housing 2, a front panel 3 attached to the front side of the housing 2 so as to be openable and closable. On the front panel 3, a display window 4, a medal slot 5, a start lever 6, three stop buttons 7a, b, c as display stop means, a credit settlement button 8, Speaker 9, medal payout 10
a, a medal tray 10, a liquid crystal display unit 11, a line display unit 12, a game display unit 13, a count display unit 14, B
ET operation unit 15, medal change button 40, eject button 4
2 etc. are provided. Note that the stop buttons 7a, b,
For c, one having a lamp function is used.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of the slot machine 1. Inside the housing 2, three reels 16a, 16 having a plurality of symbols printed on the outer peripheral surface are provided.
b and 16c are incorporated. Also, CPU and ROM
In addition, a main control circuit board 17 having an electronic circuit formed by various electronic components, a medal payout device 18 having a medal hopper 18a capable of accommodating a large number of medals as game objects, a reset switch 19a, a stage setting key switch 19b, and the like. Setting operation unit 19, internal speaker 20
And so on.

The reset switch 19a and the stage setting key switch 19b are used to set a lottery table, which will be described later, to one having a large winning probability such as "big hit" or "medium hit" or to have a low one. It is. While the stage setting key switch 19b is tilted to the ON position,
When the power switch 19c is turned from the OFF state to the ON state, control in the step setting mode is performed. In this stage setting mode, each time the reset switch 19a is pressed, the stage mode sequentially changes, for example, from 1 to 6, and the corresponding lottery tables of the winning probabilities are set as those of the general gaming state. . The display of the stage mode is
This is done on the payout indicator.

The power switch 19c does not completely cut off the continuity between the power supply from the outside of the game machine and the main body of the game machine. Even when the power switch 19c is turned off, the power of the main control circuit board is reduced. Power is supplied to the CPU and the like.

The setting operation section 19 includes a reset switch 19a, a step setting key switch 19b,
In addition to the power switch 19c, the setting permission key switch 19
d is provided, which will be described later.

The reels 16a, 16b, and 16c (hereinafter, also referred to as left reel, middle reel, and right reel) are each driven to rotate by a reel driving motor (not shown) constituted by a stepping motor.
On each of these reels, seven types of symbols shown in FIGS. 3A to 3G are printed in a predetermined order. Hereinafter, these symbols are referred to as “red 7”, “blue 7”, “BAR”, “watermelon”, “bell”, “cherry”, and “plum”, respectively.

FIG. 4 is a detailed front view showing a part of the front panel 3. In the drawing, the reels 16a, 16
The symbols for about three frames at the predetermined rotation positions b and 16c are visually recognized through the display window 4. In this display window 4, five winning lines crossing the reels 16a, 16b, 16c are drawn, and the symbol combinations are arranged in the upper row, the middle row, the lower row, the diagonally right upper row, and the diagonally lower right row, respectively. Is shown. When a predetermined combination is established on these winning lines, the medal tray 1
At 0, a medal is paid out or a replay is permitted. In the slot machine 1 according to the embodiment,
Although five pay lines are provided, the number of pay lines may be smaller or larger.

The line display section 12 includes a 1MEDAL lamp 12a, two 2MEDALS lamps 12b, two 3MEDALS lamps 12c, and a start lamp 12d.
And so on. The 1MEDAL lamp 12a is arranged on an extension of the pay line in the middle row among the five pay lines in the display window 4. Also, two 2
The MEDALS lamps 12b are arranged side by side in the upper row,
It is arranged on the extension of the winning line in the lower row.
Further, the two 3MEDALS lamps 12c are arranged on the diagonally upper right and the extension of the winning line arranged diagonally below the right, respectively.

The count display section 14 includes a credit display 14a, a bonus count display 14b, a payout display 14c, and the like.

The BET operation unit 15 includes a 1-BET button 15a, a 2-BET button 15b (located at the back of 15a in the figure), a Max-BET button 15c, and the like.

The game display section 13 includes a replay lamp 13a, a winning lamp 13b, a game over lamp 13
d, BB (big bonus, the same applies hereinafter) lamp 13e,
RB (regular bonus, hereinafter the same) lamp 13f,
A medal insertion lamp 13g is provided. When a "small hit" other than a replay is won, the winning lamp 13b
Is lit. When a "small hit" of replay is won, the replay lamp 13a is turned on instead of the winning lamp 13b. When a "big hit" or a "medium hit" is won, the BB lamp 13e and the RB lamp 13f are turned on together with the winning lamp 13b. In the state before the start of the game and when the medal credit described later is less than 50, the medal insertion lamp 13
g blinks to notify the player that a medal can be inserted.

When a player inserts a medal (not shown) into the medal slot 5, the medal passes through a not-shown passage to the medal hopper 18a (see FIG. 2). A drop hole for dropping medals smaller than the prescribed size and returning to the above-mentioned medal payout lot 10a (see FIG. 1) is provided in this passage. There are provided a medal block solenoid, a medal insertion sensor composed of a photosensor for detecting each passed medal one by one, and the like. The medal detection signal output from the medal insertion sensor that has detected the medal is sent to the main control circuit board 17 (see FIG. 2).

When the inserted medal is detected by the medal insertion sensor, the 1MEDAL lamp 12a is turned on and the start lamp 12d blinks.
The lighting of the 1MEDAL lamp 12a indicates that, out of the five pay lines, only one pay line in the middle row is activated. If a "role" is not established on the activated pay line as described above, no win is made even if a win is established on another winning line. The blinking of the start lamp 12d indicates that the game can be started. When the start lever 6 (see FIG. 1) is operated by the player in this state, the rotation of the reels 16a, 16b, 16c starts.

When another medal is inserted before the start lever 6 is operated and is officially received, one 1ME
In addition to the DAL lamp 12a, the above two 2MEDALs
The S lamp 12b is turned on. Thereby, in addition to the pay line in the middle row, the pay line in the upper row and the lower row are also effective. When one more medal is inserted and is officially accepted, two more 3MEDAL
The S lamp 12c is also turned on, and all five pay lines are activated.

As the medals are further inserted, the display of the credit indicator 14a, which has been "0" until then, is displayed.
It increases by one for each insertion. The maximum number of medal credits is 50, and when the number reaches 50, the medal block solenoid is activated and no more medals can be accepted.

When the medal credit is one or more, the player can press the BET button instead of inserting a medal to activate the pay line and make the game possible. However, if the medal credit is smaller than the number corresponding to the pressed BET button, only the pay line corresponding to the medal credit is valid.

When the start lever 6 is operated by the player, the CPU of the main control circuit board 17
The rotation drive of the reels 16a, 16b, 16c is started. Each of the reels 16a, 16b, 16c has a predetermined rotational position detected by a reel position sensor such as an encoder (not shown). A random number generation circuit (not shown) generates a random number at a predetermined cycle and outputs it as a random number signal. The CPU of the main control circuit board 17 compares the data of the random number signal sent immediately after the start of reel rotation with the lottery table stored in the ROM. This lottery table associates each random number with a winning mode ("small hit", "medium hit", "big hit") and "losing". By being associated in this way, various winning modes are internally won with a predetermined probability, and "winning"
Occurs with a predetermined probability. Therefore, the combination of the random number generation circuit and the CPU constitutes a lottery means.

Stop buttons 7a, 7 during the rotation of each reel
When b and 7c are pressed by the player, "pull-in" control and "kick-kick-off" control are performed based on the pressing timing and the lottery result. Specifically, the symbol corresponding to the internally won winning mode is a stop button 7a,
If the payout line is not on the activated pay line when the buttons 7b and 7c are pressed and is within the pull-in range of, for example, four frames on the upstream side of the rotation, the "pull-in" control is executed. As a result, the rotation of each of the reels 16a, 16b, 16c is stopped after the symbol corresponding to the winning mode is drawn on the winning line. In addition, even if “missing” has been drawn, if any “role” is likely to be formed on the activated pay line, the reel 16 is limited to, for example, four frames.
a, 16b, 16c are additionally rotated, and their "role"
Is skipped from the winning line.

When the reels 16a, 16b, and 16c stop rotating and a "role" is formed on an effective pay line, a winning is achieved, and the replay lamp 13a, the winning lamp 13b,
Of the BB lamp 13e and the RB lamp 13f, the one corresponding to the "role" is lit. Also, the medal lamp at the position corresponding to the winning line in which the "role" has been established blinks. For example, when the "bells" are aligned on the bottom horizontal pay line, the winning lamp 13b is lit,
Of the two 2MEDALS lamps 12b, the one on the lower side in the figure blinks.

When a prize is generated, the count display section 1
The payout indicator 14c of No. 4 displays the number of medals to be paid out corresponding to the winning mode, and the medal credit of the credit indicator 14a is increased by that amount. However, when the increasing medal credit reaches 50, the medal payout device 18 pays out the remaining medals instead of the medal credit no longer increasing.

When a valuable unit such as a prepaid card is inserted into the slot machine 1, a medal credit is added to the slot machine 1 by an amount corresponding to the value of the valuable unit. A medal may be paid out.

In the slot machine 1, a game is provided in a game state called a general game state immediately after the main power supply (not shown) is turned on. In this general game state, "watermelon-
"Watermelon" composed of "watermelon-watermelon", "bell role" composed of "bell-bell-bell", "cherry role" composed of "cherry-regardless of pattern-regardless of pattern", "plum-plum-plum" The various "small hits" to be won by the formation of the "plum combination" are internally won with a predetermined probability. In addition, “red 7-red 7-red 7”
"Blue 7-Blue 7-Blue 7"
The BB that wins due to the formation of “role” is, for example, 1/250
With a relatively low probability of winning inside. Furthermore, "BA
A winning RB is internally won with a low probability of, for example, 1/400 by the establishment of the “BAR role” composed of “R-BAR-BAR”.

On the other hand, when a RB (medium hit) or a BB (big hit) is won, a game in a special game state in which a "small hit" or RB is internally won with a very high probability is provided. The special game state is classified into an RB state generated when an RB wins, and a BB state generated when a BB wins. Further, the BB state is a non-RB state during BB,
There are times when the RB state is in the BB state.

Specifically, when an RB wins in the general gaming state, the gaming state is switched to the RB state. This RB
In the state, even if the 2BET button 15b or Max BE
Even if the T button 15c is pressed, a game called a jack game is provided in which it is regarded as 1 BET and only the winning line in the middle row is activated. In this jack game, only the winning mode of "jack winning" and "losing" are determined, and the above-mentioned lottery table dedicated to jack games for internally winning this "jack winning" with extremely high probability is used. For this reason, the "jack hit" wins with a high probability and a large amount of medals are paid out. "Plum role" is used for the role corresponding to "jack hit". "Jack hit" in RB state
When the player wins eight times, or when a total of 12 jackpot games are executed, the gaming state is returned to the general gaming state.

Also, when BB wins in the general game state,
The gaming state is switched to the non-RB state during BB. In the non-RB during BB state, the above-mentioned lottery table dedicated to non-RB during BB is used, in which "small hits" and RBs are internally won with extremely high probability. Therefore, the "small hit" wins with a high probability and a large amount of medals are paid out, or the RB wins and shifts to the RB state during BB. When shifting to the RB state during BB, the gaming state is returned to the non-RB state during BB again after the above-described jack game is provided. And BB non-R
When the cumulative number of game executions in the B state (total in one BB) reaches 30 or the RB state during the third BB ends, the gaming state is returned to the normal gaming state. In the BB state, in addition to the occurrence of the RB state one to three times, the small wins with a high probability under the non-RB state during the BB have a higher probability, so that a larger number of medals than in the RB state. Will be paid out. RB in non-RB state during BB
For the role corresponding to, “Plum role” is used.

In the normal gaming state, the above-mentioned lottery table for internally winning RBs and BBs with a much lower probability than "small hits" is used. The damage suffered is extremely large. For this reason, the lost RB or BB
As for, the internal winning is carried over until a prize is won. However, even if it is carried over, the "small hit" lottery is performed, and if the "small hit" is internally won, the symbol corresponding to RB or BB is set to "small hit" rather than "pull-in""Pull-in" of the corresponding symbol is performed with priority.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a part of an electric circuit of the slot machine 1. As illustrated, the slot machine 1 includes a sub-control circuit board 21 in addition to the main control circuit board 17.

The main control circuit board 17 includes the CPU 1
7a, clock generation circuit 17b, ROM 17c, RAM
17d, a random number generation circuit 17e, a data transmission circuit 17f,
It has a transmission timing control circuit 17g, an input port 17h, an output port 17i, and the like.

The clock transmission circuit 17b outputs a clock signal of a predetermined frequency to the CPU 17a.

The ROM 17c stores various control programs and data such as a lottery table which will be described later, and outputs these to the CPU 17a.

The RAM 17d stores the CPU 1
The variable data calculated by 7a is temporarily stored.

The random number generation circuit 17e generates a random number at a predetermined cycle, and stores the data in the CPU 17
output to a.

The CPU 17a has an input port 17h.
Via the 1BET button 15a, 2BET button 15b, MAX BET button 15c, start lever 6, stop button 7a, 7b, 7c, credit settlement button 8, step setting key switch 19b, reset switch 19a, power switch 19c, setting Authorization key switch 1
9d, medal insertion sensor 22, reel position sensor (left)
Output signals from the reel position sensor (medium) 26 and the reel position sensor (right) 27 are input. Also, a medal payout sensor 23, a medal full sensor 24, a medal change button 40, a dial switch 41
And an output signal from a card reader to be described later.

The medal payout sensor 23 detects the medals paid out from the medal payout device 18 one by one and outputs a detection signal to the CPU 17a. CPU 17a
Adjusts the number of medal payouts by the medal payout device 18 by stopping driving of a medal payout motor described later based on an output signal from the medal payout sensor 23.

When the medal full sensor 24 detects the upper limit of the medal accommodation level in the medal hopper 18a, it outputs a full signal to the CPU 17a. When receiving the full signal, the CPU 17a temporarily suspends various controls and causes the liquid crystal display unit 11 to display information of a medal full error.

The CPU 17a outputs the reel drive motor 28 (left), the reel drive motor (middle) 29, the reel drive motor 30 (right), the medal payout motor 18b of the medal payout device 18 through the output port 17i, Medal block solenoid 31, 1 MEDAL lamp 12a,
2MEDALS lamp 12b, 3MEDALS lamp 1
2c, start lamp 12d, replay lamp 13a,
Winning lamp 13b, game over lamp 13d, BB
Lamp 13e, RB lamp 13f, medal insertion lamp 1
3g, a control signal is output to a credit display 14a, a bonus count display 14b, a payout display 14c, and a card reader described later. Also, the data transmission circuit 1 may be used in accordance with the progress of the game.
7f, an output timing information signal is output. The output timing information signal output to the data transmission circuit 17f is temporarily stored therein, and then, based on the output signal from the transmission timing control circuit 17g, the data input circuit 21i of the sub control circuit board 21.
Is output to

The sub-control circuit board 21 is disposed on the back side of the front panel 3. The data input circuit 21i, the CPU 21a, the clock generation circuit 21b, the image R
An OM 21c, a RAM 21d, an audio ROM 21e, an audio LSI 21f, a display circuit 21g, an amplifier circuit 21h, a control ROM 21j, and the like are provided.

In the sub control circuit board 21, the output timing information signal input to the data input circuit 21i is output to the CPU 21a.

The clock generation circuit 21b outputs a clock signal of a predetermined frequency to the CPU 21a.

The image ROM 21c stores various control programs and image data, and outputs these to the CPU 21a as needed.

The RAM 21d temporarily stores variable data and the like calculated by the CPU 21a.

The audio ROM 21e stores various types of audio data.
Output to SI21f.

The CPU 21a reads the image data corresponding to the output timing information signal received for the image from the data input circuit 21i from the image ROM 21c and outputs it to the display circuit 21g. Further, it outputs an audio output command signal corresponding to the output timing information signal to the audio LSI 21f.

The display circuit 21g is connected to the CPU 21a
After performing a predetermined process on the image data received from
Output to the liquid crystal display unit 11. With this output, an effect image according to the progress of the game, a symbol corresponding to the internally won winning mode, and the like are displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 11.

The audio LSI 21f is connected to the CPU 21
The audio data corresponding to the audio output command signal received from a is read from the audio ROM 21e and output to the amplifier circuit 21h.

The amplifier circuit 21h includes the audio LSI 21
After subjecting the audio data received from f to predetermined processing, the audio data is output to the speaker 9 and the internal speaker 20 via the volume adjustment circuit 32a of the volume adjustment board 32. With this output, sound according to the progress of the game is output from the speaker 9 and the internal speaker 20.

The setting permission key switch 19d, the medal change button 40, and the dial switch 4 in FIG.
1. The role of the eject button 42 will be described later.

Next, the characteristic configuration of the slot machine 1 will be described. When the medal change button 40 shown in FIG. 5 is operated, the slot machine 1 transmits a lending command signal to a card reader described later and receives five medals every time a lending permission signal is received from the card reader. (Including an increase in credit). Specifically, the CPU 17a sets the medal change button 4
When an operation signal from 0 is received once, a lending command signal is output to the card reader via the output port 17i. Also, every time a lending permission signal is received from the card reader, the credit display on the credit indicator 14a is displayed for 5 credits.
Control to increase only the number of sheets is performed. However, when the credit display reaches “50”, the remaining medals are paid out by controlling the medal payout motor 18b. Also,
The BUSY signal is output to the card reader via the output port 17i while the control of increasing the credit display and paying out medals based on the lending permission signal is being performed.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of a main part of a card reader as a valuables reading means provided alongside the slot machine 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, the card reader 100 includes a card input / output mechanism operation circuit 101, a reading circuit 102, a receiving circuit 103, a writing circuit 104, an arithmetic circuit 105, a transmitting circuit 106, a money setting circuit 107, and the like.

The card loading / unloading mechanism operation circuit 101 is a circuit for operating a card loading / unloading mechanism (not shown) for receiving and discharging a prepaid card such as a packy card.

The reading circuit 102 reads the balance information stored in the prepaid card in the card loading / unloading mechanism by a magnetic sensor or the like, converts the information into digital data, and outputs the digital data to the arithmetic circuit 105.

The amount setting circuit 107 is, for example, 100
It has a plurality of buttons (not shown) such as a yen button and a 200 yen button (in units of 100 yen). When any of these buttons is pressed, the corresponding amount is divided by 100 yen. The numerical value is stored as “basic lending frequency”.

The receiving circuit 103 is a slot machine 1
And sends the signal to the arithmetic circuit 105 from the output port 17i. Arithmetic circuit 105
Receives the lending command signal from the receiving circuit 103 once, reads the “basic lending number” stored in the amount setting circuit 107 and stores it as the “remaining number”.
A batch calculation process for medal lending is performed.

In this batch operation processing, the operation circuit 1
In step 05, after the reading circuit 102 reads the balance information of the prepaid card, it determines whether the value of the balance information is 100 yen or more and whether the "remaining number" is zero. I do. If the amount is more than 100 yen, a discharge command signal is output to the card loading / unloading mechanism operation circuit 101 to discharge the prepaid card from the main body of the card reader 100, and then the batch calculation processing is terminated. If the “remaining count” is zero,
The batch calculation process ends without discharging the prepaid card.

On the other hand, if the value of the balance information is 100 yen or more and the “remaining number” is not zero, 1 is subtracted from the “remaining number” or the transmission circuit 10
6 to output a lending permission signal. Then, it waits for the BUSY signal to be sent from the slot machine 1 and, if it is sent, outputs a subtraction command signal for 100 yen to the writing circuit 104 and waits until the BUSY signal is no longer received. I do. Further, when the BUSY signal is no longer received, the batch operation is restarted from the beginning.

The writing circuit 104, which has received the subtraction command signal from the arithmetic circuit 105, reads the balance information of the prepaid card up to 10 using a magnetic head or the like (not shown).
Update and rewrite the value by subtracting 0 yen.

The transmission circuit 106 which has received the lending permission signal from the arithmetic circuit 105 sends the signal to the slot machine 1 (CPU 17a). Slot machine 1
When the lending permission signal is sent from the card reader 100 in this way, while increasing and paying out the medal credits for five medals as described above, the BUSY signal is sent to the card reader 10 until the completion of the execution.
Keep outputting to 0.

In such a configuration, when the player operates the medal change button 40 of the slot machine 1 once,
The batch calculation process is repeatedly executed until the balance information recorded on the prepaid card becomes less than 100 yen or medals corresponding to the amount set in the amount setting circuit 107 are paid out. JPY (5) medals will be paid out.

As described above, when the balance information of the prepaid card is less than 100 yen, a discharge command signal is output from the arithmetic circuit 105 and the prepaid card is discharged from the card insertion / removal mechanism. The prepaid card is also discharged in the following cases. That is, an ejection button 42 is provided on the entire panel 3 (see FIG. 1) of the slot machine 1, and an operation signal for the ejection button 42 is transmitted to the card reader via the main control circuit board 17 (see FIG. 5). The detection is performed by the receiving circuit 103 of the control unit 100. When the operation signal is detected by the receiving circuit 103 in response to the operation of the ejection button 42 by the player, an ejection command signal is output from the arithmetic circuit 105, and the prepaid card is ejected from the card insertion / ejection mechanism.

In FIG. 5 described above, a signal from the dial switch 41 is input to the CPU 17a of one of the slot machines via the input port 17h. The dial switch 41 has a dial mechanism (not shown), and outputs, for example, any one of data signals 1 to 10 according to the dial setting (rotational position) of the dial mechanism. The CPU 17a
When the lending permission signal from the card reader 100 is received once, the display of the medal credit is increased or the medal payout motor 18 is increased until the same number of medals as the data signal from the dial switch 41 are given to the player.
b is driven and controlled. Therefore, the slot machine 1 includes the CPU 17a, the input port 17
h, the dial switch 41 and the like constitute payout amount setting means.

In such a configuration, for example, normally, “5” is dialed with the dial switch 41 and 100
While 5 medals are paid out per yen, during a predetermined service period, "6" is dialed to pay out 6 medals per 100 yen.

The CPU 17a of the slot machine 1
When the control for paying out medals is performed based on the lending permission signal, at least the number of paid out medals is displayed on the liquid crystal display 11 as payout amount display means. This display is performed, for example, in a manner such as “medal fee for ○○ ¥ consumption tax × xx yen”.

As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid crystal display 11 is fixed so that its display is exposed from the entire panel 3 which is a part of the housing of the slot machine 1 so that the player can visually recognize the display. The player can visually recognize the medal payout number as described above. With this configuration, a situation in which only a staff member who can unlock the front panel 3 can check the display of the payout amount display means fixed in the machine housing does not occur, and a player who cannot unlock the lock. However, the number of medals paid out can be easily confirmed. Therefore, the player can easily know the number of medals paid out per 100 yen by displaying on the liquid crystal display 11 without counting the number of medals actually paid out.

Further, the display of the number of paid-out medals can be easily visually recognized by the staff at the game arcade.
Therefore, even if the number of medals paid out is set to another clerk, the clerk at the game arcade is not forced to count the number of medals actually paid out,
The set number of payout medals can be easily confirmed. Further, even if the number of tokens to be paid out is incorrectly set, the incorrect setting can be easily noticed by the display on the liquid crystal display 11. Furthermore, even if the number of tokens to be paid out is set to be improperly large by anyone, the improper setting can be easily noticed.

By the way, if the player knows that the number of medals to be paid out can be changed by the dial setting of the dial switch 41, the locking of the front panel 3 is released by using a double key or a picking tool, and then the dial switch is released. There is a possibility that the number of tokens to be paid out may be increased by illegally operating 41.

Therefore, the CPU 17a refers to the data signal from the dial switch 41 only at a specific timing. Then, the referred data signal is stored in the RAM 17a as payout number data, and after a specific timing has elapsed, the medal payout is performed based on the payout number data stored in the RAM 17a instead of the data signal from the dial switch 41. Is performed.

The specific timing is, specifically,
When the setting permission key switch 19d shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 is rotated to the setting permission position, the power switch 19c is turned off.
This is a period from when the switch from the F state to the ON state is detected to when the setting permission key switch 19d is locked. If the numerical value indicated by the data signal from the dial switch 41 changes during this period, the payout number data in the new RAM 17d is rewritten to the same number as the numerical value of the changed data signal.

In this configuration, the setting permission key switch 1
Only a person who possesses a key capable of rotating the 9d or a substitute for the key can perform the setting change operation of the medal payout number. Further, even if the person who owns the key or the like turns the power switch 19c from the OFF state to the O state while rotating the setting permission key switch 19d to the setting permission position.
If the user does not know that the state needs to be set to the N state, the user cannot change the setting of the medal payout number. Therefore,
Compared to the case where the CPU 17a is configured to determine the number of tokens to be paid based solely on the data signal of the dial switch 41, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the number of tokens to be paid is improperly set by the player. .

In the slot machine 1, whether the medal payout number is changed or not is determined according to the state of the power switch 19c and the setting permission key switch 19d in this manner, so that the power switch 19c and the setting permission switch 19d are used. Constitutes a payout amount setting means together with the CPU 17a, the dial switch 41 and the like.

As described above, the reel 1 is used as the variable display unit.
Although the slot machine 1 provided with a device including the display 6 and the display window 4 has been described, the present invention is also applicable to a gaming machine provided with a device including a display and the like.

Although the slot machine used with a card reader for reading information on a prepaid card has been described, a gaming machine used with reading means for reading information recorded on another recording medium such as a debit card or a credit card. The present invention can also be applied to

[0093] Although the slot machine in which a predetermined combination is realized by the variable display unit has been described, the present invention can be applied to other gaming machines such as a pachinko machine.

Further, when the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine, the following effects can be obtained.

That is, in general, the unit price of a medal is set at about 20 yen, while that of a pachinko ball is set at 4 yen, which is much cheaper than a medal. On the other hand, current card readers only rewrite balance information in units of 100 yen, so lending by the reader method is performed in units of 100 yen.

In a game arcade where annual sales exceed a predetermined amount and are considered to be subject to consumption tax, the unit price of 20 yen or 4 yen picked up above is the amount including the consumption tax and the actual consumption tax. Excluded amount is 1 at 5% consumption tax rate
It is generally interpreted as 9.05 yen or 3.81 yen. It is desirable to increase the unit price for amusement arcades where management becomes difficult with these unit prices.

In the case of a medal, lending in units of 100 yen is 1
In order to increase the medal unit price of 9.05 yen, 10
It is necessary to reduce the number of medals paid out per zero yen from five to four. When the number of paid-out medals is reduced in this manner, the medal unit price is reduced from 19.05 yen to 2% excluding the consumption tax of 5%.
As a result, the price is raised to 3.81 yen, which is 25%. If the player is forced to increase the medal unit price in such a large manner, there is a high possibility that the management will be deteriorated due to the separation of customers, so it is very difficult to increase the medal unit price.

On the other hand, in the case of pachinko balls, in order to increase the unit price of 3.81 yen in lending in units of 100 yen, the number of balls paid out per 100 yen is reduced from 25 to 24. This means that the ball unit price will increase from 3.81 yen to 3.97 yen without the consumption tax of 5%,
[%] Price increase rate. If the rate of price increase is about 4%, it is possible to carry out the operation without causing much customer churn. Therefore, it is possible to increase the unit price of the ball without causing much customer separation.

[0099]

According to the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to provide a service for increasing the amount of game material paid out per unit amount during a specific period. Has an excellent effect.

In particular, according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, there is an excellent effect that a clerk at a game arcade can easily check the payout amount set by another clerk. Also,
Even if the payout amount is incorrectly set, there is an excellent effect that the incorrect setting can be easily noticed by the display of the payout amount display means. Furthermore, even if the payout amount is illegally set by someone, there is an excellent effect that the illegal setting can be easily noticed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the payout amount of the game material per unit amount can be calculated without the trouble of having the player count the game material actually paid out. There is an excellent effect that the information can be easily recognized by the display of the display means.

Further, in particular, according to the invention of claim 4, 5 or 6, there is an excellent effect that it is possible to suppress occurrence of a situation in which the payout amount is improperly set by the player.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the payout amount can be set by the player by limiting the period during which the setting change operation to the payout amount setting means can be accepted to a certain period after the power switch is turned on. There is an excellent effect that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which a large number is set illegally.

In particular, according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the amount of payout is improperly set by a player, as compared with the fifth aspect of the present invention. effective.

Further, according to the invention of claim 7, there is an excellent effect that a service for increasing the medal payout amount per unit amount during a specific period can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a slot machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal structure of the slot machine.

FIGS. 3A to 3G are schematic diagrams showing symbols attached to each reel of the slot machine.

FIG. 4 is a detailed front view showing a part of a front panel of the slot machine.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a part of an electric circuit of the slot machine.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electric circuit of a main part of a card reader provided alongside the slot machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 1 slot machine (game machine) 2 housing 3 front panel 4 display window 5 medal slot 6 start lever 7a, b, c stop button 8 credit settlement button 9 speaker 10 medal tray 10a medal payout 11 liquid crystal display (payout amount display) Means) 12 Line display unit 13 Game display unit 14 Count display unit 15 BET operation unit 16a, b, c Reel (variable display) 17 Main control circuit board 17a CPU 18 Medal dispensing device 19 Setting operation unit 19c Power switch 19d Setting permission Key switch 20 internal speaker 21 sub-control circuit board 22 medal insertion sensor 23 medal payout sensor 24 medal full sensor 25,26,27 reel position sensor 28,29,30 reel drive motor 31 medal block solenoid 32 volume adjustment board 40 meda Instead button 41 dial switch 42 eject button 100 Card reader (recording medium reading means)

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. Based on information read from a recording medium,
It is arranged with a recording medium reading that determines whether or not the lending of a game material necessary for the game of the gaming machine is possible, and sends a lending permission signal based on the result of the determination when a gaming material lending command is issued. In a gaming machine provided with payout means for paying out a predetermined amount of the gaming object based on the reception of the lending permission signal, a payout amount setting means for variably setting the payout amount of the payout means based on the reception of the lending permission signal is provided. A gaming machine characterized by the following. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising payout amount display means for displaying the payout amount. 3. A game machine according to claim 2, wherein said payout amount display means is provided so that the display of said payout amount can be visually recognized even from outside the main body of said game machine. . 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout amount setting means is configured to accept the setting of the payout amount only during a specific period. 5. The payout amount setting means according to claim 4, wherein the payout amount setting means is configured to accept the setting of the payout amount for a certain period after the power switch of the game machine body is turned on as the specific period. A gaming machine characterized by comprising: 6. A gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein said payout amount setting means has a lock corresponding to a specific key, and said specific period is a period during which said lock is unlocked. A gaming machine characterized by receiving a setting of a payout amount. 7. A gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a medal payout means for paying out medals, which are game objects, as said payout means, and a predetermined prize. Lottery means for selecting a mode, a variable display unit having a plurality of variable displays for variably displaying a plurality of symbols in a predetermined order based on the reception of medals, and a display stopping means for stopping the variable display of each variable display. When the combination of the symbols stopped on the winning line set so as to straddle each variable display constitutes the role corresponding to the winning mode won by the lottery means, the amount corresponding to the winning mode A gaming machine wherein a medal is paid out by the medal paying means.