JP2002355437A - Storage system for game medium, game medium storage method and game medium storage card - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a player to select a desired storage kind from two or more storage kinds in a game medium storage system for storing game media such as game balls and game medals. SOLUTION: In the game medium storage system in a game parlor, a game parlor side presets a plurality of game medium storage methods and the player can arbitrarily select the game medium storage method from the plurality of the game medium storage methods. The profitability of the game medium storage methods is different so that the player can acquire many game media by one, two or more storage methods among them compared to the other storage methods or the like. Methods in normal storage and fixed time storage are included in the game medium storage methods, and in the case that the player selects the method in the fixed period storage, more game media than the game media acquirable by the normal storage can be acquired when maturity comes.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game medium storing technique for storing game media such as game balls and game medals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko parlor or the like, a ball (medal), which is a game medium obtained by a player through a game, is stored in a game server as a game medium storage (hereinafter referred to as "ball") or exchanged for a premium. Or use up at the same amusement store. Here, the coins can be replayed at the gaming table by paying the number of balls for the fee of the predetermined rate even after the next day. When the player replays using his own ball stored in the ball storage server, the commission rate is set such that the number of replayed balls and the number of balls based on a predetermined commission rate are deducted from the ball storage server. Has become.

[0003]

In the case of pachinko parlors, if the pachinko parlor adopts a service for changing the commission rate when the user saves the ball, the pachinko parlor will use a commission rate predetermined by the pachinko parlor (for example, several percent commission rate for women). Lowering the commission rate on weekdays by a few percent). However, as these pachinko balls are decided by pachinko parlors and they decide to play at the pachinko parlors, they have no choice but to follow the system of the pachinko parlors and satisfy various users' needs. Did not. In addition, pachinko parlors will be able to turn funds that were originally used to exchange prizes into investment funds by allowing users to save money.
It is also desirable for pachinko parlors.

[0004] The present invention allows a player to arbitrarily select a ball storage method from such a viewpoint, seeks to acquire fixed customers by satisfying the needs of various consumers, and allocates funds to be used for prize exchange to operational funds. It is an object of the present invention to provide a system that can be used for both players and pachinko parlors.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a system for storing a plurality of types of game media in a game media storage system for storing coins in a game store. The storage is performed by the game medium storage method selected by the player.

[0006] Here, in a plurality of types of storage methods, it is possible to make a difference in the benefits received by the resident, and it is possible to set regular storage and ordinary storage as the plurality of types of storage methods. And as a benefit, regular storage can increase profits compared to ordinary storage, reduce commissions when replaying storage, increase points granted with storage, and even when exchanging prizes with storage In the case of regular storage, a benefit mode such as exchanging for a special prize for regular storage set in the POS system can be provided.

Here, normal storage of balls and medals (hereinafter, referred to as
In general, the term "storage" refers to a method of storing a ball without setting a predetermined period, and generally, the ball can be withdrawn at any time. On the other hand, regular storage of balls, medals, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as regular storage) is a form of storage in terms of a typical case, in which the use of storage after the maturity is possible. The term “maturity” here means that the player saves the ball in such a manner that the ball cannot be used until a predetermined period elapses, and that the ball can be used after the period elapses. For the predetermined period, one or two or more periods can be designated by the game store in advance, but it is also possible for the player to arbitrarily designate a period and to save coins.

[0008] The storage points of the game media (hereinafter referred to as "ball storage points") are those generated when a player satisfies predetermined conditions set by the game store by storing balls. Such points can be determined by the gaming store on various conditions, but in the present invention, more points can be obtained in the case of regular coins. The amusement store can also freely set the benefits obtained when the accumulated ball points are accumulated. For example, it is possible to obtain the number of balls according to the number of points, or to be set so as to be exchangeable for a prize according to the number of points.

[0009] The regular savings prize (hereinafter, referred to as "regular savings prize") is a prize that the player selects regular savings and can be exchanged when it expires. Although it can be provided separately from the regular prize and the prize when the ball is not stored, the same prize as the normal prize when the ball is not stored and the prize is the same as the prize when the ball is not stored, when the number of exchanged balls is set as the regular ball, the number is smaller than when the regular ball and the ball are not stored. It is also possible.

[0010] The game store is configured so that the player selects regular savings, and when the regular savings expires, returns more regular savings than when the regular savings is selected and accumulated. It is possible. Also, when exchanging prizes together with the number of balls to be saved, compared to the case where ordinary coins are saved,
It is possible to configure so that the prize can be exchanged more advantageously, or to exchange the prize more advantageously than when the ordinary prize is stored when exchanging the prize separately from the number of balls.

[0011] By allowing the player to select a plurality of ball storage methods in this manner, the player can select a ball storage method according to his or her own number of stored balls (the degree of pocketness), and the player's various desires can be selected. Can be satisfied. In addition, the increase in the number of players who store balls directly leads to the securing of fixed customers, which is beneficial for both the players and the game stores.

The expiration date of regular savings can be set in advance by a game store, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which a player can set an arbitrary period. Further, it is also possible to configure so that the player can arbitrarily select from a period set by the game store in advance. Furthermore, if the player selects regular savings, it can be configured so that it cannot be returned until the maturity expires, but it is possible to return it even before the maturity, and in such a case no interest can be obtained. It is also possible to configure so that a privilege cannot be obtained.

[0013] Here, by setting a method of storing ordinary and regular savings according to the present invention, a player can select a savings method according to his / her own number of soccer balls (a degree of pocket), which is a great advantage. Also, for the amusement arcades (halls), the number of players who perform regular savings is increasing, and not only can it be differentiated from other stores, but it is also possible to operate the regular savings as it is as a mini bank, so to say, it can operate like a mini bank Become.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram conceptually showing a configuration of an information processing system in a game arcade. In the centralized management device 100 including the ball storage database 10, the gaming machine 1 and a ball storage replay machine 20 (ball storage return means) provided in parallel with the gaming machine, a counter 50 (ball storage means), and a POS 70 (prize) Exchange means) is connected.
Note that, depending on the number of gaming consoles installed in the store, all gaming consoles cannot transmit data to the central management device 100 at once, so the relay device 8 is used as a buffer for temporarily storing gaming data. May be provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, the centralized management apparatus 100 is connected to a CPU 101, a RAM 102, a ROM 103, a transmission / reception unit 104 (communication means) and an HDD 110 via an I / O port 105, and collects and stores ball storage data. And hardware such as an arithmetic device, a storage device, an input device, and an output device necessary for the computer. The CPU 101 sets R
Various programs 103a to 103 stored in the OM 103
3d is executed using the RAM 102 as a work area. H
The DD 110 includes a ball storage database 10 as storage storage means therein, and stores the ball storage data in a readable and writable manner. In the ROM 103, a ball storage processing program 103a (storage processing means) for totalizing and storing the ball storage data for each member and each ball storage type, and a ball storage classification program 102 for classifying inputted ball storage data for each ball storage type.
b (storage type selection means), a coin storage withdrawal program 103c (storage type selection means at withdrawal) for transmitting data from various types of coins to the withdrawal terminal in response to a withdrawal request, and various kinds of coins, which will be described later, when an interest is provided or when A profit giving program 103d (benefit parameter setting means) for giving a predetermined profit such as a commission discount is stored. The transmission / reception unit 104 is connected to the gaming machine, the ball storage replay machine 20, the counter 50, and the like so as to be able to transmit and receive.

In this information processing system, information is transmitted and received mainly by the central management device 100. That is, the centralized management device 100 is connected to each of the gaming machines 1 and the coin-ball replaying machine 20, which is provided alongside the gaming machines, via a game data transmission / reception terminal provided at each gaming machine via a network line. 50, information is transmitted to the POS 70, and conversely, information from each of these devices is received. The information transmitted to the centralized management device 100 is stored in the ball storage database 10 in the centralized management device 100.

FIG. 2 shows conceptually the information stored in the coin storage database 10. FIG. 2A is a conceptual diagram of a member-by-member history log file. This file contains member N
o. The transaction date, type, and number of balls are stored. Member No.
Is a number assigned by the gaming store to each member for data management. The transaction date is the date on which the processing relating to the savings is performed. The details of the specific processing are stored as types, and deposit 1, deposit (regular savings), deposit 2 (regular savings),
Return, exchange, interest. The number of balls refers to the number of processed balls. The number of balls will be deposited if they are deposited, the number will be returned if they are returned (replayed), the number will be replaced if they are exchanged (exchanged for prizes), and the interest will be This is the number of balls as the interest of the savings, and the interest is set to be higher (more) in the case of regular savings than in the case of regular savings. The interest rate can be arbitrarily set by the game store.

FIG. 2 (b) is a conceptual diagram of a member-by-member cumulative savings file. It stores the total number of accumulated coins for each member. This file contains the member No., password No., regular savings,
The regular savings 1 and the regular savings 2 are stored. The member No. is the same as the member's coin saving history file, and the password No. was specified by the player when the member card was issued, in order to prevent unauthorized use of the coin savings card by anyone other than the player This is used in the ball storage replay machine 20 and the like.
The ordinary coins in FIG. 2B are the total number of ordinary coins for each member. The regular savings 1 is a cumulative total of the number of regular savings that have expired among the regular savings. The regular savings 2 is a cumulative total of regular savings that have not yet expired. In addition, regular savings can be returned only when they expire, and cannot be returned before expiration. The cumulative total of those whose maturity has expired is stored as regular savings 1 and the cumulative total of those whose maturity has not expired is stored as periodic savings 2. It is not possible to return the item before the expiration date, but it is set so that it can be exchanged for a predetermined premium. In this embodiment, it is not refundable before maturity.However, excluding the profit part attached to regular savings, such as higher interest than normal savings and a discounted withdrawal fee to be described later, You can set it to be returnable even before.

FIG. 2 (c) shows a ball storage setting file. The number of fixed days is the number of days until expiration when the player selects regular savings. It is possible for the game store to specify it in advance. The commission 1 is the number of balls corresponding to the commission to be deducted in the replay of the accumulated ball when the ordinary coin is selected. The commission 2 is the number of balls corresponding to the commission to be deducted in the replay of the accumulated coins when the regular coins are selected. When the regular savings is selected and the maturity is reached, the commission rate is set lower than the regular savings. The interest rate 1 is the interest rate of the savings when the ordinary savings is selected. The interest rate 2 is the interest rate of the savings when the regular savings is selected. When regular savings are selected and the maturity is reached, the interest rate is set lower than that when regular savings are used.

The counter 50 is a device for counting pachinko balls obtained by a player. FIG. 4 shows such a counter 50.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of FIG. Control unit 60
Is configured to include a CPU 61, a ROM 62, and a RAM 63, and the ROM 62 stores a control program describing control processing contents. The control unit 60 is connected to a counting unit 51, a display unit 52, an operation unit 53, a ticket issuing unit 54, and a card reader 55. Game data such as count data and data indicating whether regular or regular coins are stored are controlled. The data is transmitted from the unit 60 to the central management device 100 via the transmission / reception unit 56. The transmitted data is stored in the HDD in the central management device 100.
110 is stored in the coin storage database 10. In the coin-saving database 10, regular coins and regular coins are separately managed together with game data such as counting data.

As shown in FIG. 7, the counter 50 is connected to the card reader 6, and when the coin storage card 9 is inserted into the card reader 6, the member identification information (member number, etc.) stored as magnetic data. Information on which of the regular and regular savings is to be stored is read by the card reader 6, and the result is transmitted to the central management device 100. Here, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball storage card is set so that the player can arbitrarily select regular period storage and normal ball storage depending on the direction in which the player inserts the card 9 into the card reader 6. Two types of magnetic data of the card 9 are provided. By adopting such an aspect, the player can select a ball storage method without performing a troublesome operation, and the use can be promoted. For example, data indicating that the card 9 is a normal coin is formed from the front end side of the card 9 in the first insertion direction to the middle, and the data is periodically stored from the front end side to the middle of the second insertion direction different from (for example, directly opposite to) the first direction. Data indicating that it is a savings ball is formed. As described above, the data of the normal ball and the regular ball are written in the middle of the card insertion direction by two, and two kinds of ball storage methods are selected by changing the card insertion direction. There is no need to possess two coins, one for each regular and regular savings. It should be noted that the regular and regular coins may be separately formed on the front and back of the card, and in this case, if the card is used separately for the front and the back, the direct and regular coins can be directly input with one card. it can. It is also possible to adopt a mode in which a player selects a ball storage method using a touch panel or the like.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the counting process in the counter 50. First, when the player puts the ball obtained at the game store into the counter 50 and the counter 50 detects the input of the ball (the number of balls is represented by C) as shown in S1, (C ≧ 1) Indicates that the counting process is started (S2) and C =
The counting is continued until it becomes 0 (S3), and when C = 0, the number of balls is displayed (S4). Here, if the ball storage card is not inserted, a receipt indicating the number of balls is issued (S
6).

Here, as shown in S5, when the coin storage card is inserted, it is determined whether or not the card is appropriate (S6). If not, the card is returned and a receipt is issued.
If the inserted coin storage card is correct, it is determined whether or not it is the direction to be inserted in the case of regular coin storage in order to determine in which direction the coin insertion card is inserted (S7). If the ball is inserted in the insertion direction when the ball is to be stored (S9), such data is transmitted to the central management device 100 (S10), and the central management device 10
0 is stored in the member-by-member saving history file of the member-by-member savings database 10 in the type of deposit 2, and is added to the regular savings 2 of the member-by-member total savings file as the total of the savings.
When not inserted in the insertion direction when regular coins are to be accumulated, this means that ordinary coins are selected, and such data is transmitted to the central management device 100 (S1).
1), it is stored in the ball storage database 10 in the centralized management device 100. That is, the data is stored in the member-by-member history record file as the data of the ordinary coins in the type of Deposit 1, and is added to the ordinary coins 1 in the member-by-member cumulative call file as the total accumulated coins. In addition, the accumulated ball data is stored in the central management device 10.
0 to the counter 50, and the data is transmitted to the counter 5
When 0 is received (S12), the accumulated ball data is displayed on the counter 50 (S13), and the card is returned (S14).

The ball storage replay machine 20 replays the game by the player's ball storage (draws his own ball storage and plays again).
It is used in cases. FIG. 5 is a block diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the ball storage replay machine 20. The control unit 40 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, and a RAM 43. The ROM 42 stores a control program describing control processing contents. The control unit 40
The display unit 21, the operation unit 22, the payout unit 23, the money processing unit 24, and the card reader 25 are connected to the control unit 40, and are transmitted and received from the control unit 40 to the central management device 100 via the transmission and reception unit 26.
The transmitted data is stored in the ball storage database 10 in the centralized management device 100.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a stored ball return process in the stored ball replay machine 20. First, the player inserts a ball storage card into the ball storage card insertion slot 34 provided in the ball storage replay machine 20 shown in FIG. Regardless of the direction of insertion shown in FIG. 6, the necessary data can be read. When the card storage replay machine 20 detects the card insertion signal (S21), it is determined whether or not the card is a proper card (S22). If the card is incorrect, the card is returned (S36). If the coin storage card is an appropriate card, a password can be entered. When the password is entered (S23), the password is entered. The password input data is transmitted to the central management device 100 (S24), and it is determined whether the input password is correct (S25). If the password input here is correct, the coin-saving data is transmitted from the centralized management device 100 as shown in S27. If the input password is incorrect, whether the input of the password is the second time is performed. It is determined whether or not it is the second time (S28), and an error occurs (S28), and the card is returned (S3).
6). When the ball storage data is transmitted from the centralized management device 100 (S27), the ball storage data is displayed on the ball storage replay machine 20 (S29), and the player can instruct return.
The ball-playing replay machine 20 is provided with a normal ball-playing replay button 31 and a regular ball-playing replay button 32, and is configured so that the player can select which of the stocks he has accumulated to use. I have.

When the player presses the regular ball saving replay button 31 (S30), if the number of balls instructed to return is within the range of the number of regular balls that can be returned (S32), the coin payout processing is performed. It is started (S34), and if it is not within the range of the number of returnable balls of regular savings, the card is returned (S3).
6). In addition, when the player presses the regular ball storage replay button 32 instead of the regular ball storage replay button 31 (S31), if the number of balls instructed to return is within the range of the number of returnable balls of the normal ball storage. (S33), the coin-payout processing is started (S34), and the card is returned if it is not within the range of the number of returnable normal coins (S36). When the payout processing is completed, the payout data is transferred to the central management device 10.
0 (S35), and when the transmission is completed, the coin storage card is returned (S36). The payout data is stored in the member-by-member history log file of FIG. 2 in the type of (return), and is also taken into the member-by-member cumulative coin-to-date file, thereby updating the data of the corresponding normal or regular coins.

Although the coin storage replay machine 20 can be used only for returning coins, the coin insertion slot 33 is provided as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 8 so as to be used for a normal game without using coins. It is also possible. It is also possible to newly provide a prepaid card insertion slot for the CR machine, and to use the coin storage card insertion slot 34 also as a prepaid card insertion slot.

As for the POS (prize exchange means) 70, the above-mentioned coin-saving card 9 is inserted, the password is communicated with the coin-saving database 10 of the centralized management device 100 by inputting the personal identification number, and the coin-saving data is transmitted to the POS 70 for display. The user selects whether the normal or regular savings are intended to be replaced by a predetermined input means (key or button operation) or the direction of inserting the card 9 in the left or right direction. Then, in the case of ordinary coins, a general prize list is displayed, and in the case of regular coins, a prize list dedicated to regular coins is displayed. By instructing selection from among them, a receipt for exchanging for a predetermined premium is issued.
After completion of the selection of the prize, data such as the number of converted balls of the selected prize is transmitted to the centralized management device 100, and the number of balls corresponding to the type of (exchange) is stored in the member-specific coin storage history file; and The data is taken into the member-specific cumulative savings file and updated to the latest data on the number of possessed balls.

Further, in this embodiment, the payout return selection means includes a regular payout replay button 32 and a regular payout replay button 3.
1, the selection means is not limited to these. As shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to select between regular savings and replay of regular savings depending on the direction in which the savings card 9 is inserted. Either one of the ball-playing replay button 32 and the normal ball-playing replay button 31 may be omitted and simply a replay button, or the regular ball-play replay button 32
If both of the normal ball storage replay button 31 are eliminated and one of them is inserted, it is possible to automatically pay out a predetermined amount of the stored ball by this method.

As shown in (points) of FIG. 2 (a), in the case of regular savings, a larger number of points is stored than in the case of regular savings, or the number of points is separately stored only in the case of regular savings. You. For example, in the case of regular savings, a point is given for each number N of savings, and this is stored as the accumulated number of points. On the other hand, in the case of ordinary coins, b points (a> b or b = 0) are given for N pieces, and the points are stored as accumulated points. When a certain number of points is reached, the points can be converted into special prizes, or the points can be consumed by exchanging the number of balls at a predetermined conversion rate. The point consumption is instructed and input via the card insertion by the replay machine 20, the POS 70, or the like in FIG.
Type (points) of the 00 coin saving history file for each member
Can be stored.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments, but can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the configuration of a network according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram in a coin storage database.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a centralized management device.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a counter.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a ball storage replay machine.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a ball-saving card.

FIG. 7 is a diagram in which a counter, a card reader, and a centralized management device are configured in a network.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the ball storage replay machine.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process in the counter.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process in the ball storage replay machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 gaming machine 6 card reader 8 relay device 9 ball storage card 10 ball storage database 20 ball storage replay machine 50 counter 70 POS 100 centralized management device

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A game medium storage system for storing coins or the like in a game store, wherein a plurality of types of game medium storage methods are set, and storage is performed according to a game medium storage method selected by a player from among the methods. Game storage system. 2. In the plurality of game medium storage methods,
The game medium storage system according to claim 1, wherein a difference is set for each storage method. 3. The plurality of game medium storage methods include two types of storage methods, a normal storage and a regular storage, and can be selected from them. When the player selects the periodic storage, the expiration date is reached. The game medium storage system according to claim 1, wherein the system is set so as to be more beneficial than the normal storage in the event of becoming. 4. The benefit is the interest of the storage, and the game media available to the saver is the number of media obtained by adding the number of media for the interest of the storage to the number of stored media, and the interest is the periodicity. 4. The game medium storage system according to claim 3, wherein when the storage expires, the game medium storage system is set to be higher than when the normal storage is performed. 5. The advantage is a commission at the time of storage replay, and when the depositor performs replay, the number of media corresponding to the commission is subtracted from the number of media balls stored, and the commission is equal to the regular deposit. 4. The game medium storage system according to claim 3, wherein when the expiration date is reached, the fee is set lower than in the case of storing in the normal storage. 6. The method according to claim 6, wherein the benefit is a number of points provided with the storage, and the number of points is given more when the regular storage expires than when the regular storage is stored. Item 3. The game medium storage system according to Item 3. 7. The gift according to claim 3, wherein the benefit is a special prize, and when the resident selects regular storage, the prize can be exchanged for a regular storage prize set in the POS system in advance. Game media storage system. 8. A game medium storage method using a game medium storage card in which one of both ends of the same surface is a regular storage side and the other one is a normal storage side, wherein a direction in which the card is inserted is used. Game media storage method in which either regular storage or normal storage is selected in accordance with the following. 9. A game medium storage card used in claim 8. 10. A storage system for a game medium, comprising: storage means for setting a plurality of storage types different from each other and storing the number of media stored for each type; and performing a storage process for the game medium. Storage processing means, storage type selection means for selecting a desired type from the plurality of storage types during the storage processing, information on the number of media stored based on the storage processing means and the storage type based on the storage type selection means Communication means for communicating the storage medium to the storage means. 11. The game medium according to claim 10, further comprising: a benefit parameter setting unit configured to store a benefit parameter for giving a difference to the benefit to the saver in the plurality of storage types in association with the storage storage unit. Storage system. 12. A storage system for a game medium, wherein a normal storage with no expiration date and a regular storage in which use of the storage medium is prohibited or restricted until the expiration date is set for each storage type. Storage storage means for storing the number of media, and a useful parameter such as an interest rate for interest calculation in regular storage, a fee for replaying by drawing out storage media, or a number of points related to storage compared to the normal storage. Beneficial parameter setting means for setting and storing a relatively high value; storage processing means for performing the storage processing of the game medium; and storage for allowing the storage user to select a desired type from the normal storage and the periodic storage during the storage processing. Type selection means, and communicates information on the number of media stored based on the storage processing means and information on the storage type based on the storage type selection means to the storage means. Retention system of the game medium, characterized in that it comprises a communication means, the that. 13. A withdrawal storage type selection means for designating a storage type of a withdrawal destination in addition to the number of game media to be withdrawn or data of a desired exchange prize at the time of replay or prize exchange by withdrawing a storage medium. 10 or 1
3. The game medium storage system according to any one of 2.