JP2002373241A - Support system for game machine development and planning - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a support system of game machine development planning in which not only a game machine fan can readily join product planning but also gathered information can be reference data influential to the planning of the game machine of a new type machine since the reliability of the gathered information is high. SOLUTION: A development planning supporting system is connected via an Internet line NET to a user personal computer PC, publicizes a plurality of plans regarding the game machine on a homepage and gathers votes from users. It is provided with a server program transmitting a voting page VOTE. html where a plurality of characters are carried and setting is performed so as to transmit POST data from the users to a specified CGI program accompanying a mouse clicking operation and the CGI program receiving and summing up the POST data from the users, attaching data to be automatically preserved in the user personal computer PC and transmitting a confirmation response page thanks#*.html.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a system for supporting the development planning of a gaming machine using a homepage, and more particularly to a support system which eliminates duplicate voting and improves the reliability of the result of counting.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot is planned, it has been performed based solely on a proposal of a product planner or the like. Here, the planning includes selecting a character drawn on the game board in order to enhance the game characteristics of the gaming machine, and specifying a reach action on the liquid crystal display in which the character plays an active role.

By the way, when introducing a new gaming machine, it is necessary to quickly and accurately obtain information about what kind of plan the player is seeking. However, in the conventional method, even though the opinions in the company are reflected, the opinions of gaming machine fans who actually enjoy the gaming machine are not necessarily reflected, and what was completed at a high cost, It may not be acceptable. It is also conceivable to conduct a questionnaire on the street, but this is not an appropriate measure because it takes time and money to collect a large number of opinions.

[0004] Therefore, in recent years when the Internet is being used on a daily basis, a homepage for introducing gaming machines has been established, and here, it is possible to hear the wishes and opinions of gaming machine fans in order to support development planning. Conceivable.

[0005]

However, in a simple voting system, there is a possibility that the same person repeatedly repeats the voting many times with a light mischief, and if this is allowed, opinions are widely heard from a large number of gaming machine fans. The purpose of the planning support system to be used will not be utilized.

On the other hand, if a user ID or a password is given to listen to opinions, even if it is a gaming machine fan, it will not be a willingness to participate in product planning casually. The product planning referred to cannot be realized. In the first place, a gaming machine fan who is willing to give an opinion even after receiving a user ID or a password usually informs his wish directly by other means such as e-mail.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and not only does a gaming machine fan easily participate in product planning, but the collected information has high reliability. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine development planning voting system that can be used as a powerful reference material for planning.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is connected to a user's terminal device via an Internet line, and publishes a plurality of plans relating to a gaming machine on a homepage, A development planning support system for collecting information from a user, wherein the plurality of proposals are published, and information from the user is transmitted to a specific destination in accordance with an operation of the user. The first means for transmitting the information collection page set as above, the information is gathered from the user while waiting at the specific destination, and the data that can be automatically stored in the terminal device of the user is attached. And transmitting a confirmation response page.

The data that can be automatically stored in the user's terminal device corresponds to cookie data in the description of the embodiment. In this case, the cookie data may be inserted into the header of the response message and transmitted from the WWW server to the browser, or an HTML file containing a JavaScript program that automatically generates a cookie file on the browser may be stored in the WWW. It may be sent from the server.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a planning and voting system for a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in more detail based on embodiments. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the voting system, and shows an embodiment in which a voting of which character is desired to be developed from among a plurality of character proposals presented by the manufacturer is desired.

The illustrated system includes a server device SV that publishes a plurality of plans related to a gaming machine on a homepage,
A large number of user personal computers PCi capable of operating a browser,
It comprises an Internet line NET that connects the two devices. The server device SV is equipped with a server program that reads a voting page or the like from the WEB database DB and transmits it in response to a request (request) from a browser, and a CGI program that totals the voted data.

In this embodiment, since highly reliable information is collected by using cookies, WWW (World Wide
After confirming the basic operation of Web), cookies will be explained. First, the browser transmits a request message to the corresponding WWW server in response to the URL specified by the user, and requests data such as an HTML file. On the other hand, the WWW server receiving the request sends the requested H
Prior to data such as a TML file, a response message is transmitted to the browser. Then, the browser receiving the HTML file following the response message immediately displays the content on the display device.

By the way, it is possible to insert cookie data into the header portion (Set-Cookie header) of the response message described above. The inserted cookie data is stored on the hard disk as a cookie file by the browser, and the next time the data is requested from the same WWW server, the stored cookie data is inserted into the header (cookie header) of the request message and sent back. It has become.

FIG. 5 shows a specific example when the WWW server transmits the voting confirmation pages A and B (thanks # A.html, thanks # B.html) (see ST6 and ST10 in FIG. 2), The header part of the transmitted response message (Set
-Cookie header). Here,
The format of the Set-Cookie header is Set-Cookie: NA
ME = VALUE; expires = DATE; path = PATH; domain = DOMAIN # NA
It looks like ME; secure.

The NAME attribute (NAME = VALUE) is a part that specifies the name of the cookie in NAME and the value in VALUE.
In the illustrated example, the cookie ID has a value of 00140101.
Here, of the eight-digit numerical value, the upper six digits represent the user ID given to the voter, and the lower two digits represent the current voting result (this point will be further described later).

The expires attribute (expires = DATE) is a part for specifying the expiration date of the cookie.
The expiration date is Monday, May 28, 002. path
The attribute (path = PATH) is a part for specifying which data is to be added to the cookie by adding a header part (Cookie header) of the request message when the browser requests the data.
The illustrated example indicates that cookie data (00140101) is transmitted when accessing... /Vote.cgi.

The domain attribute (domain = DOMAIN # NAME) is a part for specifying to which WWW server the cookie should be sent back. In the example shown, the cookie data is www.
It will be sent back to fuji.co.jp. When the Secure attribute is specified, the cookie is sent back only when communication is secured, such as when the exchange between the browser and the WWW server is encrypted. In the illustrated example, since the Secure designation is not specified, the cookie is returned regardless of the security of the communication.

Cookies generally have the above features. Therefore, in this embodiment, after the WWW server receives the POST data SDi for character voting from the browser, the voting confirmation page (thanks # A.html, thanks #
B.html) (ST6, ST10), the cookie data including the two-digit voting data i and the six-digit user ID is inserted into the Set-cookie header of the response message and transmitted (FIG. 1). And FIG. 2). In the illustrated example, the voting result 01 is transmitted to the voter of the user ID = 001401 together with the voting confirmation page (thanks # *. Html). In this embodiment, the user ID is not essential and can be omitted.

Since the cookie is stored on the local hard disk of the user's personal computer PC of each voter to which the user ID has been assigned, if the same person again performs character voting, for example, in this embodiment, www.fuji .co.jp / k
At the time of action on ikaku / cgi-bin / vote.cgi, a cookie is inserted into the cookie header of the request message and transmitted (see FIGS. 1 and 2). That is, the POST data is www.fuji.co.jp/kikaku/cgi-bin/
When sent to vote.cgi, the cookie data stored on the hard disk of the user's personal computer is read and sent together.

Based on the above, the relationship between data exchange between the browser and the WWW server will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the server device SV, the CGI program operates in response to a request from the browser, but FIG. 2 illustrates the processing of the server program and the processing of the CGI program together.

When the server device SV receives a request message requesting a voting page (vote.html) from the browser (S001), it transmits a voting page (vote.html) relating to the development plan of the gaming machine to the browser (S002). . FIG. 3 illustrates a voting page. In this example,
Images of three characters A, B, and C, and characters A,
The numbers of votes to date for B and C are displayed.
The images of the characters A, B, and C are linked to different pages, and when each image is clicked with a mouse, a screen that briefly describes the story realized by the character is newly transmitted.

On the other hand, below the image of each character, there are provided voting buttons to be clicked with a mouse when the adoption of each character is desired. Then, when the number of votes obtained for a specific character reaches a predetermined value (**** votes), the voting acceptance operation is terminated. In this manner, in this embodiment, the so-called "vote in first-come first-served" setting is set, so that the wishes and opinions of gaming machine fans can be collected more quickly.

FIG. 4 shows the specific contents of the voting page (vote.html). When the button labeled "A-chan" is pressed, the POST data "0001" is displayed.
Is a specific area (… fuji.co.
jp / kikaku / bin-cgi / vote.cgi). The same applies to the following. When the button labeled “B Kung” is pressed, POST data “0002” is transmitted, and when the button labeled “C Chang” is pressed, POST data “0003” is transmitted. , CGI program. In the following description, this POST data is generically referred to as SDi.

A favorite character is determined on a display screen as shown in FIG.
When you operate a mouse and press a specific button, the browser will open the corresponding address (www.fuji.co.jp/kikaku/bin-cgi/vo
Send post data SDi to te.cgi) (ST
1). However, when transmitting the request message, the browser searches the hard disk and inserts it into the header of the request message to determine whether there is a cookie to be transmitted. When the user performs a voting operation for the first time, since no cookie file exists in the hard disk, only the POST data SDi (= voting data i) is transmitted to the CGI program (vote.cgi).

On the other hand, if the user has already performed a voting operation (during double voting), the past voting data j
D and stored in a cookie file. Therefore, in the case of a duplicate vote, the browser will send a new POST
The past voting data j and the user ID are transmitted to the CGI program together with the data SDi (= voting data i).

The CGI program receiving the POST data SDi determines whether a cookie ID (= user ID + past voting data) has been received at the same time (ST2).
If the cookie has not been received, it can be grasped that this is the first vote, so that the content of the vote i is specified based on the POST data SDi, and the number of votes CTi obtained for the i-th character is incremented. (ST3). Thereafter, a new user ID (six digits starting from 0 in this embodiment) for the voter is acquired (ST4).

Next, it is determined whether or not the updated vote count CTi of the character i has reached the upper limit value MAX (ST).
5) If the maximum value MAX has not been reached, a vote confirmation page A (thanks # A.html) is transmitted to the voter (ST6).
Here, the voting confirmation page A is, for example, "Thank you for voting to ** Chan. Thanks to ** Chan has won the XXXXX vote. Goal with XX votes." This is an HTML file for a simple screen. SE of response message of such HTML file
The T-Cookie header is provided with data i (01 in this example) voted by the voter, along with the user ID (001401 in this example) of the voter.

Next, the CGI program reconstructs voting page data (ST7). Specifically, a voting page (vote.htm) in which the length and the number of displayed bar graphs are modified based on the number of votes CTi obtained by the characters who have been voted
l) is reconstructed and overwritten and stored in the WEB database DB. On the other hand, in the process of step ST5, CTi> M
If AX is determined, voting end processing is performed (ST
8). Although the content of the voting end process is not particularly limited, for example, "Thank you for your cooperation. As a result of your voting, ** Chan scored a goal. I would like to develop a new device based on this result. Please cooperate with us. "
A file (vote.html) is constructed, transmitted to the voter, and overwritten and saved in the WEB database instead of the previous voting page (vote.html).

By the way, in the determination in step ST2, a case where a cookie is detected is a case where a visitor to this site has made a multiple vote. In the case of such duplicate voting, first, the previous voting result j specified by the cookie data is compared with the current voting result i specified by the POST data SDi (ST9). If the two voting results j and i match, the user ID received as cookie data and the current voting result i are inserted into the Set-Cookie header of the response message, and the confirmation page B (thanks # B.html) (ST1)
0). The specific content of the confirmation page B is designed as appropriate, for example, "This site does not allow duplicate voting. Please encourage your friends to support ** Chan who voted." It is an HTML file to be displayed on the screen.

If it is determined in step ST9 that the previous voting result j and the current voting content i do not match, it is determined that the voter's feelings have changed, and the number of obtained votes CTj of the character j is decremented. Then, the number of obtained votes CTi of the newly selected character i is incremented (ST11). Then, after that, steps ST5 to ST
8 is executed, and a subsequent request is awaited.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to construct a system capable of appropriately coping with multiple votes and counting the number of popular votes accurately. By the way, depending on the settings of the browser, the storage of cookie data can be refused, and using the user personal computer PCi with such settings,
It is possible for votes to be repeated multiple times. Therefore, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, when it is determined that the voter is a new voter by the cookie check process (ST32), the browser setting used by the voter is checked. I have.

If it is determined that the voter is a new voter, the current vote data i (here, 02) is added to the Set-Cookie header of the response message, and the confirmation page C (check.html) is sent to the user's personal computer. (ST33). However, in the setting of SET-Cookie, the setting is such that the second CGI program for browser check (see check.cgi in FIG. 7) receives the cookie.

The confirmation page C (check.html) is, for example, "*
* We received a vote for Chan. ** If you are correct, please press the OK button. The vote is confirmed when you press the OK button. H to display like
It is a TML file. As shown in FIG. 8, the confirmation page C (check.html) is a FORM action in which voting data (02 in the illustrated example) is stored in the second CGI program (ch).
eck.cgi).

In a normal case, the confirmation page C (check.htm
Since the voter receiving l) presses the OK button, the second CGI program (check.cgi) shown in FIG. 7 receives the data (= 02) of the voting result i as the POST data SDi (ST50). ). Step ST33
If the cookie data sent in the above process is accepted by the browser of the new voter, the data (=
02) should also be sent.

Therefore, the second CGI program (check.
cgi) confirms that (ST51), and if the cookie is confirmed, increments the number CTi of acquired votes of the character based on the voting data i (S51).
T53). And the final confirmation page D (check # OK.html)
Send The content of the final confirmation page D (check # OK.html) is, for example, "The vote for *** Chan has been confirmed."
The contents are as follows. And this final confirmation page D
When transmitting (check # OK.html), the user ID and the voting data are set in the response message Set-Cookie.
Insert it in the header. This cookie is set to be received by the first CGI program (vote.cgi).

If the cookie cannot be confirmed in the determination in step ST51, the second CGI program (ch
eck.cgi) transmits an apology page for the point that the voting result cannot be accepted (ST52). The apology page should have the following content: "This system uses cookies to increase the reliability of voting results. Please change your browser settings to allow cookies."

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above, the description does not particularly limit the present invention. For example, in the embodiment, CGI is used, but any kind of SSI and the like can be used. Further, in the embodiment, a cookie is exemplified, but the use of the cookie is not particularly limited. And, even when using cookies, it is not always necessary to use the Set-Cookie header of the response message, and a confirmation page (thanks # *. Html) containing a program (for example, by JavaScript) that automatically generates a cookie file is returned. May be. In addition, in the process of step 5, it is determined whether or not the number of obtained votes of a specific character has exceeded a predetermined value. Alternatively, even if the voting is stopped when the total number of votes exceeds the predetermined value, it is determined. good. Alternatively, the voting period may be set in advance, and the reception may be stopped when the period expires. Furthermore, the reception may be stopped when one of the conditions of the number of votes and the voting period is satisfied.

In the case of the second embodiment, it is not essential to assign a user ID to a voter. However, by assigning a user ID as in the above-described embodiment, the preference of a gaming machine fan can be improved. It becomes possible to grasp the trend. For example, when the same type of planned voting event is performed a plurality of times, as shown in FIG. 9, the voting results for each round can be stored in association with the user ID of the voter.
In the example shown in the figure, in the first voting, a selection is made from the characters 1 to 3, and in the second and third voting, the voting is performed on the characters 4 to 7 and the characters 8 to 11, respectively. The result is recorded in the management table.

Also, in selecting a character other than a character,
This management table can be used. For example, the voting results of the action contents on the liquid crystal display unit mounted on the gaming machine can be recorded together. And
By integrating such information, it is possible to grasp the preference of avid game machine fans who vote every time, and to obtain more effective information.

The card-type ball game machine among the game machines to which the above-mentioned embodiment is applied will be described just in case. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine 2, and FIG.
1 is a side view of the pachinko machine 2. The pachinko machine 2 shown in FIG. 10 has a rectangular frame-shaped wooden outer frame 3 detachably mounted on the island structure and a hinge H fixed to the outer frame 3 so as to be openably and closably mounted. And a frame 4.
A game board 5 having game components is fitted from the rear side to an opening window formed at the center of the front frame 4, whereby all members of the pachinko machine 2 are attached to the front frame 4. In addition,
A plurality of pachinko machines 2 are arranged in the length direction of the island structure of the pachinko hall while being electrically connected to the card-type ball lending machine 1.

A front door 4 pivotally connected to the outer frame 3 via a hinge H has a glass door 6 having a window and a front plate 7 pivotally openable and closable, respectively, corresponding to the front side of the game board 5. Is being worn. An upper plate 8 for storing game balls for firing is mounted on the front plate 7, and a lower plate 9 for storing game balls overflowing or withdrawn from the upper plate 8, and a firing means 10 below the front frame 4. Firing handle 11 is provided.

The firing means 10 includes a firing handle 11 that can be rotated and a firing motor that fires a game ball with a hitting hammer 12 with a hitting force corresponding to the rotation angle of the firing handle 11. On the right side of the upper plate 8, an operation panel 13 for ball lending operation for the card-type ball lending machine 1 is provided. The operation panel 13 has a card balance display section 13a for displaying the card balance with three-digit numbers. And a ball lending switch 13b for instructing ball lending of game balls for a predetermined amount,
Return switch 1 to instruct the return of the card at the end of the game
3c is provided.

As shown in FIG. 12, the game board 5 is provided with a substantially annular guide rail 15 comprising an outer rail and an inner rail made of metal, and a game area 5a inside the guide rail 15 has Characters designed to excite the player's feelings are depicted. In addition, the game area 5a
There are a color liquid crystal display 16, a symbol starting means (symbol starting and winning means) 17, an opening / closing winning means (large winning means) 18, a plurality of normal winning means 19 (in addition to the upper normal winning means 19, an opening / closing type). 6 on the left and right sides of the winning means 18
Two normal winning means 19), two gates 20 (passage)
Are respectively provided at predetermined positions.

The liquid crystal display 16 functions as a first symbol display means 22 for displaying a moving symbol and displaying a background image and moving images of various characters. The first symbol display means 22 displays a background image and a character in an animated manner, and displays three (left,
(Medium, right) symbol display sections 22a to 22c, and on the condition that a game ball wins in the symbol starting means 17, the display symbols of the symbol display sections 22a to 22c fluctuate for a predetermined time (scroll display). Then, the game stops in the stop symbol pattern determined based on the lottery result according to the timing of winning the game ball to the symbol starting means 17.

Immediately above the liquid crystal display 16, ordinary winning means 19 and second symbol display means 23 are provided. The second symbol display means 23 has an ordinary symbol display unit for displaying one ordinary symbol, and when a game ball passing through the gate 20 is detected, the symbol displayed on the ordinary symbol display unit fluctuates for a predetermined time, When the game ball passes through the gate 20, a stop symbol determined by the random number for the lottery selected by the lottery is displayed and stopped. The symbol starting means 17 is an electric tulip having a pair of left and right opening and closing claws 17a which can be freely opened and closed. When the stopped symbol after the change of the second symbol display means 23 hits and the symbol is displayed, the opening and closing claw 17a is It is opened only for a predetermined time and it becomes easy to win a prize.

The open / close prize unit 18 has an open / close plate 18a which can be opened forward. When the stop symbol after the change of the first symbol display unit 22 is a hit symbol such as "777", a "big hit" is reached.
Is started, and the opening / closing plate 18a is opened to the front side. The specific area 1 is provided inside the opening / closing prize means 18.
8b, and when the winning ball passes through the specific area 18b, the special game is continued. Here, the special game state corresponds to a state advantageous to the player. In particular, the character performs various staging operations in the operation state until the big hit state is determined, and the player is excited.

After the opening / closing plate 18a of the opening / closing type winning means 18 is opened, a predetermined time has elapsed or a predetermined number (for example, 10
) Game balls win and the open / close plate 18a closes,
If the game ball does not pass through the specific area 18b, the special game is terminated, but if the game ball passes through the specific area 18b, the special game is continued up to, for example, 16 times at maximum, and is controlled in a state advantageous to the player. Is done.

[0048]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
A gaming machine development planning support system that not only allows gaming machine fans to easily participate in product planning, but also because the collected information is highly reliable, can be used as a powerful reference for planning new gaming machines. can do.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the present system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a voting page displayed on a display.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a program example of a voting page.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a header part of a response message.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the operation content of the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a part of the operation content of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a confirmation page used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a user ID and a voting character management table.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine to which the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the pachinko machine of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a front view of the pachinko machine of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 VOTE.html Information collection page (voting page) S002 First means thanks # *. Html Confirmation response page (Confirmation page) ST2-ST10 Second means

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A development planning support system which is connected to a terminal device of a user via an Internet line, publishes a plurality of planning plans relating to a gaming machine on a homepage, and collects information from the user, A first means for transmitting an information collection page in which the plurality of proposals are posted and information from the user is set to be transmitted to a specific destination according to an operation of the user; A second unit that waits at the specific receiving destination to aggregate information from the user, and transmits an acknowledgment page with data that can be automatically stored in the terminal device of the user. A featured game machine development planning support system. 2. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the data attached to the confirmation response page includes information sent from the user. 3. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the information from the user is information for selecting one of a plurality of plans proposed on an information collection page. . 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the second unit changes the part of the information collection page in accordance with the result of the aggregation after performing the aggregation by adding the selection information. 3. The support system according to 3. 5. The second means performs an addition operation for each type of selection information, and if the addition result exceeds a predetermined value, drastically changes the information collection page so as to stop the information collection. The support system according to claim 3, wherein: 6. The first means for judging whether or not data received from a user in the past is also received when attached to an acknowledgment page when information is received from the user. The support system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein 7. When the first determination unit determines that data previously attached to the confirmation response page and transmitted is also received, the first determination unit functions to determine whether the information transmitted by the user in the past The support system according to claim 6, further comprising a second determination unit configured to determine whether the transmitted information matches. 8. The second means functions when it is determined that the information transmitted by the user in the past matches the information transmitted this time, and deletes the information for the past, The support system according to claim 7, further comprising a recounting unit that counts information. 9. When the first determination means determines that data transmitted in the past attached to an acknowledgment page has not been received, data that can be automatically stored in the user's terminal device is stored. 7. The support system according to claim 6, wherein, when transmitting, data including information transmitted from the user is used. 10. The gaming machine development planning and voting system according to claim 9, wherein the information is set so as to be received by a program for checking an operation mode of a terminal device of a user and transmitted.