JP2004321425A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system capable of dispensing game media by a credit using an existing communication infrastructure and simplifying the operation between a game parlor and a credit card company. <P>SOLUTION: When a centralized control terminal 40 obtains a credit use affirmative/negative information (S1), the credit use affirmative/negative information obtained in a parlor terminal 30 is registered linked with a member ID (S3). When a card unit 20 receives the member card (S11) and credit ball dispensing button is operated (S17), the parlor terminal 20 specifies whether or not the ball dispensed by the credit is permitted (S19), the parlor terminal transmits the information showing whether or not the ball dispensed by the credit is permitted to the card unit (S20), and when the card unit receives the information that the ball dispensed by the credit is permitted, the balls are dispensed based on the information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game system for lending game media (for example, pachinko balls) usable for games in a game arcade, and more particularly, to a game system for lending game media by credit. About.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, as a system capable of lending game media by the credit, as shown in Patent Literature 1, a system for lending game media using a pre-credit card issued by a credit card company, As shown in FIG. 2, there is known an apparatus that lends a game medium using a credit card issued by a credit card company.
[0003]
In these conventional systems, when a pre-credit card or a credit card is accepted at a game hall, an inquiry as to whether or not the card can be used is made from the game hall to a credit card company, and as a result of the inquiry, the card is Is available, game media using those cards is lent.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-4-220279 (page 2, FIG. 1)
[Patent Document 2]
JP-A-2001-31076 (page 2, FIG. 2)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional system, when lending game media using a pre-credit card or a credit card, an inquiry as to whether or not the card can be used must be made from the game hall to the credit card company every time. It is necessary to introduce a communication infrastructure (hereinafter simply referred to as "communications infrastructure") that enables communication between each game arcade and each credit card company, which increases the introduction cost and increases the cost of the game arcade and the credit card company. There is a problem that the operation between and becomes complicated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to rent a game medium by credit using an existing communication infrastructure and to establish a connection between a game hall and a credit card company. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming system that can simplify the operation between the games.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
[0008]
First, the invention according to claim 1 is provided in a pre-registered registered game arcade, and provided in the registered game arcade, a game media lending processing device for performing a lending process for lending game media usable for games. Performing a process for issuing a member player specifying recording medium on which a member terminal that can identify a member player who has performed a member registration and member player specifying information that can specify a member player who has registered as a member can be communicated with the game medium lending processing device. A centralized management terminal provided at the member player specific recording medium management institution and communicable with the on-site terminal, wherein the centralized management terminal determines whether or not a credit card can be used. Can communicate with a credit card company that has a credit management information management terminal that manages and provides information, and can identify credit cards owned by each member player Member information registration means for registering the credit card identification information in association with each member player identification information for each of the registered playgrounds, and each member identified from the member player identification information registered in the member information registration means. A credit-usability information obtaining unit for obtaining the credit-usability information of the player from the credit-usability information management terminal; and a credit-usability information of each member player obtained by the credit-usability information obtaining unit. Means for transmitting credit availability information to a venue terminal of the venue, wherein the venue terminal associates the credit availability information transmitted from the credit availability information transmission means with each member player identification information. The game medium lending processing device includes a credit use permission / non-permission information registering means for registering and attaching the credit card. In the state where the player specific recording medium is received, when there is a request for lending of the game medium by credit, the credit lending request information including the member player specifying information recorded on the member player specifying recording medium is stored in the hall. Transmitted to the terminal, and the terminal in the hall responds to the receipt of the credit lending request information based on the credit availability information registered in association with the member player identification information included in the credit lending request information. And whether or not to allow the lending of the game media by credits, and transmitting information indicating whether or not to allow the lending to the game medium lending processing device based on the specification result, The medium lending processing device performs the lending process in response to receiving the information indicating that the lending is permitted, and indicates the amount used by the lending process. Transmits the usage amount information to the in-house terminal, and in response to receiving the usage amount information, the in-house terminal manages the usage amount information for each member player, and transmits the usage amount information to the The gaming system transmits the information to the central management terminal, and the central management terminal transmits the usage amount information to the credit card company.
[0009]
The invention according to claim 2 is the gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the on-site terminal manages a usable amount of the credit card for each member player, and the used amount is determined by the used amount. When the possible amount is reached, the information that the lending is not permitted is transmitted to the game medium lending processing device, and the game medium lending processing device receives the information that the lending is not permitted. Is a gaming system wherein the lending process is not performed.
[0010]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming system according to the second aspect, the game medium lending processing device includes, when the lending process is not performed, a credit lending impossible notification unit that notifies the user of the fact. It is a game system characterized by the above.
[0011]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming system according to the second or third aspect, the on-site terminal transmits remaining amount information indicating the remaining amount to the usable amount to the gaming medium lending processing device. The gaming medium lending processing device is a gaming system comprising a balance notifying unit for notifying the balance based on the balance information.
[0012]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the gaming system according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the credit availability information obtaining means is configured to provide a credit of each member player at least once a day. The use permission information is obtained from the credit use permission information management terminal, and the credit use permission information registration means is registered based on the credit use permission information of each member player obtained by the credit use permission information obtaining means. This is a gaming system characterized by updating credit availability information of each member player who has a credit.
[0013]
The invention according to claim 6 is the game system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the game medium lending processing device is a credit system for receiving a request for lending a game medium by the credit. A game system comprising: a loan request operating unit; and a normal loan request operating unit for receiving a loan request for a game medium not based on the credit.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 according to the present invention is capable of renting a game medium (for example, a pachinko ball) by credit in a game hall 2, and particularly a member player specifying recording medium management organization ( Here, by using the existing communication infrastructure introduced between the member card management organization 3) and each of the game arcades 2, it is possible to communicate between each credit card company 4 and the member player specific recording medium management organization. Just by doing, it is possible to lend game media by credit.
[0015]
The gaming system 1 includes a card unit 20 provided in the game hall 2, an on-site terminal 30 provided in the amusement hall 2 and capable of communicating with the card unit 20, and a member card management institution 3 provided with the And a central management terminal 40 with which communication is possible. The central management terminal 40 can also communicate with the credit card company 4 including the credit availability information management terminal 4a. In the gaming system 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a membership card 5 and a prepaid card 6 are used.
[0016]
Here, the game hall 2 is a registered game hall registered in the gaming system 1 in advance. Here, the number of the game arcades 2 is three from A to C here, but the number is not particularly limited. Further, since the game arcades A to C are substantially the same, the game arcade A will be described below. The member card management institution 3 is an example of a member player specific recording medium management institution, and is an institution that performs processing for issuing a membership card 5. Here, issuance of a prepaid card 6 and use of the prepaid card 6 are performed. It is a prepaid card company that also manages the amount. A communication infrastructure has already been introduced between the member card management institution 3 and the amusement arcade 2 in order to issue the member card 5 and manage the amount of use of the prepaid card 6.
[0017]
The credit card company 4 is a company that issues credit cards and manages the amount of use of the credit cards, and a credit availability information management terminal 4a that manages and provides credit availability information indicating availability of credit cards. It has. The credit-usability information management terminal 4a associates the credit card with a credit card number, which is credit card identification information capable of identifying the credit card, and limits the monthly use limit of the credit card and the current use amount of the credit card. , Manages the current usable amount of the credit card (that is, the usable amount minus the used amount) and the credit availability information, and provides such information upon request. Here, the credit availability information is information on whether or not the credit card is posted on a black list. If the credit card is posted on the black list, it is recorded that the credit card cannot be used. If it is not listed, it is recorded that the credit card can be used. The number of credit card companies 4 is three here, X to Z, but the number is not particularly limited. Since the credit card companies X to Z are substantially the same, the credit card company X will be described below.
[0018]
Hereinafter, the configuration of the gaming system 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, the reader / writer is abbreviated as “R / W”.
[0019]
The member card 5 is an example of a member player specifying recording medium, in which member player specifying information (here, a member ID) capable of specifying a member player who has registered as a member is recorded. The member card 5 is registered as a member at the game hall 2, and member registration information (for example, the player's name, address, date of birth, telephone number, e-mail address, etc.) is registered at the member card management organization 3. At this time, the card is issued from the member card management organization 3 to the member player, and is inserted into the card unit 20 and used by the member player as shown in FIG.
[0020]
The prepaid card 6 is an example of a game recording medium in which information (here, the remaining number) that can specify the magnitude of a game value usable for a game is recorded. The prepaid card 6 is issued by the member card management institution 3 and is set and sold in a prepaid card vending machine (not shown) provided in the game arcade 2. As shown in FIG. It is inserted into the unit 20 and used.
[0021]
The member card 5 and the prepaid card 6 each have a recording area in which a member ID or a remaining number is recorded in a predetermined portion of a plastic thin plate having a rectangular shape, for example. As an IC card equipped with a non-contact type integrated circuit having a nonvolatile EEPROM.
[0022]
The card unit 20 is an example of a game medium lending processing device, and performs lending processing for lending game media usable for a game. Here, as shown in FIG. A ball lending process for lending pachinko balls usable for a game in the pachinko machine 10 provided as described above is performed. Here, the pachinko machine 10 is an example of a game machine, and is communicably connected to the card unit 20, and signals are exchanged with the card unit 20 regarding lending of pachinko balls, and pachinko balls are lent. This is a so-called CR type pachinko machine 10. The pachinko machine 10 and the card unit 20 are provided in parallel on a game island in the game hall 2.
[0023]
As shown in FIG. 2A, on the front surface of the pachinko machine 10, a plurality of winning openings (for example, a starting winning opening, a large winning opening, a general winning opening, etc.) and a plurality of types of identification information can be variably displayed. A game area having a display device and the like, a firing handle for accepting an operation of driving a pachinko ball into the game area, an upper plate for storing a pachinko ball to be paid out from a ball payout device 13 described later, and a storage in the upper plate. A lower plate and the like are provided for storing surplus pachinko balls that cannot be removed.
[0024]
On the front surface of the upper plate, a residual frequency indicator 14 for displaying the residual frequency specified from the record information of the prepaid card 6 accepted by the prepaid card R / W 23 described later, and the residual frequency are used. A normal ball lending button 15 for receiving a pachinko ball lending request and a prepaid card return button 16 for receiving a return request for the prepaid card 6 are provided. Here, the normal ball lending button 15 is an example of a normal lending request operation unit, and is used to receive a lending request for a game medium without credit.
[0025]
On the back side of the pachinko machine 10, as shown in FIG. 2B, a game control board 11 for controlling a game state, a ball payout control board 12 for controlling a ball payout device 13, and a loaned board. A ball payout device 13 for paying out pachinko balls and pachinko balls given as prize balls is provided. Each device provided in the pachinko machine 10 is connected as shown in FIG.
[0026]
The card unit 20 is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 (here, adjacent to the left side of the pachinko machine 10), and has a vertically long box-like shape. As shown in FIG. 2A, on the front surface of the card unit 20, a membership card insertion / discharge port 24a, a membership card return button 24b, a credit ball lending non-available notification lamp 27, a balance display 26, a numeric keypad 25, and a credit ball are provided. A lending button 28, a prepaid card insertion / ejection port 23a, and the like are provided. Also, inside the card unit 20, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), a communication unit 21a for the on-site terminal, a ball lending communication unit 21b, a control unit 22, a prepaid card R / W23, a member card R / W24, and the like. Is provided. The devices provided in the card unit 20 are connected as shown in FIG.
[0027]
The on-site terminal communication unit 21a is communicably connected to a later-described card unit communication unit 31a of the on-site terminal 30 via a stand terminal or a relay computer (not shown). It is responsible for communication. The ball lending communication unit 21b is communicably connected to the ball payout control board 12 of the pachinko machine 10, whereby signals relating to pachinko ball lending are exchanged between the pachinko machine 10 and the card unit 20. . The control unit 22 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and controls the operation of each component provided in the card unit 20 by executing a processing program stored in the ROM by the CPU using the RAM as a work area. Then, various processes are performed.
[0028]
The prepaid card R / W 23 is for receiving the prepaid card 6 inserted from the prepaid card insertion / ejection port 23a and reading and writing the recording information of the prepaid card 6. The member card R / W 24 is for receiving the member card 5 inserted from the member card insertion / ejection port 24a, and for reading and writing the record information of the member card 5. The member card return button 24b is for receiving a request to return the member card 5 received by the member card R / W24.
[0029]
The numeric keypad 25 is for receiving an input of a personal identification number when the membership card 5 is accepted by the membership card R / W24. The balance indicator 26 is an example of a balance notifying means, and displays a balance with respect to a usable amount of a credit card, and is, for example, a 4-digit 7-segment display. The non-creditable ball lending notification lamp 27 is an example of a non-creditable lending notification means, and is used to notify the user when the process of lending a game medium by credit is not performed. The credit ball lending button 28 is an example of a credit lending request operation unit, and is used to accept a lending request for a game medium by credit. Here, the button 28 emits light when lending of a game medium by credit is permitted. The credit ball lending button 28 is configured to be activated.
[0030]
In the card unit 20 described above, when a process of lending game media without credit is performed, pachinko balls are loaned as follows. First, when the prepaid card 6 is inserted from the prepaid card insertion / ejection opening 23a by the player and the prepaid card 6 is accepted by the prepaid card R / W23, the record information of the prepaid card 6 is read by the prepaid card R / W23. The residual frequency specified from the read record information is stored in the RAM of the control unit 22 and displayed on the residual frequency display 14. Next, when the normal ball lending button 15 is operated by the player and a lending request for a game medium not based on credit is accepted, a signal regarding the lending of the pachinko ball is exchanged between the card unit 20 and the pachinko machine 10. Then, a predetermined number of pachinko balls (for example, five times) are paid out from the ball payout device 13 and the pachinko balls are lent. The remaining number used for the loan is subtracted from the remaining number stored in the RAM of the control unit 22 and the remaining number displayed on the remaining number indicator 14, and the remaining number used for the loan is updated. Is transmitted to the terminal 30 in the hall. When the player operates the prepaid card return button 16 and accepts the return request for the prepaid card 6, the remaining number stored in the RAM of the control unit 22 is written to the prepaid card 6 by the prepaid card R / W23. Then, the prepaid card 6 is discharged from the prepaid card insertion / discharge port 23a. As described above, in the gaming system 1, in addition to lending game media with credits, lending of normal game media without credits is possible. Note that the case where the lending process of the game medium by the credit is performed in the card unit 20 will be described later.
[0031]
The hall terminal 30 is provided at a predetermined location (for example, a management office or the like) of the game hall 2 as described above, and is connected as shown in FIG. 1 to a card unit communication unit 31a, central management terminal communication unit 31b, And a hard disk 33 and the like.
[0032]
The communication unit 31a for card units is communicably connected to the communication units 21a for terminal terminals of the plurality of card units 20, and controls communication between the plurality of card units 20 and the terminal 30 for terminals. The central management terminal communication unit 31b is communicably connected to a later-described on-site terminal communication unit 41a of the central management terminal 40, and controls communication between the central management terminal 40 and the on-site terminal 30. The control unit 32 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling the operation of each component provided in the on-site terminal 30. Then, various processes are performed.
[0033]
The hard disk 33 is an example of a credit-usability information registration unit that registers credit-usability information transmitted from the on-site terminal communication unit 41a described below in association with each member ID, and will be described later. The credit availability information of each registered member player is updated based on the credit availability information of each member player obtained at least once a day by the credit card company communication unit 41b. Further, the hard disk 33 manages a usable amount, a used amount, and a remaining amount, which will be described later, for each member player.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 3, the hard disk 33 is provided with a data table for each date. Each data table is associated with a member ID and a personal identification number, and a member player identified from the member ID is provided. Is calculated using the following formula: credit availability information of a credit card possessed by the user, available amount of the credit card, available amount used for lending processing of the game medium by the credit, and available amount−used amount. A storage column for the remaining balance is provided.
[0035]
Here, in the storage section of the credit availability information, if the credit availability information of each member player is obtained by the credit card company communication unit 41b before the game hall 2 starts business, the credit of each member player is displayed. The availability information is transmitted from the central management terminal 40 to the corresponding on-site terminal 30, and the credit availability information of each registered member player is updated and registered based on the transmitted credit availability information. You. In the storage column of the available amount, the available amount of each member player is obtained when the available amount of each member player is obtained by the credit card company communication unit 41b before the game hall 2 starts business. The available amount of each member player already registered is transmitted from the central management terminal 40 to the corresponding on-site terminal 30 and updated based on the transmitted available amount. Further, when the usage amount information is transmitted from each card unit 20, the usage amount specified from the transmitted usage amount information is added to the registered usage amount in the usage amount storage column. Is updated and registered. Further, in the remaining amount storage column, the remaining amount calculated by the formula of available amount-used amount is updated and registered.
[0036]
The centralized management terminal 40 is provided in the member card management institution 3 as described above, and is connected as shown in FIG. 1 for the on-site terminal communication unit 41a, the credit card company communication unit 41b, the control unit 42, the hard disk 43, etc. It has.
[0037]
The communication unit 41a for the in-site terminals is communicably connected to the communication unit 31b for centralized management terminals of the plurality of in-site terminals 30 provided in each of the amusement arcades. It is responsible for communication in. The on-site terminal communication unit 41a is an example of a credit-usability information transmitting unit, and transmits the credit-usability information of each member player obtained by the credit card company communication unit 41b to the corresponding on-site terminal 30 of the registered game hall. Sent to the user.
[0038]
The credit card company communication section 41b is communicably connected to the credit availability information management terminals 4a of the plurality of credit card companies 4, and controls communication between the plurality of credit card companies and the central management terminal 40. Things. The credit card company communication unit 41b is an example of a credit availability information obtaining means, and obtains credit availability information of each member player from the credit availability information management terminal 4a. The credit card company communication unit 41b functioning as the credit availability information obtaining means obtains the credit availability information of each member player from the credit availability information management terminal 4a at least once a day. Prior to the start of the operation of the venue 2, the credit availability information of each member player is obtained from the credit availability information management terminal 4a. The communication section 41b for the credit card company also obtains the usable amount of each member player together with the credit availability information of each member player.
[0039]
The control unit 42 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, so that the operation of each component provided in the central management terminal 40 is controlled. It performs various processes by controlling.
[0040]
The hard disk 43 is an example of a member information registration unit, and stores credit card identification information (here, a credit card number) capable of identifying a credit card owned by each member player with each member player identification information (here, member). ID) in association with each registered game arcade. As shown in FIG. 4, the hard disk 43 is provided with a data table for each of the gaming arcades 2. Each data table is identified from the member ID in association with the member ID and the password. The credit card company 4 of the credit card possessed by the member player and a storage section for the credit card number are provided. Here, in the storage fields of the credit card company 4 and the credit card number, there is an offer from the member player that he / she wants to lend the game medium by credit, and the credit card owned by the member player can be authenticated. In this case, the credit card company 4 and the credit card number of the credit card are registered.
[0041]
In the gaming system 1 according to the present invention described above, the operation in the case of performing the lending processing of the gaming medium with the credit will be described with reference to FIG. First, in the gaming system 1, at the centralized management terminal 40, there is a request from a member player to request lending of a game medium by credit, and if the credit card owned by the member player is authenticated, The credit card company 4 and the credit card number of the credit card are registered in the hard disk 43 in association with the member ID as shown in FIG. 3 (S0).
[0042]
Next, before the daily opening of the game hall 2, the credit card company communication unit 41b obtains the credit availability information and available amount of each member player from the credit availability information management terminal 4a at the centralized management terminal 40 by the credit card company communication unit 41b. When this is done (S1), the obtained credit availability information and available amount are transmitted from the centralized management terminal 40 to each terminal 30 of the corresponding registered game arcade (S2). The credit availability information and the available amount are updated and registered in the hard disk 43 as shown in FIG. 4 (S3). As described above, in the gaming system 1, the credit availability information is updated at least once a day, so that the allowance of lending to the member players on the so-called blacklist can be quickly suppressed.
[0043]
Next, during business hours of the amusement arcade 2, in the card unit 20, when the membership card 5 is accepted by the membership card R / W 24 and the input of the personal identification number is accepted by the numeric keypad 25 (S11), the accepted membership card 5 is received. Is transmitted from the card unit 20 to the on-site terminal 30 (S12).
[0044]
Then, in the hall terminal 30, the member ID and the personal identification number are collated based on the registration information of the hard disk 33 (S13). If the collation result is normal, the remaining amount corresponding to the member ID is registered in the hard disk 43. (S14), if there is no extracted balance, information indicating that credit ball lending is not permitted, and if there is an extracted balance, the balance information indicating the balance is sent from the on-site terminal 30 to the card unit. 20 (S15). If the collation result is abnormal, information indicating that credit ball lending is not permitted is transmitted from the on-site terminal 30 to the card unit 20.
[0045]
When the card unit 20 receives the information indicating that credit ball lending is not permitted, the credit ball lending non-availability notification lamp 27 is turned on (S16). On the other hand, when the balance information is received in the card unit 20, the balance specified from the balance information is displayed on the balance display 26, and the credit ball lending button 28 is activated by light emission (S16). . As described above, according to the gaming system 1, the remaining amount with respect to the usable amount is notified in the card unit 20, so that the player can check the remaining amount.
[0046]
Next, when the activated credit ball lending button 28 is operated in the card unit 20 (S17), it is determined that there is a request for lending game media by credit while the member card 5 is received, and Credit lending request information including the member ID recorded on the card 5 and the usage amount information indicating the usage amount (for example, 500 yen) corresponding to a predetermined frequency (for example, 5 times) used for ball lending is transmitted from the card unit 20. It is transmitted to the terminal 30 inside the hall (S18).
[0047]
Then, in the hall terminal 30, in response to the reception of the credit lending request information, it is specified whether or not the lending of the game medium by the credit is permitted (S19). Specifically, when the credit availability information is “No”, it is specified that credit lending is not permitted. On the other hand, when the credit availability information is “permitted”, it is specified that the credit ball lending is permitted. Also, when the used amount has reached the usable amount (that is, when there is no remaining amount), it is specified that credit lending is not permitted. As described above, in the gaming system 1, when the used amount reaches the usable amount, the lending of the game medium by the credit is not allowed, so that the so-called immersion can be stopped. If it is specified that the credit ball lending is not permitted, the information indicating that the credit ball lending is not permitted, and if the specification that the credit ball lending is specified is permitted, the information indicating that the credit ball lending is permitted. Is transmitted to the card unit 20 (S20).
[0048]
When the card unit 20 receives the information indicating that credit ball lending is not permitted, the credit ball lending non-availability notification lamp 27 is turned on, and the credit ball lending button 28 is turned off and invalidated (S21). ). As described above, in the gaming system 1, when the process of lending the game medium by credit is not performed, the fact is notified, so that the player can confirm the fact. On the other hand, if the card unit 20 receives information indicating that credit ball lending is permitted, a signal related to pachinko ball lending is exchanged between the card unit 20 and the pachinko machine 10, and a predetermined number of minutes is exchanged. The pachinko ball is paid out from the ball payout device 13 and the pachinko ball is lent by credit, and the usage amount corresponding to the predetermined frequency used for the lending is subtracted and updated from the balance displayed on the balance display 26. (S21). Then, usage amount information indicating the usage amount corresponding to the predetermined frequency used for lending is transmitted from the card unit 20 to the on-site terminal 30 (S22).
[0049]
Then, in the hall terminal 30, in response to the reception of the usage amount information, the usage amount specified from the usage amount information is updated and registered in the hard disk 43 (S23), and the usage amount information and the member ID are collected from the hall terminal 30. The usage amount information and the credit card number are transmitted from the centralized management terminal 40 to each credit card company 4 (S25).
[0050]
As described above, according to the gaming system 1 according to the present invention, the member card management institution 3 and each of the gaming arcades can be installed without introducing a communication infrastructure between each of the gaming arcades 2 and each of the credit card companies 4. By using the existing communication infrastructure introduced between the two, the credit card company 4 and the member card management institution 3 can only communicate with each other, and the lending of the game media by credit becomes possible. In addition, the cost for introducing the system can be reduced, and the operation of the system can be simplified. In addition, since it is possible to confirm whether or not the credit can be used in the game arcade, it is possible to shorten the time for waiting for a player who wants to use the credit and to improve the operation rate of the pachinko machine 10.
[0051]
The invention according to the claims of the present application will be described below in association with the embodiment described above.
[0052]
First, the invention according to claim 1 is a game medium that is provided in a registered game arcade (2) registered in advance and performs a lending process (ball lending process) for lending game media (pachinko balls) usable for games. A lending processing device (card unit 20), an on-site terminal (30) provided in the registered game hall and capable of communicating with the gaming medium lending processing device, and a member player capable of specifying a member player who has registered as a member It is provided in a member player specific recording medium management organization (member card management organization 3) that performs processing for issuing a member player specific recording medium (member card 5) in which specific information (member ID) is recorded, A gaming system (1) comprising a centralized management terminal (40) capable of communicating with a terminal, wherein the centralized management terminal manages and provides credit availability information indicating availability of a credit card. Each member can communicate with a credit card company (4) having a credit availability information management terminal (4a), and provide credit card identification information (credit card number) capable of identifying credit cards owned by each member player to each member. Member information registration means (hard disk 43) for registering each registered gaming arcade in association with player identification information, and credit for each member player identified from the member player identification information registered in the member information registration means Credit availability information obtaining means (credit card company communication unit 41b) for obtaining availability information from the credit availability information management terminal, and credit availability information of each member player obtained by the credit availability information obtaining means Is sent to the terminal in the corresponding registered game hall Means (communication unit 41a for the in-house terminal), wherein the in-house terminal registers the credit availability information transmitted from the credit availability information transmitting means in association with each member player identification information, and registers the credit use. The game medium lending processing device is provided with permission / rejection information registration means (hard disk 33), and in a state where the member player specifying recording medium is received, when a request for lending of a game medium by credit is made, the member player Transmitting the credit lending request information including the member player specifying information recorded on the specific recording medium to the terminal in the hall, and the terminal in the hall receives the credit lending request information in response to receiving the credit lending request information. Based on credit availability information registered in association with member player identification information contained in Specifying whether or not to allow the lending of the game medium, and transmitting information indicating whether or not to allow the lending to the game medium lending processing device based on the specified result, the game medium lending process The device performs the lending process in response to the reception of the information indicating that the lending is permitted, and transmits usage amount information indicating the usage amount used by the lending process to the terminal in the hall. The terminal, in response to receiving the usage amount information, manages the usage amount information for each member player, and transmits the usage amount information to the centralized management terminal. A game system for transmitting usage amount information to the credit card company.
[0053]
The invention according to claim 2 is the gaming system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the on-site terminal (30) manages a usable amount of the credit card for each member player, When the used amount has reached the usable amount, information indicating that the lending is not permitted is transmitted to the game medium lending processing device (card unit 20), and the game medium lending processing device performs the lending. A game system that does not perform the lending process when receiving information indicating that is not allowed.
[0054]
The invention according to a third aspect is the gaming system (1) according to the second aspect, wherein the gaming medium lending processing device (card unit 20) notifies the user when the lending processing is not performed. This is a gaming system characterized by a credit lending improper notification means (credit ball lending improper notification lamp 27).
[0055]
The invention according to claim 4 is the gaming system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the on-site terminal (30) transmits balance information indicating a balance with respect to the usable amount to the game medium lending processing device ( The gaming system lending processing device transmits to the card unit 20), and includes a balance notifying unit (balance indicator 26) for notifying the balance based on the balance information. .
[0056]
The invention according to claim 5 is the gaming system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the credit use availability information obtaining means (the credit card company communication unit 41b) includes: At least once a day, the credit availability information of each member player is obtained from the credit availability information management terminal (4a), and the credit availability information registration means (hard disk 33) is provided by the credit availability information obtaining means. And updating the registered credit availability information of each member player based on the credit availability information of each member player obtained by the above.
[0057]
The invention according to claim 6 is the game system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the game medium lending processing device (card unit 20) includes a game medium using the credit. A credit lending request operating means (credit ball lending button 28) for accepting the lending request of the above, and a normal lending request operating means (normal ball lending button 15) for accepting a lending request of the game medium not based on the credit. It is a game system characterized by comprising.
[0058]
Lastly, a modified example of the gaming system 1 according to the present invention will be described.
[0059]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the gaming machine is the ordinary pachinko machine 10 in which the pachinko balls are paid out to the outside has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. It may be an enclosed pachinko machine, a slot machine in which medals and pachinko balls are paid out to outside, a pachilot, a credit-type slot machine in which medals can be played without being paid out to the outside, and further, pachinko balls and medals. A gaming machine that can be played with data or the like without using a game machine or the like, an image-type pachinko machine in which a game board or a pachinko ball is displayed in an image, an image-type slot machine in which a reel is displayed in an image, etc. The type and form are not particularly limited. The gaming machine is not limited to the CR type pachinko machine 10, but may be a so-called cash type pachinko machine.
[0060]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the game medium lending processing device (card unit 20) is a CR unit that performs a lending process by exchanging signals related to lending pachinko balls with a gaming machine (pachinko machine 10). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the game medium lending processing device may be equipped with a ball payout device and perform lending processing. Further, in the above embodiment, the example has been described in which the game medium lending processing device performs a ball lending process for lending a pachinko ball as a game medium, but is not limited thereto, and the game medium lending processing device may be In addition, the game machine may perform a medal lending process for lending a medal as a game medium, and when the gaming machine is the enclosed pachinko machine or the credit type slot machine, the gaming machine is used for playing with the gaming machine. The processing for adding the points / points which are the game media to be performed may be performed.
[0061]
In the above embodiment, the example in which the game medium lending processing device is the card unit 20 provided corresponding to the gaming machine (the pachinko machine 10) is described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Instead of corresponding to a gaming machine, a game machine may be provided at a predetermined location (for example, an end of a gaming island) in a game arcade.
[0062]
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the normal loan request operation means (normal ball lending button 15) is provided in the pachinko machine 10 and is communicably connected to the game medium loan processing device (card unit 20). The present invention is not limited to this, and the normal loan request operation means may be provided in the game medium loan processing device.
[0063]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the credit ball lending non-notifying lamp 27 is provided as the credit lending non-notifying means has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Only the credit ball lending button 28 that is activated by emitting light when it is turned on and turned off and invalidated when credit lending is not allowed may function as the credit lending improper notification means. That is, any specific configuration of the credit-lending-impossible notification means may be used as long as it notifies the fact that the credit-lending process is not performed.
[0064]
In the above embodiment, in a state where the member player specific recording medium (member card 5) has already been issued to the member player, the member player offers a request to lend the game medium by credit. There has been described an example in which when the credit card owned by the member player is authenticated, the credit card company 4 and the credit card number of the credit card are registered in the member information registration means (hard disk 43). However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the member player specific recording medium is issued, the credit card company 4 and the credit card number of the credit card owned by the member player may be forcibly registered in the member information registration means. good.
[0065]
In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the centralized management terminal 40 can communicate with the credit card company 4 and obtains the credit availability information from the credit availability information management terminal 4a provided in the credit card company 4. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the central management terminal 40 may communicate with a personal credit information management organization that manages personal credit information, and may obtain personal credit information from the personal credit information management organization and use the information as credit availability information.
[0066]
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the credit availability information, the available amount, the used amount, and the remaining amount are stored in the credit availability information registration means (hard disk 33) of the in-hall terminal 30 as each member player identification information. Although the example of registration in association with (member ID) has been described, a credit card company and a credit card number may also be registered in addition to these. In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the credit card company and the credit card number are registered in the member information registration means (hard disk 43) of the central management terminal 40 in association with each member player identification information. Although an example has been described, in addition to these, credit availability information, available amount, used amount, and remaining amount may be registered.
[0067]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the credit availability information is obtained before the daily opening of the game hall 2 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the credit availability information may be obtained at any timing. Alternatively, it may be obtained several times a day instead of once a day.
[0068]
In the above embodiment, every time the credit lending request operation means (credit ball lending button 28) is operated, a credit using an amount (for example, 500 yen) corresponding to a predetermined frequency (for example, 5 frequencies) is used in the on-site terminal 30. An example has been described in which the ball lending process using the predetermined frequency is performed in the game medium lending processing device (card unit 20) after the determination as to whether or not ball lending is permitted, but is not limited thereto. At the stage where the member ID and the password have been authenticated at the on-site terminal 30, a credit ball lending using a predetermined amount (for example, 3000 yen) within the usable amount range is allowed in advance, and a credit lending request is made. Each time the operating means is operated, the game medium lending processing device allows the use of the credit ball lending in advance without any judgment in the hall terminal 30. Ball lending process using the predetermined frequency within the forehead repeatedly may be performed. According to this, it is not necessary to determine whether or not to lend a credit ball in the on-site terminal 30 every time the credit lending request operation means is operated, so that the processing load of the entire system is reduced. If the remaining amount is within the range of the predetermined amount which is allowed in advance for the credit ball lending, information capable of specifying the remaining amount is recorded on the member player specifying recording medium (member card 5), Using the remaining amount specified from the record information of the member player specific recording medium, it is possible to perform ball lending processing in another game medium lending processing device or specified from the record information of the member player specific recording medium. The balance may be settled.
[0069]
In the above-described embodiment, the usage amount is updated and registered in the local terminal 30 when the usage amount information is transmitted from the local terminal 30 to the central management terminal 40 and the usage amount information is transmitted from the central management terminal 40 to the credit card company 4. Although the example performed every time has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the transmission of the usage amount information may be performed every time the game in the gaming machine (pachinko machine 10) is completed, and may be performed for one hour. It may be performed at a predetermined timing, such as every 3 hours or every 3 hours.
[0070]
In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the member player specific recording medium management organization (member card management organization 3) is a prepaid card company has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Any organization that performs processing for issuing a user-specific recording medium may be used.
[0071]
【The invention's effect】
According to the gaming system of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0072]
First, according to the gaming system according to claim 1, without introducing a communication infrastructure between each gaming arcade and each credit card company, it is introduced between the member player specific recording medium management organization and each gaming arcade. By using the existing communication infrastructure that has been established, it is possible to lend game media by credit only by enabling communication between each credit card company and the member player specific recording medium management organization. The cost can be reduced and the operation of the system can be simplified. Further, since it is possible to confirm whether or not the credit can be used in the game arcade, it is possible to shorten the time for waiting for a player who wants to use the credit and to improve the operating rate of the gaming machine.
[0073]
Further, according to the gaming system according to the second aspect, when the used amount reaches the usable amount, the lending of the game medium by the credit is not allowed, so that the so-called immersion can be stopped.
[0074]
Further, according to the gaming system according to the third aspect, when the process of lending the game media by credit is not performed in the game medium lending processing device, the fact is notified, so that the player can confirm the fact.
[0075]
Further, according to the gaming system of the fourth aspect, the game medium lending processing device notifies the remaining amount to the usable amount, so that the player can check the remaining amount.
[0076]
Further, according to the gaming system according to the fifth aspect, the credit availability information is updated at least once a day, so that the allowance of lending to the member players on the so-called blacklist can be suppressed earlier.
[0077]
Further, according to the gaming system according to the sixth aspect, in addition to the lending of the game media by credits, the lending of normal game media without credits becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a gaming system.
FIG. 2A is a front view illustrating an example of a pachinko machine and a card unit, and FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of the same.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of credit availability information, available amount information, and usage amount information registered on a hard disk of a terminal in the hall provided at each gaming arcade. , (B) is a game arcade B, and (c) is a game arcade C.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a credit card company and a credit card number registered for each registered game arcade on a hard disk of a centralized management terminal provided in a member card management organization.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an operation of the gaming system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game system 2 ... Game hall 3 ... Member card management organization 4 ... Credit card company 4a ... Credit availability information management terminal 5 ... Member card 15 ... Normal ball lending button 20 ... Card unit 26 ... Remaining balance display 27 ... Credit Ball lending non-availability notification lamp 28 Credit ball lending button 30 On-site terminal 33 Hard disk 40 Centralized management terminal 41a On-site terminal communication unit 41b Credit card company communication unit 43 Hard disk

Claims (6)

A game media lending processing device that is provided in a registered game hall registered in advance and performs a lending process for lending game media usable for games,
An on-site terminal provided in the registration game hall and capable of communicating with the game media lending processing device,
The member terminal provided in the member player specifying recording medium management organization which performs a process for issuing a member player specifying recording medium in which member player specifying information capable of specifying a member player who has registered as a member is recorded. A centralized management terminal capable of communicating with
A gaming system comprising:
The central management terminal can communicate with a credit card company including a credit availability information management terminal that manages and provides credit availability information indicating whether a credit card can be used,
Member information registration means for registering credit card identification information capable of identifying a credit card owned by each member player with each member player identification information for each of the registered playgrounds,
Credit availability information obtaining means for obtaining credit availability information of each member player specified from the member player identification information registered in the member information registration means from the credit availability information management terminal;
Credit-usability information transmitting means for transmitting the credit-usability information of each member player obtained by the credit-usability information obtaining means to the on-site terminal of the corresponding registered game hall,
The on-site terminal includes credit availability information registration means for registering the credit availability information transmitted from the credit availability information transmission means in association with each member player identification information,
The gaming medium lending processing device, when receiving a request for lending of a gaming medium by credit in a state where the member player identifying recording medium is received, the member player recorded on the member player identifying recording medium. Transmitting credit lending request information including specific information to the terminal in the hall,
Upon receipt of the credit lending request information, the in-facility terminal lends the game media by credit based on the credit availability information registered in association with the member player identification information included in the credit lending request information. And whether to allow, and transmits to the game media lending processing device information indicating whether to allow the lending based on the identification result,
The game media lending processing device performs the lending process in response to receiving the information indicating that the lending is permitted, and sends usage amount information indicating the usage amount used in the lending process to the terminal in the hall. Send,
The terminal in the hall, in response to receiving the usage amount information, manages the usage amount information for each member player, and transmits the usage amount information to the central management terminal,
The centralized management terminal transmits the usage amount information to the credit card company. The gaming system according to claim 1,
The on-site terminal manages the usable amount of the credit card for each member player, and, when the used amount reaches the usable amount, transmits information indicating that the lending is not permitted in the gaming medium lending process. Sent to the device,
The gaming system, wherein the game medium lending processing device does not perform the lending process when receiving information indicating that the lending is not permitted. 3. The gaming system according to claim 2, wherein
A gaming system, characterized in that the gaming medium lending processing device includes a credit lending impossible notification unit that notifies the lending process when the lending processing is not performed. It is a game system according to claim 2 or 3,
The terminal in the hall transmits balance information indicating the balance with respect to the usable amount to the game medium lending processing device,
A gaming system, characterized in that the game medium lending processing device comprises a balance notifying unit for notifying the balance based on the balance information. It is a game system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The credit availability information obtaining means obtains credit availability information of each member player at least once a day from the credit availability information management terminal, and the credit availability information registration means obtains the credit availability information. A gaming system characterized in that the credit availability information of each registered member player is updated based on the credit availability information of each member player obtained by the obtaining means. It is a game system according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The gaming medium lending processing device includes a credit lending request operating unit for receiving a lending request for a gaming medium by the credit, and a normal lending request operating unit for receiving a lending request for a gaming medium without the credit. A gaming system, characterized in that:

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