JP2005027894A - Game system and game condition management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system that can unerringly keep track of an amount consumed by a player. <P>SOLUTION: The game system has a game machine 10 and a card type ball vending machine 20 both of which are connected with each other in a bidirectionally communicating state through a communication unit 30. The game machine 10 is designed to confidentially hold game balls. The card type ball vending machine 20 accepts the input of a ball put-in instruction number of balls to be used by a player, controls a ball holding unit 11 so as to put in the ball put-in instruction number of balls accepted into the game machine 10 and accumulates the ball put-in instruction number of balls accepted in a total number recording area. The game system forms a special game control condition, when the total put-in instruction number of balls in exceeds a fixed value. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system that uses a physically existing game medium, such as a game ball or game medal, to increase or collect the game medium. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a gaming system that can reliably grasp how much gaming media has been used.

  In order to prevent pachinko games and pachislot games from significantly irritating the player and damaging good customs and the like, various regulations are made on the gaming machines that enable these games. For example, the Wind Optimization Act establishes accreditation standards for gaming machines that can be extremely irritating, and based on this, establishes technical standards and requires manufacturers to comply. Therefore, the following problems have arisen.

(1) Providing a variety of gaming machines to players is irrelevant to gambling, but because technical standards are finely defined, there are restrictions on the frame of gaming machines that can be manufactured by manufacturers. Has occurred.
(2) Since it is impossible to establish technical standards for all future-developed gaming machines, even gaming machines that do not have any problems in terms of gambling are subject to detailed regulations and tested. May fail.
(3) Although detailed provisions are provided, in practice, each provision is naturally interpreted to be somewhat wider than the width of the wording, and depending on the breadth of interpretation, Thus, the game machine may fall under a game machine that may significantly increase gambling even if it does not conflict with technical standards.
(4) The current regulation is to reduce the number of game balls (number of balls acquired) by a player as a single-hit as a gaming machine that may be extremely intriguing. It is not intended to reduce the total number of balls earned by a player (the number of true earned balls, etc.).
(5) Although there is a current situation in which the game program is illegally modified, sales using so-called back ROMs are rampant, and the purpose of the rules is broken, but there is no effective regulation means for this.

As a measure to solve such problems, not only the upper limit of the number of balls acquired, but also the upper limit of the number of game balls consumed up to the big hit, that is, use the well-known pachislot limiter function Is also possible. For example, when 20,000 yen is consumed (a game ball corresponding to the amount of money is used), a big hit is generated so as not to lose further.
However, even if the gaming machine has such a function, it is not possible to determine whether one player has actually consumed that much, and conversely, it is necessary to allow the player to consume that much, to make a big hit, and to consume it. If used, it will not reduce the total consumption. That is, it is not possible to suppress euphoria (prevent renormalization).

  In order to increase the effectiveness of suppressing gambling, it is further necessary to impose a limit on the total amount of cash (or game balls corresponding to that amount) used by one player for the game. For example, gambling is suppressed in such a way that one player cannot spend more than 50,000 yen a day. In this way, if the regulation by any one or all of the upper limit of the number of balls acquired etc., the upper limit of the number of game balls consumed up to the jackpot, the upper limit of the total amount of total cash can be performed, the law of suppressing gambling It is expected to be able to achieve the purpose.

  The present invention reliably grasps how much cash or the number of game media (the number of game balls, the number of medals for games, etc.) the player has consumed for the game without causing any trouble to the game by the player. It is a main object to provide a possible gaming system and a gaming situation management device suitable for implementation by this gaming system.

The gaming system provided by the present invention includes a plurality of physical game media held in a confidential state in which a player is prevented from bringing in and taking out the game media, and the game medium holding unit inputs the confidential state in the confidential state. The game medium using the game medium that has been used is increased or collected according to the operation content of the player, and other game media can be paid out to the player. The game means, the input instruction number receiving means for receiving the input of the number of instructions for inserting the game medium used by the player in the game means, and the number of game media received by the input instruction number receiving means for the game And a game status management device for controlling the game medium holding means so as to be inserted into the means and for accumulating the accepted instruction number in a predetermined cumulative number recording area. And wherein the door.
The physical game medium is, for example, a game ball for a pachinko game, and a game medal for a pachislot game. For example, in the case of a pachinko game, there is no upper plate unit in a conventional gaming machine, and the game ball is not touched by the player, This means that the game is directly input to the game means. The “game medium other than the collected portion” means, for example, a game ball remaining without being collected by the game means in the case of a pachinko game.

  By holding the game media in a confidential state as described above, all the game media used in the gaming machine are held by the game media holding means, and only the game media input by the instruction information output from the game status management device Thus, the game status management apparatus can correctly grasp the quantity of so-called “IN”. Further, by recording the cumulative number of inputs in the game situation management device, it is possible to grasp how much money or the number of game media the player has consumed.

  From the standpoint of identifying which player is the input instruction, for example, the input instruction number receiving means is configured to receive the identification information of the player who uses the game medium when receiving the input instruction number. To do. Then, the gaming status management device associates the accumulated cumulative number, which is the final cumulative value of the number of throwing instructions, with the received identification information and accumulates it in the cumulative number recording area.

In a preferred embodiment, the gaming status management device records and reads the gaming value in a gaming value recording area for recording a gaming value representing the number of gaming media usable in the gaming means for each player. The recording / reading control means for performing the above is provided.
Then, for example, when it is detected by a search of the game value recording area that the game value is recorded in the game value recording area, the record reading control is performed with the number of game media corresponding to the game value as an upper limit. The means is caused to withdraw from the game value recording area the game value for the number of input instructions received by the input instruction number receiving means.
In the case where it is possible to grasp the game value that has been withdrawn, the record reading control means can reduce the game value recording area for accumulating the reduced game value for each player, and the game that can be withdrawn. It has a function of recording and reading information to and from the limit value recording area for recording the limit value of the value, and when the gaming value is deducted, the gaming value is accumulated in the reduced gaming value recording area, When it is detected that the accumulated value during the predetermined period has reached the limit value recorded in the limit value recording area, the subsequent withdrawal of the game value is limited.
Note that the game status management device replaces the payable game medium with the player, and the record read control means gives the game value corresponding to the number of game media that can be paid out to the game. You may make it comprise so that it may record on a value recording area. In this way, even when a physical game medium is used, the player does not touch the game medium at all, and is freed from the troublesomeness associated with storage and movement of the game medium.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the gaming status management device is detachably attached to a portable recording medium, for example, an IC chip mounting card, which is distributed to each player and on which the identification information of the player is recorded. And a recording medium mounting mechanism. Then, at least while the portable recording medium is mounted on the recording medium mounting mechanism, the information related to the game is recorded and the recorded information is read through the recording / reading control means. In this case, the gaming status management device, instead of paying out the payable game media to the player, allows the game value corresponding to the number of payable payout media through the record / read control means. You may make it record on a portable recording medium.

  From the viewpoint of improving the security of the identification information, the portable recording medium records the player's personal information and unique information uniquely assigned at the manufacturing stage, and is accessed by the recording / reading control means. A card medium on which a memory chip is mounted is used, and the identification information is at least one of personal information and unique information recorded on the memory chip.

  In the gaming system using the above portable recording medium, from the viewpoint of achieving “hamari relief” of the player, the gaming status management device is configured to store the portable recording medium on the basis of the accumulated cumulative number within a predetermined period. The balance calculation means for calculating the balance of the player who is playing with the game attached to the recording medium mounting mechanism, and the content of the game control predetermined in the game means based on the calculation result by the balance calculation means And a game content correcting means for correcting the game content. The game content correcting means, for example, corrects a winning probability predetermined for the gaming means in a direction in which the balance is advantageous to the player.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the game medium holding means is enclosed in a single gaming machine casing together with the gaming means, and the gaming status management device is separated from the gaming machine casing. It is constructed in a sand case, and the game status management device constructed in the sand case is connected to the game medium holding means and the game means in the game machine case by a two-way communication means using an encryption method. Yes.

The present invention also provides a gaming situation management device suitable as a component device of the gaming system described above.
The gaming status management apparatus is provided with gaming media holding means for holding a plurality of physical gaming media in a confidential state that is prevented from being brought in and taken out by a player, and from the gaming medium holding means is put in the confidential state. A game that uses a game medium, and the game medium is increased or collected according to the player's operation content, and game media other than the collected game medium is exchanged for a game means that allows the player to pay out. It is a device that can be freely connected.
This apparatus includes an input instruction number accepting unit that accepts an input of the number of instructions for inserting the game media used by the player in the game means, and a unique identification information recorded for each player. A recording medium mounting mechanism for detachably mounting a portable recording medium, a recording / reading control unit for recording information on the portable recording medium mounted on the recording medium mounting mechanism and reading the recorded information, and at least the portable recording medium While the medium is mounted on the recording medium mounting mechanism, instruction information indicating the number of input instructions received by the input instruction number receiving means is generated, and the game medium holding means is controlled based on this instruction information to input Game control means for putting game media for the number of instructions into the game means, and an insertion history for accumulating the number of input instructions received by the input instruction number receiving means in a predetermined cumulative number recording area Characterized in that a physical means.

  In this gaming status management apparatus, the portable recording medium is reduced by a gaming value recording area for recording a gaming value indicating the number of gaming media that can be used by the gaming means, and withdrawing from the gaming value recording area. A reduced game value recording area for accumulating the played game value and a limit value recording area in which a limit value of the game value that can be withdrawn is recorded. When the game value is recorded in the game value recording area of the recording medium, it is configured to accept the input of the insertion instruction number up to the number of game media corresponding to the game value, and the record reading control means The game value corresponding to the number of input instructions received is withdrawn from the game value recording area, and the game value is reduced to the reduced game value each time the game value is withdrawn. When it is detected that the accumulated value of the game value during the predetermined period has reached the limit value recorded in the limit value recording area, the withdrawal of the game value from the portable recording medium is restricted. Is configured to do.

In the gaming system of the present invention, as described above, the game medium received by the input instruction number receiving means is input from the game medium holding means to the game means in a confidential state, and the received input instruction number is the player identification information. At the same time, since it is accumulated in a predetermined cumulative number recording area, it becomes possible to accurately grasp which player has consumed how much game media by the cumulative value recorded in the cumulative number recording area. Such an operation is mainly realized by the game situation management device of the present invention. Therefore, the following effects can be expected.
(1) By setting up the upper limit of the game media acquired by games, the upper limit of the number of game balls consumed up to the jackpot, and the upper limit of the total amount of cash, it will be an opportunity to suppress gambling, in society By being accepted, this kind of current regulation becomes unnecessary (relaxation), and a variety of game machines can be developed.
(2) Since the sales amount at the amusement hall becomes clear and the sales amount may be appropriately suppressed, the current value depends on the gaming machine in which the sales amount becomes abnormally high, that is, the gaming machine with high joyfulness. The way of sales is restrained.
(3) Even if an unauthorized person attempts unauthorized modification of a gaming machine, as a result, the total amount of money consumed by the player is suppressed, so that the sales will not increase immediately. In other words, the motivation to perform unauthorized modification is reduced.
(4) It can be connected to “prevention of players” and contribute to the sound development of the industry.

  In this specification, an example of a gaming system that allows a game to be performed with a portable membership card and cash as an example of a portable recording medium will be described. The game may be any game, such as a pachinko game, a pachislot game, etc., as long as the number of game media is increased or the game media is collected according to the operation content of the player. For convenience, a pachinko game in which the game medium is a game ball will be described.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the gaming system of this embodiment.
The gaming system 1 of the present invention has a semi-sealed gaming machine 10 in which a game medium holding means and a gaming means are provided in the same casing, and a card sand 20 as an example of a gaming status management apparatus of the present invention. In addition, the gaming machine 10 and the card sand 20 can perform two-way encrypted communication through the communication unit 30.
The communication unit 30 can also communicate with a gaming hall management system (not shown) that manages all the gaming machines 10 and card sands 20 provided in the gaming hall. For example, all the information transmitted from the card sand 20 to the gaming machine 10 is also collected in the game hall management system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a ball holding unit 11 for holding a game ball in a confidential state is provided at the top of the housing of the gaming machine 10, and an operation by a player is performed inside the housing. A game control unit 12 is provided for performing game control (including production control, prize throwing control, etc.) according to the contents. “Hold in a confidential state” refers to holding in a state in which the player cannot be involved in throwing in the game balls.

  Of the casing of the gaming machine 10, a part facing the player side includes a game board 13, various switches and operation handles 15 of the operation panel 14 operated by the player, and a lower plate unit 16 for paying out game balls. Is provided. A predetermined portion of the game board 13 is provided with various winning sensors, passage detection sensors for detecting the passage of game balls, and the like. The game control unit 12, the game board 13, the operation handle 15, and the lower plate unit 16 constitute a game means employed by the present invention.

  The gaming machine 10 described in this example is a semi-sealed gaming machine in which a player cannot participate in the insertion of a game ball, and there is no portion corresponding to the upper plate of this existing gaming machine. Instead, based on information from the card sand 20 side, a physical game ball is thrown into the game board 13 from the ball holding unit 11 in a confidential state. However, even if there is no upper plate, a space for holding a predetermined number of game balls capable of continuing the game is provided in the vicinity of the ball launching mechanism of the game board 13.

The player plays a game by operating the operation handle 15, and the number of game balls that can be used for the game on the display unit on the operation panel 14 (hereinafter, such game balls are referred to as “mochidama”). If necessary, the holding balls are paid back to the lower plate unit 16 and flowed to a counter or the like in a game hall (not shown). The game balls that have not won in the game board 13 are collected by the gaming machine 10 and returned to the ball holding unit 11.
By recycling the game balls in this way, the number of game balls in the game prepared on the gaming machine 10 side can be made constant, which can contribute to cost reduction of the game hall manager.
As will be described later, in the case of paying out all the balls from the lower plate unit 16, when the number of balls to be paid out is large, it is not directly from the ball holding unit 11 but directly from an external ball supply mechanism. An operation of paying out from the ball holding unit 11 to the lower plate unit 16 is also possible.

The card sand 20 has a sand casing that is joined to the gaming machine 10 during operation, and on the surface of the sand casing facing the player side, as shown in FIG. A card reader / writer (card R / R) for removably storing a membership card having a cash input slot 21 and its return button 22 and a recording area and recording information in the recording area of the membership card and reading the recorded information. W) 23, a release button 24, a display panel 25, and a display device 26 are provided.
In addition, a player information management unit 27 that manages player information specified by information (card information) recorded on the membership card is provided inside the sand case.

  Since the gaming machine 10 and the card sand 20 are separated in this way, for the game hall operator, for example, when the gaming machine 10 needs to be replaced due to a trend or the like, the card sand 20 is left as it is. There is an advantage that it is possible to cope with the situation by replacing only the gaming machine 10. Further, since the card sand 20 is set as a set with the gaming machine 10, there is an advantage that the player can lend the ball while looking directly at the gaming machine 10. In addition, since the semi-sealed gaming machine 10 is used, the player can concentrate on the game without being bothered by the movement from the upper plate to the lower plate, and the ball is not spilled and suffers damage. In addition, when the game is over, it is not necessary to carry heavy balls.

Hereinafter, functional configuration examples of the respective apparatuses necessary for carrying out the present invention will be described.
<Amusement machine>
FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the game control unit 12 included in the gaming machine 10.
The game control unit 12 is a kind of computer realized by a processor mounted on a control board of a predetermined standard, a main memory in which programs and data are recorded, an external recording device, and the like. Functions of the game control unit 121, the authentication unit 122, the card information management unit 123, the possession management unit 124, the display / switch control unit 125, the settlement processing unit 126, and the launch control unit 127, which are formed by reading and executing have.

The game control unit 121 controls the effect such as winning notice, game ball payout control, game ball launch control, game balls acquired by the player in the gaming machine 10 (hereinafter, such game balls are “acquired balls”). And the pachinko game in which the game balls are collected at the time of winning a prize and the game balls are collected otherwise.
Information input to the game control unit 121 includes, for example, various winning sensors provided on the game board 13, game ball passing sensors, and interruption / resumption for instructing interruption or resumption of games arranged on the operation panel 14. This is information sent from the card sandwich 20 output from the card information management unit 123 to be described later, each output data of the resumption switch, the adjustment switch for instructing the adjustment of the holding ball.
Information representing the results controlled or processed by the game control unit 121 based on the input information includes the card information management unit 123, the ball management unit 124, the ball holding unit 11, and the authentication unit according to the type and use of the information. 122, the settlement processing unit 126, and the launch control unit 127 are selectively output.

  The authentication unit 122 authenticates whether the card sand 20 is valid as a communication partner using a public key, a secret key, a common key, a challenge value, and the like recorded in advance in the key information table T. Detailed function contents will be described later.

  The card information management unit 123 transmits the card information recorded on the member card attached to the card sand 20 or various information generated on the card sand 20 side based on the card information to the game control unit 121, and also the member The card recording information is appropriately transmitted to the operation panel 14 through the display / switch control unit 125.

  The possession management unit 124 has a buffer memory (not shown) for recording the number of possessions used by the player for the game for each player, and the number of possessions recorded in the buffer memory. While the player wears the membership card on the card sand 20 and plays, the information is updated as needed, and the latest information on the number of possessed balls is displayed on the operation panel 14 through the display / switch control unit 125. During the game, the number of balls acquired by winning is accumulated as a ball in the buffer memory and added to the number of balls displayed on the operation panel 14. On the other hand, a game ball is fired on the game board 13. By detecting with a passage sensor provided in the vicinity of the launch point, the number of balls is subtracted accordingly. The player can check the number of balls managed by the ball management unit 124 on the operation panel 14 and can play the game while always knowing how many balls he has.

  The display / switch control unit 125 instructs one or more switches operable on the operation panel 14 by lighting, and displays information on various display units provided in the operation panel 14. As the display unit, in addition to the above-mentioned number of balls LEDs for displaying the number of balls, the game value that can be used for the game, for example, the number of stored balls, is recorded on the member card. When the number of stored balls LED indicates the number of stored balls, and the member card functions as a prepaid card and the amount information is recorded on the member card, there are the amount balance LED read from the member card and the like. Examples of the various switches include the above-described suspend / resume switch, checkout switch, payout / storage selection switch, and the like.

  When the settlement switch on the operation panel 14 is pressed, the settlement processing unit 126 performs settlement processing of the number of balls recorded in the ball management unit 124 under the control of the game control unit 121. More specifically, when the payout switch is selected on the operation panel 14, the number of possessed balls is paid out from the lower plate unit 16, or the membership card having the number of retained balls attached to the card sand 20. The process for making it record is performed.

  The launch control unit 127 restricts the operation of the operation handle 15 when the number of holding balls becomes zero under the control of the game control unit 121 and when the interruption switch of the operation panel 14 is pressed. When the holding ball is replenished and when the restart switch of the operation panel 14 is pressed, the operation restriction of the operation handle 15 is released.

<Membership card>
Next, the membership card used in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
The membership card 40 is an IC chip mounting card having an identity guarantee function, typically an IC card, which is distributed to each player. The IC chip includes a processor (CPU) 41, a rewritable memory (RAM) 42, a non-rewritable memory (ROM) 43, an electrically erasable memory (EEPROM) 44, and an input / output interface mechanism 45 via an internal bus 46. Connected. The ROM 43 stores an authentication program, a basic program, and other utility programs.

  In the EEPROM 44, a manufacturing ID recording area 441 in which a manufacturing ID (manufacturing identification information) uniquely assigned in the card manufacturing stage is recorded, a user ID recording area 442 for recording a user ID set later by the member, Issuer ID recording area 443 for recording the ID of the institution (usually the hall manager) issuing the membership card 40, for example, money amount information for causing the membership card 40 to function as a prepaid card, or a credit card, debit Additional information recording area 444 for recording information for functioning as a card or bank card and other value-added information, key information recording area 445 for recording authentication key information, and storage balls for recording the number of stored balls Area 446, a decrease for accumulating the reduced game value when the game value described later is decreased Game value recording area 447, the limit value recording area 448 for recording is formed a limit withdrawal.

The manufacturing ID recording area 441 cannot be updated, and the user ID recording area 442 and the issuer ID recording area 443 are not updated in principle after being recorded by a predetermined card writer when the card is issued. Although the additional information recording area 444 and the key information recording area 445 can be updated later, a strict procedure is required for the update. In the limit value recording area 448, a limit value arbitrarily determined by the player is recorded relatively easily and renewably. The storage area 446 and the reduced game value recording area 447 are updated as needed by the card sand 20.
Hereinafter, the information recorded in these recording areas 441 to 448 may be collectively referred to as “card information”.

<Card sand>
FIG. 4 is a functional configuration diagram of the player information management unit 27 included in the card sand 20. This player information management unit 27 is also a type equipped with an external recording device such as a hard disk, and a processor that performs information processing on game balls used by the player based on programs and data recorded on the external recording device. Computer.
In this embodiment, when the processor reads and executes the program, the authentication unit 271, the input instruction number receiving unit 272, the card information management unit 273, the instruction information generation unit 274, the input history management unit 275, and the input cumulative number accumulation unit 276, a game control information generation unit 277, and a display / switch control unit 278.

  The authentication unit 271 authenticates whether the gaming machine 10 is legitimate as a communication partner using a public key, a secret key, a public key, a challenge value, and the like recorded in advance in the key information table Ta. Detailed function contents will be described later.

  The number-of-insertion-instruction receiving unit 272 is used for cash, storage balls (when the number of stored balls is recorded in the storage area 446 of the membership card 40), prepaid card (when the membership card 40 is a prepaid card), credit Etc. (when the above-mentioned additional information is recorded in the additional information recording area 444 of the member card 40) is input. Reception other than cash insertion is based on the premise that the membership card 40 is attached to the card R / W 23.

  The card information management unit 273 reads the card information from the member card 40 attached to the card R / W 23, records the card information on the member card 40, identifies the card information to be read or recorded, and stores the card information. Performs processing related to distribution and other card information.

  The instruction information generation unit 274 generates instruction information for indirectly controlling the ball holding unit so that the game balls corresponding to the number of insertion instructions received by the insertion instruction number reception unit 272 are input to the gaming machine 10. is there. For example, when 1000 yen worth of cash is inserted, this is information for instructing the insertion of 250 game balls. The same applies when an instruction to throw in 1000 yen worth of money is accepted.

  The input history management unit 275 manages the history of instruction to insert game balls for each player every time the instruction information is generated. Actually, the acceptance history of the number of input instructions is recorded in the input cumulative number accumulation unit 276, and the number of game balls corresponding to the input instruction is accumulated in the area specified by the player ID. The latest cumulative value in the input cumulative number accumulation unit 276 is the “total input number”.

  The game control information generation unit 277 compares the cumulative number of throws per one game machine 10 of one player who is playing with the membership card 40 and the latest number of possessed balls. To calculate the balance of the gaming machine 10 by the player, and to correct the contents of the game control previously determined on the gaming machine 10 (game control unit 121) side based on the balance calculation result Game control information is generated. This game control information is control information for forming a special game control state in cooperation with the game control unit 121. The “special game control state” refers to a state in which, for example, when a big win lottery is performed on the gaming machine 10 side, a big win is forcibly generated or easily generated. In this case, it is desirable that the game content is corrected in such a way that the winning probability determined in advance on the gaming machine 10 side is adjusted so that the balance is advantageous to the player.

  The display / switch control unit 278 performs lighting control of a display mechanism provided in a corresponding switch in the display panel 25 and information display control to the display device 26. The display panel 25 is provided with a switch indicating the designated number of stored balls, and a switch that can be selected by the player is turned on.

[Operational form]
Next, an example of the operation mode of the gaming system 1 configured as described above will be described.
<Authentication process>
When the card sand 20 and the gaming machine 10 are joined, first, before providing the gaming environment to the player, authentication processing is performed to determine whether or not the communication partner is valid. A false board may be inserted between the gaming machine 10 and the card sand 20 by a so-called “Goto Master”. If false information flows into the card sand 20 due to this false board, information such as holding balls is falsified. It is because it ends up. The same applies to the case where false information flows into the gaming machine 10, and an unreasonable jackpot may occur. Authentication processing is performed to prevent such false information from flowing.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of the procedure of authentication processing performed between the gaming machine 10 (authentication unit 122) and the card sand 20 (authentication unit 271).
The gaming machine 10 transmits the challenge value to the card sand 20 and transmits encrypted data obtained by encrypting the challenge value with the secret key to the card sand 20. As the challenge value, for example, a common key can be used.
The card sand 20 receives the challenge value and the encrypted data, decrypts the encrypted data with the public key, and verifies the match between the challenge values. If they match, the challenge value is transmitted from the card sand 20 side, and the challenge value is encrypted with the secret key and transmitted to the gaming machine 10. Further, the initial sequence value is encrypted with the common key (challenge value) and transmitted to the gaming machine 10.
The gaming machine 10 receives the challenge value and the encrypted data, decrypts the encrypted data with the public key, and verifies the match between the challenge values. The initial sequence value is obtained by decoding with this challenge value.

In this way, after the card sequence 20 and the gaming machine 10 have a common initial sequence value, information is transferred. For example, information from the card sand 20 is encrypted with a common key with a sequence number and transmitted to the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 decrypts the received information and checks it with the sequence number so as not to receive it if it is false.
By such an authentication process, it is possible to detect whether the information transmitted from the other party is fake information, and it is possible to ensure the validity of the information passed to each other.

<Card sand processing at the start of the game>
Next, the processing procedure on the card sand 20 side when the player actually plays a game, in particular, the processing procedure of the player information management unit 27 will be described with reference to FIG.
Regardless of whether the game is a game based on cash or a game based on card information, it is a prerequisite for the game in the game system 1 that the player installs the membership card 40 on the card sand 20. For convenience of explanation, it is assumed here that the membership card 40 does not have a function as a prepaid card, a debit card, or a credit card, and that only the stored balls recorded in the stored ball area 446 can be used.

  When the membership card 40 is inserted into the card sand card R / W 23 (step S101: Yes), the player information management unit 27 reads the card information from the membership card 40 and temporarily stores it in a predetermined buffer memory. (Step S102). The card information read out initially is identification information for uniquely identifying the player, and is usually the player ID recorded in the user ID recording area 442. From the viewpoint of improving security, the card information is manufactured. It is also possible to operate using either or both of the IDs recorded in the ID recording area 441 and the issuer ID recording area 443 as identification information.

Thereafter, the storage area 446 of the membership card 40 is searched. If there is a storage area (step S103: Yes), the number of storage areas is displayed on the display device 26 (step S104). At this time, a selection switch indicating the number of stored balls that can be designated by the player is lit on the display panel 25. It is also possible to use coins and cash together.
When the input instruction number input from the player is received by the input instruction number receiving unit 272 by specifying the cash input or the number of stored balls (step S105: Yes), the card information management unit 273 withdraws the stored balls from the storage area 446. Determine if it is possible. The withdrawal can be made when the designated insertion instruction number is within the range of the number of balls and has not reached the limit value recorded in the limit value recording area 448. When the withdrawal is possible (step S106: Yes), a withdrawal process from the number of stored balls recorded in the stored ball area 446 is performed (step S107). Then, the debit amount is recorded in the reduced game value recording area 447 (step S108). Thereafter, the instruction information generation unit 274 generates instruction information indicating the number of insertion instructions (step S110) and transmits the instruction information to the gaming machine 10 via the communication unit 30 (step S111). The instruction information includes player identification information such as a player ID so that the player who has given the insertion instruction can be identified on the gaming machine 10 side.

In step S103, when it is determined that there is no stored ball, the process waits for cash input. When cash is inserted (S109: Yes), in step S110, it corresponds to the amount of money inserted instead of the deducted storage ball. Instruction information representing only the number of game balls to be played is generated.
After transmitting the instruction information to the gaming machine 10, the insertion history management unit 275 updates the cumulative number of insertions made by the player for that day recorded in the cumulative accumulation number storage unit 276 (step S 112).

<Procedure on the gaming machine side>
FIG. 7 is a procedure explanatory diagram on the gaming machine 10 side that has received the instruction information.
When receiving the instruction information from the card sand 20 side, the game control unit 121 records the game balls for the number of insertion instructions in the buffer memory of the ball management unit 124 as the player's own balls, and this The number is displayed on the corresponding LED of the operation panel 14, and a predetermined number of game balls are thrown into the game board 13 from the ball holding unit 11 (steps S201: Yes, S202). When it is detected that the game is started by operating the operation handle 15 or the like (step S203: Yes), the game control unit 121 performs game control according to the operation content of the player (step S204). The game control includes, for example, a lottery (including correction by special game control information) based on output timings of various winning sensors and passing sensors provided on the game board 13, a jackpot notice effect and a jackpot effect prepared in advance. Control of various effect mechanisms based on data and the like, and control of the ball holding unit 11 (payout motor 11b for paying out game balls held in the ball holding box 11a).
When the number of possessed balls fluctuates due to the game (step S205; Yes), the number of retained balls recorded in the retained ball management unit 124 is updated as needed (step S206). If the number of possessed balls is not zero and the game is not finished, the process returns to step S204 (step S207: No, S208: No). When the number of holding balls becomes zero, the process is finished (step S207: Yes).

  When the game ends when the number of balls recorded in the ball management unit 124 is not zero (step S208: Yes), a payout / pickup switch for allowing the player to select whether to save or pay out on the operation panel 14 Lights up. When the player selects a stored ball (step S209: Yes), the settlement processing unit 126 records the number of held balls recorded in the held ball management unit 124 in the stored ball area 446 (step S210), and performs processing. Finish. When the player selects payout (step S209: No), the payout motor 11b of the ball holding unit 11 is controlled to pay out the game balls held in the ball holding box 11a to the lower plate unit 16 ( Step S211), the process is finished.

<Special game control status>
Here, the special game control state described above will be described.
In the special game control state, when one player plays a game using a certain amount of game balls (for example, 10,000 yen) continuously using one game machine 10 or using a storage ball The control state starts at It is aimed at the so-called “hamari relief” of the player. This is possible for the first time by using a game ball placed on the game board 13 in a confidential state from the ball holding unit 11 as in this embodiment. The special game control state is realized by the cooperation between the card sand 20 and the gaming machine 10, and the card sand 20 side performs the trigger. That is, special game control is performed with the game control information from the card sand 20 as an opportunity. However, on the gaming machine 10 side, it is also possible to obtain information from the card sand 20 and trigger special game control.

The operation of the card sand 20 (game control information generation unit 277) in the special game control state will be described with reference to FIG. As a premise, it is assumed that the insertion instruction is received every time when the holding ball is exhausted. Since the purpose is “relief”, even if the accepting instruction is repeatedly received with enough balls remaining, the special game control state is not entered.
Referring to FIG. 8, the card sand 20 (game control information generating unit 277) reads a value specified by the player ID from among the input cumulative numbers recorded in the input cumulative number storage unit 276 (step S301). Then, the read value (accumulated cumulative number) is compared with the reference value of the special game control state recorded in the reference table Tb stored in the recording area (not shown) of the sand case (step S302).
The standard value is set in multiple steps. For example, when 10,000 yen is consumed, the jackpot probability is 50% or more. When 20,000 yen is consumed, the jackpot probability is 75%. When the consumption is 30,000 yen. Is set to a value with a big hit probability of 100%.
When the game control information generation unit 277 detects that the accumulated cumulative number has reached one or more of the above reference values by itself or a notification from the insertion history management unit 275 (step S303: Yes), the game described above. Control information is generated (step S304), and the generated game control information is transmitted to the gaming machine 10 (game control unit 121) (step S305).
In accordance with the game control information, the gaming machine 10 (game control unit 121) replaces the winning probability table used for the lottery in advance or changes the contents of the winning probability table temporarily with the game control information to win a big hit. Make it easier to generate.

  By forming this special game control state, the player can calculate his / her win / loss, and can continue the game with hope even if he / she loses more than a certain amount during the game. Note that, depending on the set value of the reference table Tb, it is possible to provide the player with a winning pattern that is doubled, tripled or more.

Thus, in the gaming system 1 of the present embodiment, since the membership card 40 is mounted on the card sand 20 during the game, the cumulative number of players and the number of balls in the gaming machine 10 of one player. Therefore, even if the player loses more than a certain amount, the player can be relieved, and the effective upper limit of the amount of money consumed in the game can be regulated.
Further, if the player consumes a predetermined limit value (as a total of games in a plurality of gaming machines 10), the member card 40 can be made unable to lend a ball. In this way, the so-called “recession” can be effectively prevented.
It should be noted that, in order to thoroughly prevent the sinking, the membership card 40 that has reached the limit value can be prevented from playing at other game venues. In this case, the card information of the member card 40 is notified to the center accessible through the communication unit 30, and when playing at any of the game halls, it is determined whether the member card has reached the limit value. Make an inquiry.
In addition, a big hit just before the closing of the amusement hall, and a player who has finished the game on the way can accumulate game balls that could not be acquired or form a special game control state the next day and immediately win a big hit It is possible to apply the game so that it is possible to play games.
Furthermore, if a player who wins wins a certain amount of money, it will be stopped. Is also possible.

  In the gaming system 1 of the present embodiment, the card sand 20 can be a target of the wind management optimization method as an effective device for suppressing gambling. As a secondary effect, the amount of money consumed by the player at the game hall, the so-called “IN” is cleared, which can contribute to the sound development of the industry. In addition, since the game balls acquired can be easily stored in order to connect to the game using the stored balls, it also contributes to the so-called “OUT” soundness. As a result, the soundness of “IN” and “OUT” is achieved at the same time. it can.

In the present embodiment, the example of the semi-sealed gaming machine 10 provided with the lower tray unit 16 has been described, but a completely sealed gaming machine without the lower tray unit 16 may be employed.
Further, in the present embodiment, a pachinko game has been described as an example, but in the case of a pachislot game, instead of the ball holding unit 11, a game medal is held in a confidential state and the number designated by the player By inserting the game medals into the game machine, the same game control as described above can be performed.

  In the present embodiment, a game using a physical game medium has been described as an example. However, the present invention is intended to clear at least IN (and OUT if necessary) in the game. Because it is the main focus, a gaming system that remotely controls a gaming machine using a physical gaming medium by a gaming status management device such as a card sand, or a screen such as a video game or a net game, such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display The present invention can be similarly applied to a virtual game system using an image of a game medium moving above. In the case of a virtual game system, the game medium holding means such as the ball holding unit 11 is a virtual one realized by image processing.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the storage area 446, the reduced game value recording area 447, and the limit value recording area 448 are formed in the EEPROM 44 of the member card 40 has been described. It may exist on an external recording device or another external recording device that can be accessed by the card sand 20 through the communication unit 30. Further, the member card 40 may be constituted by a magnetic card or other card-like recording medium.

The schematic block diagram of the game system of this invention. The function block diagram of a game control unit. The block diagram of a membership card. The functional block diagram of the player information management unit which a card sand has. Processing procedure explanatory diagram of mutual authentication between the card sand and the gaming machine. Explanatory drawing of basic control procedure of card sand. Explanatory drawing of the basic control procedure of the game control part which a gaming machine has. Control procedure explanatory drawing of a special game control state.

Explanation of symbols

    DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game system, 10 ... Game machine, 11 ... Ball holding unit, 11a ... Ball holding box, 11b ... Dispensing motor, 12 ... Game control unit, 13 ... Game Panel: 14 ... Operation panel, 15 ... Operation handle, 16 ... Lower plate unit, 20 ... Card sand, 21 ... Cash slot, 22 ... Return button, 23 ... Card R / W, 24 ... Release button, 25 ... Display panel, 26 ... Display device, 27 ... Player information management unit, 30 ... Communication unit, 40 ... Member card, 121 ... Game control unit, 122 ... Authentication unit (game machine), 123 ... Card information management unit (game machine), 124 ... Mochitama management unit, 125 ... Display switch control unit, 126 ... Settlement processing unit, 127 ... Launch control unit 271 ... Authentication unit (card sand), 272 ... Insertion instruction number reception unit, 273 ... Card information management unit (card sand), 274 ... Instruction information generation unit, 275 ... Insertion history management , 276,...,...,..., Game control information generator, 278... Display switch controller, 441. ... Issuer ID recording area, 444 ... Additional information recording area, 445 ... Key information recording area, 446 ... Storage ball area, 447 ... Decrease game value recording area, 448 ... Limit value Recording area, T ... key information table, Ta ... key information table, Tb ... reference table

Claims (13)

Game medium holding means for holding a plurality of physical game media in a confidential state in which a player is prevented from bringing in and taking out;
A game that uses a game medium that has been thrown in from the game medium holding means in a confidential state, and the game medium that has been thrown in is increased or collected according to the content of the player's operation. A game means that allows the player to pay out the medium;
An insertion instruction number receiving means for receiving an input of the insertion instruction number of the game medium used by the player in the gaming means;
The game medium holding means is controlled so that game media corresponding to the number of input instructions received by the input instruction number receiving means are input to the game means, and the received input instruction number is accumulated in a predetermined cumulative number recording area. A game situation management device is provided,
Game system. The insertion instruction number receiving means is configured to receive together identification information of a player who uses a game medium when receiving the insertion instruction number,
The gaming status management device is characterized in that a cumulative cumulative number, which is a final cumulative value of the cumulative instruction number, is accumulated in the cumulative number recording area in association with the received identification information.
The gaming system according to claim 1. The gaming status management device is a recording / reading control means for recording and reading the gaming value in a gaming value recording area for recording a gaming value representing the number of gaming media usable by the gaming means for each player. With
When it is detected that a game value is recorded in the game value recording area, the number of game media corresponding to the game value is received as an upper limit, and the record reading control means accepts the input instruction number acceptance means. The game value for the number of input instructions is withdrawn from the game value recording area,
The gaming system according to claim 1. The record reading control means includes a reduced game value recording area for accumulating the game value reduced by the withdrawal for each player, and a limit value recording area for recording a limit value of the game value that can be withdrawn. It also has a function to record and read information on
When the game value is deducted, the game value is accumulated in the reduced game value recording area, and when it is detected that the accumulated value in a predetermined period reaches the limit value recorded in the limit value recording area, It is characterized by limiting the withdrawal of the game value of
The game system according to claim 3. The game status management device, instead of paying out a payable game medium to a player, records the game value corresponding to the number of game media that can be paid out to the record reading control means. It is recorded in the area,
The game system according to claim 3. The gaming status management device further includes a recording medium mounting mechanism that detachably mounts a portable recording medium that is distributed one by one for each player and on which the identification information of the player is recorded,
At least while the portable recording medium is mounted on the recording medium mounting mechanism, information relating to the game is recorded and information recorded on the game is read through the recording / reading control means.
The game system according to claim 3. The gaming status management device, instead of paying out a payable game medium to a player, sends a game value corresponding to the number of payable game media through the record / read control means to the portable recording medium. It is characterized by recording in
The gaming system according to claim 6. The portable recording medium is a card medium having a memory chip on which personal information of a player and unique information uniquely assigned in the manufacturing stage are recorded and accessed by the recording / reading control means, The identification information is at least one of personal information and the unique information recorded in the memory chip,
The gaming system according to claim 6. The gaming status management device includes a balance calculating means for calculating a balance of a player who is playing with the portable recording medium mounted on the recording medium mounting mechanism based on the cumulative number of inputs in a predetermined period;
Game content correction means for correcting the content of game control predetermined in the game means on the basis of a calculation result by the balance calculation means;
The gaming system according to claim 6. The game content correcting means corrects a winning probability predetermined for the game means in a direction in which the balance is advantageous to the player,
The gaming system according to claim 9. The gaming medium holding means is enclosed in a single gaming machine housing together with the gaming means,
The gaming situation management apparatus is constructed in a sand casing separated from the gaming machine casing, and the gaming situation management apparatus constructed in the sand casing and the game medium holding means in the gaming machine casing And the game means are connected by a two-way communication means using an encryption method,
The gaming system according to claim 1. A game medium holding means for holding a plurality of physical game media in a confidential state in which a player is prevented from bringing in and taking out the game medium, and a game using the game medium inserted in the confidential state from the game medium holding means; The game medium is increased or collected in accordance with the operation content of the player, and the game medium other than the collected game medium is exchangeably connected to a game means that allows the player to pay out the game medium. There,
An insertion instruction number receiving means for receiving an input of the insertion instruction number of the game medium used by the player in the gaming means;
A recording medium mounting mechanism for detachably mounting a portable recording medium that is distributed one by one for each player and in which unique identification information is recorded;
A recording / reading control means for recording information on the portable recording medium mounted on the recording medium mounting mechanism and reading the recorded information;
At least while the portable recording medium is mounted on the recording medium mounting mechanism, instruction information indicating the number of input instructions received by the input instruction number receiving means is generated, and the game medium holding means is based on the instruction information Game control means for controlling the number of game media corresponding to the number of input instructions to input to the game means,
And an input history management means for accumulating the input instruction number received by the input instruction number receiving means in a predetermined cumulative number recording area,
Game situation management device. In the portable recording medium, a gaming value recording area for recording the gaming value indicating the number of gaming media that can be used by the gaming means, and a gaming value reduced by deduction from the gaming value recording area are accumulated. Decrease game value recording area and a limit value recording area in which the limit value of the game value that can be withdrawn is recorded,
When the game value is recorded in the game value recording area of the portable recording medium, the insertion instruction number receiving means receives the input of the insertion instruction number up to the number of game media corresponding to the game value. Configured,
The record reading control means withdraws the game value for the number of accepted input instructions from the game value recording area, and accumulates the game value in the reduced game value recording area every time the game value is withdrawn, for a predetermined period of time. When it is detected that the accumulated value of the game value in the game reaches the limit value recorded in the limit value recording area, it is configured to limit the withdrawal of the game value from the portable recording medium. Features
The game situation management device according to claim 12.

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