JP2008154735A - Game parlor management system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game parlor management system capable of avoiding announcement of the information on the setting when a player has to stop the play. <P>SOLUTION: A game machine terminal corresponding to a game machine displays the message that the announcement of the setting can be canceled when the accumulated number of game rounds reaches an effective number of game rounds to be canceled (6900 in the figure). At the time, if the player wants to stop the play, the player operates a cancel button mounted in the game machine terminal. Then, the game machine terminal transmits the operation of the cancel button to a management device, and the management device transmits the changed numeric value of a condition for announcement to the game machine terminal. As a result, establishment of the condition for announcement is delayed in the game machine terminal by changing the numeric value of the condition for announcement. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game hall management system that notifies a player of setting information of a jackpot probability of a gaming machine when a notification condition is satisfied.

In recent game halls, so-called setting notification events are held to attract players and attract customers. As described in Patent Document 1, the setting notification event is, for example, when the slot machine operation data (the number of games, the number of difference medals, etc.) satisfies a preset notification condition. The set value is notified to the player, and the player usually plays the game while expecting to be notified that the setting is high.
JP 2002-126170 A

  However, in the case of Patent Document 1, there is a case where a high setting is announced under a situation where the player is forced to stop the game for some reason. In such a case, the game will be reluctantly stopped while knowing that it is a high setting, the player will feel very unpleasant, and the willingness to visit the next will decrease was there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to provide a management system for a game hall that can prevent the setting information from being announced in situations where the player has to stop the game. It is to provide.

  According to the invention of claim 1, since the information indicating the notification condition is displayed by the notification condition display means, the player can determine that the notification condition is close, but in such a state for some reason. When it is unavoidable to notify the setting information when the game has to be stopped, the notification condition changing operation means is operated. Then, since the notification condition is changed so that the notification condition change means postpones the establishment of the notification condition or the notification condition cannot be satisfied, it is possible to prevent the setting notification from being made during the game of the player.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the conditions under which the player's operation on the notification condition changing operation means is effective can be restricted, so that the notification conditions can be prevented from being changed unnecessarily.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a game hall management system. In FIG. 1, a plurality of slot machines (corresponding to game machines) 1 are installed in a game hall, and a lending device 2 for lending game medals is provided adjacent to each slot machine 1. .
In FIG. 1, each component of the slot machine 1 is not given a specific reference. However, in this slot machine 1, a predetermined game start operation, that is, a state where a medal is inserted into the medal insertion slot, or When the start lever is operated in a state where the credit medal is inserted through the insertion button, the game is started by operating the variable display device composed of a plurality of rows (three rows) of reels. One game ends when the rotation of the reels is stopped by operating the stop button corresponding to the reels in the row.

When the stop symbol displayed on the variable display device becomes a predetermined winning symbol at the end of the game, a winning combination (big bonus, regular bonus, small bonus) determined by the winning symbol is generated. The number of medals according to the type of the combination is paid out to the tray.
The stop symbol displayed on the variable display device is determined according to the result of the internal lottery performed at the timing when the start lever is operated (game start timing). In the slot machine 1, the winning symbol is won by the internal lottery. Flags corresponding to winning combinations (big bonus flag, regular bonus flag, small role flag) are set, and on the basis of the flags, stop control of variable display devices including so-called slip control (reel each reel according to the type of flag) (A control to stop at a symbol or off symbol).

  In this case, each probability (corresponding to the jackpot probability) of winning the big bonus and the regular bonus as a jackpot by the internal lottery is a set value (corresponding to the setting information) corresponding to “setting 1” to “setting 6”. ), And a specific example of the winning probability of internal lottery corresponding to “setting 1” to “setting 6” is shown in the internal lottery probability table shown in FIG. Yes. In this specific example, the internal lottery probability is set to increase as the set value increases, and the jackpot probability of “Setting 6” is the highest, which is the most advantageous setting value for the player. Note that the set values are not limited to six levels, and any slot machine having multiple levels of set values may be used.

The slot machine 1 is configured to output at least signals as shown in (1) to (5) below in accordance with the game being played.
(1) Out signal (1 pulse output every time one medal is inserted or one credit medal is consumed)
(2) Safe signal (1 pulse output for every medal paid out)
(3) Game signal (1 pulse output for each game start)
(4) BIG signal (level signal output during the big bonus period)
(5) REG signal (level signal output during regular bonus period)
These signals are sent to a gaming machine terminal (corresponding to setting notification means, notification condition display means, notification condition change means) 3 and a management device (management means, notification condition setting means, It corresponds to notification control means and notification condition changing means).

  FIG. 3 shows a front view of the gaming machine terminal 3. The gaming machine terminal 3 is provided with a lamp portion 6 that is covered with a cover member that is lit / flashed in response to an output signal from the slot machine 1 or the management device 5, and a slot machine at the center portion. 1 is provided with a data display unit 7 for displaying the operation data (corresponding to the operation information) of the slot machine 1 based on the signal output from 1. A part adjacent to the data display part is provided with a call button 7 that is pressed when the player calls the store clerk and a notification cancel button 9 related to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a display example of the data display unit 7 in a normal state, which will be described below. In other words, in FIG. 4, the operation data is divided and displayed in the display areas (1) to (5) below in the data display unit 7.
(1) Number-of-games display area 7a: The number of games between bonuses (after the start of business when the bonus is zero) and the number of games between cumulative bonuses after the business start are digitally displayed. In the following description, the expression “number of games” means the number of games between bonuses (period in which no bonus is generated).
(2) Big hit count display area 7b: The number of big bonuses and regular bonuses one day before, two days ago, and the number of big bonuses, which is the highest ever, are digitally displayed.
(3) Number-of-games history display area 7c: The history of the number of games between bonuses for the latest 10 games and the current number of games between bonuses are displayed in a bar graph.
(4) Type display area 7d: The type of bonus (big bonus = ★, regular bonus = none) is displayed in association with the game number history.
(5) Message display area 7e: Displays various messages according to a display command from the management device 5, and notification conditions for setting values such as “4, 8000 game arrival set 5 and 6 notifications!” As will be described later. In addition, when the corresponding slot machine 1 is a notification target, the setting notification message is scrolled when the notification condition of the set value such as “This stand is setting 6. Congratulations!” Is achieved.

  In the management device 5, based on the operation data signal transmitted from the slot machine 1 side via the gaming machine terminal 3, various operation data for each slot machine 1 is managed and tabulated, and the tabulated operation data Can be displayed on the monitor 10 as setting notification expected time data (see FIG. 8) in a predetermined format.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the administrator holds a setting notification event, the manager displays a notification condition type selection screen on the management device 5.
FIG. 5 shows a notification condition type selection screen of the management apparatus 5. In FIG. 5, the notification condition type is displayed on the notification condition selection screen, and the administrator selects any one notification condition type for each slot machine 1 or each model as will be described later. Yes. The following notification condition types are set.

Notification condition 1: Do not notify (do not notify the set value)
Notification condition 2: Cumulative number of games (A set value is notified when the cumulative number of games of the player reaches a predetermined number)
Notification condition 3: difference number (medal payout number-medal insertion number = when the difference number reaches a predetermined number, the set value is notified)

Notification condition 4: Number of BIGs (notifies the set value when the number of big bonus winnings (winnings) reaches a predetermined number)
When a setting notification event is held, the notification condition 1 is set to the slot machine 1 that is not the target of the setting notification event so that the setting value is not notified. In addition, the notification conditions 2 to 4 are selected for the slot machine 1 that is the target of the setting notification event, and a setting value can be notified when a predetermined notification condition is satisfied. When the notification condition types from the notification conditions 2 to 4 are selected, it is necessary to set a condition numerical value as a predetermined notification condition.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a condition numerical value input screen corresponding to each slot machine 1. First, the game hall manager inputs any one of the setting values 1 to 6 set in each slot machine 1 in the “setting value” input field of the condition numerical value setting screen shown in FIG.
Next, a condition numerical value corresponding to the notification condition type is input. The example shown in FIG. 6 shows the condition numerical value setting screen when the notification condition 2 (total number of G (games)) is selected as the notification condition on the notification condition type selection screen shown in FIG. In this case, the total number of G that is a condition for notification of setting is entered in the “conditional numerical value” input field. For example, in the slot machine 1 with the machine number 4, the setting notification is made when the accumulated G number of the machine reaches 7000 games.

  Here, when a condition numerical value is entered in the “condition numerical value” input field, the predicted notification time is automatically calculated from the condition numerical value and displayed in the “notified predicted time” field. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the predicted notification time is calculated on the premise that the game hall opening time is 9:00 am and 600 games are played per hour. These preconditions can be changed on a precondition setting screen (not shown).

  When the predicted notification time is calculated, the management device 5 calculates “the predicted number of notifications until 18:00” and “the predicted number of notifications until 22:00” based on the predicted notification time, and displays the predicted numbers on the display units 11a and 11b. indicate. The total number of slot machines 1 whose predicted notification time is before 18:00 is displayed on the “announced expected number until 18:00” display portion 11a, and the “announced expected number of notification until 22:00” display portion 11b is displayed on the display portion 11a. The total number of slot machines 1 whose estimated time is before 22:00 is displayed. The total number displayed on the “predicted number of notifications until 22:00” display unit 11b includes the total number displayed on the “predicted number of notifications until 18:00” display unit 11a.

When the notification condition is set as described above, the management device 5 executes the notification condition setting process.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing notification condition setting processing of the management device 5. In FIG. 9, when there is a notification condition setting input as described above (A1: YES), the management device 5 outputs the notification condition to each gaming machine terminal 3 (A2).

When the notification condition is input from the management device 5, the gaming machine terminal 3 displays the characters “4000 notification to reach 56 to 8000 games!” In the display message display area 7 e as shown in FIG. 4. This is because the slot machine 1 in which the setting values of the settings 5 and 6 are set may be notified when 4000 to 8000 games have elapsed (corresponding to information suggesting the notification condition). An announcement message is displayed so that the player's expectation is earned by telling the player. Therefore, when the cumulative number of games approaches 4000 games, the player thinks that a high setting may be announced, and becomes enthusiastic about the game. However, since the actually set condition numerical value is not displayed, the player cannot accurately know the cumulative number of games for which the setting notification is performed.
Actually, not only the slot machines 1 with the setting values of 5 and 6, but also the condition numerical values are set for the slot machines 1 with the setting values of 1 to 4, and when the condition numerical values are satisfied, the setting notification is issued. Done.

  Now, when a player inserts a medal into the slot machine 1 and operates the start lever, an out signal is output from the slot machine 1 and a game signal is output. Count by incrementing the number of outs and the total number of Gs. When a winning combination occurs in the slot machine 1, a safe signal is output according to the payout of medals, and a BIG signal or a REG signal is output when the winning combination is a big bonus or a regular bonus. Therefore, the management device 5 calculates the difference number (safe-out) of medals while counting by incrementing the BIG number and the REG number corresponding to the turn number. In this way, game data of each slot machine 1 from the start of business is managed by the management device 5.

On the other hand, the gaming machine terminal 3 executes a cancel guidance display process in connection with the present invention in addition to the normal display process. This cancellation guidance process is a function that allows the player to cancel the setting notification.
FIG. 11 shows the cancellation guidance display process of the gaming machine terminal 3. As shown in FIG. 11, the gaming machine terminal 3 determines whether the notified flag is on (C1). This notified flag is a flag indicating that a setting notification message is displayed as will be described later. At the start of business, since the notified flag is off (C1: NO), it is determined whether the number of games has been incremented (C2). When a game signal is output from the slot machine 1, the number of games is incremented (C2: YES), so it is determined whether the notification cancelable flag is on (C3). The noticeable cancel flag is a flag that is set when the cumulative number of games reaches the number of cancel valid games as will be described later. At the start of business, since the notification cancellation flag is off (C3: NO), it is determined whether the cumulative number of games has reached the number of cancel effective games (C4). At the start of business, it is determined as “NO” and returns without doing anything.

  The number of cancel effective games is the number of games for which the player can cancel the setting notification. When the notification condition numerical value is any of 4000, 5000, 6000, 7000, and 8000, the number of cancel effective games is notified as the number of cancel effective games. 3900 to 3999, 4900 to 4999, 5900 to 5999, 6900 to 6999, and 7900 to 7999 corresponding to less than the condition numerical value are set. Further, when “7500” is set as the notification condition numerical value as in the 10th series shown in FIG. 6, 4400 to 4499, 5400 to 5499, 6400 to 6499, and 7400 to 7499 are set as the number of cancel effective games. ing. Further, the number of cancel effective games is set in the same manner even when the type of notification condition shown in FIG. 5 is “difference number” or “BIG number”.

When the game by the player progresses and the cumulative number of games reaches the number of valid cancellation games, the gaming machine terminal 3 determines “YES” in step C4 shown in FIG. 11 and turns on the notification cancelable flag. (C5) Announcement cancellation guidance is displayed (C6).
The example shown in FIG. 7 is an example in which 7000 or 8000 is set as the notification condition numerical value. Since the cumulative number of games is 6900, a message “Setting notification can be canceled” is displayed. . In this case, when the player continues the game, the message is ignored and the game is continued.

  Here, in the notification cancellation process shown in FIG. 12, the gaming machine terminal 3 determines whether the cancel button 9 is turned on when the notification cancelable flag is turned on as described above (D1: YES). (D2) If the cancel button 9 is not turned on (D2: NO), the process returns without doing anything.

When the player's game progresses and the notification cancel flag is turned on (C1: YES) as shown in FIG. 11, the gaming machine terminal 3 (C7: YES), the notification cancellation guidance display is erased (C8), and the notification cancellation enable flag is turned off (C9).
With the above operation, the gaming machine terminal 3 displays a notice cancellation guide when the cumulative number of games becomes the number of cancelable games, and cancels notification when the cumulative number of games becomes the number of invalid games. The operation of deleting the guidance is executed.

On the other hand, in the setting notification process shown in FIG. 13, the gaming machine terminal 3 is in a state where the notification cancelable flag is turned on (E1: YES), and when the number of games is incremented (E2: YES), the cumulative number of games is notified. It is determined whether or not the condition numerical value has been reached (E3). If it has been reached (E3: YES), a setting notification message is displayed (E4).
The example shown in FIG. 8 shows a case where the notification condition numerical value is set to 7000, and since the cumulative number of games has reached 7000, the gaming machine terminal 3 displays “This stand is set 6” in the message display area 7e. “Congratulations!” And other settings notification messages are scrolled for 1 minute, then “Setting 6 confirmed!” And other characters are continuously displayed and the lamp section 6 is continuously flashing. Therefore, the player knows that the set value of the slot machine 1 in which he / she plays is 6, and becomes enthusiastic about the game. As described above, the setting notification may be performed even in the slot machine 1 having the setting values of 1 to 4, but in such a case, a message congratulating the player is not displayed.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 13, the gaming machine terminal 3 turns off the notification cancelable flag (E5), turns on the notification completion flag (E6), and then outputs a notification completion signal to the management device 5. (E7). Thereby, since the management apparatus 5 memorize | stores having been notified in the applicable game machine terminal 3, when managing the number of notifications, for example, it becomes manageable as a game machine terminal of notification.

Now, when the player is forced to stop the game for some reason such as emergency or lack of funds, he / she does not want to notify the setting when the notice cancellation guidance screen shown in FIG. 7 is displayed. When this happens, the notification cancel button 9 of the gaming machine terminal 3 is pressed.
In the notification cancellation process shown in FIG. 12, the gaming machine terminal 3 cancels the message display area 7e when the cancel button 9 is turned on (D1: YES) while the notification cancelable flag is turned on (D1: YES). Is displayed (D3), a notification cancellation signal is output to the management device 5 (D4).

In the notification cancellation process shown in FIG. 10, when the notification cancellation signal is input from the gaming machine terminal 3 (B1: YES), the management device 5 has a cumulative number of games equal to or greater than the notification condition value −100 (corresponding to a predetermined achievement level). (B2). For example, when 7000 is set as the notification condition numerical value, it is determined whether the cumulative number of games is 6900 or more. If such a condition is satisfied (B2: YES), the notification condition numerical value of the corresponding unit is rewritten (B3), and a new condition numerical value, for example, if the current notification condition numerical value is 7000, 8000 is the gaming machine terminal. 3 (B4).
On the other hand, when 7000 is set as the notification condition numerical value, if the cumulative number of games is 5999 and the cancel button 9 is pressed, it is determined as “NO” in step B2, and no processing is performed. Return.
When the gaming machine terminal 3 receives a new condition value from the management device 5, it sets the condition value as a notification condition value.

  When the timing at which the player presses the cancel button 9 of the gaming machine terminal 3 approaches the notification condition value set in the gaming machine terminal 3 by the operation as described above, Since the cumulative number of games for which is established is changed from 7000 to 8000, the establishment of the setting notification condition can be postponed. Note that if the cumulative number of games is 7900-7999 and the cancel button 9 is pressed when the condition value is set to 8000, the setting notification cannot be postponed. Is changed to notification condition 1 to make the setting notification itself impossible.

According to such an embodiment, when the notification cancel button 9 is operated, the gaming machine terminal 3 postpones the establishment of the notification condition by changing the notification condition numerical value. It can be avoided that the notification condition is satisfied during the game. Therefore, unlike the conventional example in which the setting value of the slot machine is notified to the player when the notification condition is satisfied, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling unpleasant and to try to visit the next time become.
In addition, since the player changes the notification condition according to the operation on the cancel button 9 on condition that the notification condition value is approached, the notification condition is changed on the condition that the cancel button 9 is operated. It is possible to prevent the notification condition from being changed unnecessarily as compared with the configuration having such a configuration.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
Although the high setting values are set to the settings 5 and 6, the high setting values can be arbitrarily determined.
Although the gaming machine terminal 3 accepts the cancel button 9 as a condition for receiving the value obtained by subtracting 100 from the notification condition value, it is not limited to such a condition.
The game machine terminal 3 displays the total number of games in a predetermined range as information suggesting the notification condition, but the notification condition itself may be displayed. In short, as long as the player can recognize the notification condition, Such information may be displayed.

Although the setting value information is manually input to the management device 5, if the slot machine 1 is configured to output the setting value information, the setting value information is directly set from the slot machine 1 to the management device 5 without human intervention. Value information can be entered.
In addition to the slot machine 1, the present invention can be applied to any gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine or a parrot gaming machine that can change the payout rate by a predetermined setting for each gaming machine. In this case, the setting information when applied to a pachinko gaming machine may include not only the setting information of the so-called seven machine type jackpot probability but also information on the state of nail adjustment (the nail adjustment is sweet or painful).
Although the gaming machine terminal 3 is provided separately from the gaming machine 1, it may be provided integrally with the gaming machine 1.

Schematic showing the entire system in one embodiment of the present invention The figure which shows the internal lottery probability table of the slot machine Front view of gaming machine terminal Front view of data display unit of gaming machine terminal The figure which shows the notification condition classification selection screen of the management device Figure showing the condition value setting screen FIG. 4 equivalent diagram showing the notification cancellation guidance message FIG. 4 equivalent diagram showing the setting notification message The flowchart which shows the notification condition setting process of a management apparatus The flowchart which shows the notification cancellation process of the management apparatus Flowchart showing a cancellation guidance display process of the gaming machine terminal Flow chart showing notification cancellation processing of gaming machine terminal Flow chart showing setting notification processing of gaming machine terminal

Explanation of symbols

  In the drawings, 1 is a slot machine (game machine), 3 is a gaming machine terminal (setting notification means, notification condition display means), and 5 is a management device (management means, notification condition setting means, notification control means, notification condition change means). , 9 indicate cancel buttons (notification condition changing operation means).

Claims (2)

Management means for managing the operation information of each gaming machine;
Setting notification means provided corresponding to the gaming machine, for notifying the player of the setting information of the jackpot probability of the gaming machine;
Notification condition setting means for setting a notification condition for determining whether or not to notify the player of setting information by the setting notification means in relation to the operation information of the gaming machine;
In a game hall management system comprising notification control means for operating the setting notification means and notifying the player of setting information when a notification condition set by the notification condition setting means is established,
Notification condition display means for displaying information indicating the notification condition to the player;
Notification condition change operation means provided so as to be operable by the player and instructing to change the notification condition;
A notification condition changing means for postponing the establishment of the notification condition or changing the notification condition so that the notification condition cannot be established when the notification condition changing operation means is operated; A management system for a game hall characterized by comprising.   2. The game hall according to claim 1, wherein the notification condition changing means changes the notification condition on condition that operation information of the gaming machine has reached a predetermined achievement level with respect to the notification condition. Management system.

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