JP2009125211A - Slot machine and game system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a slot machine from being left alone for a long period of time without generating unneeded troubles between a player who does not have much money left and temporarily leaves a seat to withdraw cash at a bank or the like and a person looking for a free stand or an assistant. <P>SOLUTION: When a prepaid card 29 is inserted from a card insertion port 25 and set to a card reader-writer 55, a frequency recorded in the card 29 is read. When the frequency is equal to or lower than a reference value, a reporting control part 56 is controlled, the reference time is changed from 100 seconds to 600 seconds, and the time to start reporting idle rotation is delayed. A game is started by pressing a start lever 31, reels 18-20 are rotated, and idle rotation time is counted up by an idle rotation timer 54. While the game is ended when all stop buttons 32-34 are pressed, when the game is not ended and the idle rotation time exceeds the reference time, an alarm image is displayed on a liquid crystal display 22. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a slot machine and game system installed in a game hall such as a pachinko parlor.

  Slot machines installed in pachinko parlors are called pachislot machines. In the pachislot machine, when the start lever is pressed after the medal has been inserted, the game is started, and a winning combination lottery for determining one of a winning combination and a plurality of types of winning combinations is performed, and three reels rotate. When the stop button is pressed, each spinning reel is stopped and one game is completed. In the state where the winning combination is won in the winning combination lottery, when the same symbols of each reel are arranged on the winning effective line, the winning combination is won and the number of medals corresponding to the winning combination is paid out.

  Such pachislot machine games are no exception, and it is customary for players to leave their pachislot machines and leave them for purposes such as toilets, telephone calls, and cash withdrawals. ing. When leaving the pachislot machine, the player leaves a cigarette, a lighter, a medal, etc., or puts the reel in an idle state in order to indicate to a third party that the game is in progress.

  On the other hand, if the time for which the pachislot machine is left is lengthened, the operation rate of the pachislot machine is reduced, which is disadvantageous for the pachinko parlor.

Therefore, in order to prevent being left unattended for a long time in some of the current machines, when the idle state continues for 3 minutes, the screen display is blue and a warning is started, and an additional 7 minutes (10 minutes in total) is left empty Some devices have a function of switching the screen display to red when the turning state continues and continuing the warning (see Patent Document 1). By introducing a pachislot machine equipped with this function to a pachinko parlor, the store clerk can sort out the pachislot machine that warns as an empty board, and can suppress a decrease in the operating rate of the pachislot machine.
JP 2007-229338 A

  However, with such a pachislot machine, even if a player who has less money is left for a long time to withdraw cash at a bank, etc., he / she will be warned and organized as a free stand. It may be played by others who were looking for. For this reason, it has been a cause of causing unnecessary troubles between a player who has left the pachislot machine for a long time and another person who started playing with the pachislot machine or a store clerk. In other words, there is a problem in that a warning is uniformly given even if left for a long time as needed.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and is unnecessary between a player who has gone out of his / her seat to retrieve cash at a bank or the like and a person searching for a vacant stand or a store clerk in order to withdraw cash at a bank etc. It is an object of the present invention to provide a slot machine and a gaming system that are prevented from being left for a long time without causing any trouble.

  In order to achieve the above object, the slot machine of the present invention reads the remaining amount of valuable media, reduces the remaining amount per unit amount, lends a medal, and after the reel rotates in response to a game start operation, Is a slot machine in which the reel stops when the stop operation is performed, and the time counting means for measuring the idle time from the start operation to the stop operation, and the idle time exceeds the reference time Sometimes the notification means for starting the notification to that effect, and when the remaining amount of the valuable medium is equal to or less than the reference amount, the notification means starts the reference time longer than the case where the remaining amount of the valuable medium exceeds the reference amount Notification control means.

  The gaming system of the present invention reads the remaining amount of valuable media, reduces the remaining amount for each unit amount, and rents medals, and the remaining amount of valuable media is communicated from the medal lending device, and the game is started. A gaming system including a slot machine that stops a reel when a reel stop operation is performed after the reel rotates in response, the slot machine from the start operation to the stop operation A time measuring means for measuring the idle time of the vehicle, a notification means for starting notification when the idle time exceeds the reference time, and when the remaining amount of the valuable medium is equal to or less than the reference amount, the remaining amount of the valuable medium is And a notification control unit for extending the reference time for the notification unit to start the notification as compared with the case where the reference amount is exceeded.

  The slot machine and game system according to the present invention include a time-counting means for measuring an idle time from when a game start operation is performed to when a rotating reel is stopped in response to the start operation, and an idle time Is provided with notification means for starting notification to that effect when the reference time exceeds the reference time, so that it is possible to prevent the device from being left for a long time. In addition, when the remaining amount of the read valuable medium is equal to or less than the reference amount, a notification control unit is provided for extending the reference time for the notification means to start the notification as compared with the case where the remaining amount of the valuable medium exceeds the reference amount. Therefore, if the player loses his / her money and the player once leaves the seat in order to withdraw cash at a bank or the like, the start of notification of idle running is delayed. As a result, there will be no unnecessary notification of idle rotation, and there will be no unnecessary money between the player who has gone out of the seat to find cash at the bank, etc. Can be prevented from occurring.

[First Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a slot machine main body 12 and a front door 13. The slot machine main body 12 includes a storage box 14. The storage box 14 stores various devices such as a reel and a control board for executing a game. The front door 13 is divided into two parts in the vertical direction, and consists of an upper door 15 and a lower door 16. The interior of the slot machine body 12 is opened and closed by an upper door 15 and a lower door 16.

  The upper door 15 is provided with a display window 17. A first reel 18, a second reel 19, and a third reel 20 are provided in the back of the display window 17. A plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first to third reels 18 to 20, and three symbols per reel are displayed through the display window 17 when the reels stop. In the slot machine 11, a total of five winning effective lines 21 including three horizontal lines and two diagonal lines are set. Then, it is displayed whether or not the winning combination has won by the combination of symbols stopped on the winning effective line 21 when the first to third reels 18 to 20 are stopped. A liquid crystal display 22 is provided on the side of the display window 17. An effect image is displayed from the liquid crystal display 22 during the game. In addition, a pair of speakers 23 for outputting a production sound during the game and a plurality of lamps 24 are provided.

  Above the display window 17, a card insertion slot 25, a rental button 26, a 7-segment display 27, and a return button 28 are provided. A prepaid card (valuable medium) 29 is removably inserted into the card insertion slot 25. The prepaid card 29 inserted from the card insertion slot 25 is set in a card reader / writer (CR) 55 (see FIG. 2) installed behind the card insertion slot 25. In the prepaid card 29, a frequency corresponding to the amount of money is recorded, and for example, any one corresponding to the amount of 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, 5,000, or 10,000 yen is recorded. For example, the frequency corresponding to 10,000 yen is “10”. The prepaid card 29 is sold at a vending machine provided in a pachinko parlor. In the present embodiment, the prepaid card 29 is used as the valuable medium inserted from the card insertion slot 25. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in addition to the prepaid card 29, a member obtained by registering at a pachinko store. A card may be inserted.

  The lending button 26 is a button that is pressed when a player receives a medal lending, and a medal is lent by being pressed while the prepaid card 29 is inserted into the card insertion slot 25. The number of medals lent out by being pressed once is set in advance. For example, when 50 cards are set per frequency, 50 medals are lent out by pressing once.

  The 7-segment display 27 displays the frequency read from the prepaid card 29. For example, in the case of the prepaid card 29 in which the frequency corresponding to 10,000 yen is recorded, “10” is displayed on the 7-segment display 27. When the lending button 26 is pressed once, 50 medals are rented, and “7” is displayed on the 7-segment display 27 by subtracting the frequency from “10”. In this way, the frequency subtracted by 1 each time the lending button 26 is pressed is displayed. When the frequency is “0”, medals cannot be lent. The prepaid card 29 whose frequency is “0” is automatically discharged from the card insertion slot 25. The case of the prepaid card 29 in which the frequency corresponding to 10,000 yen has been described as an example, but the same applies to the case of the prepaid card 29 in which the frequency corresponding to another amount is recorded.

  The return button 28 is a button to be pressed when the player receives the return of the prepaid card 29, and the prepaid card 29 set in the card reader / writer 55 (see FIG. 2) is returned by being pressed.

  The lower door 16 is provided with a medal slot 30, a start lever 31 for starting the rotation of the first to third reels 18 to 20, stop buttons 32-34 for stopping the reels rotating during the game, and the like. Yes. When the start lever 31 is pressed, a winning combination lottery is performed, and either a loss or a plurality of types of winning combinations is determined. When a winning combination with a medal payout is elected and winning the winning combination, a prescribed number of medals are paid out.

  A medal tray 35 is provided at the lower portion of the slot machine body 12. In the medal tray 35, medals paid out from the payout port 36 are stored.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 40 configuring the slot machine 11 includes a control unit 41, a winning combination determination unit 46, and a notification control unit 56. The control unit 41 controls the entire slot machine 11 according to various signals. The RAM 42 is a working memory for the control unit 41 to execute processing. Various programs for operating the slot machine 11 are installed in the ROM 43. The control unit 41 reads out a program from the ROM 43, develops it in the RAM 42, and sequentially processes the read program.

  The medal sensor 44 detects an appropriate medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 30 and inputs a medal detection signal to the control unit 41. The control unit 41 counts the number of inserted 1 to 3 medals based on the detection signal from the medal sensor 44, and determines the number to activate the winning effective line 21.

  The start signal sensor 45 detects that the start lever 31 has been pressed. When the pressing of the start lever 31 is detected, a game start signal is input from the start signal sensor 45 to the control unit 41. The control unit 41 operates the winning combination determining unit 46 in response to the game start signal.

  In the winning combination determination unit 46, any of BB, small combination, replay, or loss is determined by a winning combination lottery using random numbers. When any winning combination is won in the winning combination lottery, a winning flag indicating the type is written in the RAM 42. The BB flag is cleared when BB wins, and the other flags are cleared when the game in which the flag is written ends. Thereby, when BB is won, BB is carried over until BB wins. When the winning combination lottery is completed, the control unit 41 starts the rotation of the first to third reels 18 to 20 and starts the game process according to the game execution program stored in the ROM 43.

  The stop signal sensor 47 detects that the stop buttons 32 to 34 are pressed during the game. When the stop buttons 32 to 34 are pressed, a stop signal is input to the control unit 41. In response to this, the control unit 41 operates the reel drive controller 48 to start stop control of the first to third reels 18 to 20.

  The first to third reels 18 to 20 are attached to the drive shafts of the stepping motors 49 to 51, respectively. The driving of each of the stepping motors 49 to 51 is controlled when the reel drive controller 48 is operated. That is, stop control of the first to third reels 18 to 20 is performed by controlling the driving of the stepping motors 49 to 51.

  When the symbol of the predetermined winning combination won in the winning combination lottery on the winning effective line 21 stops, the control unit 41 inputs a medal payout signal to the hopper device 52. The hopper device 52 to which the medal payout signal is input pays out a prescribed number of medals.

  The liquid crystal display 22 displays an effect screen by receiving image data from the control unit 41 via the LCD driver 53. The speaker 23 and the lamp 24 also output sound and light under the control of the control unit 41 in order to enhance the production effect when winning the winning combination.

  In addition, the control unit 41 operates the idle timer (timer means) 54 in response to the game start signal. The idle rotation timer 54 counts up the time from the start of reel rotation, and sequentially inputs the time signal to the control unit 41. The idle rotation timer 54 is deactivated when the three stop buttons 32 to 34 are pressed. As a result, the idling timer 54 counts the idling time from when the start lever 31 is depressed until all the stop buttons 32 to 34 are depressed.

  The control unit 41 determines whether or not the idling time counted up by the idling timer 54 has exceeded the reference time. When it is determined that the reference time has been exceeded, a notification signal for notifying the idling is input to the LCD driver 53. The LCD driver 53 to which the notification signal is input displays a warning image for notifying that the liquid crystal display 22 is idle. By displaying this warning screen, it is possible to prevent the slot machine 11 from being left for a long time in the idle state.

  The card reader / writer 55 detects that the prepaid card 29 has been inserted from the card insertion slot 25, and reads the frequency recorded on the prepaid card 29. The read frequency signal is input to the control unit 41. In response to this, the control unit 41 displays the frequency of the prepaid card 29 on the 7-segment display 27.

  When the frequency of the prepaid card 29 is equal to or less than a reference amount that is a reference value (for example, “1”), the control unit 41 controls the notification control unit 56 to delay the time for starting notification of idling. . For example, the reference time is changed from 100 seconds to 600 seconds, and the notification start time is delayed. In this case, the warning image that is normally displayed when the idling time exceeds 100 seconds is not displayed on the liquid crystal display 22 even if it exceeds 100 seconds. The warning image is finally displayed when the idling time exceeds 600 seconds.

  When a new prepaid card 29 is set in the card reader / writer 55 and the read frequency exceeds the reference value, the control unit 41 controls the notification control unit 56 to start the notification that has been delayed. Reset the time. In the above example, the time changed to 600 seconds is returned to 100 seconds. Thus, as usual, the warning image is displayed when the idling time exceeds 100 seconds.

  The lending sensor 57 detects that the lending button 26 has been pressed, and inputs a medal lending signal to the control unit 41. When the frequency of the prepaid card 29 is “1” or more, the control unit 41 responding to the medal lending signal inputs a frequency subtraction signal to the card reader / writer 55 and inputs a medal payout signal to the hopper device 52. . The card reader / writer 55 to which the frequency subtraction signal is input rewrites the frequency of the prepaid card 29 to the frequency obtained by subtracting 1 from the frequency. The hopper device 52 to which the medal payout signal is input pays out a prescribed number of medals.

  The card return sensor 58 detects that the return button 28 has been pressed, and inputs a return signal for the prepaid card 29 to the card reader / writer 55. The card reader / writer 55 to which the return signal of the prepaid card 29 is input ejects the prepaid card 29 from the card insertion slot 25 and returns it to the player.

  Next, a processing procedure until notification of idle rotation when the reels 18 to 20 are idle in the slot machine 11 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the prepaid card 29 is inserted from the card insertion slot 25 and set in the card reader / writer 55, the card reader / writer 55 reads the frequency recorded on the prepaid card 29.

  When the frequency read by the card reader / writer 55 is equal to or less than a reference value (for example, “1”), the control unit 41 controls the notification control unit 56 to change the reference time from 100 seconds to 600 seconds, for example. Thus, the time for starting the idling notification is delayed.

  When the start lever 31 is pressed, the game is started, the reels 18 to 20 are rotated, and the idle time is counted up by the idle timer 54.

  The game is ended when all the stop buttons 32 to 34 are pressed, but the game is not ended and the idle time is the reference time (100 seconds when the frequency of the prepaid card 29 is “1” or less, the prepaid card When the frequency of 29 exceeds “1” (600 seconds), a warning image is displayed on the liquid crystal display 22.

  As described above, when the idling continues for a predetermined time, the idling can be notified. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the slot machine 11 from being left for a long time in the idling state. In other words, it is possible to suppress a reduction in the operating rate of the slot machine 11 and prevent a disadvantage in the pachinko parlor. Furthermore, when the remaining frequency of the prepaid card 29 is small, it is possible to delay the start of idle notification. Assuming that the player's money is small when the remaining number of prepaid cards 29 is low, if the player is once out of the seat to withdraw cash at a bank or the like, the start of idle notification is delayed. , You don't need to be notified of idling. Thereby, it is possible to prevent occurrence of unnecessary troubles between a player who has once left the seat, a person who searches for a vacant board, or a store clerk.

  In the first embodiment, the card reader / writer 55 is provided in the slot machine 11 and the slot machine 11 also lends medals. However, a medal lending machine is installed separately and the medal lending machine lends medals. May be performed. In a second embodiment to be described next, a medal lending machine 63 is installed adjacent to the slot machine 62 (see FIG. 4).

[Second Embodiment]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gaming system 61 according to the second embodiment includes a slot machine 62 and a medal lending machine 63. The slot machine 62 is different from the slot machine 11 of the first embodiment in the card insertion slot 25, the lending button 26, the 7 segment display 27, the return button 28, the card reader / writer 55, the lending sensor 57, and the card that constitute the medal lending function. The configuration is the same as that obtained by removing the return sensor 58, and the same components are denoted by reference numerals and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the medal lending machine 63 includes a lending machine main body 64 and a front door 65. The lending machine main body 64 includes a storage box 66. The storage box 66 stores various devices such as a hopper device and a control board for executing medal lending. The front door 65 is divided into two parts, an upper door 67 and a lower door 68. The inside of the lending machine main body 64 is opened and closed by an upper door 67 and a lower door 68.

  The upper door 67 is provided with a card insertion slot 69, a rental button 70, a 7 segment display 71, and a return button 72. The prepaid card 29 is removably inserted into the card insertion slot 69. The prepaid card 29 inserted from the card insertion slot 69 is set in a card reader / writer (CR) 84 (see FIG. 5) installed behind the card insertion slot 69.

  The lending button 70 is a button that is pressed when the player receives a medal lending, and the medal is lent by being pressed while the prepaid card 29 is inserted into the card insertion slot 69.

  The 7-segment display 71 displays the frequency read from the prepaid card 29.

  The return button 72 is a button to be pressed when the player receives the return of the prepaid card 29, and the prepaid card 29 set in the card reader / writer 84 (see FIG. 5) is returned by being pressed.

  The lower door 68 is provided with a medal tray 73. The medal is paid out from the payout opening 74 to the medal tray 73.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the CPU 80 constituting the medal lending machine 63 includes a control unit 81. The control unit 81 comprehensively controls the medal lending machine 63 according to various signals, and communicates with the control unit 41 of the slot machine 62 to construct the gaming system 61. The RAM 82 is a working memory for the control unit 81 to execute processing. Various programs for operating the medal lending machine 63 are installed in the ROM 83. The control unit 81 reads a program from the ROM 83 and develops it in the RAM 82, and sequentially processes the read program.

  The card reader / writer 84 detects that the prepaid card 29 has been inserted from the card insertion slot 69, and reads the frequency recorded on the prepaid card 29. The read frequency signal is input to the control unit 81. In response to this, the control unit 81 displays the frequency of the prepaid card 29 on the 7-segment display 71.

  When the frequency of the prepaid card 29 falls below a reference amount that is a reference value (for example, “1”), the control unit 81 controls the notification control unit 56 via the control unit 41 of the slot machine 62 to Delay the time to start turning notifications.

  When a new prepaid card 29 is set in the card reader / writer 84 and the read frequency exceeds the reference value, the control unit 81 notifies the notification control unit 56 via the control unit 41 of the slot machine 62. Is controlled to reset the delayed notification start time.

  The lending sensor 85 detects that the lending button 70 has been pressed, and inputs a medal lending signal to the control unit 81. When the frequency of the prepaid card 29 is “1” or more, the control unit 81 responding to the medal lending signal inputs the frequency subtraction signal to the card reader / writer 84 and inputs the medal payout signal to the hopper device 86. . The card reader / writer 84 to which the frequency subtraction signal is input rewrites the frequency of the prepaid card 29 to the frequency obtained by subtracting 1 from the frequency. The hopper device 86 to which the medal payout signal is input pays out a prescribed number of medals.

  The card return sensor 87 detects that the return button 72 has been pressed, and inputs a return signal for the prepaid card 29 to the card reader / writer 84. The card reader / writer 84 to which the return signal of the prepaid card 29 is input ejects the prepaid card 29 from the card insertion slot 69 and returns it to the player. The operation and effect of the second embodiment are the same as the operation and effect of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the warning screen is displayed using the liquid crystal display 22 as a notification means for notifying the idling. However, instead of the liquid crystal display 22 or together with the liquid crystal display 22, a sound is generated using the speaker 23 and the lamp 24. You may make it warn with light.

2 is an external perspective view of the slot machine. FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the slot machine. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence until it alert | reports idling in a slot machine. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of a gaming system including a slot machine and a medal lending machine. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the game system comprised with a slot machine and a medal lending machine.

Explanation of symbols

11, 62 Slot machine 18 First reel 19 Second reel 20 Third reel 22 Liquid crystal display (notification means)
23 Speaker (notification means)
24 lamp (notification means)
29 Prepaid card (value medium)
31 start lever 32 to 34 stop button 54 idling timer (time measuring means)
55,84 Card reader / writer (CR)
56 Information Control Unit 61 Game System 63 Medal Lending Machine

Claims (2)

A slot machine that reads the remaining amount of the valuable medium, reduces the remaining amount for each unit amount, lends out medals, and stops the reel when the reel is rotated after the reel rotates in response to a game start operation. In
Clocking means for timing an idle rotation time from the start operation to the stop operation;
Informing means for initiating notification when the idle time exceeds a reference time;
A slot machine comprising: a notification control means for making the reference time longer when the remaining amount is less than or equal to a reference amount than when the remaining amount exceeds the reference amount. After the remaining amount of the valuable medium is read, the remaining amount is reduced for each unit amount and the medal lending machine lends a medal, and the remaining amount is communicated from the medal lending machine and the reel rotates in response to the game start operation. In a gaming system comprising a slot machine in which the reel stops when the reel is stopped.
The slot machine is
Clocking means for timing an idle rotation time from the start operation to the stop operation;
Informing means for initiating notification when the idle time exceeds a reference time;
A game system comprising: a notification control means for making the reference time longer when the remaining amount is less than or equal to a reference amount than when the remaining amount exceeds the reference amount.

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