JP2009297157A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the damages of a game hall by the movement of game media between game machines for which a unit price per game medium when exchanging it with a premium is different. <P>SOLUTION: Game medium lending processing is performed within the range of the balance usable for lending the game media specified by balance information in a recording medium, the observed number of acquired game media acquired by the player ("observed number" hereinafter) is counted, and the calculated number of the acquired game media acquired by the player (hereinafter referred to as "calculated number") is calculated on the basis of: the number of lent game media lent in the lending processing; the number of used game media used in a game in a game machine; and the number of putout game media based on the establishment of a putout condition in the game machine (S343, 4). Whether or not a difference value between the counted observed number and the calculated number is equal to or larger than an abnormality determination value is determined (S341, 5, 6), abnormality processing is performed with the determination as a condition (S347, 8), and on condition that a game ending operation is received, the counted observed number and a value used for calculating the calculated number are turned to such a state that the counting of the observed number in the next game and the calculation of the calculated number are possible. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming system. Specifically, a lending means for lending processing for lending a game medium within the range of the remaining amount specified by the remaining amount information of the recording medium that records the remaining amount information that can specify the remaining amount that can be used for lending the game medium The present invention also relates to a gaming system comprising an actual acquisition game medium counting means that is provided for each gaming machine and counts an actual acquisition game medium number that is the number of game media acquired by a player.

Conventionally, a table that stores the pachinko ball unit price that is different for each gaming machine when the pachinko ball is exchanged for a prize and the machine number of the gaming machine is stored in correspondence with each gaming machine at the end of the game. Issue a recording medium that records the count value by each counter counter that counts the number of pachinko balls that are installed and acquired by the player, and give a prize based on the count value recorded on the recording medium at the unit price for each corresponding gaming machine There has been a system that enables replacement (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-10-127911

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, a pachinko ball paid out by a gaming machine set with a first unit price is moved to a gaming machine set with a second unit price higher than the first unit price. When counted by each counter of the gaming machine, there is a problem that prizes are exchanged at a unit price higher than the unit price of original prize exchange, and there is a possibility that damage may occur in the game hall.

  The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to cause damage to the game hall by moving the game medium between game machines having different unit prices per game medium at the time of prize exchange. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming system capable of preventing the above-described problems.

Specific examples of means for solving the problems and their effects

(1) Remaining amount information (for example, the card remaining amount recorded on the visitor card or the acquired ball management server 8) that can specify the remaining amount (for example, the remaining amount of the card) that can be used for lending game media (for example, pachinko balls) A game medium within the range of the remaining amount specified by the remaining amount information of a recording medium (for example, a visitor card, a member card) for recording a card ID recorded on a member card for specifying the stored card remaining amount) Provided for each lending means (for example, CPU 21 of card unit 2, S43 in FIG. 8, S68, S74, S76, S81 in FIG. 10) and gaming machine (for example, pachinko gaming machine 1) for lending processing for lending. Measured acquired game medium counter for counting the number of actually acquired game media (for example, the number of acquired balls x) which is the number of game media acquired by the player. A gaming system (for example, a gaming system) comprising a stage (for example, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2, the acquired ball detection switch 501 and S90 and S91 in FIG. 12),
The number of loaned game media lent by the lending process (for example, the number of rented balls u), the number of used game media (for example, the number of driven balls v) used for the game in the gaming machine, and the gaming machine The number of game media acquired by the player based on the number of payout game media (for example, the number of payout balls w) to be paid out based on the fact that the payout conditions are satisfied (for example, winning in the winning area, generating a big hit) The calculation acquisition game medium number calculation means (for example, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2, S343 and S344 in FIG. 15) for calculating the calculation acquisition game medium number (for example, the calculation acquisition ball number y (= u + w−v)) which is the calculated value of )When,

A difference value (for example, the number of balls to be judged z (=) between the number of actually obtained game media counted by the actually obtained game media counting unit and the number of the game acquisition game media calculated by the number of calculated game media number calculating unit. xy)) is an abnormality determination value (for example, 150) or more (z ≧ 150), for example, abnormality determination means (for example, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2, S345, S346 in FIG. 15, FIG. 14). S353)
On the condition that the abnormality determination means determines that the value is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value, abnormality processing (for example, the subsequent card ejection in S120 of FIG. 14 is performed by determining ON in S353 of FIG. 14). Abnormality processing means (for example, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2, S347, S348 in FIG. 15) for performing a process of turning on the discharge prohibition flag, which is a flag that will not be performed, and an acquisition ball abnormality notification process);
A game end determination means (for example, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2, S110 of FIG. 14) for determining whether or not an operation for ending the game (for example, an operation of the checkout button 27b) has been received from the player;
The above-mentioned counting by the actually obtained game medium counting means is performed on the condition that it is determined that the operation for ending the game is accepted by the game end judging means (for example, it is judged YES in S110 of FIG. 14). The actual number of acquired game media, and the values used by the calculation acquired game media number calculating means (for example, the number of lent balls indicated by the rented ball counter, the number of shot balls indicated by the pit ball counter, and the payout ball counter) The number of payout balls shown) is set to a state where the number of actually acquired game media in the next game can be counted and the number of calculated game media can be calculated (for example, the count values of a ball rental counter, a shot ball counter, and a payout ball counter) ) Enabling means (for example, CPU 21 of card unit 2, S119 in FIG. 14).

  According to such a configuration, the gaming system lends the game medium within the range of the remaining amount specified by the remaining amount information of the recording medium that records the remaining amount information that can specify the remaining amount that can be used for lending the gaming medium. The number of actually acquired game media, which is the number of game media acquired by the player, is counted, and the number of game media lent by the loan processing and the used game used in the game machine Based on the number of media and the number of paid-out game media to be paid out based on the establishment of the payout conditions in the gaming machine, the calculated number of game media, which is a calculated value of the number of game media acquired by the player, is calculated. It is determined whether or not the difference value between the counted actually acquired number of game media and the calculated number of calculated game media is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value, and is determined to be equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value. Subject to It is determined whether or not an abnormal process has been performed and an operation to end the game has been received from the player, and it has been determined that an operation to end the game has been received. In addition, the value used for calculating the number of calculation-acquired game media is set in a state where the number of actually acquired game media in the next game can be counted and the calculation-acquired game media can be calculated.

  For this reason, every time a game is completed, the number of actually acquired game media and the number of calculated and acquired game media in the next game can be counted and the number of calculated and acquired game media can be calculated. It can be calculated accurately. In addition, when the game medium is moved between different gaming machines, the difference value between the number of actually obtained game media and the number of calculated game media exceeds the abnormality determination value, and abnormality processing is performed. It can correspond to. As a result, it is possible to provide a gaming system that can prevent damage to the game arcade due to movement of gaming media between gaming machines having different unit prices per gaming media at the time of prize exchange. .

(2) In the recording medium, information on the number of acquired game media that can specify the actual number of acquired game media (for example, the number of acquired balls recorded on a visitor card or the acquired balls stored in the acquired ball management server 8) Card ID recorded on the membership card to identify the number)
The gaming system further includes:
Acquired game medium number record issuing means (for example, issuing the recording medium by specifying the actually acquired game medium number counted by the actually acquired game medium counting means from the acquired game medium number information recorded on the recording medium) In the case of the CPU 21 of the card unit 2 and the visitor card, in S118 of FIG. 14, the value of the acquired ball counter is added and recorded in the visitor card. In the case of the membership card, the acquired ball is acquired if it is online in S94 of FIG. Each time, the value of the acquired ball counter is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8, and the data of the acquired ball in the offline state is recorded in the membership card in S127 of FIG. 14, and then the visitor card or the membership card is recorded in S120 of FIG. Discharge)
The abnormality processing means performs processing for prohibiting the issuance of the recording medium by the acquired game medium number recording issuance means as the abnormality processing (for example, processing for turning on a discharge prohibition flag in S347 of FIG. 15 is performed). As a result, YES is determined in S353 of FIG. 14, and the card is not discharged in S120 of FIG.

  According to such a configuration, information on the number of acquired game media that can specify the actual number of acquired game media is recorded on the recording medium. A process for prohibiting the issuance of a recording medium as an abnormal process by allowing the gaming system to further specify the counted actually acquired number of gaming media to be identified from the number information of the acquired gaming media recorded on the recording medium and issuing the recording medium. Is done.

  For this reason, when the game medium is moved between different gaming machines, the difference value between the number of calculated game media and the number of actually acquired game media is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value, and the number of actually acquired game media can be specified as an abnormality process. Since the issuance of the recording medium in which the information on the number of acquired game media is recorded is prohibited, it is possible to prevent prize exchange by the actual number of acquired game media. As a result, it is possible to accurately prevent the game hall from being damaged due to the movement of the game medium between the gaming machines having different unit prices per game medium at the time of prize exchange.

(3) The gaming system further comprises:
Acquired game medium number reading means for reading out the acquired game medium number information from the recording medium issued by the acquired game medium number record issuing means (for example, in the case of the CPU 21 of the card unit 2 or a visitor card, in S81 of FIG. 10). The number of balls acquired is read, and in the case of a membership card, the card ID is read in S71 of FIG. 10),
Return game medium payout means (for example, a return ball) for paying out a return game medium (for example, a return ball) based on the acquired game medium number specified from the acquired game medium number information read by the acquired game medium number reading means. CPU 21 of card unit 2, S74, S76, S81) of FIG.
The calculation-acquisition game medium number calculating means includes the number of return game media (for example, the number of returned balls t) that is the number of return game media paid out by the return game medium payout means, the number of loaned game media, and the game media used. Based on the number and the number of payout game media, the number of calculated game media is calculated (y = u + w−v−t is calculated) (for example, CPU 21 of card unit 2, S343 and S344 in FIG. 15).

  According to such a configuration, the game system further reads the acquired game medium number information from the issued recording medium, and based on the acquired game medium number specified from the read acquired game medium number information, Based on the number of returned game media, the number of returned game media, the number of rented game media, the number of used game media, and the number of game media paid out, the number of calculated game media is calculated. The

  For this reason, even when a game is played with a return game medium, the number of calculation-acquired game media can be accurately calculated.

  (4) When the number of actually obtained game media counted by the actually obtained game media counting means is less than a predetermined number (for example, the number of balls x acquired in S341 and S342 in FIG. 15 is a predetermined number (eg 150 balls)) If it is determined that the number is less than the above, the abnormality determination means does not execute the determination (for example, the determination of the number of balls to be determined in S346 in FIG. 15 is not performed), and the acquired game medium number record issuing means Issue the recording medium (for example, since the card ejection prohibition flag is not turned ON in S347 in FIG. 15, NO is not determined in S353 in FIG. 14, and in S120 in FIG. 14, The card is ejected.)

  According to such a configuration, when the number of actually obtained game media counted by the gaming system is less than a predetermined number, the difference value between the number of calculated game media and the number of actually obtained game media is greater than or equal to the abnormality determination value. Is not executed, and a recording medium on which information on the number of acquired game media that can specify the actual number of acquired game media is recorded is issued.

  For this reason, when the number of actually obtained game media is less than the predetermined number, the recording medium is stored without determining whether or not the difference value between the number of calculated and obtained game media and the number of actually obtained game media is greater than or equal to the abnormality determination value. Can be issued. As a result, the time until the recording medium is issued can be shortened.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are the same, and therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a part of a gaming machine installation island installed in a game arcade where a gaming system according to the present invention is provided.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a plurality of pachinko gaming machines 1 in which gaming balls (hereinafter referred to as balls) are driven into a gaming area and are played are arranged side by side on a gaming machine installation island 100. Although a large number of pachinko gaming machines 1 are arranged in parallel on one gaming machine installation island 100, only a part of the pachinko gaming machines 1 are shown in FIG.

  On the left side of each pachinko gaming machine 1, a card unit 2 as an example of earned ball individual management means is installed. This card unit 2 deducts the remaining amount of the card from the card that records the remaining amount of the card as a value that can be used for the game by the player and the number of balls acquired as the acquired value as a result of the game. The pachinko machine 1 is controlled to accept and pay out pachinko balls as a lending ball according to the withdrawal amount, while the pachinko machine 1 accepts the withdrawal of the number of obtained balls and as a return ball according to the withdrawal amount The player can play a game on the pachinko gaming machine 1 by paying out the balls and using the pachinko balls.

  In the gaming machine installation island 100, a calling device 4 is provided in the upper part of each pachinko gaming machine 1. The calling device 4 is for operating based on the player's operation when calling an attendant.

  FIG. 2 is a front view of the card unit 2 and the pachinko gaming machine 1 as an example of the gaming machine. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, when a player plays a game, a game card that can be used for the game is used. There are two types of cards: a membership card issued individually to a player registered as a member in a game hall, and a visitor card that can be used by all players.

  The membership card is a recording medium made up of an IC card. A card ID is recorded on the membership card. Various information (card information) such as remaining card amount, information on the number of balls acquired, information on the number of stored balls, information on the number of points visited, and member information for identifying individual members is associated with the card ID as a consideration for the player's input price. Are recorded in the acquired ball management server 8 described later. The acquired ball management server 8 can determine the corresponding card information based on the membership card. The membership card is a card that is used to enjoy predetermined membership privileges such as depositing of savings and execution of replay. The member card is issued to a member registrant when a member is registered in a member registration device or a game counter provided in the game hall. The card information registered in this way, such as the remaining card information, the number of stored balls information, the number of points visited, and the member information, is managed by the acquired ball management server using the card ID together with the player's game history. The membership card is owned by the member and can be used in principle in any card unit 2.

  Here, the stored ball refers to an act of depositing an acquired value such as an acquired ball acquired by the player to the game hall side and the deposited value. The accumulated ball number information is information indicating the number of accumulated balls of the player who owns the member card. The earned ball refers to a value indicating the score or ball obtained by the player through the game. The acquired number-of-balls information is information indicating the number of acquired balls of the player who owns the member card. The replay means that a player plays a game by lending a ball using a stored ball or an acquired ball not deposited in a game hall.

  The store visit point is numerical data that is added and updated by a predetermined number of points each time a member player visits the game hall, and a predetermined service is given to the player from the game hall side according to the number of points. Given. The point of visit is when the player visits the game hall and inserts a card into the card slot 26a provided in the card unit 2 (however, if the customer visits the store several times a day, the card for the first visit) Is added and updated).

  Referring to FIG. 2, when a player plays a game, first, money (1,000 yen) is inserted into money insertion slot 60. Then, when the inserted money is discriminated and is an appropriate money, a game ball is lent out within the range of the amount of the inserted money, and a game becomes possible. When paying the number of balls acquired by the player through the game, the player can add and update the number of balls to be adjusted to the number of balls specified by the card ID of the member card possessed. If the player does not have a membership card, a visitor card is issued from the card unit 2. The acquired ball is recorded in the visitor card and discharged to the player.

  When a player plays a game using a visitor card, the visitor card is inserted into the card slot 26 a provided in the card unit 2. Then, card information recorded on the inserted visitor card, such as the remaining card amount and the number of acquired balls, is read by a card reader / writer provided in the card unit 2. Then, based on the read card information, the remaining card amount and the number of acquired balls are displayed on the remaining card amount display unit 28 a provided in the card unit 2. The card remaining amount display unit 28a is composed of a plurality of 7-segment displays, and is configured to digitally display the card remaining amount and the number of acquired balls with a predetermined number of digits. A game can be played using the displayed card remaining amount and the number of acquired balls.

  When a player plays a game using a membership card, the membership card is inserted into the card slot 26 a provided in the card unit 2. Then, the card ID recorded on the inserted member card is read by the card reader / writer. Then, the remaining card amount data and the ball number data (acquired ball number data, accumulated ball number data) specified by the acquired ball management server 8 based on the read card ID are displayed on the card remaining amount display unit 28a. A game can be performed using the displayed card remaining amount, the number of acquired balls, and the number of stored balls.

  The pachinko gaming machine 1 is provided with a ball lending button 27a that is operated when a ball lending is received, and a payment button 27b that is operated when a card is returned by adjusting the remaining amount of the card, the number of balls acquired, and the like. Further, the card unit 2 is provided with a replay button 27c which is operated when receiving a ball lending using a stored ball or an acquired ball, that is, when replaying.

  If the ball lending button 27a is operated, a predetermined lending unit amount is deducted from the remaining card amount displayed on the remaining card amount display unit 28a, and the control from the card unit 2 is exchanged. Based on the command, balls for the lending unit amount are paid out from the pachinko machine 1 as balls. A ball rental detection switch 250 for detecting a ball rental is provided in the ball rental payout passage. The remaining card amount is displayed on the remaining card amount display unit 28a. Such an operation is called a ball lending operation.

  If the replay button 27c is operated in a state where a card is inserted in the card slot 26a, a predetermined lending unit number is obtained from the number of acquired balls or the number of stored balls displayed on the card remaining amount display portion 28a. The number of balls is withdrawn and subtracted, and in exchange for that, balls corresponding to the number of lending units are returned from the card unit 2 as balls. Such an operation is called a replay operation. The number of stored balls is displayed on the card remaining amount display unit 28a.

  The display of the remaining card amount, the number of acquired balls, and the number of stored balls in the card remaining amount display unit 28a is switched as follows. When a card is inserted, the ball lending mode is basically determined from the number of balls acquired (the number of balls stored when there is no number of balls acquired), and the number of balls acquired (or the number of balls stored) is displayed on the card remaining amount display portion 28a. When the ball lending button 27a is operated once in the ball lending mode state from the number of acquired balls (or the number of accumulated balls), the ball lending mode state from the card remaining amount is entered and the remaining card amount is displayed on the card remaining amount display unit 28a. Is done. Further, when the replay button 27c is operated once in the ball lending mode state from the remaining card amount, the ball lending mode state from the acquired number of balls (or the number of accumulated balls) is entered, and the number of acquired balls ( Or, the number of stored balls) is displayed.

  If the checkout button 27b is operated in a state where the membership card is inserted in the card slot 26a, information such as the number of balls acquired, the remaining card amount, and the number of stored balls is stored in the acquired ball number management computer 8. Then, the membership card in which the card ID specifying the stored information is recorded is ejected from the card slot 26a and returned to the player.

  Balls to be paid out as return balls from the card unit 2 are sent to a pachinko game from a ball paying portion provided inside the card unit 2 via a ball paying nozzle 251 provided on the front side of the card unit 2. It is paid out on a hitting ball supply tray (upper plate) 92 provided in the machine 1.

  Further, the card unit 2 identifies whether or not the card is proper. In this regard, if the card cannot be identified as appropriate, the card is returned from the card slot 26a.

  In the game, the player operates the hitting operation handle 90 provided in the pachinko gaming machine 1 to eject and fire the balls stored in the hitting ball supply tray 92 and to hit the game area 10a. Then, if the balls that have been struck into the game area 10a win various prize areas as will be described later, a predetermined number of prize balls (prize balls) for each prize area are placed in the hit ball supply tray 92 (upper dish). Paid out. On the other hand, balls that have not won any winning area are collected from the out port 15. When the hitting ball supply tray 92 becomes full, the balls are sent to an excess ball receiving tray (lower tray) 93 provided below and stored.

  Of the winning area, the winning ball that has won the winning hole where the balls are collected and the out ball that has been collected in the out slot 15 are merged on the back side of the gaming area and flow down to the driving ball tank. After being detected by the hitting ball detection switch 19, it is recovered from the plurality of pachinko gaming machines 1 by flowing down on the collective cage provided on the gaming machine installation island 100.

  In this pachinko gaming machine 1, a pachinko ball counting device used for game settlement called each counter 5 is provided corresponding to each pachinko gaming machine 1. Each counter 5 includes a counting display section 55 provided above the pachinko gaming machine 1 and a counting ball storage section 94 provided below the pachinko gaming machine 1.

  The ball receiving portion 94 for counting is provided below the surplus ball receiving tray 93 and is configured to receive and store balls discharged from the surplus ball receiving tray 93. When the discharge lever 93 a provided in the surplus ball receiving tray 93 is operated due to the storage ball becoming full or the like, the balls stored in the surplus ball receiving tray 93 are opened on the bottom surface of the surplus ball receiving tray 93. The ball is discharged downward from the portion and received by the ball receiving portion 94 for counting.

  The counting ball receiving portion 94 is provided with a counting shutter 94a that can be operated by the player. The counting shutter 94a is a member for opening and closing an opening provided at the bottom of the counting ball receiving portion 94, and is opened and closed according to an operation of the integrally formed lever portion 94b. The counting shutter 94a is closed in a normal state to make the counting ball receiving portion 94 in a state where balls can be stored, and is opened when the lever portion 94b is operated by the player. When the counting shutter 94 a is opened, the balls stored in the counting ball receiving portion 94 are discharged to the ball discharge passage 520 connected to the bottom of the counting ball receiving portion 94. On the entrance side of the ball discharge passage 520, there is an acquisition ball detection switch 501 including a passage detection sensor that detects the ball discharged from the counting ball receiver 94 (hereinafter referred to as “acquired ball”). Is provided.

  When a ball is detected and counted by the acquired ball detection switch 501, the count value is digitally displayed on the count display unit 55 including a plurality of 7-segment displays. This count value (also referred to as “acquired ball count”) is recorded on the visitor card as acquired ball count information at the end of the game, and can be used for various purposes such as prize exchange. Further, the member card is stored in the acquired ball management server 8 in association with the card ID of the member card, and can be used for various purposes such as prize exchange. In addition, it is possible to convert the acquired number of balls indicated by the acquired number-of-balls information into the number of stored balls and record it as stored-ball number information at the counter of the game hall.

  If the ball return switch 5 is operated, a count value corresponding to a predetermined number of return unit balls is withdrawn and subtracted from the count value displayed on the count display unit 55, and in return, the return unit Balls corresponding to the number of balls are paid out on a hitting ball supply tray (upper plate) 92 from a ball paying portion provided inside the card unit 2 via a ball paying nozzle 251. The balls paid out in this way are called return balls.

  A return ball detection switch 700 for detecting a return ball paid out from the nozzle 251 is provided in the ball payout passage.

  When the payment is to be made, the payment button 27b is operated by the player. When the checkout button 27b is operated, all the count values obtained by the above-described acquired ball detection switch 501 are settled for prize exchange, and information such as the calculated count value (in other words, the number of acquired balls) is stored in the card. The data is written on the visitor card by the reader / writer, and the visitor card is ejected from the card slot 26a and returned to the player. On the other hand, when a player inserts a member card into the card slot 26a and performs a settlement operation, information such as a count value (in other words, the number of balls acquired) is associated with the card ID of the member card and the acquired ball management server 8 Is remembered.

  In a game, when a ball wins the normal symbol start winning opening 16, the ball is detected by a normal symbol start ball detector (not shown), and a detection signal is input to a game control microcomputer as a game control unit. The The game control microcomputer receives the input, determines at random whether or not to generate a normal symbol, and instructs the normal symbol variable display control unit composed of the microcomputer to control the normal symbol variable display control. Outputs the display control command data.

  The normal symbol variable display control unit receives display control command data and performs variable display control of the normal symbol variable display device 17 in accordance with the contents of the command. Whether or not to generate a normal symbol hit is determined using a random value obtained from a count value extracted from a random counter (for example, whether or not it matches a predetermined value), as will be described later. As a result of the determination process, if the predetermined determination result is predetermined (for example, a result that matches a predetermined value), the normal symbol variable display device 17 is hit and the symbol (for example, “◯”) is derived and displayed.

  The normal symbol variable display device 17 can variably display normal symbols as a plurality of types of identification information including symbols such as numerals. In the present embodiment, the normal symbol variable display device 17 alternately variably displays “O” as a winning symbol and “X” as an off symbol. In the normal symbol variable display device 17, variable display is started according to the start winning in the normal symbol starting winning opening 16, and the display result is derived and displayed after a predetermined period. When the variable display result of the normal symbol variable display device 17 becomes a predetermined display mode (for example, “◯”), the normal symbol is hit as described above.

  When a normal symbol is hit, the start winning ball device 11a (ordinary variable winning ball device) is in an open state in which it is difficult to accept a ball or in a closed state in which a ball is not easily received. When the ball wins the starting winning ball device 11a (starting winning) and passes the starting region (special starting region) inside the starting winning ball device, the ball is detected by a starting winning ball detector (not shown), The detection signal is input to the game control microcomputer. The game control microcomputer receives the input, determines at random whether or not to generate a big hit state as a specific game state, and displays to instruct variable display control to a variable display control unit comprising the microcomputer Outputs control command data. The variable display control unit receives display control command data and performs variable display control of the variable display device 12 according to the contents of the command.

  Here, as will be described later, the specific gaming state is determined using a random value obtained from the count value extracted from the random counter (for example, whether or not it matches a predetermined value). As a result, if the result is a predetermined determination result (for example, a result that matches a predetermined value), a jackpot symbol (for example, a doublet such as “777”) is derived and displayed on the variable display device, and then the process proceeds. Refers to the game state.

  The variable display device 12 can variably display special symbols as a plurality of types of identification information including symbols such as numerals, and three variables, a left variable display portion 12a, a middle variable display portion 12b, and a right middle variable display portion 12c. It has a display part. In the variable display device 12, the variable display units start variable display all at once according to the start winning, and all display results are derived and displayed after a predetermined period. When the variable display result of the variable display device 12 is a predetermined combination of specific display modes (for example, a special symbol combination of “777”), a specific gaming state advantageous to the player as described above is obtained. The big hit gaming state is generated, and the following big hit control is executed.

  First, the variable winning ball apparatus 13 is controlled so as to be in a first state that is advantageous to the player. Then, the earlier condition is established, whether a predetermined number (for example, 10 balls) wins in the variable winning ball apparatus 13 in the first state or a predetermined time (30 seconds) elapses. As a result, the variable winning ball apparatus 13 is closed, and the player enters a second state that is disadvantageous to the player. If the ball that has won a prize in the variable winning ball apparatus 13 that is in the first state wins a specific winning area formed at a predetermined location, the first state of the variable winning ball apparatus 13 for that time ends. Waiting for this, the repeated continuation control for controlling the variable winning ball apparatus 13 to the first state again is executed. The upper limit number of executions of this repeated continuation control is set to 16 times, for example.

  The game control microcomputer performs various controls using a random number obtained from a count value extracted from a random counter that is a counter that performs a count to generate a random number. Various random counters, such as a random counter for determining a big hit, a random counter for determining a stop symbol in the variable display device 12, and a random counter for determining a normal symbol, are used for the game control microcomputer.

  A count value that is a random number for winning is extracted from a random counter for determining big hits according to the start winning prize, and the extracted count value is compared with a predetermined big hit determining value. Then, when the extracted count value matches the jackpot determination value, it is determined in advance that the jackpot state is generated. In addition, when there is a start winning prize, a count value that is a random number for the stop symbol is extracted from a random counter for determining the stop symbol, and a special symbol that has a correspondence relationship with the extracted count value in advance is used as the scheduled stop symbol. The variable display control of the special symbol is performed so that the scheduled stop symbol is displayed in advance as a display result.

  In addition, a count value that is a random number for hitting is extracted from a random counter for hitting a normal symbol in response to the start winning of the normal symbol, and the extracted count value and a hit determination for a predetermined normal symbol are extracted. The value is compared. Then, when the extracted count value matches the hit determination value, it is determined in advance to generate a normal symbol hit. If it is determined in advance that the normal symbol will be hit, variable display control of the normal symbol is performed so that the win symbol is displayed as a display result. On the other hand, if it is determined in advance that the normal symbol will be disengaged, the normal symbol variable display control is performed so that the off symbol is displayed as a display result.

  If it is determined in advance that the big hit state is generated by the game control microcomputer, the display control unit variably displays a combination of specific identification information for generating the big hit state (for example, a combination of double eyes). The apparatus 12 is controlled to stop. Such a combination of specific identification information is called a jackpot symbol. For example, when the combination of specific identification information for generating the big hit state is a combination of double eyes, the planned stop symbol of the right variable display unit is a random counter for determining the left stop symbol in the case of generating the big hit. By aligning with the same special symbol as the scheduled stop symbol of the left variable display portion determined based on the count value extracted from the above, a combination of the blue eyes, that is, a big hit symbol is obtained.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in advance that the big hit state will not be generated, the occurrence of the big hit state is indicated based on the count values extracted from the random counters for determining the stop symbols of the left, middle and right variable display sections. The special symbol is determined so that there is no combination of identification information (out of symbol). In addition, when it is determined in advance that the big hit state is not generated, when the planned stop symbol corresponding to the count value extracted from the random counter for determining the stop symbol becomes the big hit symbol, A part is forcibly shifted so that it is made out of design.

  In addition, when the combination of the jackpot symbol that is displayed in a stopped state is a combination of jackpot symbols (probability variation jackpot symbol) with a probability variation, after the end of a specific gaming state based on the jackpot, at normal time (normal gaming state) In comparison, the probability variation state (also referred to as a high probability state) in which the probability of occurrence of a big hit is high is changed. Such a probability variation state is a special game state that is advantageous for a player, which is different from the specific game state (big hit state). Such a probability variation state is generally sometimes abbreviated as “probability variation”. In the following, jackpots with probability variation symbols are referred to as probability variation jackpots.

  Once the probability variation jackpot occurs once in the normal gaming state, the probability variation state is continuously controlled until at least a predetermined number of probability variation continuation times (for example, until the next time) has occurred. Further, if a probability variation big hit occurs during the probability variation state, the probability variation continuation count is counted again after that probability variation big hit, and then the probability variation state continues until at least the number of probability variation continuations occurs. If the jackpot that has reached the probability variation continuation count is due to a non-probability variation symbol other than the probability variation symbol, the normal gaming state in which the probability variation does not occur is returned.

  Therefore, when no restriction is placed on the continuous control of the probability variation state, the probability variation state continues indefinitely at least as long as the big hit that has reached the number of times of the probability change continues is the probability change big hit. In the case of this pachinko gaming machine 1, once the probability variation state continues to some extent, once the probability variation jackpot is continuously generated during the probability variation state in order to end the continuous control to the probability variation state, An upper limit has been set. When the big hit display mode is determined to be an uncertain change big hit based on the upper limit number of times, the continuous control of the probability variation state is forcibly terminated at that time. It is to be noted that the restriction that prohibits the big hit with the probability variation symbol is called a limiter operation.

  In addition, after the big hit state or the probability variation state ends, the variable symbol display time for the normal symbol until the variable symbol special symbol is displayed a predetermined number of times (for example, 100 times) or until the big hit state is generated again. It is controlled to a normal symbol variation time shortening control (ordinary time shortening) state in which (the time from when the normal symbol variable display is started until the display result is displayed) is controlled to be shortened. Such a normal time short state is a special game state that is advantageous for a player different from the specific game state (big hit state).

  Next, the configuration of the main control circuit in the card unit 2 will be described, and the configuration of a gaming system as a gaming system for managing various types of information in the game hall will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the card unit 2 and the information management system in the game hall. Referring to FIG. 3, the gaming system includes a card unit 2 provided corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 1, an acquired ball management server 8 that collectively manages the number of acquired balls individually managed by each card unit 2, Also included is a POS terminal 43 for exchanging premiums.

  In the pachinko gaming machine 1, game control is performed by the game control microcomputer 10 for causing the game-related operations as described above. In the pachinko gaming machine 1, various signals such as a big hit signal, a start signal, a probability change signal, a normal time short / medium signal, and a game signal are sent from the game control microcomputer 10 via the input / output interface 11 to the card. Output to unit 2. A payout ball detection signal is input from the payout ball detection switch to the payout control microcomputer, and is output from the payout control microcomputer 18 to the card unit 2 via the input / output interface 11.

  The jackpot signal is a signal that can specify that a jackpot gaming state has occurred, and is in an active state during the jackpot gaming state. The start signal is a signal that can specify that variable display (variable display) of the variable display device 12 has started, and becomes active every time variable display is started (variable display starts). The probability changing signal is a signal that can specify that a probability variation state has occurred, and is in an active state during a period during the probability variation state. The normal time short / medium signal is a signal that can specify that the normal symbol time short state has occurred, and is in the active state during the normal time state.

  The in-game signal is a signal that can specify that a game is being played on a pachinko gaming machine, and is in an active state except when the hitting operation handle 90 is not operated for a predetermined time (for example, 5 minutes or more). It becomes. The payout ball detection signal is a signal that can specify that the payout of the winning ball has been detected, and is in an active state (for example, a high level state (hereinafter the same)) every time the payout ball detection is detected by the payout ball detection switch. )

  In addition, in the card unit 2, in addition to the above-mentioned jackpot signal, start signal, probability change signal, normal time short / medium signal, and game signal, a ball rental detection signal, an acquired ball detection signal, a returned ball detection signal , Receiving a settlement signal and a hitting ball detection signal.

  Further, when money is inserted into the money insertion slot 60 into which money (1000 yen) is inserted, the money detection switch 40 detects the money and a money detection signal is input to the input / output interface 29. Further, the ball lending operation signal is input to the input / output interface 29 by operating the ball lending button 27a. When the replacement completion button 60 that is operated when the control unit of the failed card unit 2 is replaced with a new one is operated, a replacement completion signal is input to the input / output interface 29.

  Further, when the replay button 27 c is operated, a replay operation signal is input to the input / output interface 29. Further, the card unit 2 is provided with a reset button 42 at a place where the player cannot operate it and only a game attendant can operate (for example, a place which can be unlocked and opened by a key held by the attendant). When the reset button 42 is operated, a reset signal is input to the input / output interface 29. Further, when the ball return switch 58 is operated, a return operation signal is input to the input / output interface 29.

  The rented ball detection signal is a signal that can specify that the paid-out of the lented ball is detected, and becomes active every time the lented ball detection switch 250 detects the paid-out of the lented ball. The acquired ball detection signal is a signal that can specify that the above-described acquired ball is detected, and becomes active every time an acquired ball is detected by the acquired ball detection switch 501.

  The return ball detection signal is a signal that can specify that the above-described return ball is detected, and becomes active every time a return ball is detected by the return ball detection switch 700. The settlement signal is a signal that can specify that the above-described settlement has been performed, and becomes active when the settlement button 27b is operated. The hit ball detection signal is a signal that can specify that a hit ball hit into the game area 10a has been detected, and every time a hit ball is detected by the hit ball detection switch 19, Become.

  The card unit 2 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, a VDP (Video Display Processor) 24, a VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) 25, and a character. A card unit control microcomputer 20, which is a control circuit including a ROM 26, is provided.

  The CPU 21 reads out a control program stored in the ROM 22 and executes various controls for operating the card unit 2 by executing the control program using the RAM 23 as a work area. The control executed by the CPU 21 includes the lending control for lending the balls, the game related information management control for managing various game related information of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the image to be displayed on the display device 3. Display control such as instructing is included.

  When the CPU 21 performs various effects display as will be described later, necessary data is read out according to conditions from a plurality of effects display data stored in the ROM 22, and image display control is performed for effect display based on the data. . In addition, the CPU 21 controls the card reader / writer 200 to perform processing for reading out the remaining card amount and stored ball number information from the above-described card, and processing for recording the remaining card amount, stored ball number information, and acquired ball number information.

  The CPU 21 detects a ball rental detection signal, an acquired ball detection signal, a return ball detection signal, a checkout signal, a big hit signal, a start signal, a probability changing signal, a normal time signal, a game signal, a payout ball detection signal as described above. In addition, various signals such as a driving ball detection signal are received via the input / output interface 29, and processing for managing various game-related information regarding the pachinko gaming machine 1 is performed based on these signals.

  The VDP 24 is an image display IC (Integrated Circuit). Display control data as command data for displaying an image is transmitted from the CPU 21 to the VDP 24. The VDP 24 reads necessary data from the character ROM 26 in which image data is stored in order to display an image according to the received display control data. The VDP 24 generates image data to be displayed on the LCD 27 in accordance with the read data, and stores the image data in the VRAM 25.

  Then, the image data in the VRAM 25 is converted into R (Red, Red), G (Green, Green), and B (Blue) signals (RGB signals) and supplied to the LCD 27 constituting the display device 3. Thereby, various images such as various game-related information managed in the card unit 2 are displayed. Further, an operation signal corresponding to the operation of the touch panel 28 is given to the CPU 21 via the VDP 24. In accordance with the operation signal given from the touch panel 28, the CPU 21 performs control for displaying an image such as game related information according to the player's operation. The display device 3 includes an LCD 27 and a touch panel 28.

  In the game hall, there is provided an acquisition ball management server 8 for managing various information such as game-related information for the entire game hall where the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed. In addition, a plurality of gaming machine installation islands 100 in which a plurality of pachinko gaming machines 1 are arranged side by side are provided in the game hall.

  The card unit 2 is connected via the hub 7 so as to be able to communicate data with the acquired ball management server 8. In the card unit 2, the card unit control microcomputer 20 has a data communication function of executing data communication software to perform data communication, and is obtained through the hub 7 via the input / output interface 29. Data communication with the management server 8 is performed.

  Various game-related information (also referred to as game data) such as the number of jackpots managed in the card unit 2 and the acquired ball data are acquired according to a request from the acquired ball management server 8 or periodically. 8 is given. Thereby, the acquired ball management server 8 manages various information such as game-related information and acquired ball data for all the pachinko gaming machines 1 in the game hall. For example, the acquired ball management server 8 stores game-related information and acquired ball data of each pachinko gaming machine 1 separately for a predetermined period, and manages various information.

  Various game-related information managed by the acquired ball management server 8 is given to the card unit 2 via the hub 7 in response to a request from the card unit 2.

  The acquired ball management server 8 is a control circuit including a CPU 81, a ROM 82, and a RAM 83, and communicates with the acquired ball management server 8 via the hub 7 and the control unit 80 that controls the entire acquired ball management server 8. Input / output interface 84, input unit 85 for inputting predetermined information to the acquired ball management server 8, display unit 86 for displaying predetermined information processed by the acquired ball management server 8, and acquired ball management A storage unit 87 for storing predetermined information processed by the server 8 is provided.

  The CPU 81 of the control unit 80 reads out the information processing program stored in the ROM 82 or the storage unit 87, and executes the information processing program using the RAM 83 as a work area. Various information processing to be operated is executed. Information processing executed by the CPU 81 includes game related information totaling processing for totaling game related information of the pachinko gaming machine 1, image data generation processing for generating image data to be displayed on the display device 3 of the card unit 2, and Image data transmission processing for transmitting the generated image data to the card unit 2 is included.

  The acquired ball management server 8 transmits / receives various information to / from the card unit 2 through the hub 7 via the input / output interface 84.

  The input unit 85 is a keyboard or a mouse, and can input necessary information to the acquired ball management server 8 (control unit 80 including a CPU). The display unit 86 is a display such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT (Cathode Ray Tube), and can display various types of information such as information managed by the acquired ball management server 8. The storage unit 87 is a magnetic disk storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD), and is connected to a control unit 80 including a CPU 81. As the storage unit 87, a magneto-optical disk storage device, an optical disk storage device, or the like can be used instead of the magnetic disk storage device.

  A POS terminal 43 for prize exchange is further installed in the game hall. The POS terminal 43 is used to exchange prizes using the number of balls data (acquired ball data or accumulated ball data) specified by the card issued from the card unit 2 and to store the number of acquired balls. It is.

  The POS terminal 43 is provided with a microcomputer 44. The microcomputer 44 includes a CPU 45 serving as a control center, a ROM 48 storing a control operation program for the CPU 45, a RAM 47 serving as a CPU work area, an input / output interface 41 for inputting / outputting signals to / from an external device, A VDP 46 dedicated to image control, a character ROM 50, and a VRAM 49 are provided.

  Further, the POS terminal 43 is provided with a card reader / writer 51, an LCD 52, a touch panel 53, and a reset button 57. The card reader / writer 51 has a function of reading data recorded on the card and inputting it to the CPU 45 when a membership card or a visitor card is inserted. The touch panel 53 is used for inputting a predetermined operation signal to the VDP 46 when the operator performs a touch operation.

  The LCD 52 is for displaying an image in accordance with a control signal from the VDP 46. The reset button 57 is provided at a place where the player cannot operate and the player's staff can operate (for example, a position that can be unlocked and opened by a key held by the staff). Is operated to input a reset signal to the input / output interface 41. The input / output interface 41 is connected to the input / output interface 84 of the acquired ball management server 8.

  Next, a control operation executed by the CPU 21 of the card unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a main program for card unit processing. Referring to FIG. 4, first, in step S (hereinafter simply referred to as S) 1, a unit replacement process performed when the card unit 2 is replaced is performed. In S2, the card unit 2 and the acquired ball management server 8 are processed. An offline determination process is performed to determine whether or not the connection with is offline. In S3, a currency acceptance process is performed. In S4, a card reception process is performed. In S5, an acquisition ball process is performed. In step S8, the driving / dispensing ball processing is performed. In step S6, the acquisition ball settlement processing is performed. In step S7, server recovery processing that is executed when the server is recovered is performed. Returned to S1.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the unit replacement process shown in S1 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, first, in S10, it is determined whether or not an exchange completion operation has been performed. After the card unit 2 breaks down and is exchanged for a new card unit 2, if an attendant at the game hall operates the exchange completion button 60, an exchange completion signal is input, and YES is determined in S10. When YES is determined in S10, a process of transmitting an exchange completion signal to the acquired ball management server 8 is performed in S11.

  Next, in S12, it is determined whether or not data has been returned from the acquired ball management server 8. The processing in S12 is repeated until the data is returned. At the stage where the reply is received, a process of storing the returned data is performed in S13. The returned data is various data such as acquired ball data stored in the card unit 2 before replacement when the failure occurs. The acquired ball management server 8 stores various data such as acquired ball data of each card unit 2 in association with the unit ID.

  The unit ID is an identification ID for identifying each card unit 2 and is a unique ID different for each card unit 2. Each card unit 2 stores its own unit ID. When sending data to the acquired ball management server 8, the card unit 2 adds its own unit ID and sends it. The control flowchart of the card unit 2 does not show that the data is transmitted to the acquisition ball management server 8 with its own unit ID added, but any data is transmitted to the acquisition ball management server 8. In this case, the unit ID is always added and transmitted. Therefore, when the exchange completion signal is transmitted in S11, it is transmitted with its own unit ID added.

  When the acquired ball management server 8 receives the exchange completion signal, the acquired ball management server 8 returns various data such as acquired ball number data stored corresponding to the unit ID added thereto to the card unit 2. The card unit 2 stores the various data returned. As a result, the data can be restored when the card unit 2 is replaced with a new one.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the offline determination process shown in S2 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 6, it is determined in S18 whether or not the offline flag is ON. The offline flag is a flag that is turned on while the card unit 2 and the acquired ball management server 8 are in a communication disabled state (offline state). If it is not offline, NO is determined in S18, and control proceeds to S20. In S20, it is determined whether or not the online state has changed to the offline state. If no change has been made, this offline determination process is terminated. On the other hand, when the state changes from the online state to the offline state, a determination of YES is made in S20, the control proceeds to S21, a process of turning on the offline flag is performed, and the time when the offline is switched is stored in S22. Processing is performed.

  After the offline flag has been turned ON, a determination of YES is made in S18, control proceeds to S19, and it is determined whether or not the offline state has returned to the online state. The determination process is terminated. On the other hand, at the stage of return, a determination of YES is made in S19 and the control proceeds to S23, the control for turning off the offline flag is performed, the process of storing the online return time is performed in S24, and the return time in S25. Data transmission processing is performed.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing specific processing contents of the return data transmission processing shown in S25 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 7, it is determined in S28 whether or not the offline settlement flag is ON. The off-line settlement flag is a flag that is turned on when the number of balls obtained is settled by the offline card unit 2 and a card is issued (see S126 in FIG. 14). When the offline settlement flag is ON, the offline settlement flag is turned OFF in S29, and in S30, the return notification signal, the offline game history data, the offline settlement history data, and the acquired ball increase / decrease history data are offline. Is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8.

  The offline game history data is, for example, history data of the occurrence time and end time of each jackpot, which are totaled based on the jackpot signal transmitted from the pachinko gaming machine 1. Specifically, referring to FIG. 11, the generation time t1, the end time t3, the generation time t6, the end time t8, the generation time t12, the end time t13, the generation time t16, and the end time t17.

  The off-line settlement history data is data of time when settlement is performed by operating the settlement button 27b while offline. Specifically, referring to FIG. 11, the time data is arranged in the order of t5, t14, and t15.

  The acquired ball increase / decrease history data in the offline state is data including a change value of the increase / decrease value of the acquired ball counter for counting the number of acquired balls and the time at which the increase / decrease time is offline. Specifically, referring to FIG. 11, t2, t4, t5, t7, t9, t10, t11, t14, t15, and t18 which are change times, and the count value of the acquired ball counter after the change corresponding thereto. It is.

  On the other hand, when the offline settlement flag is not ON, the return notification signal, the value of the acquired ball counter at the time of return, and the offline game data (number of jackpots) are transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 in S31.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the money acceptance process shown in S3 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 8, in S35, it is determined whether or not money has been inserted. If not, it is determined whether or not the appropriate money inserted flag is ON. This money reception process is terminated.

  If money (1000 yen bill) is inserted into the money insertion slot 60 and a money detection signal is input from the money detection switch 40, a determination of YES is made in S35, the control proceeds to S37, and an appropriate money input flag is set. A determination is made whether or not is ON. The appropriate money inserted flag is a flag that is turned ON when an appropriate money is inserted. The fact that the appropriate money inserted flag is already ON means that the appropriate money has already been inserted. In that case, a determination of YES is made in S37, and processing for returning the additionally inserted money is performed.

  If it is determined in S37 that the appropriate money insertion flag is not ON, the authenticity of the inserted money is determined in S38, and it is determined in S39 whether or not the money is appropriate. If the money is not appropriate, the money is returned in S40. On the other hand, in the case of appropriate money, processing for turning on the appropriate money inserted flag is performed in S41.

  Next, in S42, it is determined whether or not a ball lending operation has been performed. If not, the processing at the time of accepting money ends. However, if the ball lending button 27a is operated and a ball lending operation signal is input, a determination of YES is made in S42, the control proceeds to S43, and the ball lending is performed. Processing is executed. This ball lending process is a process of lending a fixed amount (for example, 500 yen) and storing the inserted money (1000 yen bill) in the money stock part. The remaining amount obtained by subtracting the amount used for ball lending from the amount of money entered is recorded on the visitor card and the membership card as a card remaining amount (prepaid balance) and discharged. In the case of a member card, the member card may be stored in the acquired ball management server 8 in association with the card ID without being recorded on the card.

  Next, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2 determines whether or not a ball is detected in S43a. When it is determined that a ball rental is detected by receiving a ball rental detection signal from the ball rental detection switch 250 (when YES is determined in S43a), the CPU 21 lends the value of the ball rental counter in S43b. A process of adding and updating the number of detected lents indicated by the ball detection signal is performed, and a control for turning off the appropriate money inserted flag is performed in S44.

  On the other hand, when it is determined that no ball is detected (NO in S43a), the CPU 21 performs error processing in S43c. If the ball lending process is performed in S43 but no ball lending is detected, it is possible that some trouble such as clogging has occurred. For this reason, as the error process, for example, a process of notifying the store clerk that a problem has occurred and a process of waiting for a response to the problem by the store clerk are performed.

  If it is determined in S35 that no money has been inserted, it is determined in S36 whether or not the appropriate money input flag has been turned ON. However, if it is ON, the control proceeds to S42, and the control shifts to control for accepting a ball lending operation.

  9 and 10 are flowcharts showing specific control contents of the card reception processing shown in S4 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 9, it is determined in S50 whether or not a card has been inserted. If no card has been inserted, a determination is made in S51 as to whether the proper card inserted flag is ON. The proper card insertion completion flag is a flag that is turned on when the inserted card is appropriate in the data format of the recording data of the card. If the proper card insertion flag is not ON, the card reception process is terminated.

  When a membership card or a visitor card is inserted into the card insertion slot 26a and the card reader / writer 200 detects the insertion card, a determination of YES is made in S50, the control proceeds to S52, and an appropriate card inserted flag is set. A determination is made as to whether or not it is already ON. If it is ON, since the appropriate card has already been inserted, the additionally inserted card is returned in S57.

  On the other hand, if the appropriate card inserted flag is not ON, whether or not the inserted card is appropriate is determined in S53. This is suitability determination based only on the data format of the data recorded on the inserted card. In S54, it is determined whether or not the card is a proper card as a result of the suitability determination. If the card is not a proper card, the improper card is returned in S57. On the other hand, if the card is a proper card, the control proceeds to S55 and the proper card inserted flag is turned ON.

  Next, in S56, it is determined whether there is an off-line settlement record. This off-line settlement record is data recorded on the card when the card having the number of acquired balls is recorded from the card unit 2 in the offline state (see S127 in FIG. 14). ).

  When a card has been issued from the card unit 2 in the online state, there is no record of the adjustment data in the offline state, so the control proceeds to S65a, but a card has been issued from the card unit 2 in the offline state. Is determined YES in S56, the control proceeds to S58, and the record amount of the game data, the card ID, and the unit ID during the off-line earned ball increase amount, the off-line earned ball increase period is read from the card. Is stored.

  The amount of increase in the number of balls acquired during offline is the amount of increase in the value of the acquired ball counter during offline, and is the value of b1 to b4 in FIG. The off-line acquired ball increase period is a period required for the value of the acquired ball counter to increase during the off-line, and is a period indicated by a1 to a4 in FIG. The game data during the off-line earned ball increase period is data indicating how many jackpots have occurred during the off-line earned ball increase period, and is parenthesized after a1 to a4 in FIG. It is data (number of big hits).

  Next, in S59, it is determined whether or not the offline flag is ON. If it is not ON, the data read in S58 is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 together with the offline card acceptance notification signal. Next, in S61, it is determined whether an authentication result has been received from the acquired ball management server 8, and the processing in S61 is repeated until it is received. Then, at the receiving stage, in S62, it is determined whether or not the authentication result is appropriate. If it is appropriate, the control proceeds to S65a. If it is not appropriate, the control proceeds to S63. It is advanced.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S59 that the offline flag is ON, the control proceeds to S83 to determine whether or not a ball lending operation has been performed. If so, the control proceeds to S68. It is advanced. If there is no ball lending operation, it is determined in S84 whether or not there has been a replay operation. If so, it is determined whether or not the inserted card is a membership card. If it is not a membership card (in the case of a visitor card) The control proceeds to S78. On the other hand, in the case of a membership card, the number of balls data such as the final number of balls acquired and the number of balls stored is stored in the acquired ball management server 8, and the ball number data cannot be specified because it is offline, and replay is not possible in S86 Is notified using the LCD 27.

  In S63, which is executed when it is determined that it is inappropriate in S62, it is determined whether or not a reset operation has been performed by an attendant, and the process of S63 is repeated until there is. If the reset button 42 is operated by the clerk after the improper card is inserted and the clerk takes an artificial response, a YES determination is made in S63 and the control advances to S64. In step S65, the proper card insertion flag is turned off, and the card reception process is terminated.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in S51 that the appropriate card inserted flag is ON, the control proceeds directly to S65a.

  Referring to FIG. 10, in S <b> 65 a, the card insertion notification signal, the card ID of the inserted card, and the unit ID are transmitted to acquisition ball management server 8. Next, in S66, it is determined whether or not a ball lending operation has been performed. If there is no ball lending operation yet, it is determined in S67 whether or not a replay operation has been performed. If there is still no replay operation, the card reception process is terminated.

  If the player operates the ball lending button 27a, a YES determination is made in S66, the control proceeds to S68, and the ball lending process is executed on the condition that there is a remaining card amount of the inserted card. . This ball lending process is a ball lending using the remaining card amount recorded on the card. Based on the information recorded on the card, it is possible to specify the remaining amount of the inserted money and the number of balls acquired by the player as a result of playing the game or the number of balls stored in the game up to the previous day. When a ball lending operation is performed, the remaining amount of the card is used to perform the ball lending processing, and when the replay operation is performed, the number of acquired balls or the number of accumulated balls is used to perform the ball lending processing. It is. Only membership cards can be stored. In the case of a visitor card, all prizes must be exchanged without saving the number of balls earned that day.

  Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a ball rental is detected in S68a. When it is determined that a ball rental is detected by receiving a ball rental detection signal from the ball rental detection switch 250 (when YES is determined in S68a), the CPU 21 lends the value of the ball rental counter in S68b. A process of adding and updating the number of detected ball rentals indicated by the ball detection signal is performed, and a process of subtracting the remaining card amount is performed in S69. This is a process in which an amount corresponding to the number of balls lent by the ball lending process is subtracted from the remaining card amount. If it is determined that no rented ball is detected (NO in S68a), the CPU 21 performs error processing similar to S43c in FIG. 8 in S68c.

  On the other hand, if a replay operation signal is input by operating the replay button 27c by the player, a determination of YES is made in S67, and whether or not the inserted card is a membership card is determined in S70. Judgment is made. If it is a membership card, in S71, the card ID is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 to inquire about the number of balls data. In the case of a membership card, only the card ID and security data are recorded, and the ball count data corresponding to the card ID is stored in the acquired ball management server 8. Therefore, when the inserted card is a membership card, the card ID recorded on the membership card is transmitted to the acquisition ball management server 8, and the acquisition ball management server 8 corresponds to the transmitted card ID. It is necessary to get the number of balls data memorized.

  The number of balls data includes two types, the number of balls acquired on that day and the number of balls stored by storing the number of balls acquired in the game up to the previous day. Then, in S72, it is determined whether or not the number-of-balls data has been returned from the acquired ball management server 8, and the processing in S72 is repeated until there is a response. At a certain stage, the control advances to S73, and it is determined whether or not the number of balls acquired on the current day is included in the returned ball number data.

  If there is the number of balls acquired on that day, the control proceeds to S74, and after the ball lending process is performed, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a ball is detected in S74a. When it is determined that a ball rental is detected by receiving the ball rental detection signal from the ball rental detection switch 250 (when YES is determined in S74a), the CPU 21 lends the value of the ball rental counter in S74b. A process of adding and updating the number of detected balls as indicated by the ball detection signal is performed. In S75, the number of balls lent is subtracted from the number of balls acquired on the day and the result of subtraction is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 together with the card ID. Is made. In response to this, the acquired ball management server 8 performs a process of updating the acquired number of balls on the current day to the acquired number of balls after subtraction. If it is determined that no rented ball is detected (NO in S74a), the CPU 21 performs error processing similar to S43c in FIG. 8 in S74c.

  On the other hand, if there is no number of balls acquired on the current day, after the ball lending process is performed in S76, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a ball is detected in S76a. When it is determined that a ball rental is detected by receiving the ball rental detection signal from the ball rental detection switch 250 (when YES is determined in S76a), the CPU 21 lends the value of the ball rental counter in S76b. A process of adding and updating the number of detected balls lent indicated by the ball detection signal is performed. In S77, the number of balls for (ball rental + fee) is subtracted from the number of stored balls, and the subtraction result is acquired together with the card ID. Processing to send to is performed. Upon receiving this, the acquired ball management server 8 performs a process of updating the number of stored balls corresponding to the card ID to the number of stored balls after subtraction. If it is determined that no rented ball is detected (NO in S76a), the CPU 21 performs error processing similar to S43c of FIG. 8 in S76c.

  As described above, even when there is a number of balls stored, if there are balls acquired on the day, the number of balls acquired on that day is preferentially used for the ball lending process. This is a disadvantage to the player, because a fee is generally collected when using the number of balls, and to avoid it, if there is the number of balls earned on that day, Is used for ball lending processing.

  If the inserted card is a visitor card, a NO determination is made in S70, and the control advances to S78 to obtain the use authentication request signal, the card ID, and the recorded acquisition value. Processing to send to is performed. In response to this, the acquisition ball management server 8 performs an authentication process and returns an authentication result. In S79, it is determined whether an authentication result has been received, and the process in S79 is repeated until it is received. Then, at the receiving stage, in S80, it is determined whether or not the authentication result is proper. If it is not proper, the process proceeds to S63 in FIG. On the other hand, if it is appropriate, the control advances to S81, and the ball lending process is executed on the condition that there is an acquired number of balls.

  Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a ball rental is detected in S81a. When it is determined that a ball rental is detected by receiving a ball rental detection signal from the ball rental detection switch 250 (when YES is determined in S81a), the CPU 21 lends the value of the ball rental counter in S81b. A process of adding and updating the number of detected balls as indicated by the ball detection signal is performed. In S82, the number of balls lent is subtracted from the number of balls acquired and updated to a subtraction result, and the subtraction result is acquired together with the card ID. Processing to transmit to the server 8 is performed. In the offline state, the subtraction result and the card ID are transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 when returning to the online state. If it is determined that no rented ball is detected (NO in S81a), the CPU 21 performs error processing similar to S43c in FIG. 8 in S81c.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which game data (big hit) is generated when a game is played on the pachinko gaming machine 1, an increase / decrease change state of an acquired ball counter of the card unit 2 corresponding thereto, and a state in which settlement is performed. It is a timing chart. Referring to FIG. 11, the horizontal axis of this timing chart indicates a time axis, and t0 to t19 in the figure indicate time.

  The game is started by the pachinko machine 1 and a big hit is generated. The prize balls paid out to the hitting ball supply tray (upper plate) 92 and the surplus ball tray (lower plate) 93 are accumulated, and the prize balls are stored in the counting ball storage unit. The value of the acquired ball counter is increased at a stroke by causing the acquired ball detection switch 501 to detect the acquired ball. Thereafter, when the player uses up the award balls accumulated by continuing the game without generating a big hit, the player operates the ball return switch 58 so that the predetermined number of game balls are returned and the predetermined number of acquired balls. The number is subtracted from the value of the earned ball counter.

  Thereafter, the card unit 2 enters an offline state, a second big hit occurs, a large number of prize balls are paid out, and the prize balls are flowed again to the counting ball storage unit 94 to be detected by the acquisition ball detection switch 501. , The value of the winning ball counter increases at a stretch. Thereafter, when the player operates the checkout button 27b, a card in which information capable of specifying the value of the acquired ball counter at that time is recorded is issued to the player, and the value of the acquired ball counter is cleared to 0. To be initialized.

  In this gaming state, the period of a1 until the settlement is performed after switching to the offline state is during the increase in the number of acquired balls during offline, and the value of the acquired ball counter at the time of switching to the offline state and the settlement time B1 which is the difference from the value of the acquired ball counter is the increased amount of acquired balls during offline.

  The next player starts a game with the same pachinko machine 1, a big hit occurs, a large number of prize balls are paid out in the same manner as described above, and the prize ball detection switch 501 detects the prize ball counter. The value of increases at a stretch. After that, by continuing the game without generating a big hit, the winning ball is exhausted and the number of acquired balls, which is the value of the acquired ball counter, is exhausted to 0 after the game is exhausted. All winning balls are detected by the acquired ball detection switch 501, and the value of the acquired ball counter is increased at once. Then, when the player operates the settlement button 27b to perform settlement, a card in which information that can identify the acquired ball is recorded is issued to the player, and the value of the acquired ball counter is cleared to zero.

  In such a gaming state, the value corresponding to the off-line earned ball increase period is that the value of the earned ball counter once becomes 0, and then the value of the earned ball counter associated with the big hit is increased and settlement is performed. It is a2 which is a period until. During the period of a2, since the big hit occurs once, the game data during the off-line earned ball increase period is “one big hit”. The amount of increase in the number of balls acquired during offline is b2.

  Furthermore, the value of the earned ball counter is greatly increased at a stroke, even though other players start playing with the same pachinko gaming machine 1 and no big hit has occurred. Checkout is performed in this state. In this case, the off-line earned ball increase period is a period a3 from the previous player's settlement time to the current player's settlement time. The game data during the period a3 is “0 hits per jackpot”. And the amount of increase in the number of balls acquired during offline is b3.

  As described above, when the amount of increase in the number of balls acquired offline is significantly increased as shown in b3 even though no big hit has occurred, the value of the acquired ball counter is illegally increased by radio waves or the like. There is a high possibility that fraudulent acts were carried out.

  Further, the next player plays a game with the same pachinko machine 1, and the winning ball counter is incremented by the winning ball detection switch 501 when a big hit occurs and the winning ball is detected. Unit 2 is back online. In this state, the off-line earned ball increase period is a4, which is a period from the previous player's check-out time to the time when the player returns to the online state, and the game data during the period of a4 is “one big hit” . Further, the amount of increase in the number of balls acquired during offline is b4.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the acquired ball processing shown in S5 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 12, in S90, it is determined whether or not an acquired ball has been detected. If it has not been detected, it is determined in S95 whether or not a ball lending operation has been performed. Then, the control proceeds to S101, and control is performed to display the current number of acquired balls, that is, the value of the acquired ball counter on the count display unit 55.

  When the player operates the discharge lever 93a to cause the winning ball to be detected by the acquired ball detection switch 501, and if YES is determined in S90, the value of the acquired ball counter is incremented and updated by the acquired ball detection number in S91. In step S92, the acquired ball increase / decrease history is stored. Next, in S93, it is determined whether or not the offline flag is ON. If it is ON, the control proceeds to S95. If it is not ON, in S94, the value of the acquired ball counter is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 together with the increase / decrease notification signal. . Upon receiving this, the acquired ball management server 8 updates the number of acquired balls in the server data table stored in association with the transmitted unit ID of the card unit 2 to the value of the new acquired ball counter that has been transmitted. Perform processing.

  When the player operates the ball return switch 58 and a determination of YES is made in S95, a return ball payout process is executed in S96 on condition that there is an acquired ball. Next, the CPU 21 determines whether or not a return ball is detected in S96a. When it is determined that the return ball is detected by receiving the return ball detection signal from the return ball detection switch 700 (when YES is determined in S96a), the CPU 21 acquires the acquired ball (of the acquired ball counter) in S97. The value is subtracted and updated by the number of returned balls, and in S98, a process of storing the acquired ball increase / decrease history is performed.

  Next, in S99, it is determined whether or not the offline flag is ON. If yes, the control proceeds to S101. If not, it is acquired together with the increase / decrease notification signal in S100. Processing for transmitting the value of the ball counter to the acquired ball management server 8 is performed. Receiving this, the acquired ball management server 8 updates the number of acquired balls stored in the server data table in association with the unit ID of the transmitted card unit 2 to the value of the new acquired ball counter that has been transmitted. Perform processing.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that no return ball is detected (NO in S96a), the CPU 21 performs error processing in S96b. If the return ball payout process is performed in S96, but no return ball is detected, it is possible that some trouble such as clogging has occurred. For this reason, as error processing, for example, processing similar to the processing described in S43c of FIG. 8 is performed.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the driving / dispensing ball process shown in S8 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 13, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2 determines whether or not a shot ball has been detected in S331. When it is determined that a shot ball has been detected by receiving a shot ball detection signal from the shot ball detection switch 19 (when YES is determined in S331), the CPU 21 sets a shot ball counter in S332. Is added and updated by the number of detected balls detected by the shot detection signal.

  When it is determined that no hit ball has been detected (YES in S331), the CPU 21 determines whether or not a payout ball has been detected in S333. When it is determined that a payout ball is detected by receiving a payout ball detection signal from the payout control microcomputer 18 (when YES is determined in S333), the CPU 21 sets the value of the payout ball counter in S334. A process of adding and updating the number of detected payout balls indicated by the payout ball detection signal is performed.

  If it is determined that no payout ball has been detected (YES in S333), the CPU 21 determines whether or not a return ball has been detected in S335. When it is determined that the return ball is detected by receiving the return ball detection signal from the return ball detection switch 700 (when YES is determined in S335), the CPU 21 returns the value of the return ball counter in S336. A process of adding and updating the number of return balls detected indicated by the ball detection signal is performed.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the acquired ball settlement process shown in S6 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 14, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2 determines whether or not a settlement operation has been performed in S110. If there is no settlement operation, the acquired ball settlement process is terminated. If the player operates the checkout button 27b, a YES determination is made in S110, the control proceeds to S340, and an acquisition ball abnormality determination process is performed. In the acquired ball abnormality determination process, the calculated acquired ball number is calculated based on the number of balls lent indicated by the ball counter, the number of shots indicated by the shot ball counter, and the number of payout balls indicated by the payout ball counter. It is determined whether or not the number of balls to be determined by subtracting the calculated calculated number of balls from the acquired number of balls indicated by the acquired ball counter is equal to or greater than a predetermined abnormality determination value. In this case, the card ejection prohibition flag is turned ON. The acquired ball abnormality determination process will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  Next, in S353, it is determined whether or not the card ejection prohibition flag is ON. When it is determined that the card discharge prohibition flag is ON (when YES is determined in S353), the CPU 21 ends the acquired ball settlement process.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the card ejection prohibition flag is not ON, that is, it is OFF (when NO is determined in S353), the CPU 21 determines whether or not the proper card inserted flag is ON in S111. Judgment is made. If the proper card is not inserted, NO is determined in S111, the control is advanced to S112, and it is determined whether or not the value of the acquired ball counter is “0” or more. If the appropriate card is not inserted and the current value of the acquired ball counter is “0”, the payment cannot be made. Therefore, even if a payment operation is performed, NO is determined in S112 and the payment is performed. This acquisition ball settlement process is terminated without being executed. On the other hand, if the appropriate card has not been inserted, but the value of the earned ball counter is greater than “0”, the control proceeds to S122, where the visitor card is taken out from the card stock unit, and in S123, the card is A process of generating the ID and recording it on the visitor card is performed, and the control proceeds to S113.

  On the other hand, if a proper card has already been inserted, a determination of YES is made in S111, control proceeds to S113, and a determination is made as to whether the offline flag is ON. In the online state, NO is determined in S113, the control is advanced to S114, and a process of transmitting the settlement request request signal and the card ID of the inserted card to the acquired ball management server 8 is performed. It is. This is a process for having the acquired ball management server 8 authenticate the suitability of the card inserted at the time of payment. When the acquisition ball management server 8 receives the authentication request signal at the time of settlement, the acquired ball management server 8 authenticates the suitability based on the transmitted card ID and returns the authentication result. In S115, it is determined whether or not an authentication result has been received, and the processing in S115 is repeated until it is received. At the receiving stage, in S116, it is determined whether or not the authentication result is appropriate. If it is appropriate, the control proceeds to S117. If it is not appropriate, the control is performed as shown in FIG. The process proceeds to S63, and processing when an inappropriate card is detected is performed.

  In S117, it is determined whether the inserted card is a membership card. In the case of a membership card, the control proceeds to S119. However, in the case of a visitor card, in S118, after the process of adding and recording the value of the acquired ball counter to the visitor card is performed, the control proceeds to S119. .

  On the other hand, in the offline state, the determination of YES is made in S113, the control proceeds to S124, and the amount of added balls during offline is calculated from the acquired ball increase / decrease history during the offline period and the inserted card is inserted. Processing to store the card ID is performed. Next, in S125, processing for calculating game data (game data during offline acquisition ball increase period) during the acquisition ball increase period offline and storing it together with the card ID is performed. In S126, the off-line settlement flag is turned ON.

  Next, in S127, processing is performed to record the amount of increase in offline balls, the game data during the increase in offline balls, the unit ID, and off-line settlement data on a card.

  Next, in S119, the acquisition ball counter, the ball rental counter, the driving ball counter, the payout ball counter, and the return ball counter are cleared, the card is ejected in S120, and the appropriate card inserted flag is turned OFF in S121.

  FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the acquired ball abnormality determination process shown in S340 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 15, in S341, the CPU 21 of the card unit 2 reads the acquired number of balls x, which is the value indicated by the acquired ball counter, from the RAM 23. Next, in S342, it is determined whether or not the number of acquired balls is less than a predetermined number (here, 150 balls) (x <150). When it is determined that the number of acquired balls is less than the predetermined number of balls (YES in S342), the CPU 21 advances the control to S351.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of acquired balls is not less than the predetermined number of balls (when NO is determined in S342), in S343, the CPU 21 causes the CPU 23 to execute a ball rental counter, a shot ball counter, a payout ball counter, and a return ball. The number of balls lent, the number of balls hit v, the number of payout balls w, and the number of returned balls t, which are values indicated by the counter, are read.

  Next, in S344, the CPU 21 calculates the calculated number of balls y based on the number of lent balls u, the number of shots v, the number of paidout balls w, and the number of returned balls t read in S343. Specifically, u + w−v−t = y is calculated.

  Next, in S345, the CPU 21 calculates the determination target ball number z by subtracting the calculated acquisition ball number y calculated in S344 from the acquired ball number x read in S341. That is, xy = z is calculated.

  In S346, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the number of determination target balls z calculated in S345 is equal to or greater than a predetermined abnormality determination value (here, 150 balls) (z ≧ 150). If it is determined that the number of balls to be determined z is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value (YES in S346), the CPU 21 controls the card discharge prohibition flag to be ON in S347. Accordingly, it is determined in S353 in FIG. 14 that the card ejection prohibition flag is ON, and the control cannot proceed to S120, so the card ejection process in S120 is not executed. Also, in S348, the acquisition ball management server 8 notifies the store clerk that the acquisition ball management server 8 has transmitted that the acquisition ball abnormality has occurred.

  When it is determined that the number of balls acquired is less than the predetermined number of balls (when YES is determined in S342), it is determined that the determination target number of balls z is not equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value, that is, less than the abnormality determination value. In the case (if NO is determined in S346), and after S348, in S351, the CPU 21 determines whether or not the game store clerk has confirmed that the acquired ball abnormality has been confirmed. For example, it is determined whether an acquired ball abnormality confirmation button has been pressed. If it is determined that there has been an operation for confirming the acquired ball abnormality (YES in S351), in S352, the CPU 21 performs control to turn off the card ejection prohibition flag.

  FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the server recovery process shown in S7 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 16, in S135, it is determined whether a server recovery signal has been received. If the server recovery signal is transmitted from the acquired ball management server 8, a determination of YES is made in S135, the control proceeds to S136, the data during the failure period of the acquired ball management server 8 is read, and the acquired ball management is performed. Processing to transmit to the server 8 is performed. The acquisition ball management server 8 recovers the missing data during the failure period by receiving and storing the data.

Next, the control operation of the POS terminal 43 will be described with reference to FIGS.
17 to 19 are flowcharts showing the POS terminal process. Referring to FIG. 17, in S150, it is determined whether or not a card has been inserted. If a card is inserted, an insertion detection signal is transmitted from the card reader / writer 51 to the CPU 45, and a determination of YES is made in S150. Then, in S151, it is determined whether or not the proper card inserted flag is ON. If an additional card has been inserted while a proper card has already been inserted, a determination of YES is made in S151, the additional card is returned in S152, and control is returned to S150.

On the other hand, when a card is inserted in a state where a proper card is not inserted, the control advances to S153 to determine whether the inserted card is appropriate. This suitability determination is performed based on the data format of the card data recorded on the inserted card. Next, in S154, it is determined whether or not it is a proper card. If it is not a proper card, the improper card is returned in S152.

  On the other hand, in the case of a proper card, a process for turning on a proper card inserted flag is performed in S155, and it is determined in S156 whether or not there is an off-line settlement record. The off-line checkout record is recorded on the card issued when the card unit 2 is in the off-line state. If there is this record, the control proceeds to S169, but there is no record. In S157, it is determined whether or not the inserted card is a membership card.

  If it is a membership card, a process of transmitting the card ID of the membership card to the acquired ball management server 8 is performed in S158. The acquired ball management server 8 authenticates the suitability of the card based on the transmitted card ID and returns the authentication result. It is determined whether or not the authentication result is received in S159, and the process of S159 is repeated until the authentication result is received. Then, at the receiving stage, in S160, it is determined whether or not the received authentication result is an appropriate result. If the result is inappropriate, the control proceeds to S165. If the result is appropriate, the ball number data included in the authentication result is stored in S161, and then the control proceeds to S177.

  If it is determined in S157 that the card is not a member card, that is, a visitor card, the control advances to S162, and the card ID and the number of balls acquired are read and transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 Is made. Receiving this, the acquired ball management server 8 authenticates the suitability of the visitor card and returns an authentication result. In the card unit 2, it is determined whether or not the authentication result is received in S163, and the process of S163 is repeated until the authentication result is received.

  Then, when the authentication result is received, it is determined in S164 whether or not the authentication result is a proper result. If the result is appropriate, the control proceeds to S177, but if the result is inappropriate, the control proceeds to S165 to notify the abnormality, and whether or not a reset operation has been performed by an attendant in S166. Is determined, and the abnormality notification is continued until a reset operation is performed. After the clerk has dealt with the abnormal situation, the control is advanced to S167 by operating the reset button 57, the card is ejected, and after the control to turn off the appropriate card inserted flag is made in S168, Control is returned to S150.

  Referring to FIG. 18, if the inserted card has an offline settlement record, the control proceeds to S169, and the offline earned ball increase amount, the game data and card ID during the offline earned ball increase period, A process of reading the recorded data with the unit ID from the card and transmitting the data to the acquired ball management server is performed. The acquired ball management server 8 receives the data, authenticates whether or not the increased amount of acquired balls in the offline state is within an appropriate range, and returns the authentication result. In S170, it is determined whether an authentication result has been received, and the processing in S170 is repeated until it is received. In step S171, whether or not the reception result is appropriate is determined at the reception stage. If the reception result is not correct, the control proceeds to step S165. If it is correct, the result is inserted in step S172. A determination is made whether the card is a membership card.

  If it is a membership card, in S173, processing for adding the increase in the number of balls acquired offline is added to the number of balls acquired on the day in the number of balls data included in the authentication result. Next, in S174, the ball number data after the addition is displayed, and the control proceeds to S177.

  On the other hand, if the inserted card is a visitor card, NO is determined in S172, the control proceeds to S175, and a process of adding the current number of balls acquired to the previous total number of balls acquired is performed. In S176, after the total number of balls obtained after the addition is displayed, the control is advanced to S177.

  Referring to FIG. 19, in S177, it is determined whether or not the inserted card is a membership card. If the card is a visitor card, control proceeds to S178 to determine whether or not a prize exchange operation has been performed. If the determination is not made, the control is returned to S150. However, if there is an operation, the gift exchange process is performed in S185, and then the control is returned to S150.

  On the other hand, if the inserted card is a membership card, a YES determination is made in S177 and control proceeds to S179 to determine whether or not there has been a prize exchange operation. It is determined whether or not a storage operation has been performed. If not, the control is returned to S150. If the player wishes to save balls and the attendant at the game hall performs a saving operation, a determination of YES is made in S180, the control proceeds to S181, and after the ball processing is performed, the control is returned to S150. This storage processing is a process of clearing the number of balls acquired on that day to 0 after updating the number of balls acquired on that day to the number of balls stored and updated.

  If the player wishes to exchange prizes, and the attendant at the game hall performs a prize exchange operation, a determination of YES is made in S179, control proceeds to S182, and prize exchange processing is performed. Then, in S183, it is determined whether or not there is a surplus in the number of balls acquired after the prize exchange. If there is not, the control is returned to S150. If there is, the surplus is stored in S184. Thereafter, the control is returned to S150.

  Next, the control operation of the acquired ball management server (server) 8 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the main process in the server process. Referring to FIG. 20, first, in S200, server recovery completion processing that is performed when acquired ball management server 8 is recovered from a failure is performed, and in S201, processing corresponding to card unit 2 is performed, and in S202. After the processing corresponding to the POS terminal 43 is performed, the control is returned to S200.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the server recovery completion process shown in S200 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 21, it is determined in S203 whether or not a recovery completion operation has been performed. If the staff at the amusement hall repairs the failed server and performs a recovery completion operation, a determination of YES is made in S203, and control proceeds to S204. A server recovery signal is sent to each card unit 2 by specifying a failure period. A process of simultaneous delivery is performed.

  Next, in S205, it is determined whether or not the data during the failure period has been received from the card unit 2, and the processing in S205 is repeated until it is received. Each card unit 2 transmits the data during the failure period to the acquired ball management server 8 by receiving the server recovery signal, and if the data during the failure period is transmitted from any card unit 2 In step S205, a determination of YES is made, the control proceeds to step S206, and data is stored in association with the unit ID of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data. In step S207, the data of all the card units 2 is stored. It is determined whether or not the reception has been completed. If the reception has not been completed, the control is returned to S205 and the reception of data during the failure period is accepted again. Then, when data reception from all the card units 2 is completed, a determination of YES is made in S207, and the server recovery completion processing is ended.

  22 to 26 are flowcharts showing specific control contents of the card unit handling process shown in S201 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 22, it is determined in S210 whether or not an exchange completion signal has been received. As described above, if there is a replacement completion operation after replacing the failed card unit 2, a replacement completion signal is transmitted from the new card unit 2 after the replacement (see S11 in FIG. 5). When the completion signal is received, a process of returning data corresponding to the transmitted card unit 2 to the card unit 2 is performed in S218.

  When the card ID and the inquiry about the number of balls data are transmitted from the card unit 2 in S71 described above, a YES determination is made in S211 and the control proceeds to S219, corresponding to the received card ID. Processing for returning the ball count data is performed.

  In S78 of FIG. 10 described above, when the use authentication request signal, the card ID, and the acquired value are transmitted from the card unit 2, a determination of YES is made in S212, the control proceeds to S220, and the visitor card Authentication processing is performed when replaying is used. If the subtraction result and the card ID are transmitted from the card unit 2 in S77, S75, or S82 of FIG. 10 described above, a YES determination is made in S213, and the process proceeds to S221, corresponding to the received card ID. The number of balls data is subtracted.

  If the increase / decrease notification signal and the value of the acquired ball counter are transmitted from the card unit 2 in S94 or S100 of FIG. 12 described above, a YES determination is made in S214, the control proceeds to S222, and the ball count data Is updated to the value of the acquired ball counter that has been transmitted. If the return notification signal is transmitted from the card unit 2 in S30 or S31 of FIG. 7, a determination of YES is made in S214a, and in S215, it is determined whether various history data have been transmitted. If various history data have been transmitted in S30, the return authentication process 2 in S223 is performed, but if the transmission in S31 is performed, the control proceeds to S226, and the return authentication process. 1 is performed.

  In S60 of FIG. 9, if the card unit 2 transmits the offline card acceptance notification signal, the off-line acquired ball increase amount, the game data during the off-line acquired ball increase period, the card ID, and the unit ID, at S216 A determination of YES is made, control proceeds to S224, and an authentication process performed when the card unit 2 accepts an offline card, which is a card issued in the offline state, is executed.

  In S144 of FIG. 14, if the payment request signal and the card ID are transmitted from the card unit 2, a determination of YES is made in S217, the control proceeds to S225, and is performed at the time of payment of the number of balls to be acquired. Checkout time authentication processing 2 is executed.

  If the card insertion notification signal, the card ID, and the unit ID are transmitted in S65a of FIG. 10, a determination of YES is made in S227, and a card insertion process is performed in S228.

  FIG. 23A is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the response data return process shown in S218 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 23A, in S230, a server data table (see FIG. 24) is searched based on the unit ID received together with the exchange completion signal, and the searched data is returned to card unit 2 in S231. It is. For example, referring to the server data table of FIG. 24, when the unit ID received together with the exchange completion signal is “1020”, the acquisition stored in association with “1020” in the unit ID column in the server data table All the ball count data is searched and returned to the card unit 2 with the unit ID “1020”. In the case of the server data table of FIG. 24, c is retrieved as the acquired ball number data of the card ID “1020”, and the c is returned to the card unit 2 as the acquired ball number data.

  FIG. 23B is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the corresponding ball number data return process shown in S219 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 23B, the server data table is searched by the received card ID in S235, and the searched ball count data is returned to the card unit 2 in S236. For example, referring to the server data table of FIG. 24, when the received card ID is “0001”, “a + b + c” is returned as the confirmed number of balls acquired (the number of balls acquired on that day), and the game up to the previous day The number of stored balls A, which stores the number of acquired balls acquired by the above, is returned.

  FIG. 23C is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the in-use authentication process shown in S220 of FIG. With reference to FIG.23 (c), a server data table is searched with received card ID by S240, and it is determined whether the searched acquired ball number and the received acquired ball number correspond. If they match, the card unit 2 is replied to the card unit 2 in S242, and if they do not match, the card unit 2 is replied to the card unit 2 in S243.

  For example, referring to the server data table shown in FIG. 24, the game using the visitor card with the card ID “1001”, which is the card currently being played, is completed, and the number of balls f acquired is added and updated as the final number of balls acquired. After that, when the card is inserted into another card unit 2, the number of confirmed acquired balls of “e + f” is searched as the number of acquired balls, and the determined number of acquired balls “e + f” and the received number of acquired balls Are determined in S241. In the case of a visitor card, since the number of balls acquired is recorded on the card itself, there is a possibility that the number of balls acquired may be falsified, and if it is falsified, it is determined in S241 that it is inappropriate. Will be made.

  FIG. 23D is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the subtraction process for the corresponding ball number data shown in S221 of FIG. With reference to FIG.23 (d), a server data table is searched by received card ID by S245. Next, in S246, processing for updating the searched ball count data to the received subtraction result data is performed.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a server data table stored in the RAM 83 of the acquired ball management server 8. Referring to FIG. 24, the server data table stores various types of information such as card type, card ID, unit ID, number of acquired balls, number of finalized acquired balls, number of stored balls, and abnormal card information. There are two types of cards: membership cards and visitor cards. The card ID is data for identifying the card, and different ID data is assigned to each card. The unit ID is ID data for identifying the card unit 2. The number of acquired balls is stored in association with the unit ID, and is the acquired number of balls data at the present time transmitted by the card unit 2 of the corresponding unit ID.

  For example, when the card ID is “0001”, the card unit 2 with a unit ID of “1000” is settled, and the number of balls a acquired is issued at the time of settlement, and then the card unit with a unit ID of “1005” The number of balls acquired at the time of payment is b, and the number of balls acquired at the time of payment is c. In this way, payment is performed three times today. And the fixed number of balls acquired is the number of balls data for which the number of acquired balls has been fixed by performing the payment today. For example, when the card ID is “0001”, the payment is performed three times. “A + b + c”, which is the sum of them, is the final number of balls acquired.

  On the other hand, for example, when the card ID is “1001”, e and f are stored as the number of acquired balls. However, only e is stored as the number of confirmed acquisition balls. This is because the card unit 2 with a unit ID of “1085” is used for payment, and the number of balls acquired at the time of payment is e. Next, with the gaming machine corresponding to the card unit 2 with a unit ID of “1180” The game is in progress, and the number of balls acquired during the game is f, and the number of balls acquired for f has not yet been settled. As a result, f is not the fixed number of balls acquired, and only e is stored as the fixed number of balls acquired.

  As mentioned above, the number of accumulated balls is the number of balls that have been accumulated in the game before the previous day, and can be stored only with a membership card. Can not.

  The abnormal card information is stored data of a determination result as to whether the card is an appropriate card or an abnormal card as a result of card authentication. This abnormal card information is stored corresponding to each card ID. For example, since the card ID “0001” is an appropriate card and the card ID “1002” has been determined to be an abnormal card in the past, the abnormal card information is “abnormal”. In addition, the card “1001” is a card that is currently being played or a card unit 2 that has been taken offline during the game and has since been settled. "

  FIG. 25A is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the ball number data update process shown in S222 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 25A, in S250, the server data table is searched by the unit ID of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data, and in S251, the searched number of acquired balls is updated to the received count value. Processing is performed.

  FIG. 25B is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the return authentication processing 1 shown in S226 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 25 (b), in S263, it is determined whether or not the received number of acquired balls is greater than the number of acquired balls corresponding to the unit ID of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data. . If it has not increased, the payment time authentication process ends. If it has increased, in S264, whether the increased amount is appropriate is determined based on the received online game data. Whether or not the determination result is abnormal is determined in S265, and if it is abnormal, the card ID determined to be abnormal is changed to an abnormal guard in S266 (see FIG. 24). Next, in S267, the unit ID of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data is displayed to notify the abnormality and notify that the illegal game is in progress.

  FIG. 25C is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the return authentication process shown in S223 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 25 (c), in S255, a process of calculating the amount of increase in each of the off-line balls is performed from the off-line settlement history data and the number of acquired balls increase / decrease history data. Referring to FIG. 11, the settlement history data while offline is data including the time when settlement is performed while offline. Specifically, the time data is arranged in the order of t5, t14, and t15. Acquired ball increase / decrease history data in FIG. 11 is data composed of a temporal change in the value of the acquired ball counter during offline and its changed time. Specifically, t2, t4, t5, t7, t9, t10, t11, t14, t15, and t18, which are the change times, and the acquired ball count values after the change corresponding thereto. From both of these history data, b1 to b4 that are the amount of increase in the number of balls acquired during offline are calculated.

  Next, in S256, a process of calculating game data during the off-line earned ball increase period from the received three types of history data is performed. Referring to FIG. 11, from the three types of history data of the settlement history data, the acquired ball history data, and the game history data, for example, in the offline acquired ball increase period a 1, the jackpot is increased once in the offline as the game data The game data for the period a2 is calculated once per jackpot, the game data for the offline earned ball increase period a3 is calculated as 0 hits, and the game data during the offline acquired ball increase period a4 is calculated once per jackpot.

  Next, in S257, a process is performed for determining whether or not each of the off-line acquired ball increase amounts is appropriate based on the corresponding game data during the off-line acquired ball increase period. Referring to FIG. 11, it is determined that the game data is one big hit and is within an appropriate range with respect to the off-line acquired ball increase b1. It is determined that the game data is one big hit with respect to the increase amount b2 of balls acquired during offline, and this is also within the appropriate range. It is determined that the game data is one big hit with respect to the off-line acquired ball increase amount b4, and this is also within the appropriate range. However, the game data is 0 hits with respect to the amount of increase b3 during offline, which is determined to be abnormal because it deviates from the appropriate range.

  In S258, it is determined whether or not the determination result is abnormal. If it is not abnormal, in S263, the card ID determined to be appropriate is changed to appropriate on the server data table. Although the authentication process at the time of return is terminated, in the case of an abnormality, a process of changing the card ID determined to be abnormal to an abnormal card is performed in S259. For example, referring to FIG. 24, if it is determined that the card ID “1002” is abnormal, the column of the card ID and the column of abnormal card information is updated to “abnormal”.

  Next, in S260, the unit number of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data is displayed on the display unit 86, and an abnormality is notified. Further, in S261, it is determined whether or not the increase in the amount of balls currently being played is abnormal. If the determination result is NO, the return-time authentication process is terminated, but the current game is being played. If the acquired ball increase amount is abnormal, in S262, a process of notifying the display unit that the illegal game is being performed is performed. In other words, the fact that the amount of increase in the currently acquired ball is abnormal means that the player who has illegally acquired the abnormally acquired ball is currently playing, and this is indicated in S262. It is configured so that a staff member rushes to the gaming machine corresponding to the displayed card ID and can quickly cope with fraud.

  FIG. 26A is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the off-line card acceptance authentication process shown in S224 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 26A, in S270, it is determined by searching the server data table whether the received card ID is an abnormal card. For example, when the received card ID is “0002”, it is determined to be appropriate, and when the received card ID is “1002”, it is determined to be abnormal. If the received card ID is abnormal, the control proceeds to S274, but if it is normal, the control proceeds to S271. Processing based on the above is performed. Referring to FIG. 11, the card unit 2 has transmitted offline-acquired ball increase amounts b1 to b4, and the offline-acquired ball increase period a1-a4 game data (the number of jackpots) is transmitted. Therefore, based on both data, it is determined whether or not the amount of increase in the offline ball is within an appropriate range.

  Then, in S272, it is determined whether or not the determination result is appropriate. If it is appropriate, in S273, it is returned to the card unit 2 that it is appropriate. On the other hand, in the case of improperness, the control proceeds to S274, the improperness is returned to the card unit 2, and the process of changing the card ID determined to be improper to an abnormal card is performed in S275. . Next, in S276, the unit number of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data is displayed on the display unit 86 to notify the abnormality, and a process of notifying that the illegal game is being performed is performed.

  FIG. 26B is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the settlement time authentication process shown in S225 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 26B, in S280, it is determined whether or not the received card ID is an abnormal card by searching the server data table. For example, referring to FIG. 24, if a card ID “1001” is received, it is determined to be normal, and if a card ID “1002” is received, it is determined to be abnormal. If it is determined to be abnormal in S280, the control proceeds to S285. If it is determined to be normal, a process of calculating game data during the acquired ball increasing period is performed in S281. This settlement-time authentication process is an authentication process executed when settlement is performed while the card unit 2 and the acquired ball management server 8 are online, and the acquired ball increase / decrease information and game data are received from the card unit 2. (The number of big hits) is transmitted one by one, and based on the transmitted data, the game data during the acquisition ball increasing period is calculated by the CPU 81.

  Next, in S282, a determination process is performed based on the game data for which the suitability of the currently acquired ball is calculated. The currently acquired ball is a ball acquired at the time of payment, and it is determined whether or not the size is within an appropriate range based on game data (number of jackpots). Then, in S283, it is determined whether or not the determination result is appropriate. If it is appropriate, a message indicating that the determination result is appropriate is returned to the card unit 2 in S284. In S288, a process of adding and storing the acquired number of balls of the received card ID as the determined number of acquired balls is performed. Since the card unit 2 has settled, the current number of acquired balls is added and stored as the determined number of acquired balls. For example, in the case of the card ID “1001” in FIG. 24, as described above, a game is currently being executed in the gaming machine corresponding to the card unit 2 having the unit ID “1180”. When the payment is completed, the number of acquired balls f at the time of the completion is added and stored as the determined number of acquired balls, and the determined number of acquired balls becomes “e + f”.

  In the case of a visitor card, the value of the acquired ball counter is written in the visitor card itself in S118 when the number of acquired balls is settled. In the case of a membership card, the value of the acquired ball counter is stored in the card itself. First of all, it is only necessary to add and update the value of the acquired ball counter to the determined number of acquired balls corresponding to the card ID in the server data table. Thus, in the case of a member card, “Issued” means that the card ID of the member card and the acquired ball number data are stored in the server data table in association with each other, and the corresponding acquired ball number based on the card ID To be able to identify the data.

  In S283, it is determined that the card is inappropriate. In S285, the card unit 2 is returned to the card unit 2, and in S286, the card ID determined to be inappropriate is changed to an abnormal card (FIG. 24). See Server Data Table). Next, in S287, the unit number of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data is displayed on the display unit 86 to notify the abnormality, and a process of notifying that the unauthorized person is paying is performed. The attendant at the game hall who sees this can rush to the POS terminal 43 and quickly take measures to prevent fraudulent acts and prevent fraud.

  FIG. 26C is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the card insertion process shown in S228 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 26 (c), in S289, the received card ID is searched from the server database, the received unit ID is added to the unit ID area and stored, and the abnormal card information area is set to “undecided”. Is processed.

  27 to 29 are flowcharts showing specific control contents of the POS handling process shown in S202 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 27, in S290, it is determined whether or not a card ID has been received. If the card ID is transmitted from the POS terminal 43 in S158 in FIG. 17, a determination of YES is made in S290, the control proceeds to S293, and the membership card authentication process is performed.

  If the card ID and the number of balls acquired are transmitted from the POS terminal 43 in S162 of FIG. 17, a determination of YES is made in S291, the control proceeds to S294, and a process for authenticating the visitor card is executed. Is done.

  In S169 of FIG. 18, if the POS terminal 43 transmits the off-line earned ball increase amount, the game data during the off-line earned ball increase period, the card ID, and the unit ID, a determination of YES is made in S292. Then, the control advances to S295, and a process for authenticating the offline card settled while offline is executed.

  FIG. 28A is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the member card authentication process shown in S293 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 28A, in S300, it is determined whether the received card ID is an abnormal card by searching the server data table (see FIG. 24). If it is not abnormal, in S303, processing is performed to return to the POS terminal 43 the fact that it is appropriate and the ball count data (acquired ball count data, accumulated ball count data) stored in association with the received card ID. It is.

  On the other hand, if it is determined that there is an abnormality in S300, the control proceeds to S301, and a process of returning to the POS terminal 43 that it is inappropriate is performed. Further, in S302, processing for displaying on the LCD 52 that an abnormality has occurred in the POS terminal processing stage is performed.

  FIG. 28B is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the visitor card authentication process shown in S294 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 28B, in S305, it is determined whether or not the received card ID is an abnormal card by searching the server data table (see FIG. 24). In the case of an abnormality, the control proceeds to S309, a notification that an abnormality has occurred in the POS terminal processing stage is displayed on the LCD 52, and in S310, the card ID determined to be illegal is changed to an abnormal card. (See FIG. 24).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the received card ID is not abnormal, in S306, the server data table (see FIG. 24) is searched based on the card ID, and the determined acquired number of balls is the received number of acquired balls. Whether or not they match is determined in S307. If they do not match, the control proceeds to S309 and the process at the time of abnormality is performed, but if they match, the control proceeds to S308 and a process of returning to the POS terminal 43 that it is appropriate is performed. .

  FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the offline card authentication process shown in S295 of FIG. Referring to FIG. 29, in S315, it is determined whether or not the received card ID is an abnormal card by searching the server data table (see FIG. 24). If it is an abnormal card, the control proceeds to S319, but if it is not an abnormal card, the control proceeds to S316, and the suitability of the amount of increase in the off-line acquired ball is determined based on the game data during the off-line acquired ball increase period. The determination process is performed. Referring to FIG. 11, game data (the number of jackpots) of offline-acquired ball increase amounts b1 to b4 and offline-acquired ball increase period a1 to a4 are transmitted from the POS terminal 43. Based on these data Thus, it is determined whether or not the amount of increase in the number of balls acquired during offline is within an appropriate range.

  Next, in S317, it is determined whether or not the determination result is appropriate. If it is appropriate, a message indicating that it is appropriate is returned to the POS terminal 43 in S318. On the other hand, in the case of improperness, the fact that it is improper is returned to the POS terminal 43 in S319. Next, in S320, a process of changing the card ID determined to be inappropriate to an abnormal card is performed (see FIG. 24). Next, in S321, the unit number of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data is displayed on the LCD 52 and notified of an abnormality, and the fact that an abnormality has occurred in the POS terminal processing stage is notified.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, 2nd Embodiment is described based on FIGS. 30-40. In this second embodiment, the acquisition ball management server 8 determines whether or not the amount of increase in the acquired balls is appropriate based on the length of the acquired ball increase period and the base data during the special award of the gaming machine that played the game. is there. In the following, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating specific control contents of the return data transmission processing according to the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 30, in the return data transmission process of the second embodiment, in S30A, a process of transmitting a return notification signal, offline settlement history data, and offline acquired ball increase history data is performed. It is. That is to say, offline game history data in the first embodiment is not transmitted. In S31A, the return notification signal, the value of the acquired ball counter at the time of return, and the offline period are transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8.

  FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the card reception processing in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 31, next, in the card reception processing of the second embodiment, in S58A, the record data of the offline acquired ball increase amount, offline acquired ball increase period data, card ID, and unit ID is read. The recording process is performed. Accordingly, in S60, the read data is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 together with the offline card acceptance notification signal. That is, instead of “game data during the increase in the number of balls acquired during offline” in the first embodiment, “offline acquired ball increase during period data” is stored and transmitted.

  FIG. 32 is a timing chart showing a state of change between the acquired ball counter and the settlement in the second embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 11 in the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 32, the difference from the first embodiment is that game data (big hit) is not used for suitability determination. The data to be used are offline earned ball increase periods a1 to a4, offline earned ball increments b1 to b4, and special award based data in the gaming machine that acquired the earned balls. For example, when a big hit occurs during the offline earned ball increase period a1 and an offline earned ball increase amount b1 occurs, the off-line is calculated based on the product of the special prize base and the period of a1 in the gaming machine in which the increase of the earned ball occurs. The upper limit of the medium acquired ball increase amount can be calculated, and it is determined whether or not the offline acquired ball increase amount b1 is within the upper limit range to determine suitability.

  FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the acquired ball settlement process in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 33, in the acquired ball settlement process of the second embodiment, in S125A, a process of calculating the acquired ball increase period data offline and storing it with the card ID is performed. That is, as in the first embodiment, not the game data during the acquired ball increase period during offline, but the data of the acquired ball increase period during offline is calculated and stored. Next, in S127A, a process of recording the increase amount of the off-line acquired ball and the off-line acquired ball increase period data on the unit ID and off-line settlement data on the card is performed. That is, as in the first embodiment, instead of the game data during the off-line acquired ball increase period, data on the off-line acquired ball increase period itself is stored.

  FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the acquired ball settlement process in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 34, next, in S169A, the processing of reading the record data of the off-line acquired ball increase amount, the off-line acquired ball increase period data, the card ID and the unit ID and transmitting them to the acquired ball management server 8 is performed. Done. In the first embodiment, the game data during the off-line acquired ball increase period is transmitted, but in the second embodiment, data on the off-line acquired ball increase period itself is transmitted instead.

  FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the card unit handling process in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 35, in the card unit handling process of the second embodiment, in S216A, the offline card acceptance notification signal, the offline acquired ball increase amount, the offline acquired ball increase period data, the card ID, and the unit ID Whether or not is received is determined. That is, it is determined whether or not “offline data gain during the offline acquisition period itself” has been received instead of “game data during the increase in offline acquisition balls” in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a server data table in the second embodiment corresponding to the server data table illustrated in FIG. 24 in the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 36, in the server data table in the second embodiment, special award base data is stored corresponding to the unit ID. This special award base is the data of the base when the pachinko gaming machine is a big hit, for example, by the first type pachinko gaming machine, the second type pachinko gaming machine, the third type pachinko gaming machine, Each has a different base value. According to FIG. 36, the unit IDs “1000”, “1005”, “1020”, “1085”, and “1180” are the card units 2 corresponding to the first type of pachinko gaming machine, and the base during the special prizes. Is P.

  The unit ID “1108” is a card unit 2 corresponding to the second type pachinko gaming machine, and the base of the second type pachinko gaming machine during the special prize is Q. The card unit 2 of unit ID 1034 is a card unit 2 corresponding to the third type pachinko gaming machine, and the base during the special prize in the third type pachinko gaming machine is R.

  The acquired ball management server 8 includes the special award base data stored in the server data table, the offline acquired ball increase period a1 to a4 data, and the offline acquired ball increase b1 to b4 data. Based on this, authentication is performed as to whether or not the increase amount of balls acquired during offline is within an appropriate range.

  FIG. 37B is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the return authentication processing 1 in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 37 (b), in the second embodiment, in return-time authentication processing 1, in S264A, determination is made based on the received online period data as to whether or not the increase amount is appropriate.

  FIG. 37 (c) is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the return authentication process 2 in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 37 (c), in the second embodiment, in the return time authentication process 2, in S 255 A, the amount of increase in each of the offline balls is calculated from the offline adjustment history data and the acquired ball increase history data. A process of calculating the number of balls acquired during offline is performed. In S256A, the server data table is searched based on the unit ID of the card unit 2 that has transmitted the data, and the special award base data is read. Then, in S257A, processing is performed for determining whether or not each offline-acquired ball increase amount is appropriate based on the corresponding data of the acquired ball increase period during offline and the special award base data.

  In other words, in the first embodiment, the determination process is performed based on the game data during the off-line acquired ball increase period, but in the second embodiment, the off-line acquired ball increase period itself and the special prize The determination is made based on the middle base data.

  FIG. 38A is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the authentication process at the time of offline card reception in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 38 (a), in the off-line card reception authentication process of the second embodiment, if NO is determined in S270, the control proceeds to SA270aA, and the server data table is received by the received unit ID. To retrieve the base data during the special prize. Then, in S271A, processing is performed for determining whether or not the amount of increase in the off-line acquired ball is appropriate based on the off-line acquired ball increase period data and the special award base data.

  FIG. 38B is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the authentication process at the time of settlement in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 38 (b), in the check-in authentication process of the second embodiment, if NO is determined in S280, the control proceeds to S280aA, and the card of card unit 2 that has transmitted data is sent. The server data table is searched based on the ID, and the special award base data is read out. Next, in S281A, a process for calculating an acquired ball increase period is performed, and in S282A, a process for determining the suitability of the current acquired ball based on the acquired ball increase period and the special award base data is performed. .

  FIG. 39 is a flowchart showing the POS terminal correspondence processing in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 39, in the POS terminal compatible processing according to the second embodiment, whether or not offline-acquired ball increase amount, offline-acquired ball increase period data, card ID, and unit ID are received in S292A. Judgment is made.

  FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing specific control contents of the offline card authentication process in the second embodiment. Referring to FIG. 40, in the offline card authentication process of the second embodiment, if NO is determined in S315, the control proceeds to S315aA, and the server is determined by the card ID of card unit 2 that has transmitted data. A process of retrieving the special award base data by searching the data table (see FIG. 36) is performed. Next, in S316A, a process is performed for determining whether or not the amount of increase in the off-line acquired ball is appropriate based on the off-line acquired ball increase period data and the special award base data.

Next, effects of the characteristic portions in the embodiment described above are listed.
(1-1) As described in S43 of FIG. 8 and S68, S74, S76, and S81 of FIG. 10, the card remaining amount and the card that can specify the card remaining amount that can be used for the lending of the pachinko ball by the card unit 2. A ball lending process for lending a pachinko ball is performed within the range of the card balance of the visitor card and the membership card each recording the ID and the card balance specified by the card ID. As described in S90 and S91 of FIG. 12, the card unit 2 counts the number of acquired balls, which is the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player.

  As described in S343 and S344 of FIG. 15, the number of balls lent by the ball lending process, the number of balls v used for the game in the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the winning in the pachinko machine 1 Based on the number of payout balls w to be paid out based on the winning or jackpot in the area, the calculated number of balls y that is the calculated value of the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player is calculated. As described in S345 and S346 in FIG. 15 and S353 in FIG. 14, the determination target ball number z, which is a value obtained by subtracting the calculated calculated ball number y from the counted ball number x, is an abnormality determination value. It is determined whether or not (150 balls in the present embodiment) or more. As described in S347 and S348 in FIG. 15, the abnormality process is performed on the condition that it is determined that the value is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value.

  As described in S110 of FIG. 14, it is determined whether or not the operation of the settlement button 27b has been received from the player. As described in S119 of FIG. 14, on the condition that it is determined that the operation of the settlement button 27b has been accepted, the lending used for the calculation of the counted number of acquired balls x and the calculated number of acquired balls y The number of balls lent by the ball counter, the number of balls struck by the hammered ball counter, and the number of balls struck by the payout ball counter clear the count values of the ball rent counter, the hammered ball counter and the payout ball counter. Thus, it is possible to count the number of balls acquired in the next game and to calculate the calculated number of balls acquired.

  Thus, every time the game is finished, the number of acquired balls x in the next game and the calculation acquired ball number y can be calculated. Therefore, the acquired ball number x and the calculated acquired ball number y are accurately set. Can be calculated. Further, when the pachinko balls are moved between different pachinko gaming machines 1, the judgment target number of balls z, which is the difference between the number of obtained balls x and the calculated number of obtained balls y, is equal to or greater than the abnormality judgment value, and abnormality processing is performed. Therefore, it is possible to accurately cope with such an abnormality. As a result, it is possible to prevent the game hall from being damaged by the movement of the pachinko balls between the pachinko gaming machines 1 having different unit prices per pachinko ball at the time of prize exchange.

  (1-2) In each of the visitor card and the membership card, the number of acquired balls and the card ID capable of specifying the acquired number of balls x are recorded. In the case of a visitor card by the card unit 2, the value of the acquired ball counter is added and recorded in the visitor card in S118 of FIG. 14, and in the case of a member card, the acquired ball is acquired if it is online in S94 of FIG. Every time, the value of the acquired ball counter is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8, and in S127 of FIG. 14, the data of the acquired ball in the offline state is recorded on the member card, that is, the acquired ball recorded on the visitor card or the member card. From the counter value or the card ID, the counted value of the acquired ball counter can be specified, and then the visitor card or the membership card is ejected in S120 of FIG. The card unit 2 performs the process of turning on the discharge prohibition flag in S347 of FIG. 15, whereby YES is determined in S353 of FIG. 14, and the card is not discharged in S120 of FIG. .

  Thereby, when the pachinko balls are moved between different pachinko gaming machines 1, the number of balls to be judged z which is the difference between the calculated number of balls obtained y and the number of obtained balls x is equal to or greater than the abnormality judgment value, and is acquired as an abnormality process. Since the issuance of visitor cards and membership cards in which the number of acquired balls and the card ID capable of specifying the number of balls x are recorded is prohibited, it is possible to prevent prize exchange by the acquired number of balls x. As a result, it is possible to accurately prevent the game hall from being damaged by the movement of the pachinko balls between the pachinko gaming machines 1 having different unit prices per pachinko ball at the time of prize exchange.

  (1-3) If the card unit 2 is a visitor card, the number of acquired balls is read in S81 of FIG. 10, and if it is a membership card, the card ID is read in S71 of FIG. As described in S74, S76, and S81 of FIG. 10, the card unit 2 pays out the return balls based on the read number of acquired balls or the acquired number of balls specified from the card ID. As described in S343 and S344 of FIG. 15, the calculation acquisition ball is based on the number of returned balls t, the number of rented balls u, the number of driven balls v, and the number of paid-out balls w. The number y is calculated.

  For this reason, even if a game is played with the returned balls, the calculated number of balls y can be accurately calculated.

  (1-4) When the card unit 2 determines in S341 and S342 in FIG. 15 that the acquired number of balls x is less than a predetermined number (for example, 150 balls), the number of balls to be determined in S346 in FIG. Since z is not determined and the card ejection prohibition flag is not turned ON in S347 of FIG. 15, it is not determined NO in S353 of FIG. 14, and the card is not detected in S120 of FIG. Discharged.

  For this reason, when the acquired number of balls x is less than the predetermined number of balls, it is determined whether or not the determination target ball number z, which is the difference between the calculated acquired ball number y and the acquired ball number x, is greater than or equal to the abnormality determination value. Cards can be issued without As a result, the time until the card issuance can be shortened.

  (2-1) In this type of gaming system, the number of game media corresponding to each of pachinko gaming machines as an example of gaming machines installed in a game hall is generally known. A game machine is provided, and an example of an acquired value acquired as a result of a player playing a game with a pachinko machine is counted by the game medium counter, and the count result is totaled by a centralized management device. There was something that was done.

  In this gaming system, the totaling results of the respective game medium counters counted by the centralized management device are tabulated as transition data for one day for each corresponding gaming machine (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-127911). reference).

  However, in this conventional game system, when the game medium counter and the central management device are in a communicable state, the count data from the game medium counter is transmitted to the central management device and the central management device However, when the game media counter and the central management device are in a communication disabled state (offline state), the count data of the game media counter that is offline in the central management device is managed. I can't do that.

  In this offline state, the gaming medium counter is not under the control of the centralized management device, and therefore an illegal act against the gaming medium counter may occur.

  When this fraudulent act targeting the offline state occurs, it cannot be managed on the centralized management device side, so the abnormal state that the count value of the game medium counter becomes an abnormally large value in a short time must be managed And the prize is exchanged using the count value of the game media obtained by the fraudulent act, resulting in a disadvantage that a large loss occurs in the game hall.

  That is, in the conventional gaming system, it is defenseless against fraudulent acts aiming at the time when communication is impossible between the acquired value individual management means such as a game medium counter and the acquired value management server such as a centralized management device. It was impossible to verify the existence of such misconduct.

  However, the present invention includes the following configuration, that is, has a function of managing, for each gaming machine, an acquired value that increases at least according to a winning by a gaming machine and decreases when used for gaming, and at least the acquired value An acquisition value individual management means for performing acquisition value issue processing for issuing acquisition value specifying information capable of specifying the acquisition value to the player and outputting issuance execution information, and can communicate with each of the acquisition value individual management means, and at least The acquired value in each gaming machine is stored in association with identification information that can identify each gaming machine, and the acquired value at the time of issue is determined and stored based on the output issuance execution information, and a new acquired value And an acquired value management server for starting storage of the acquired value individual management means, wherein the acquired value individual management means is the acquired value management When the acquired value that is increased or decreased during the communication disabled state is managed and the acquired value issuance processing is performed during the communication disabled state, the acquired value specifying information at the time of acquiring the acquired value is issued. Issuing means when communication is disabled, which is issued by adding issuance information when communication is impossible to specify that it was issued during the communication disabled state at the time of the issuance, and the acquisition during the communication disabled state by the issuing means when the communication is disabled An incommunication issue processing storage means for storing that the value issuance processing has been performed, and at the time of return to the communicable state, the acquired value information at the time of return that can specify the acquired value at the time of return The acquired value issuing process was performed during the communication disabled state when the acquired value issuing process is stored in the incommunicable issued process storing means. Return time information transmitting means for transmitting to the acquired value management server, communication processing issuance processing information that can identify the communication value, and the acquired value management server receives the return time acquired value information by the return time information transmitting means. When it is transmitted and the issue processing information when communication is impossible has not been transmitted, the acquired value at the return time specified by the transmitted acquired value information at return is the return value. Appropriateness determining means for determining whether or not the increase amount is within an appropriate range that can be increased when it is increased compared to the acquired value before the time point.

  Since it is configured in this way, the acquired value individual management means manages the acquired value that increases or decreases during communication with the acquired value management server, and at the time of return to return to the communicable state When the return value acquisition value information that can specify the acquired value is sent to the acquisition value management server, the acquisition value management server does not issue the acquired value specification information that can specify the acquisition value when communication is impossible to the player. Whether or not the amount of increase at the time of return specified by return value information at the time of return is within an appropriate range that can be increased when the value acquired at the time of return is higher than the value acquired at the time of return Therefore, it is possible to verify the presence or absence of fraudulent acts aimed at the inability to communicate.

  Specifically, the card unit 2 manages the number of acquired balls that increase or decrease while being in an offline state with the acquired ball management server 8, and information on the number of acquired balls at the time of return when returning to the online state ( (Acquired ball counter value) is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8, and when the acquired ball management server 8 has not issued to the player the acquired ball number specifying information that can specify the acquired ball number when offline, the return point When the number of balls acquired at is increased compared to the number of balls acquired before the return time, the offline state is aimed at determining whether the increase is within the appropriate range of increase. It is possible to verify the presence or absence of illegal acts.

  (2-2) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the return time point information transmission means, when there is a storage that the acquired value issue processing has been performed in the non-communication issue processing storage means, at least acquired at the end of the communication disabled state Sending appropriateness determination information for determining whether or not the amount of increase in the acquired value that has increased from the time when the value is issued to the time when the communication is possible is within an appropriate range, When the return time acquired value information and the communication impossible issue processing information are transmitted by the return time information transmitting means, it is specified by the return time acquired value information transmitted by the return time information transmitting means. When there is an acquired value at the return time, the return time is determined based on the suitability determination information transmitted by the return time information transmitting means. Earned value of it is determined whether or not in the proper range.

  Because it is configured in this way, when the acquired value individual management means has issued acquired value specifying information that can specify the acquired value when communication is impossible to the player, from the issue point to the communication possible state return point To the acquisition value management server for determining whether or not the increase amount of the acquired value within the appropriate range is within the appropriate range, and the acquired value management server transmits the appropriateness determination that has been transmitted In the case where the player is issued acquired value specifying information that can specify the acquired value in a communication disabled state in order to determine whether the acquired value at the time of return is within the appropriate range based on the information for use. In addition, it is possible to verify the acquired value in the communication disabled state after the issuance.

  Specifically, when the card unit 2 issues the number of balls acquired to the player when offline, the increase in the number of balls acquired from the time of issuance to the point of return to the online state is within the appropriate range. Is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8, and the acquired ball management server 8 is based on the transmitted information for determining appropriateness. In order to determine whether or not the number of balls acquired at the time of return is within the proper range, even when the number of balls acquired is issued to the player in the offline state, the acquired balls in the offline state after the issue You can also verify the number.

  (2-3) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, when the acquired value specific management means accepts the acquired value specifying information to which the non-communication issue information is added in the communicable state, the acquired acquired value specifying information is transmitted to the acquired value management server. The adequacy determination means performs a determination process at the time of acceptance of incommunicable issue information for determining whether or not the acquired value specified from the acquired acquired value specifying information is appropriate.

  With this configuration, when the acquired value specifying information issued in the communication disabled state is moved to another gaming machine and used for gaming, the acquired value individual managing means corresponds to the other gaming machine. When the acquired value specifying information is received, the acquired value specifying information is transmitted to the acquired value management server, and in the acquired value management server, is the acquired value specified from the acquired acquired value specifying information appropriate? Therefore, the acquired value management server can determine whether or not the acquired value specifying information issued in the communication disabled state is received by the acquired value individual managing means corresponding to another gaming machine. Therefore, it is possible to determine the suitability of the acquired value management server without waiting for the acquired value individual managing means in the communication disabled state to return to the communicable state.

  Specifically, when the acquired ball number specifying information issued in the offline state is moved to another gaming machine and used for the game, the card unit 2 receives the acquired ball number specifying information corresponding to the other gaming machine. When accepted, the acquired ball number specifying information is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8. In the acquired ball management server 8, is the acquired ball number specified from the acquired acquired ball number specifying information appropriate? Therefore, when the card unit 2 corresponding to another gaming machine accepts the acquired ball number specifying information issued in the offline state, the acquired ball management server 8 can determine the suitability. It is possible to determine the suitability of the acquired ball management server 8 without waiting for the card unit 2 in the offline state to return to the online state.

  (2-4) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, when the acquired value specifying information issued by the acquired value individual managing means is received and can be communicated with the acquired value managing server, an inquiry for authenticating the acquired value specifying information is made. Inquiry processing is performed on the acquired value management server, and when the authentication of the correctness of the return result from the acquired value management server is obtained, within the range of the acquired value specified by the received acquired value specifying information And a prize exchange terminal for performing a prize exchange process for exchanging with a prize desired by the player, and when the prize exchange terminal accepts the acquired value specifying information to which the communication disabled issue information is added, The acquired value specifying information is transmitted to the acquired value management server, and the suitability determining means is that the acquired value specified from the acquired acquired value specifying information is appropriate. The communication failure issue information reception time determination process is performed, and the determination result of the communication failure issue information reception time determination process is returned to the premium exchange terminal. The premium exchange terminal determines that the determination result is appropriate. The prize exchange process is executed.

  Because of this configuration, when trying to perform a prize exchange process by a prize exchange terminal using the acquired value specifying information issued from the acquired value individual managing means when communication is disabled, the acquired value specifying information is It is sent to the acquired value management server, where it is determined whether or not the acquired value specified from the acquired value specifying information is appropriate, and the prize exchange process is executed when the determined result is appropriate Therefore, the acquisition value management server determines whether or not the communication is disabled without waiting for the acquired value individual management means that has issued the acquired value specifying information to return to the communicable state when trying to exchange prizes. The prize exchange based on the targeted fraud can be prevented as much as possible.

  Specifically, when an attempt is made to exchange prizes using the prize exchange terminal using the obtained ball number information issued from the card unit 2 in the offline state, the obtained ball number information is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8. In the acquired ball management server 8, it is determined whether or not the acquired number of balls is appropriate, and the prize exchange process is executed when the determination result is appropriate. Appropriateness determination by the acquired ball management server 8 is executed at the stage of trying to exchange prizes without waiting for 2 to return to the online state, and prize exchange based on fraud aimed at the offline state can be prevented as much as possible.

  (2-5) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. In other words, it further includes a communication disabled state period specifying unit for specifying the communication disabled state period in the acquired value individual management unit that is in a communication disabled state, and the suitability determining unit is configured by the communication disabled state period specifying unit. Based on the specified communication disabled state period, it is determined whether or not the increase amount of the acquired value increased during the communication disabled state is within an appropriate range that can be increased.

  With this configuration, the acquired value management server is able to increase the amount of increase in acquired value that is increased during the communication disabled state based on the period during which the acquired value individual management means is in a communication disabled state. In order to determine whether or not it is within the range, it is possible to determine based on a period of whether or not the increase amount of the acquired value is within an appropriate range corresponding to the communication disabled state period.

  Specifically, the acquired ball management server 8 determines whether or not the increase amount of the acquired balls increased during the offline state is within an appropriate range based on the period during which the card unit 2 is in the offline state. In order to determine whether or not the increase in the number of acquired balls is within an appropriate range commensurate with the offline state period, it is possible to determine based on the period.

  (2-6) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, in the gaming machine corresponding to the acquired value individual managing means that is in the communication disabled state, the acquired value management server has a gaming state in which the player's acquired value increases during the communication disabled state. A game information input means for inputting game information capable of specifying whether or not the game information is input, and the suitability determination means is based on the game information input to the game information input means and gained during the communication disabled state It is determined whether or not the amount of increase in value is within an appropriate range that can be increased.

  With this configuration, the acquired value management server generates a gaming state in which the acquired value of the player increases during the communication disabled state in the gaming machine corresponding to the acquired value individual managing means that is in a communication disabled state. In order to determine whether or not the amount of increase in the acquired value that has been increased during the communication disabled state is within an appropriate range that can be increased, based on the game information that can specify whether or not In addition, it can be determined whether or not the increase amount of the acquired value is within an appropriate range commensurate with the gaming state.

  Specifically, the acquired ball management server 8 determines whether or not a gaming state in which the number of balls acquired by the player increases during the offline state in the gaming machine corresponding to the card unit 2 that is in the offline state. In order to determine whether or not the increase amount of the number of acquired balls increased during the offline state is within an appropriate range that can be increased based on the game information that can be specified, It can be determined whether or not the increase amount is within an appropriate range commensurate with the gaming state.

  (2-7) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, when the return time information transmitting means returns from the communication disabled state to the communication enabled state, the communication disabled issue means sets the communication disabled state in the middle of the game, and the acquired value issuing process during the communication disabled state. Is issued, the issue value specifying information that can specify the acquired value issued by the acquired value issue process, and the communication impossible from the time when the communication value is switched to the time when the acquired value issue process is performed And an issuance period post-communication period determination information for determining whether or not the amount of increase in acquired value increased during the post-issuance period is within an appropriate range, and the suitability determination means When the acquired value is issued when communication is not possible by the time issuing means, the specified value is specified based on the issued value specifying information transmitted by the return time information transmitting means. Whether or not the increase is within an appropriate range that can be increased based on the transmitted post-communication issuance period determination information that has been transmitted. When the return determination process is performed, and the determination result of the return determination process is different from the determination result when the determination process at the time of the communication impossible issue information reception is performed for the acquired value of the determination target, It is determined that the determination result of the determination process at the time of accepting the incommunicable issue information is inappropriate.

  With this configuration, the determination result of the return time determination process performed when the acquired value individual management means returns to the communicable state in the acquired value management server is the determination result of the determination process at the time of acceptance of the incommunicable issue information When the result is different from the result, the acquired value specifying information issued from the acquired value individual management means is altered during the communication disabled state in order to determine that the determination result of the determination process at the time of receiving the communication disabled issue information is inappropriate. It is possible to verify the presence or absence of such fraud.

  Specifically, in the acquired ball management server 8, the result of the authentication process at the time of return performed when the card unit 2 returns to the online state is different from the authentication process at the time of accepting the offline card when the card unit 2 moves in the offline state. In order to determine that the determination result of the authentication process at the time of offline card acceptance is inappropriate, whether or not there is an illegal act of falsifying the acquired ball number identification information issued from the card unit 2 during the offline state Can also be verified.

  (2-8) Further, the present invention may include the following configuration. That is, the acquired value management server further includes acquired value transmission means for transmitting the acquired value stored corresponding to the acquired value individual management means to the acquired value individual management means, and the acquired value individual management means includes: Further included is an acquired value recovery means for storing the acquired acquired value as the current acquired value.

  With this configuration, the acquired value management server transmits the stored acquired value corresponding to the acquired value individual managing means to the acquired value individual managing means, and the acquired value individual managing means has been transmitted. Since the acquired value is stored as the current acquired value, the stored data of the acquired value in the acquired value individual management means disappears or the acquired value individual management means breaks down and is replaced with a new acquired value individual management means Thus, it is possible to restore the acquired value in the acquired value individual managing means.

  Specifically, the acquired ball management server 8 transmits the number of acquired balls stored corresponding to the card unit 2 to the card unit 2, and the card unit 2 acquires the acquired number of acquired balls at the present time. It can be stored as the number of balls and the number of balls acquired can be restored.

Next, modifications and feature points in the embodiment described above are listed.
(1) The replay button 27c and the ball lending button 27a may be combined into one. In such a case, when a card that can specify both the acquired ball and the remaining amount of the card (prepaid remaining amount) is inserted into the card unit 2 and the button combined into one is operated, the acquired ball is Control to use it preferentially. Further, when a card that can specify both the above-mentioned stored ball and the remaining amount of the card (prepaid balance) is inserted into the card unit 2 and the button combined into one is operated, the stored ball is used with priority. To control. Furthermore, when a card that can specify the acquired ball, the stored ball, and the remaining amount of the card (prepaid balance) is inserted into the card unit 2 and the button combined into one is operated, the acquired ball is used with priority. To control. In this way, the priority use order is in the order of the acquired ball, the stored ball, and finally the remaining card amount (prepaid balance). It should be noted that this priority use order may be changed and set in the game hall by an operation of the card unit 2 by an attendant or a collective change command from the acquired ball management server 8.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the data transmission of the currently acquired ball or the like from the card unit 2 to the acquired ball management server 8 is performed every time there is a data update in the card unit 2. Alternatively, each card unit 2 may be periodically polled from the acquired ball management server 8 side to read the data of each card unit 2. In this way, when the offline state generated between the card unit 2 and the acquired ball management server 8 returns to the online state, when the period from the return point to the next polling has elapsed. The return data transmission processing shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 30 is performed. That is, when returning to a communicable state, return-time acquired value information that can specify the acquired value at the time of return is transmitted to the acquired value management server (acquired ball management server 8). This “return time” does not mean that no time lag is allowed with respect to the return to the communicable state (online state), but the return time at which the acquired value at the time slightly delayed from the return time can be specified. It is a concept that includes content for transmitting acquired value information.

  (3) In the above-described embodiment, the card (recording medium) issued from the card unit 2 in accordance with the settlement operation is such that data is recorded in an invisible manner, but all or part of the data. May be configured to be visible.

  (4) In the above-described embodiment, a card unit (recording medium) that can specify the acquired value issued from a certain card unit 2 in accordance with the settlement operation is provided corresponding to another gaming machine. 2 when a so-called table movement is performed, in which the game is played on the other gaming machine, the unit movement history (unit ID and movement time of the card unit 2 that has moved and inserted the card (card insertion) Time) and issued ball number data issued at the time of settlement are sequentially stored in the destination card unit 2. This movement history data may be stored in the acquired ball management server 8 in the same manner. Further, it may be stored in only one of the acquired ball management server 8 and the card unit 2.

  (5) Although one card unit 2 is provided for each pachinko gaming machine 1, the card unit 2 is not limited to this, but for a plurality of (for example, two) pachinko gaming machines 1. One card unit 2 may be provided.

  (6) In the above-described embodiment, the card ID is a fixed ID that does not change even when the table is moved. However, the card ID is not limited to this, and the card ID is changed every time the table is moved. Also good. And whenever card ID changes with stand movement, it controls so that card ID of the server data table of acquisition ball management server 8 is also updated.

  (7) The acquired ball management server 8 is a server separate from the hall management computer that performs processing for aggregating game information of each gaming machine installed in the game hall and making it available for management of the game hall. It is configured, and the acquired ball management server 8 and the hall management computer are not connected.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the acquisition ball management server 8 and the hall management computer may be connected to exchange data. Further, the acquisition ball management server 8 and the hall management computer May be configured so that one hall management computer manages the acquired value.

  In the case of such a configuration, instead of the above-mentioned game data (such as the number of big hits) being transmitted from the pachinko machine 1 to the acquisition ball management server (or the hall management computer) via the card unit 2 or In addition, game data (such as the number of big hits) is transmitted from the pachinko machine 1 to the acquisition ball management server 8 via the hall management computer or is integrated with the acquisition ball management server 8. You may comprise so that it may transmit directly from the pachinko machine 1.

  In a configuration in which game data (such as the number of big hits) is transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8 without going through the card unit 2, the card unit 2 is offline when it returns to the online state after going offline. The acquired ball increase periods a1 to a4 may be transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8, and game data (number of jackpots) in each online acquired ball increase period a1 to a4 may be calculated on the acquired ball management server 8 side.

  Furthermore, an offline game history stored in the offline card unit 2 by a clerk at a game hall inserting a data read-only card (recording medium) into the offline card unit 2 The data, the off-line settlement history data, and the off-line acquired ball increase / decrease history data are recorded on a card (recording medium) and discharged, and the obtained ball (recording medium) is read by the acquired ball management server 8 to Various history data may be input. The acquired ball management server 8 makes a determination of YES in S214a and S215 in FIG. 22 based on the input of the various history data, and executes the return authentication process 2 in S223 (see FIG. 14C).

  (8) Although the jackpot data has been described as the game data in the first embodiment described above, instead of or in addition, as the game data, winning ball data, effective start winning data, supply ball data And may be game data.

  (9) In the second embodiment, the special award base data that differs depending on the type of gaming machine is used as the reference data for the suitability determination. However, this reference data is not limited to the special award base data, but for a certain period of time. Any data can be used as long as it is possible to determine the upper limit of the number of balls that can be acquired in step (b). In addition, instead of using different standard data for each model, the gaming machine of the model that can obtain the most earned balls in a short period of time in various gaming machines installed in the game hall is used as a standard. The reference data may be applied to all other types of gaming machines.

  (10) In the above-described embodiment, the pachinko balls added to the calculated number of balls y are counted by the ball rental detection switch 250, the return ball detection switch 700, and the payout ball detection switch. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and pachinko balls detected by at least any two of the ball rental detection switch 250, the return ball detection switch 700, and the payout ball detection switch may be counted by one sensor.

  In addition, the pachinko balls subtracted from the calculated number of balls obtained by the driving ball detection switch 19 and the return ball detection switch 700 are counted. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and pachinko balls detected by two of the driving ball detection switch 19 and the return ball detection switch 700 may be counted by one sensor.

  (11) In the embodiment described above, the number of rented balls, the number of driven-in balls, the number of paid-out balls, and the number of returned balls are counted by a ball rental counter, a shot-in ball counter, a payout ball counter, and a return ball counter, respectively. I made it.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a ball rental counter, a shot-in ball counter, a payout ball counter and a return ball counter are not provided, but one calculation acquisition ball number counter is provided, and a ball rental detection signal, a payout ball detection signal, Each time a ball detection signal and a return ball detection signal are received, the number of rented balls and the number of paid out balls indicated by the rented ball detection signal and the paidout ball detection signal are added to the calculated acquired ball number counter to detect the shot ball The number of shot balls and the number of returned balls respectively indicated by the signal and the return ball detection signal may be subtracted from the calculated acquisition ball number counter. As a result, when the game end operation is performed, the value of the calculated acquired ball counter can be used as the calculated acquired ball number without calculating the calculated acquired ball number as in S343 and 344 of FIG. .

  (12) In the embodiment described above, when there is a game end operation, the count values of the acquisition ball counter, the ball rental counter, the driving ball counter, the payout ball counter and the return ball counter are set to 0 in S119 of FIG. I cleared it.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when a game end operation is performed, the value of each counter may not be cleared to 0 but accumulated. That is, in S119 of FIG. 14, the count values at the time of the current game end operation of the acquired ball counter, the rented ball counter, the shot-in ball counter, the payout ball counter and the return ball counter are stored, and the next game end operation is performed. In the acquired ball abnormality determination process shown in FIG. 15 when it is performed, the difference between the count value at the current game end operation and the stored count value at the previous game end operation is calculated respectively. You may make it use as the number of acquired balls of a game, the number of balls lent, the number of shots, the number of payout balls, and the number of returned balls.

  (13) In the embodiment described above, the embodiment has been described on the assumption that the gaming machine that executes a game using a game medium is the pachinko gaming machine 1 that executes a game using a pachinko ball. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be a slot machine that uses a medal to execute a game.

  (14) In the above-described embodiment, as described in S346 of FIG. 15, it is determined whether z = xy = x- (u + wvt) ≧ 150 is satisfied. . However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the determination may be made by an expression in which the order of each parameter is rearranged, or −z = y−x = u + w−v−t− in which both sides are multiplied by −1. You may make it determine by the formula of x <= 150.

  (15) In the above-described embodiment, it is determined whether or not the determination target ball number z (= xy) that is the difference between the acquired ball number x and the calculated acquired ball number y is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value. This is performed by the card unit 2.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the acquired ball number x and the calculated acquired ball number y are configured to be transmitted to the acquired ball management server 8, and xy = z is calculated by the acquired ball management server 8. Further, it may be determined whether or not the number of determination target balls z is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value.

  Further, the values for calculating the number of acquired balls x and the calculated number of acquired balls y (in the present embodiment, the number of balls lent, the number of shots v, the number of paid-out balls w and the number of returned balls t) are acquired balls. It is configured to be transmitted to the management server 8, and x− (u + w−v−t) = z is calculated by the acquired ball management server 8, and whether or not the determination target ball number z is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value. Such a determination may be made.

  (16) In the embodiment described above, when there is a ball returning operation, the number of returned balls is subtracted from the number of acquired balls in S97 of FIG. 12, and the value t of the return ball counter is returned in S336 of FIG. Only the number of balls is added and updated, and at the time of settlement, the number t of returned balls is subtracted from the calculated number of balls in S344 of FIG. That is, the same number of returned balls is subtracted from the actually acquired number of balls and the calculated number of acquired balls. For this reason, even if there is a return ball, the determination target ball number obtained by subtracting the calculated acquisition ball number from the acquired ball number in S345 of FIG. 15 is not affected.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of returned balls is not subtracted from the number of acquired balls in S97 of FIG. 12, the value of the returned ball counter is not counted in S335 and S336 of FIG. 13, and at the time of payment in S344 of FIG. The number of returned balls may not be subtracted from the calculated number of balls. Even if it does in this way, even if there is a return ball, it can be made not to affect the number of determination target balls of S345 of FIG. Moreover, it is not necessary to count the number t of returned balls.

  In this case, without using the number of returned balls t, it is possible to calculate by the calculation acquired number of balls y = the number of borrowed balls u + the number of paid-out balls w−the number of driven balls v.

  (17) In the above-described embodiment, the number of balls lent is added every time there is a ball lending, and the number of balls to be thrown v is added each time a ball is struck into the game area. The number of balls to be paid out is added every time, and at the time of payment, the difference between the actually obtained number of balls x and the calculated number of obtained balls y (= u + w−v) is calculated as the number of balls to be judged z. If the number of balls z is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of balls (for example, 150 balls), it is determined that a ball has been brought in from another.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this. Each time a ball is struck into the game area, the number of hit balls v is added, and every time there is a prize ball, the number of payout balls is added, and the number of payout balls is w. The difference from the number of balls v is calculated as the number of balls to be judged z ′, and in the case of ball lending in which the number of balls to be judged z ′ is negative or zero, the number of balls to be judged z ′ is 0 every time there is a ball loan. In ball lending when the number of balls to be judged z is positive and cleared, the number of balls to be lended is added to the number of balls to be judged z 'every time there is a ball lending, and when the counting operation is performed, If the difference between the obtained number of balls x and the number of balls to be determined z ′ is equal to or greater than a predetermined number of balls (for example, 150 balls), it may be determined that a ball has been brought in from another.

  Here, when the total number of balls lent is u and the number of balls lent when the determination target number of balls z ′ is positive is s, the number of balls actually obtained is uv + w. Further, the number of balls to be determined z ′ = w−v + s. Therefore, the difference between the actually obtained number of balls x and the number of balls to be determined z ′ is uv + w− (w−v + s) = us.

  In addition, when r balls are brought in from the other, the number of balls actually obtained is uv + w + r. In this case, the difference between the actually acquired number of balls x and the number of balls to be determined z ′ is uv + w + r− (w−v + s) = u−s + r.

  For this reason, the larger the difference between the total ball lending u and the ball lending number s in the state where the determination target ball number z ′ is positive, the larger the actually obtained number of balls x and the determination target ball number z ′. The difference becomes large, which hinders detection of the number of balls r brought in. For this reason, it is preferable to carry out like the embodiment mentioned above.

  In the modification described above, in the ball lending in which the determination target ball number z ′ is negative or zero, the determination target ball number z ′ is cleared to 0 every time there is a ball loan. However, similarly to ball lending in a state where the number of balls to be judged z ′ is positive, the number of balls to be lended may be added to the number of balls to be judged z ′ every time there is ball lending.

  (18) In the above-described embodiment, as shown in S347 and S348 in FIG. 15 and S353 and S120 in FIG. 14, both the process for prohibiting card ejection and the process for notifying the store clerk are performed as the abnormal processes. To do. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any process may be performed as the abnormal process. Further, other abnormality processing, for example, processing for recording that there is an abnormality in the member card or the visitor card may be performed.

  (19) In the embodiment described above, the count values of S74b, S76b, and S81b in FIG. 10 are counted by the ball rental counter. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the replay ball counter different from the ball rental counter may be used for counting. In this case, if the count value of the replay ball counter is q, the calculated number of balls y is calculated as y = u + q + w−v−t.

  (20) The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a front view which shows a part of game machine installation island installed in the game hall. It is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine as an example of a card unit and gaming machine. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control circuit of a card unit, the control circuit of a POS terminal, the control circuit of an acquisition ball management server, and the information management system in a game arcade. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing of a card unit. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the process at the time of unit replacement | exchange. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of an offline determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the data transmission process at the time of a return. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the process at the time of money reception. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the process at the time of card | curd reception. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the process at the time of card | curd reception. It is a timing chart which shows the change state of game data, an acquisition ball counter, and adjustment. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of acquisition ball | bowl processing. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of a driving | injection and payout ball process. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the acquisition ball adjustment process. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of acquisition ball | bowl abnormality determination processing. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of a server time recovery process. It is a flowchart which shows a POS terminal process. It is a flowchart which shows a POS terminal process. It is a flowchart which shows a POS terminal process. It is a flowchart which shows a server process. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of a server recovery completion process. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of a card unit corresponding | compatible process. (A) is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the corresponding data return process, (b) is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of the corresponding ball number data return process, and (c) is the in-use authentication process. It is a flowchart which shows a specific control content, (d) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the subtraction process of corresponding ball number data. It is a figure which shows a server data table. (A) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the number-of-balls data update process, (b) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the return time authentication process 1, (c) is the flow time of the return time authentication process 2. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content. (A) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the authentication process at the time of offline card reception, (b) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the authentication process at the time of payment. It is a flowchart which shows a POS terminal corresponding | compatible process. (A) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of a membership card authentication process, (b) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of a visitor card authentication process. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of an offline card authentication process. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the data transmission process at the time of return in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the process at the time of card reception in 2nd Embodiment. It is a timing chart which shows the state of change with an acquisition ball counter and adjustment in a 2nd embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the acquisition ball adjustment process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the acquisition ball adjustment process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the card unit corresponding | compatible process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the server data table in 2nd Embodiment. (A) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the ball number data update process in 2nd Embodiment, (b) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the return time authentication process 1 in 2nd Embodiment. Yes, (c) is a flowchart showing the specific control contents of return-time authentication processing 2 in the second embodiment. (A) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the authentication process at the time of offline card reception in 2nd Embodiment, (b) is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the authentication process at the time of payment in 2nd Embodiment. is there. It is a flowchart which shows the POS terminal corresponding | compatible process in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the specific control content of the offline card | curd authentication process in 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  1 Pachinko machine, 2 card unit, 8 earned ball management server, 43 POS terminal, 21, 45, 81 CPU, 27a ball lending button, 60 replacement complete button, 27c replay button, 42 reset button, 58 ball return switch, 27b Settlement button, 27, 52 LCD, 86 display unit, 501 Acquired ball detection switch.

Claims (4)

Lending means for lending to lend gaming media within the range of the remaining amount specified by the remaining amount information of the recording medium for recording the remaining amount information that can specify the remaining amount that can be used for lending game media, and a game A gaming system provided for each machine, comprising an actually acquired game medium counting means for counting the number of actually acquired game media, which is the number of game media acquired by a player,
The number of gaming media lent by the lending process, the number of used gaming media used in the game on the gaming machine, and the number of paid-out gaming media paid out based on the fact that the gaming machine has paid out conditions A calculation acquisition game medium number calculation means for calculating a calculation acquisition game medium number that is a calculation value of the number of game media acquired by the player,
Whether the difference value between the actually acquired game medium number counted by the actually acquired game medium counting unit and the calculated acquired game medium number calculated by the calculated acquired game medium number calculating unit is greater than or equal to an abnormality determination value. An abnormality determining means for determining whether or not,
An abnormality processing means for performing abnormality processing on the condition that the abnormality determination means determines that the abnormality determination value is equal to or greater than the abnormality determination value;
A game end determination means for determining whether or not an operation for ending a game is received from the player;
On the condition that the operation for ending a game is accepted by the game end judging means, the actual obtained game medium number counted by the actually obtained game medium counting means, and the calculation obtained game medium number calculation A game system comprising enabling means for allowing the value used by the means to count the number of actually obtained game media in the next game and to calculate the number of game media obtained. In the recording medium, information on the number of acquired game media capable of specifying the actual number of acquired game media is recorded,
The gaming system further includes:
An acquired game medium number record issuing means for specifying the actually acquired game medium number counted by the actually acquired game medium counting means from the acquired game medium number information recorded on the recording medium and issuing the recording medium;
2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality processing means performs processing for prohibiting the issuance of the recording medium by the acquired game medium number recording issuance means as the abnormality processing. The gaming system further includes:
Acquired game medium number reading means for reading the acquired game medium number information from the recording medium issued by the acquired game medium number record issuing means;
Return game medium payout means for paying out the return game medium based on the acquired game medium number specified from the acquired game medium number information read by the acquired game medium number reading means;
The calculation-acquisition game medium number calculating means includes the number of return game media paid out by the return game medium payout means, the number of loaned game media, the number of used game media, and the payout game media. 3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein the number of game-acquiring game media is calculated based on a number.   When the number of actually acquired game media counted by the actually acquired game media counting unit is less than a predetermined number, the abnormality determining unit does not execute the determination, and the acquired game media number record issuing unit is the recording The game system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a medium is issued.

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