JP2010063544A - Operating condition management system, game devices constituting this system, and management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly response to error conditions of game devices in the market. <P>SOLUTION: In a token game machine, operating condition information indicating the operating condition of itself is collected at an operating condition information-collecting section to determine whether the operating condition indicated by the operating condition information is in an acceptable range or not. The token game machine has an abnormality determination section 6004 for determining that the operation of the token game machine is in an error condition or warning condition based on the operation condition indicated by the operation condition information, when it is determined that the operating condition is above the acceptable range. When it is determined that the token game machine is in the error condition, stop processing is performed for stopping the operation corresponding to the error condition, and when it is determined that the token game machine is in the warning condition, operation is continued without performing the stopping processing, and the operating condition information distinguished between the error condition and the warning condition is stored in a memory 6003. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation state management system for collecting and managing operation state information indicating an operation state of a game device, and a game device and a management device that constitute the operation state management system.

  After a game device is put on the market, a malfunction may be found or a failure may occur. In such a case, the provider of the game device needs to quickly take measures for solving the problem with each game device on the market. Specifically, the game device software on the market is updated or parts are replaced to deal with defects and failures.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a failure information browsing system capable of appropriately managing and grasping troubles of a game device after sales, and editing and displaying the information for a person in charge of a manufacturer. Specifically, a failure diagnosis method is described in a group of files combined by link information. Then, at the site where the game device is installed, the manufacturer person in charge proceeds with the failure diagnosis process while reading the group of files with a portable computer device and completes the repair. After that, information that summarizes the procedures up to that point is collected and stored in the central information management department. The information stored in the central information management unit is edited and output to a failure summary list for each department in charge in the company.

JP 2002-253839 A

  However, in the system described in Patent Document 1, a serviceman repairs a game device locally by receiving a notification of a failure from an administrator (such as an operator of a game facility) of a game device on the market. The repair information is collected and managed by the central information management unit. This system collects and manages only the operating state information of the failure state (error state) in which the operation of the game device is stopped, and the operating state information (warning state state) that is not in the error state but exceeds the allowable range. Operation status information) is not collected and managed. Therefore, in this system, after knowing the error state (failure state), preparation for the error state and actual countermeasures are performed, and it is difficult to quickly deal with the failure state (error state). There was a problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an operating state management system capable of quickly dealing with an error state of a game device after being marketed. It is providing the game device and management device which comprise.

In order to achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1 is an operation state management system for collecting and managing operation state information indicating an operation state of a game device, and at least indicating an operation state of the game device. Operating status information collecting means for collecting one kind of operating status information, operating status information storing means for storing operating status information collected by the operating status information collecting means, and operating status information collected by the operating status information collecting means On the basis of the operating status information, it is determined whether the operating status exceeds a predetermined allowable range. If it is determined that the operating status exceeds the allowable range, the operating status indicated by the operating status information is , Either the state where the operation of the game device is stopped, the error state where the operation of the game device should be stopped, or a warning state which is not the error state A determination means for determining the operation state, and when the determination means determines that the error state is present, a stop process is performed to stop the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the error state, When the determination means determines that it is in the warning state, the stop process is not performed, and the error processing means that continues the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the warning state, and the operation that the determination means determines to be in the error state And storing means for storing the operation state information in the operation state information storage unit in a state in which the state information and the operation state information determined by the determination unit as being in a warning state are distinguished from each other. It is.
In the present operation state management system, operation state information indicating an operation state that exceeds a predetermined allowable range can be managed separately in an error state and a warning state. The operation of the game device related to the operating state information determined to be in an error state is stopped by error processing means provided in the game device. On the other hand, the operation of the game apparatus related to the operation state information determined to be the warning state is continued. Accordingly, the error state and the warning state indicate, for example, the state in which the former is to be stopped by the error processing means of the game device (including the state in which the operation is stopped due to a failure), and the latter. It can also be defined as indicating a state where the operation is continued without performing the stop process but the allowable range is exceeded.
Here, there is often a sign before the game apparatus actually enters an error state. In this operational state management system, it is possible to grasp as a warning state a state that has not deteriorated to the situation where stop processing is performed, such as an error state, but exceeds the allowable range. If the allowable range is appropriately set, it is possible to grasp from the warning state a sign that an error state may occur. As a result, before the game apparatus actually enters an error state, it is possible to prepare for and handle the error state. For example, preparation for coping includes securing a part that needs to be replaced due to an error state, creating a software update program that causes the error state, and the like. As actual countermeasures, there are an operation of exchanging parts that need to be replaced in an error state in advance, an update operation of software causing an error state, and the like.

The invention of claim 2 is the operation state management system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of game devices of the same type, and a management device communicably connected to these game devices via a communication network. The storage means stores the operation state information of each game device in the operation state information storage unit in a state associated with the game device identification information for identifying the corresponding game device, The management device classifies the same type of operation state information in at least two or more same type of game devices stored in the operation state information storage means for each game device identification information, and an error state and a warning state are provided. It has a display processing means for comparing devices for performing display processing for displaying on the same screen in a state where they can be distinguished from each other.
In this operating state management system, it is easy to observe an error state and a warning state in the same type of operating state information while comparing two or more game devices of the same type. Therefore, an administrator who observes the screen on which the operating state information is displayed makes it easy to perceive the sign of at least some game devices before an error state related to the operating state information occurs. .

The invention of claim 3 is the operating state management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operating state information collecting means collects two or more types of operating state information indicating the operating state of the game device. The management device displays a plurality of types of operation state information in the game device stored in the operation state information storage means on the same screen in a state where an error state and a warning state can be distinguished from each other. An information comparison display processing means for performing display processing is provided.
In this operating state management system, an error state and a warning state in two or more types of operating state information for one game device can be observed collectively. Some of the signs before the game device enters an error state cannot be accurately grasped from one type of operating state information, but can be accurately grasped from two or more types of operating state information. is there. According to this operational state management system, an administrator who observes a screen on which two or more types of operational state information about one game device is displayed perceives the sign of the game device before an error state occurs. Accuracy can be increased.

The invention of claim 4 is the operation state management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a management device connected to the game device via a communication network so as to be communicable. The game device includes the determination unit, and also includes a warning processing unit that transmits warning information indicating the fact to the management device via the communication network when the determination unit determines that the determination unit is in a warning state. When the management device receives the warning information from the game device, the operation state indicated by the operation state information corresponding to the warning information is in an error state according to a determination condition different from the determination unit of the game device. If it is determined that there is an error condition, the correction information is sent to the warning information via the communication network. Correction processing means for transmitting to the transmission source game device, and the error processing means of the game device performs the stop processing when receiving correction information from the management device. It is.
In this operating state management system, an error state and a warning state are determined on the game device side, but there are cases where the determination criteria should be changed after the game device is on the market. Specifically, the operating state information indicating a specific operating state was initially set to be judged as a warning state because it is in a range where there is no problem even if the operation is continued. The situation may change if it is desirable to determine that there is an error condition that should be stopped afterwards. In such a case, in this system, the operating state is returned by returning correction information from the management device to the warning information sent from the game device when operating state information indicating a specific operating state is collected. The operation of the game apparatus related to information can be stopped. According to the present system, the game device can stop the operation related to the operation state information determined to be the warning state without changing to the location where the game device is installed, by appropriately changing the judgment condition in the management device. it can. Therefore, it is possible to quickly cope with the change in the situation as described above after the game device is on the market.

Further, the invention of claim 5 is the operation state management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the game device includes a movable member, a detection means for detecting an operation result of the movable member, An operation control unit that controls the operation of the movable member, and the operation state information collecting unit collects the operation state information based on the operation result detected by the detection unit. .
Among game devices, arcade game devices installed particularly in game facilities, etc. include medal hoppers (medal paying devices) provided in medal game machines, reel members provided in slot machines, model horses provided in horse racing game machines, etc. A large number of movable members are provided. Such a failure that occurs in the movable member (a state where the movable member does not move properly) is more likely to occur than a software failure. In addition, when the movable member breaks down, the game progress of the game device is hindered, and there is a case where the game progress on the game device must be interrupted.
In this game system, since it is possible to grasp from the warning state such a sign that the movable member will be in an error state, preparation for the countermeasure against the error state and the actual situation before the movable member actually enters the error state Can be dealt with.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the operation state management system according to the fifth aspect, the operation control means of the game device detects when the operation result detected by the detection means does not coincide with the target result. The movable member is operated a predetermined number of times until the operation result matches the target result, and the determination means does not detect the operation result or the movable member operates the predetermined number of times. If the operation result detected by the detection means does not match the target result, it is determined that there is an error state, and the operation result detected until the operation result detected by the detection means matches the target result is determined. When the number of operations of the movable member is not less than the specified number and not more than the predetermined number, it is determined that the warning state is established.
In this operating state management system, even if the operation result of the movable member does not match the target operation result, the movable member is operated a predetermined number of times until it matches (re-operation), and the operation result of the movable member is the target operation. Match the result. Many of the movable members in game devices have little real harm, such as hindering the game progress if the target motion result is obtained as a result of re-operation even if the target motion result is not obtained in a single motion. Absent. Therefore, even if the target motion result cannot be obtained with a single motion, the game can be continued (retry) so that the target motion result can be obtained, thereby ensuring the continuity of the game progress. However, an increase in the number of re-operations (retry) of the movable member often indicates a sign of failure of the movable member. According to the present system, such a sign of the movable member can be grasped, so that it is possible to prepare for the error state and to actually deal with the error state before the movable member actually enters the error state.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the operating state management system according to the fifth aspect, the detection means of the game device detects a time from when the movable member starts to operate until the operation is completed as an operation result. The determination means determines that an error state occurs when the detection means does not detect an operation result. If the time detected by the detection means exceeds a specified time, the determination means It is characterized by judging that there exists.
Many of the movable members in the game apparatus are in progress if the operation is completed even if the time (operation time) from the start of the operation of the movable member to the completion of the operation is slightly delayed from the target time. There is almost no real harm such as trouble. However, an increase in the operation time of the movable member often indicates a sign of failure of the movable member. According to the present system, such a sign of the movable member can be grasped, so that it is possible to prepare for the error state and to actually deal with the error state before the movable member actually enters the error state.

The invention of claim 8 is a game apparatus comprising a game progress control means for controlling the progress of the game and a management means for collecting and managing operating state information indicating the operating state of the game apparatus. An operating state information collecting unit that collects at least one type of operating state information indicating a state, an operating state information storing unit that stores the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit, and the operating state information collecting unit Based on the operating status information, it is determined whether or not the operating status indicated by the operating status information exceeds a predetermined allowable range, and if it is determined that the operating status exceeds the allowable range, the operating status information The operating state shown is either an error state in which the operation of the game device is stopped, a state in which the operation of the game device should be stopped, or a warning state that is not the error state Determining means for determining whether or not the determination means is in an error state, a stop process for stopping the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the error state is performed, and the determination means When it is determined that the state is in the state, the stop process is not performed, the error processing unit that continues the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the warning state, the operation state information that the determination unit has determined to be in the error state, and the And a storage unit that stores the operation state information in the operation state information storage unit in a state in which the determination unit distinguishes the operation state information determined to be in the warning state.
In this game device, the game device alone can manage the operation state information indicating its own operation state exceeding a predetermined allowable range by distinguishing it into an error state and a warning state. If the permissible range is appropriately set, it is possible to grasp from the warning state a sign that an error state may occur, as in the case of the operation state management system. As a result, before the game apparatus actually enters an error state, it is possible to prepare for and handle the error state.
The operating state information distinguished by the error state and the warning state stored in the operating state information storage means is, for example, a game device provider (game device manufacturer, etc.) or a game device manager (game device is installed). If the information is sent to the management device of the game facility operator, etc.), the game device provider or the game device administrator will know from the warning state that the game device manager or game device administrator may be in an error state. It becomes easy to prepare for an error condition and actually take an action before it becomes a state.

The invention of claim 9 is a management device for collecting and managing operating state information indicating the operating state of the game device, and collecting at least one type of operating state information indicating the operating state of the game device. Based on the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit, the operating state information storing unit that stores the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit, and the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit. It is determined whether or not the indicated operating state exceeds a predetermined allowable range. If it is determined that the operating state exceeds the allowable range, the operating state indicated by the operating state information indicates that the operation of the game device is stopped. A determination means for determining whether the state is an error state that is a stopped state or a state in which the operation of the game apparatus should be stopped, or a warning state that is not the error state; A storage unit that stores the operating state information in the operating state information storage unit in a state in which the operating state information determined to be in an error state and the operating state information determined by the determining unit to be in a warning state are distinguished from each other It is characterized by having.
In this management device, the operating state information indicating the operating state of the game device that exceeds a predetermined allowable range can be managed by distinguishing between an error state and a warning state. If the permissible range is appropriately set, it is possible to grasp from the warning state a sign that an error state may occur, as in the case of the operation state management system. As a result, before the game apparatus actually enters an error state, it is possible to prepare for and handle the error state.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that it is possible to quickly cope with an error state of a game device after it is on the market.

  Hereinafter, the present invention relates to three types of medal game machines, which are arcade game machines (business-use game machines) as a plurality of game machines having different game contents, and a management server as a management device communicatively connected thereto. An embodiment applied to an operating state management system composed of:

[System overview]
First, the overall configuration of the operating state management system according to the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire operation state management system according to the present embodiment.
The three types of medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 constituting the operating state management system are different types of game machines having different hardware. These medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are installed in a game facility such as the same game center in this embodiment, and there are a plurality of such game facilities. That is, the production state management system includes a plurality of each type of medal game machine. These medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are connected to a gateway device 7000 of each store via a LAN (Local Area Network) as a high-speed communication network, and through the gateway device 7000, low-speed communication with the management server 4000 is performed. They are connected via a WAN (Wide Area Network) as a network. The management server 4000 performs data communication with each medal game machine 1000, 2000, and 3000, thereby grasping and managing the operation status of the entire system. In addition, although this embodiment demonstrates the operation state management system over multiple stores, it is the same also with the operation state management system in a single store. In addition, by providing the management device function on the game device side, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the actual operation state management system even in a single game device.

  Next, the configuration and operation of each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 will be described.

[Horse racing game machine 1000]
The medal game machine 1000 is a horse racing game machine.
In this horse racing game machine 1000, one or more players predict the order of arrival of a horse racing race to be performed on this horse racing game machine, and when the prediction is successful, the medal is paid out according to the odds of the arrival order. Can receive.
FIG. 2 is an external view showing an example of the horse racing game machine 1000.
The horse racing game machine 1000 includes a field unit 1002 provided in the central portion, and a plurality of stations 1010 provided so as to surround the field unit 1002. The field portion 1002 is provided with a field surface 1004 that is a moving surface simulating a racetrack on which a horse race gate 1003 that is a model is placed, and a plurality of model horses (not shown) move within the field surface 1004. The race is developed. Around the field portion 1002, a plurality of speakers 1005 for delivering the actual race and cheering are arranged. Above the field portion 1002, a display portion 1006 for displaying various information, an illumination device 1007 for illuminating the field portion 1002, and a camera 1009 as an imaging means for imaging the field portion 1002 are arranged. The display unit 1006, the illumination device 1007, and the camera 1009 are supported by a support column 1008. The speaker 1005 and the lighting device 1007 function as rendering means of the horse racing game machine 1000.

  The station 1010 is provided with a display 1011 that displays a game screen according to the progress of the game, and a touch panel 1012 that is superimposed on the display surface of the display 1011. When the player touches a predetermined position on the game screen displayed on the display 1011 in accordance with an instruction on the game screen, the position is detected by the touch panel 1012, and the operation content of the player is recognized by the horse racing game machine 1000. Further, the station 1010 is provided with a medal insertion unit 1013 into which medals are inserted by the player, a medal payout opening 1014 through which medals are paid out to the player, and a card reading surface 1015 of a card reader for reading the card ID from the user card. It has been.

  In the horse racing game machine 1000, races having the same name as the actual central horse race are sequentially held according to a predetermined cycle. Approximately 60 races are prepared for one year, and for each race, the time for betting medals, that is, the time for purchasing a betting ticket, the time for which a model horse is raced, and the race results are displayed. Time is secured. Players can predict the order of arrival for each race and freely purchase betting tickets. The betting ticket is purchased by betting medals, and if the purchased betting ticket matches the result of the race, the number of medals according to the number of bets and odds are paid out as a dividend.

  In addition, the player can use his / her user card to train his / her own racehorse character (owned horse) and participate in the race. Specifically, the player selects a favorite racehorse character from a plurality of racehorse characters prepared, and acquires the racehorse character by paying a predetermined number of medals. Then, the player can train (train) to increase the ability of the acquired competitive horse character, and train the competitive horse character. In addition, the trained racehorse character can start running in the race he desires.

  In the horse racing game machine 1000 according to the present embodiment, the field unit 1002 forms a field surface 1004, and the field surface 1004 is provided with a model such as an artificial turf imitating an actual dressing place, a horse race gate 1003, etc. A model horse which is a movable member moves on the field surface 1004.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing a main control unit for controlling the overall operation of the horse racing game machine 1000 in an integrated manner.
FIG. 4 is a control block diagram showing a station control unit provided for each station 1010.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the main control unit 1100 arranged on the field unit side includes a main control device 1101, a movement control device 1102 as an operation control unit for controlling movement of the model horse in the field unit 1002, An illumination control device 1103 that controls the illumination device 1007, an acoustic control device 1104 that controls cheering and actual conditions, etc., that are flown through the speaker 1005, an SRAM 1105 and a flash memory 1106 for temporarily recording data processed by the main control device 1101 And a ROM 1107 storing a program necessary for the game and various databases, and an external communication device 1108 for performing data communication with an external device such as the management server 4000 via the gateway device 7000. The main control device 1101 is connected to a movement control device 1102, an illumination control device 1103, an acoustic control device 1104, an SRAM 1105, a flash memory 1106, a ROM 1107, an external communication device 1108, and a camera 1009, respectively. The ROM 1107 stores a movement control program, which is movement control information for each model horse, a database of various data relating to each horse used in the race, a race schedule, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a station control unit 1200 provided in each station 1010 temporarily records a station control device 1201, a medal management device 1202 that manages the payout of medals, and various data of players. A RAM 1203 and a card reader 1204 as identification information receiving means for reading a card ID from a user card held over the card reading surface 1015 are provided. The station control device 1201 is connected to the medal management device 1202, the RAM 1203, and the card reader 1204, respectively. In addition, the station control device 1201 includes a display 1011 and a touch panel 1012 illustrated in FIG. 2 provided in the station 1010, and a medal insertion sensor (not illustrated) that detects a medal inserted through the medal insertion unit 1013. Each is connected.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the station control device 1201 of each station 1010 is connected to the main control device 1101 on the game machine body side, and necessary data communication can be performed between them. Yes.

  The main controller 1101 of the main controller 1100 controls the movement of each model horse for each race according to various data such as parameters of each horse in order to realistically reproduce the actual horse racing race when the race is held. The contents are changed. The content of the movement control is determined before the start of the race, and the model horse is controlled to move according to the content of the movement control. Specifically, the main control unit 1101 of the main control unit 1100 reads various parameters of horses running in the race, data such as the state of the horse from the ROM 1107 before the start of the race, and determines the arrival order of the race. . Since only the first and second finishes are related to the payout of medals to the player, it is not necessary to determine all the finish order of the horses to run, if at least only the first and second finish horses are determined. Good. In this case, the other horses are controlled to move to the first and second places according to various parameters. Arrival order data determined by the main control device 1101, parameters of each horse, and the like are sent to the movement control device 1102.

  The movement control device 1102 that has received data from the main control device 1101 executes a movement control program recorded in a ROM (not shown), and performs movement control for each horse. The movement control device 1102 that executes the movement control program calculates the movement pattern of each horse from the parameters of each horse and transmits a control command to each control chip 1022 so that each model horse 1060 moves according to the movement pattern. To do. Specifically, a control command is transmitted to each control chip of each magnetic field generation substrate in order to generate a magnetic field that causes each model horse 1060 to move according to the movement pattern of each horse. Upon receiving the control command, each control chip 1022 controls the current flowing through each coil so as to sequentially generate a magnetic force that pulls the south pole of the permanent magnet of each model horse 1060 along the planned movement path of each model horse 1060. Whether each model horse 1060 is moving along the planned movement path is detected by a detection unit such as an imaging unit (not shown), and the detection result is fed back to the control. By performing such control, each model horse 1060 can be moved along the planned movement route. As a result, each model horse 1060 whose movement is controlled by the movement control device 1102 develops a race on the play field.

  When a player plays using a user card, the player holds his / her user card over the card reading surface 1015 before playing. As a result, the card ID is read from the user card by the card reader 1204, and the card ID is stored in the SRAM 1105 or the flash memory 1106. In the SRAM 1105 or the flash memory 1106, data (horse name data, parameter data, achievement information such as a winning GI race) related to a racehorse character that the player has nurtured by playing a game is associated with the card ID. Stored in state.

  In this horse racing game machine 1000, when a player who plays using a user card finishes the game, game state data for restoring the game state at the end of the next game restart is stored in the card ID of the player. In an associated state, it is stored in the management server 4000. The game state data includes data related to the racehorse character trained by the player. When the player resumes the game from the previous game, the game state data corresponding to the card ID in the user card is obtained by holding the user card over the card reading surface 1015 before playing. And the data is stored in the SRAM 1105 or the flash memory 1106, and the game is resumed.

[Pusher game machine 2000]
Next, the medal game machine 2000 will be described.
The medal game machine 2000 is a pusher game machine.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the configuration of the station unit ST in the pusher game machine 2000.
The pusher game machine 2000 is provided with four satellite portions SA so as to surround a center lottery device (not shown). Each satellite unit SA includes four station units ST, and each player plays a game at each station unit ST. In addition, each satellite unit SA includes one satellite lottery device 2001, and each station unit ST is arranged around the satellite lottery device 2001.

  The station unit ST mainly includes a medal insertion mechanism (insertion unit) 2100, a play field 2500, a station control unit (not shown), and a display unit 2700. In the station unit ST, a medal insertion mechanism 2100 is disposed on the upper front side, a display unit 2700 as a display unit is disposed on the upper back side, and a play field 2500 is disposed on the upper center. Here, “front side” means the side located when the player plays the game, “back side” means the side opposite to the side where the player plays the game, and “center” means the above-mentioned side. It means the area between the “front side” and the “back side”.

  The medal insertion mechanism 2100 is a mechanism for inserting the medal M into the pusher game machine 2000 when the player plays a game. The medal M inserted into the medal insertion mechanism 2100 is conveyed to a lift-up hopper as a movable member via a medal conveyance path (not shown) inside the casing of the station unit ST, and is temporarily stored in the lift-up hopper. The lift-up hopper includes a medal storage unit for accumulating medals M, a lift-up unit for lifting the medals M to a predetermined height, and a medal for discharging the lifted medals M at a predetermined timing. A discharge part (discharge part). In addition, a medal discharge path 2400 for guiding the discharged medal M to the play field 2500 is provided at the discharge port of the medal discharge unit so as to be swingable left and right. The upper end of the lift-up unit is disposed above the play field 2500. Along with this, the medal discharge unit provided at the upper end of the lift-up unit is also disposed above the play field 2500. Accordingly, the medal M temporarily accumulated in the medal storage unit provided below the play field 2500 is lifted above the play field 2500 by the lift-up unit, and then played from the medal discharge unit via the medal discharge path 2400. Injection into field 2500. The medal discharging unit is provided with a medal passing sensor as a detecting means for detecting the passing of the medal. Whether the medal is normally discharged by the lift-up hopper based on the detection result of the medal passing sensor. You can check whether.

  In the play field 2500, there are mainly provided a main table 2501 as a medal placement table for storing medals M, and a pusher portion 2510 as a medal pushing member placed on the main table 2501. The pusher unit 2510 has an upper surface for storing medals M (referred to as a sub table), an inclined table on which the medals M dropped from the sub table slide, and a push for pushing the medals M stored in the main table 2501. And a wall. The pusher unit 2510 is slidably provided on the main table 2501 in the play field 2500, and slides back and forth at a constant cycle or an arbitrary cycle. A part (the back side) of the pusher unit 2510 is stored in a storage unit (described later) provided below the display unit 2700. The pusher portion 2510 reciprocates back and forth by sliding so as to enter and exit from the storage portion.

  The frame member of the display unit 2700 is slidably contacted with the sub table. Therefore, when the pusher portion 2510 moves in the direction in which the pusher portion 2510 is stored in the storage portion, the medal M on the sub table is pushed forward by the frame member. As a result of this pushing, some medals M on the sub-table drop onto the tilting table. A part of the medals M dropped from the sub table enters an opening (this is called “chucker”) as a medal passage provided in the tilt table. Further, the remaining medals M fall as they are to the main table 2501 and are stored in the main table 2501.

  The medal M on the main table 2501 is pushed forward by the sliding movement of the pusher portion 2510 in the same manner as the medal M on the sub table. That is, since the pusher portion 2510 is placed on the main table 2501 without a gap, when the pusher portion 2510 moves in the direction of unloading from the storage portion, the pusher wall on the front surface of the pusher portion 2510 causes the pusher portion 2510 to move on the main table 2501. The medal M is pushed forward. Due to this pushing, some medals M on the main table 2501 fall. Of the dropped medals M, the medals M that have dropped from the player side end (this is referred to as “front end”) to the medal drop groove are paid out to the player, and other medals M, for example, both sides of the main table 2501 (this) The medal M dropped from the “side end”) is stocked in a predetermined storage section in the station section ST.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the station unit ST includes a ball throwing mechanism 2800 on at least one side. The ball throwing mechanism 2800 has a configuration for throwing balls B1 and B2, which are spherical objects as irregular shapes described later, into the play field 2500, and includes a ball throwing slope 2801 and a ball throwing position lottery mechanism 2810. The balls B1 and B2 are lottery objects for executing a bingo game described later.

  The ball throwing slope 2801 is configured to guide balls B1 and B2 thrown from a ball carrier 2520, which will be described later, to the ball throwing position lottery mechanism 2810 by gravity. Therefore, it is a downward slope. The ball throwing position lottery mechanism 2810 is a structure for drawing lots on the play field 2500 where the balls B1 and B2 are thrown. In this way, the balls B1 and B2 thrown into the station unit ST from a ball carrier 2520 described later are thrown into the play field 2500 via the ball throwing slope 2801 and the ball throwing position lottery mechanism 2810.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the station unit ST has a ball transport mechanism 2900 on at least one side. The ball transport mechanism 2900 is configured to transport the balls B1 and B2 to the satellite lottery apparatus 2001 when the balls B1 and B2 fall from the main table 2501 in the play field 2500 to the medal drop groove provided on the front side thereof. And has a ball conveyance path (not shown), a ball conveyance unit 2910, and a ball conveyance unit traveling slope 2901. The ball transport path is provided below the front end of the main table 2501 and guides the balls B1 and B2 dropped from the front end to the ball transport unit 2910. The ball transport unit 2910 is configured to transport the balls B1 and B2 received via the ball transport path to the satellite lottery apparatus 2001, and travels on the ball transport unit travel slope 2901 according to the control of the control unit of the station unit ST. . The balls B1 and B2 conveyed to the satellite lottery apparatus 2001 are delivered to the ball carrier 2520.

  Further, the station unit ST has a medal payout mechanism 2030 as a movable member, and by driving this medal payout mechanism, the same number of medals M as the medals M dropped from the front end of the main table 2501 to the medal drop groove, It is discharged to the storage unit 2101 of the medal insertion mechanism 2100. In the discharge passage of the medal payout mechanism 2030, a medal pass sensor is provided as a detecting means for detecting the passage of the medal. Based on the detection result of the medal pass sensor, the medal payout mechanism 2030 normally discharges the medal. It is possible to confirm whether or not is done.

Next, a control system of the pusher game machine 2000 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the game control system of the pusher game machine 2000. In the block diagram, for convenience of explanation, the configuration of a drive control system and the like for driving each unit according to the progress of the game is omitted.
The configuration of the game control system in the pusher game machine 2000 mainly includes a control unit 2600 of the station unit ST, a control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001, and a control unit 2620 of the center lottery device 2002. The control unit 2600 of the station unit ST mainly controls overall progress of a slot game and a bingo game, which will be described later, and the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery apparatus 2001 mainly controls the physical lottery of the bingo game and the ball B1, The control unit 2620 of the center lottery apparatus 2002 is mainly responsible for control of a single jackpot lottery, which will be described later, and overall control of the pusher game machine 2000.

  The control unit 2600 of the station unit ST mainly includes a control device 2601, a ROM 2602, a RAM 2603, a communication device 2604, and a card reader 2605. The control device 2601 executes various programs stored in the ROM 2602 and performs various controls. The ROM 2602 stores various control execution programs to be performed by the control unit 2600 of the station unit ST. The RAM 2603 temporarily stores various data or information. The communication device 2604 is for performing data communication with the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001. The card reader 2605 reads a card ID from a user card possessed by the user. Although not shown, the station unit ST is provided with presentation means such as speakers and lighting devices for various presentations, and the control device 2601 controls these presentation means to perform various presentations. Do.

  The control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery apparatus 2001 mainly includes a control device 2611, a ROM 2612, a RAM 2613, a station side communication device 2614, and a center side communication device 2615. The control device 2611 executes various programs stored in the ROM 2612 and performs various controls. The ROM 2612 stores various control execution programs to be performed by the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery apparatus 2001. The RAM 2613 temporarily stores various data or information. The station side communication device 2614 is for performing data communication with the control unit 2600 of each station unit ST belonging to the satellite unit SA. The center side communication device 2615 is for performing data communication with the control unit 2620 of the center lottery device 2002. Although not shown, the satellite unit SA is provided with presentation means such as speakers and lighting devices for various presentations, and the control device 2611 controls these presentation means to perform various presentations. Do.

  The control unit 2620 of the center lottery device 2002 mainly includes a control device 2621, a ROM 2622, a RAM 2623, a communication device 2624, and an external communication device 2625. The control device 2621 executes various programs stored in the ROM 2622 and performs various controls. The ROM 2622 stores various control execution programs to be performed by the control unit 2620 of the center lottery apparatus 2002. The RAM 2623 temporarily stores various data or information. The communication device 2624 is for performing data communication with the control unit 2610 of each satellite unit SA. The external communication device 2625 is for performing data communication with an external device such as the management server 4000 via the gateway device 7000. Although not shown, the center lottery apparatus 2002 is provided with presentation means such as speakers and lighting devices for various presentations, and the control device 2621 controls these presentation means to perform various presentations. I do.

  In the above configuration, in the pusher game machine 2000, in addition to the pusher game, the slot game screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 2700 to execute the slot game, and for the bingo as shown in FIG. A game screen is displayed on the display unit 2700 to execute a bingo game. The pusher game machine 2000 also performs a single jackpot lottery using the center lottery device 2002. The display unit 2700 also displays a single accumulated medal number indicating the number of payouts in a single jackpot lottery to be described later.

  The slot game is a digital lottery game in which the control unit 2600 in the station unit ST mainly draws digitally. The starting condition of this slot game is that the medal M enters any one of the chuckers provided on the tilting table of the pusher unit 2510. A slot game screen as shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 2700 during a period in which a later-described bingo game is not progressing, and the medal M enters one of the chuckers and the slot lottery start condition is satisfied. Then, the control unit 2600 performs display control for rotating the three dice slots DS. In the digital lottery in the slot game, the control unit executes a predetermined lottery program and determines whether the generated random number is won or lost in light of a predetermined winning table. Thereafter, the control unit 2600 performs display control to stop the rotation of the three dice-shaped slots DS so that the combination of symbols related to the winning combination is stopped and displayed on the display unit 2700 when the winning combination is determined.

  In this embodiment, as a combination of the digital lottery, a small winning combination A for supplying three medals to the play field 2500, a small winning combination B for supplying eight medals to the play field 2500, and a ball B1 to the play field 2500. The supplied ball supply combination, the normal bonus combination for supplying 30 medals to the play field 2500, the 30 supply medals to the play field 2500, and the winning table in which the winning probability is set higher in the subsequent digital lottery. Probability bonus combinations, a direct satellite combination that directly supplies the ball B1 to the satellite lottery apparatus 2001, a direct center combination that directly supplies the ball B1 to the center lottery apparatus 2002, and the like are prepared. The winning probability of each combination is set to be lower in this order. In addition, what kind of combination is prepared and what winning probability is set for each combination is arbitrary. For example, various benefits such as paying out the medal M directly to the player may be provided to the player. Then, when these winning combinations are won, the control device 2601 of the station unit ST controls a speaker, a lighting device, etc., and performs individual effects for exciting the winning.

  The bingo game is a physical lottery game that progresses by physical lottery using two types of balls B1 and B2 and the satellite lottery device 2001, and is advanced by the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001 and the control unit 2600 of the station unit ST. To do. In the bingo game, the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery apparatus 2001 mainly controls the lottery for determining the winning bingo numbers of the bingo game, and the control unit of each station unit ST belonging to the satellite unit SA including the satellite lottery apparatus 2001. 2600 is mainly in charge of control such as a bingo game production and a bingo establishment determination. In this embodiment, a physical lottery is performed in which one winning bingo number (winning object) is selected from a plurality of different bingo numbers (lottery objects) by moving the balls B1 and B2 with the satellite lottery apparatus 2001. . In the physical lottery of this embodiment, one winning bingo number is selected from among the bingo numbers “1” to “9”. Then, the bingo card arrangement information in which bingo numbers of “1” to “9” are arranged in a matrix is individually obtained for each station unit ST by the control unit 2600 as an arrangement information generating unit of the station unit ST, for example. To generate. Thereafter, a bingo card image BC in which images of bingo numbers “1” to “9” (lottery target images) are arranged according to the arrangement information is displayed on the display unit 2700 of each station unit ST as shown in FIG. . When bingo is established, the control device 2601 of the station unit ST and the control device 2611 of the satellite unit SA control the respective speakers, illumination devices, and the like, and perform individual effects for exciting the bingo establishment.

  In the single jackpot lottery, the balls B1 and B2 enter the winning spot to which the right to start the single jackpot lottery in the center lottery device 2002 is assigned in the physical lottery in the satellite lottery device 2001 in the bingo game described above. When the start condition of the single jackpot lottery for either winning the center role directly in the slot game is satisfied, the control device 2621 of the control unit 2620 in the center lottery device 2002 stores the single jackpot execution program stored in the ROM 2622. To start a single jackpot lottery. Then, in the center lottery apparatus 2002, a physical lottery is performed in which a ball B1 is moved to determine whether a single jackpot award or a loss (including a case where a prize other than a single jackpot award is won). When the single jackpot award is won, the control device 2621 of the center lottery apparatus 2002 controls the speaker, the lighting device, etc., and performs an individual effect for exciting the single chuckpot award.

  When the single jackpot prize is won, the control device 2621 reads out the single JP storage number data as the payout amount data from the RAM 2623, and starts the jackpot lottery for the number of medals M indicated by the count value of the data. Processing for supplying to the play field 2500 of the station unit ST that satisfies the conditions is performed. At this time, a medal supply command is output from the control device 2621 to the control device 2601 of the control unit 2600 in the station unit ST, and the medal M is played in the play field 2500 under the control of the control device 2601 in the same manner as the normal medal supply process. You may make it supply to. However, the number of medals supplied when winning the single jackpot award is a part of the number of medals inserted into all station sections ST after the single JP stored number data is reset to the initial value (for example, 500). Since the number of sheets corresponding to (for example, 0.03 sheets) is cumulatively added, the number is large. Therefore, a process using an original medal supply mechanism may be performed separately from the normal medal supply process. In this case, it is also suitable as an effect when winning a single jackpot award. When the single jackpot prize is won, the control device 2621 resets the single JP stored number data stored in the RAM 2623 to the initial value.

  When the player plays the pusher game machine 2000, the player holds the user card over a card reading surface (not shown) before the play. As a result, the card ID is read from the user card by the card reader 2605, and the card ID is stored in the RAM 2603. In the RAM 2603, the player's play information on the pusher game machine 2000 (cumulative medal insertion number, winning combination in the slot game, number of times bingo was established in the bingo game, number of times winning the single jackpot prize, etc.) It is stored in a state associated with the card ID. When a player who plays using the user card ends the game, the play information stored in the RAM 2603 is stored in the management server 4000 in a state associated with the card ID. When the player holds his / her user card over the card reading surface before the next play, the play information corresponding to the card ID in the user card is downloaded from the management server 4000, and these data are stored in the RAM 2603 and the play is performed. The play result is added to the play information.

[Slot Machine 3000]
Next, the medal game machine 3000 will be described.
The medal game machine 3000 is a slot machine.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the slot machine 3000 according to the present embodiment.
The slot machine 3000 includes a box-shaped casing 3002, a front panel 3003 attached to the front side of the casing 3002 so as to be freely opened and closed, and the like. On the front panel 3003, a display window 3004 for displaying a part of a later-described variable display unit, a medal slot 3005, a start button 3006 as a start operation device, a dice display window 3007, a credit clearing button 3008, a speaker 3009, A medal tray 3010 having a medal payout box 3010a, an effect panel 3011, a card reading surface 3013a, a count display unit 3014, a BET operation unit 3015, and the like are provided. The speaker 3009 and the effect panel 3011 function as effect means of the slot machine 3000. In addition, various information is displayed on the effect panel 3011.

  Inside the housing 3002, a reel is incorporated as a variable display portion which is three movable members having a plurality of types of symbols printed on the outer peripheral surface. The three reels (hereinafter referred to as “left reel”, “middle reel”, and “right reel” in turn) are each driven to rotate by a reel drive motor (not shown) constituted by a stepping motor. Also, a plurality of types of symbols such as “white 7”, “blue 7”, “green 7”, “red 7”, “cherry”, “blank”, etc. are printed in a predetermined order. In the present embodiment, the “blank” symbol is a symbol that does not constitute any role. In addition, a main control circuit board on which an electronic circuit is formed by a CPU, a ROM, and other various electronic components, a medal payout device having a medal hopper capable of accommodating a large number of medals, an internal speaker, and the like are also incorporated.

FIG. 10 is a detailed front view showing a part of the front panel 3003.
The symbols for about three frames at a predetermined rotational position of each reel are visually recognized by the player through the display window 3004. In this display window 3004, five winning lines IL are drawn so as to extend over all reels. When a combination of symbols relating to a combination corresponding to a predetermined prize group is arranged on these winning lines IL (hereinafter simply referred to as “combining a combination”), a medal is paid out to the medal tray 3010 or a special combination. The player is given game value such as shifting to a special game period in which a game can be played. In the slot machine 3000 according to the present embodiment, five winning lines IL are provided, but the number of winning lines may be reduced or increased. The winning line may be any line that is not visible to the player but can be recognized by a CPU 17a (to be described later) that controls the stop of the slot machine.
The count display unit 3014 includes a credit display unit 3014a, a bonus count display unit 3014b, a medal payout number display unit 3014c, and the like.
The BET operation unit 3015 includes two buttons, a 1 BET button 3015a and a Max BET button 3015b.

FIG. 11 is a control block diagram relating to the main configuration of the slot machine 3000.
The main control unit 3100 of the slot machine 3000 includes a control device 3101, a reel control device 3102 as an operation control means for controlling the driving of three reels, and a storage storing various programs and various databases necessary for the game. Device 3103, display control device 3104 that performs display control of count display unit 3014, illumination control device 3105 that controls illumination such as effect panel 3011, acoustic control device 3106 that controls sound output from speaker 3009, and gateway An external communication device 3107 for performing data communication with an external device such as the management server 4000 via the device 7000 is provided. In addition to these devices, the main control device 1101 is connected to a medal insertion sensor 3022, a card reader 3013 that reads a card ID from a user card held over the card reading surface 3013a, a BET operation unit 3015, a medal payout device 3018, and the like. ing.

Next, the game flow of the slot machine 3000 will be described.
Before playing the game, first, the player needs to insert a medal into the medal slot 3005 as preparation. When the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 3005, the medal passes through a passage (not shown) and falls to the medal hopper. In this passage, a drop opening for dropping a medal smaller than the standard and returning it to the medal payout rod 3010a, a medal block solenoid for preventing the medal from passing and returning to the medal payout rod 3010a, or passing through A medal insertion sensor 3022 configured with a photo sensor or the like for detecting medals one by one is provided. A medal detection signal output from the medal insertion sensor 3022 that has detected a medal is sent to the control device 3101 of the main control unit 3100. In response to this, the control device 3101 controls the credit display 3014a to increase the display count value by one by the display control device 3104 and increases the credit number data stored in the storage device 3103 by one. Let Usually, a plurality of medals are inserted at a time, and the number of credits is increased to some extent. When the player performs a bet operation by operating the BET operation unit 3015, the control device 3101 reduces the credit number data stored in the storage device 3103 by the bet number and also displays the display count value of the credit indicator 3014a. Control is performed to reduce the number of bets. In addition, the control device 3101 recognizes the winning line IL that has become effective according to the number of bets. Note that if the winning combination is not aligned on the effective winning line IL, no winning is achieved even if the winning combination is aligned on the ineffective winning line IL.

  When the start button 3006 is operated by the player, the control device 3101 executes a start command receiving program stored in the storage device 3103, thereby functioning as a start command receiving means, and a variable display from the start button 3006. Accept start command. The control device 3101 that has received this change display start command first causes the reel control device 3102 to start rotational driving of all reels. In addition, the control device 3101 that has received the change display start command executes a prize group lottery program stored in the storage device 3103 to select one of the prize groups from among a plurality of prize groups. It functions as a means for performing an internal lottery to determine a loss in which no prize group is selected, and performs an internal lottery. This internal lottery is performed by comparing the random number data sent from the random number generation circuit with the prize group lottery table stored in the storage device 3103. This award group lottery table associates each random number with one of the award groups or a loss. By associating in this way, any prize group is won with a predetermined probability, or a loss occurs with a predetermined probability.

  The rotational position of the reel that has started to rotate is detected by a reel position sensor as detection means (not shown). Then, the reel control device 3102 calculates the reel rotation speed based on the output signal from each reel position sensor. When the reel rotation speed is stabilized, the reel control device 3102 can recognize the position of each symbol on each reel based on the output signal from each reel position sensor. Then, the control device 3101 executes a stop control program stored in the storage device 3103, and controls the reel so that a predetermined symbol combination is stopped and displayed on the winning line based on the lottery result of the internal lottery. The device 3102 performs reel stop control. Specifically, when any prize group is won by the internal lottery, the stop control is performed so that the combination of symbols related to the winning combination corresponding to the winning prize group is stopped and displayed on the winning line IL. On the other hand, if the winning combination is lost without any prize group being selected by the internal lottery, stop control is performed so that a combination of symbols not corresponding to any prize group is stopped and displayed on the winning line IL.

  In the normal game, an internal lottery is performed using a prize group lottery table corresponding to the normal game. The prize group that can be won in the internal lottery of the regular game includes a cherry award corresponding to a cherry role consisting of “cherry-ANY (regardless of design) -ANY (regardless of design)”, “ANY7 (“ 7 ”). ANY7 award corresponding to the ANY7 role consisting of “7” of multiple colors, “ANY7 (regardless of the color of“ 7 ”) — ANY7 (regardless of the color of“ 7 ”), White 7 award corresponding to white 7 role consisting of “white 7-white 7-white 7”, Blue 7 award corresponding to blue 7 role consisting of “blue 7-blue 7-blue 7”, “green 7- There are medal payout awards such as a green 7 award corresponding to a green 7 role consisting of “green 7-green 7” and a red 7 award corresponding to a red 7 role consisting of “red 7-red 7-red 7”. When any one of the medal payout prizes is won by the internal lottery and the corresponding role is arranged on the payline IL, the control device 3101 corresponds to the winning prize on the medal payout number display 3014c of the count display unit 3014. Display the number of medals to be paid. Then, the control device 3101 performs a medal payout process for the number of coins corresponding to the winning prize. Specifically, the control device 3101 increases the credit number data stored in the storage device 3103 by this medal payout number and increases the medal credit of the credit indicator 3014a by this medal payout number. I do. When the upper limit value of the medal credit is exceeded, the medal payout device 3018 pays out the medal from the medal payout tray 3010a to the medal tray 3010 for the excess amount. Note that the number of medals to be paid out in the award group is increased in the order described above.

  When the player plays with the slot machine 3000, the player holds the user card over the card reading surface 3013a before the play. As a result, the card ID is read from the user card by the card reader 3013, and the card ID is stored in the storage device 3103. The storage device 3103 stores play information (the cumulative number of medals inserted, the number of times the player has won a red 7 prize, etc.) in the slot machine 3000 in a state associated with the card ID. When the player who plays using the user card ends the game, the play information stored in the storage device 3103 is stored in the management server 4000 in a state associated with the card ID. When the player holds his / her user card over the card reading surface 3013a before the next play, play information corresponding to the card ID in the user card is downloaded from the management server 4000, and these data are stored in the storage device 3103. The play result of the play is added to the play information.

FIG. 12 is a control block diagram of the management server 4000 that performs control for managing the operating state of each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000.
The management server 4000 mainly includes a control device 4001, a storage device 4002, an external communication device 4003, a display device 4004, and an input device 4005. The storage device 4002 stores various control programs. The external communication device 4003 is for performing data communication with an external device such as each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 through the gateway device 7000 of each store via the WAN. The display device 4004 displays a management screen or the like based on operating state information indicating the operating state of each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000. The input device 4005 receives an input of a predetermined instruction operation by an operator's operation.

Next, a method for managing the operating state of each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described.
The operating state information collected for managing the operating state varies depending on the configuration and operation of each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000. Also, what kind of operating state information is collected varies depending on the management purpose and management range. Here, as an example, for the horse racing game machine 1000, the operating state of the model horse, for the pusher game machine 2000, the operating state of the lift-up hopper and the operating state of the medal payout mechanism 2030, and for the slot machine 3000, the operating state of the reel. The case where the operating state information is collected and managed will be described, but the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 13 is a functional block diagram of the management server 4000 and the medal game machine related to the management of the operating state in the present embodiment.
Since the functional block diagrams of the medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 related to the management of the operating state are the same, only one medal game machine is illustrated here.

  The medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 have a game progress control unit 6001 as a game progress control unit and an error processing unit, an operation state information collection unit 6002 as an operation state information collection unit, and a storage as an operation state information storage unit. Unit 6003, an abnormality determination unit 6004 as a determination unit, a storage processing unit 6005 as a storage unit, and a communication unit 6006 as a warning processing unit.

  The game progress control unit 6001 mainly includes control devices 1101, 1201, 2601, 2261, 2621, and 3101 for each medal game machine, and controls the game progress of each medal game machine. In addition, when the abnormality determination unit 6004 determines that the game progress control unit 6001 is in an error state, the game progress control unit 6001 performs a stop process for stopping the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the error state. However, when the abnormality determination unit 6004 determines that the state is a warning state, the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the warning state is continued without performing such a stop process.

The configuration of the operating state information collecting unit 6002 differs depending on the contents of the operating state information to be collected.
The operating state information collection unit 6002 in the horse racing game machine 1000 mainly captures each model horse 1060 and confirms whether each model horse is properly moving along the planned movement path (detection unit). ), Image processing means for performing processing for identifying each model horse from the captured image data and recognizing a deviation between the current position and the target position of each model horse. The deviation amount information periodically output from the image processing means is used for feedback control of the model horse as feedback information indicating the operation result of the model horse which is a movable member. In the present embodiment, the average value of the shift amounts indicated by the feedback information is used as the operating state information. In some cases, the maximum value of the deviation amount may be used as the operating state information.
In addition, the operating state information collection unit 6002 in the pusher game machine 2000 mainly includes each medal passage sensor for confirming whether or not the indicated number of medals are properly discharged from the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism 2030, and each medal. If the detected number of sheets detected by the passage sensor within the specified time does not reach the instruction number (target payout number) instructed to the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism 2030, the additional instruction number corresponding to the shortage is lifted up until reaching. Control means for instructing the hopper and medal payout mechanism 2030. The detected number information output from the medal passage sensor indicates the operation results of the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism 2030, which are movable members, respectively, and the lift-up hopper and the medal until the detected number reaches the target payout number. The payout operation by the payout mechanism 2030 is retried. In this embodiment, the average value of the number of retries for the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism 2030 is used as the operating state information. In some cases, the maximum number of retries may be used as the operating state information.
In addition, the operation state information collection unit 6002 in the slot machine 3000 mainly calculates a reel position sensor for detecting the rotation position of each reel and a deviation between the actual stop position and the target stop position of each reel. Means. In the present embodiment, the average value of the deviation amounts is used as the operating state information. In some cases, the maximum value of the deviation amount may be used as the operating state information.

The storage unit 6003 mainly includes storage devices 1105, 2623, and 3103, and stores the operation state information collected by the operation state information collection unit 6002.
Abnormality determination unit 6004 determines whether or not the operation state indicated by the operation state information exceeds a predetermined allowable range based on the operation state information collected by operation state information collection unit 6002 and exceeds the allowable range. If it is determined that the operation state is indicated, it is determined whether the operation state indicated by the operation state information is an error state or a warning state.
The storage processing unit 6005 distinguishes the operating state information determined by the abnormality determining unit 6004 from the operating state information determined to be in the error state and the operating state information determined by the abnormality determining unit 6004 from the warning state. Save in the storage unit 6003.
The communication unit 6006 is mainly composed of control devices 1101, 2621, 3101 for each medal game machine and communication devices 1108, 2625, 3107 for each medal game machine, and the warning state stored in the storage unit 6003. The operating state information and the operating state information in an error state are transmitted to the management server 4000 in a state of being distinguished from each other, in association with the game machine ID that is the game device identification information of the game device. In this embodiment, the game facility in which the medal game machine is installed can be specified from the game machine ID. However, the medal game machine is installed using the game facility identification information (store ID, etc.). The game facility being used may be specified.

  On the other hand, the management server 4000 includes a communication unit 4101 as an operation state information collection unit and a storage unit, a storage unit 4102 as an operation state information storage unit, and a display as a device comparison display processing unit and an information comparison display processing unit. It has a processing unit 4103, an operation receiving unit 4104 as an operation receiving unit, and a correction determining unit 4105 as a correction processing unit.

The communication unit 4101 mainly includes a control device 4001 and an external communication device 4003, and receives operating state information transmitted from each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000. Of the received operating state information, the operating state information in the warning state and the operating state information in the error state are distinguished from each other and stored in the storage unit 4102.
The storage unit 4102 mainly includes a storage device 4002 and stores the operating state information received by the communication unit 4101.
The display processing unit 4103 is mainly composed of a control device 4001 and a display device 4004, and each operation state information in each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 stored in the storage unit 4102 is stored for each medal game machine. The display process for displaying on the same screen (management screen) displayed on the display device 4004 is performed in a state where the error state and the warning state can be distinguished from each other. In this embodiment, an individual management screen is prepared for each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000. However, operation status information for a plurality of medal game machines may be displayed on the same management screen.
The operation reception unit 4104 is operated by an administrator of the system, and is mainly configured by an input device 4005 such as a keyboard, a pointing device, and a touch panel, and is used for receiving a determination condition change instruction in the correction determination unit 4105. Is.
The correction determination unit 4105 determines whether the operation state indicated by the operation state information corresponding to the warning information from each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 received by the communication unit 4101 is an error state. If it is determined that there is an error state, the correction information is transmitted to the medal game machine that has transmitted the warning information via the communication unit 4101.

FIG. 14 is a sequence flow diagram showing a flow of operation state management in the present embodiment.
When the medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 regularly collect the operation state information by the operation state information collection unit 6002, the operation state information is stored in the storage unit 6003 by the storage processing unit 6005, and then the game machine ID. At the same time, it is transmitted to the management server 4000 as a periodic report. The communication unit 4101 of the management server 4000 that has received the operation state information stores the operation state information in the storage unit 4102 of the management server 4000 in a state associated with the game machine ID. Thereafter, the display processing unit 4103 of the management server 4000 performs a process for updating the management screen displayed on the display device 4004.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a list displayed on the management screen for the pusher game machine 2000.
The management screen for the pusher game machine 2000 displays a list of operation state information (average value of the number of retries) for the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism provided in each station section ST of the pusher game machine for each store. Has been. In the present embodiment, other information such as the payout rate is also displayed in a list. In FIG. 15, operating state information written in bold capital letters and surrounded by a thick line indicates that the operating state is an error state, and operating state information written in bold capital letters (enclosed in a bold line) No) indicates that the operating state is a warning state, and the remaining operating state information indicates that the operating state is a normal state. Note that the display method for displaying the three states of the normal state, the warning state, and the error state so as to be distinguishable from each other is not limited to this, and other display methods such as displaying in different colors may be used.

On the other hand, the abnormality determination unit 6004 of each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 determines whether the operation state indicated by the collected operation state information is an error state or a warning state. Here, when it is determined that the state is an error state, first, the game progress control unit 6001 stops the operation at a predetermined timing.
Specifically, in the case of the horse racing game machine 1000, the average value (operation state information) of the deviation amount between the current position of the model horse and the target position exceeds the allowable range, and the operation of the game machine is performed according to a predetermined determination condition. When it is determined that the error state is to be stopped, the operation of the game machine is temporarily stopped after the process of the currently ongoing race is finished, so that the game cannot be played. Thereafter, the manager of the store and the provider of the horse racing game machine perform maintenance on the target model horse and its control system.
In the case of the pusher game machine 2000, the average value (operating state information) of the number of retries of the lift-up hopper and medal payout mechanism 2030 exceeds the allowable range, and the lift-up hopper and medal payout mechanism 2030 are determined according to a predetermined determination condition. Is determined to be in an error state that should stop the operation of the station unit ST, the operation of the station unit ST is immediately paused so that the game cannot be played. Thereafter, the manager of the store and the provider of the horse racing game machine perform maintenance on the lift-up hopper and medal payout mechanism 2030 of the target station ST and its control system.
In the case of the slot machine 3000, the average value of the amount of deviation between the actual stop position of the reel and the target stop position (operating state information) exceeds the allowable range, and the operation of the game machine is stopped according to a predetermined determination condition. When it is determined that the error state should be, the operation of the game machine is temporarily stopped immediately after the finished slot game so that the game cannot be played. Thereafter, the store manager and the provider of the horse racing game machine perform maintenance on the reel drive system and control system.

  When the operation of the game machine is determined to be in the error state as described above, the storage processing unit 6005 of the medal game machine performs a process of associating the error information with the operation state information stored in the storage unit 6003. Specifically, a process for setting an error flag in the operating state information is performed. Thereafter, the communication unit 6006 transmits the error information to the management server 4000 as an error report together with the game machine ID in a state where the operating state information can be specified. The management server 4000 that has received the error report associates the error information with the operation state information stored in the storage unit 4102 of the management server 4000 in association with the game machine ID, specifically, the operation state information. Set the error flag to. Thereafter, the display processing unit 4103 of the management server 4000 performs a process for updating the management screen displayed on the display device 4004. Referring to the example shown in FIG. 15, the error information of the lift-up hopper operating state information (“3.63” in the illustrated example) is transmitted to the management server 4000 from the pusher game machine 2000 of the B store for the first station unit ST. If it is, as shown in FIG. 15, a screen update process is performed to change the operation information indicated by the operation state information to a display indicating that the operation information is in an error state (display surrounded by a bold line in a thick upper case).

  On the other hand, when the abnormality determination unit 6004 of each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 determines that the warning is in progress, the game progress control unit 6001 keeps the operation and the storage processing unit 6005 of the medal game machine. Performs a process of associating warning information with the operating state information stored in the storage unit 6003. Specifically, a process for setting a warning flag in the operating state information is performed. Thereafter, the communication unit 6006 transmits warning information to the management server 4000 as a warning report together with the game machine ID in a state where the operation state information can be specified. The management server 4000 that received the warning report associates the warning information with the operation state information stored in the storage unit 4102 of the management server 4000 in association with the game machine ID, specifically, the operation state information. A process for setting a warning flag is performed. Thereafter, the display processing unit 4103 of the management server 4000 performs a process for updating the management screen displayed on the display device 4004. Referring to the example shown in FIG. 15, the operating state information of the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism for the first station unit ST from the pusher game machine 2000 of the C store (“1.55” and “1.52” in the illustrated example). ) Warning information is transmitted to the management server 4000, as shown in FIG. 15, the screen update process for changing the operation information indicated by the operation state information to a display indicating that it is in a warning state (display in bold capital letters). I do.

  Here, after each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 is on the market (after being installed in each store), there may be a situation in which the judgment criteria for the error state and the warning state should be changed. In the example shown in FIG. 15, for example, regarding the operating state information (average value of the number of retries) of the medal payout mechanism, if it is initially 2.0 or less, it is determined that there is no problem even if the operation is continued, and the warning state is determined. When the pusher game machine 2000 is on the market, the situation may change if it is desirable to determine that 1.5 or more is in an error state. In such a case, if it is attempted to individually change the setting of the abnormality determination unit 6004 of each pusher game machine 2000 already on the market by the serviceman, it takes both cost and time.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the correction determination unit 4105 is provided in the management server 4000, and the change in the situation as described above can be dealt with only by changing the setting of the correction determination unit 4105. Specifically, when such a change occurs, when the operator performs a determination condition change instruction operation in the correction determination unit 4105 to the operation reception unit 4104 of the management server 4000, the contents of the change instruction operation Accordingly, the determination condition of the correction determination unit 4105 is changed. For example, before the change, if the operation state information of the medal payout mechanism is 2.0 or less, the warning state is determined, and if it exceeds 2.0, the error state is determined. If it is 1.5 or less, it is judged as a warning state, and if it exceeds 1.5, it is changed to a judgment condition that judges that it is in an error state. To do. Thereafter, when the management server 4000 receives a warning report related to the operational status information of the medal payout mechanism, the correction determination unit 4105 of the management server 4000 changes whether the operational status of the operational status information is the warning status or the error status. Judgment according to the judgment conditions. In the above example, for example, when the warning information about the operating state information of “1.52” is received in the warning report, the correction determination unit 4105 of the management server 4000 determines that this is an error state. A process of associating error information with the operating state information stored in the storage unit 4102 of the server 4000, specifically, a process of setting an error flag in the operating state information is performed. Thereafter, the communication unit 4101 of the management server 4000 transmits a correction command to the medal game machine that has transmitted the warning information. In addition, the display processing unit 4103 of the management server 4000 updates the management screen displayed on the display device 4004. On the other hand, in the medal game machine that has received the correction command, the game progress control unit 6001 stops the operation at a predetermined timing according to the correction command, and the save processing unit 6005 stores the operating state information stored in the storage unit 6003. The process of associating the error information with, specifically, the process of setting an error flag in the operating state information is performed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the operating state information indicating the operating state exceeding the predetermined allowable range can be managed by distinguishing the error state and the warning state. By managing not only the error state but also the warning state in this way, it is possible to grasp a sign of the error state before actually entering the error state.
For example, in the case of the horse racing game machine 1000, by confirming that the average deviation amount between the current position of the model horse and the target position exceeds a certain allowable range, the average deviation amount further increases and the model horse is moved to the target position. By performing maintenance on the model horse and its control system before the control for following the vehicle becomes impossible, the downtime of the horse racing game machine 1000 can be reduced or eliminated.
Further, for example, in the case of the pusher game machine 2000, by confirming that the average number of retries of the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism 2030 exceeds a certain allowable range, the average number of retries can be further increased and appropriate medals can be discharged. By performing maintenance on the lift-up hopper and the medal payout mechanism 2030 and its control system before disappearing, the downtime of the station portion ST of the pusher game machine 2000 can be reduced or eliminated.
Further, for example, in the case of the slot machine 3000, by confirming that the average deviation amount between the actual stop position of the reel and the target stop position exceeds a certain allowable range, the average deviation amount is further increased and the reel is moved to the target position. The slot machine 3000 can be reduced in downtime by performing maintenance on the reel drive system and the control system before the stop control becomes impossible and a clear discrepancy occurs between the stop symbol and the winning determination. It can be lost.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the management server 4000 collectively manages the operation status of all the medal game machines constituting the actual operation state management system. Therefore, by grasping the warning state of all the medal game machines, it is possible to predict how many medal game machines will be in an error state and require maintenance in the future. As a result, the type and number of parts required for the maintenance can be predicted, and efficient inventory management can be performed.

In the present embodiment, the case where the warning state and the error state are determined on each medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000 side has been described. You may do it. When the management server 4000 determines the error state, the management server 4000 that has determined the error state based on the operation state information sent from each medal game machine transmits error information to the corresponding medal game machine. When the medal game machine receives the error information, the medal game machine performs control to stop the operation in the same manner as when the correction information is received.
Moreover, although this embodiment demonstrated the case where operation status information was a deviation | shift amount and the frequency | count of retry, operation status information is not restricted to this, For example, time (operation | movement from operation start to completion of operation | movement) It shows how much the time is delayed from the target time, and the average value of the delay time can be used as the operating state information.
Further, in the present embodiment, the case where it is determined whether the operating state of the movable member is an error state or a warning state has been described, but the same applies to software defects such as bugs in computer programs.

In addition, the medal game machine applicable to the operating state management system of the present embodiment is not limited to the type described above, and can be widely applied.
Further, the game device applied to the actual operation state management system may not be a medal game machine, and a part or all of it may be a coin game machine that does not use medals, for example.
In addition, the game device applied to the actual operation state management system may not be an arcade game device, and a part or all of the game device may be, for example, a home game machine.
In the present embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking an operation state management system including a medal game machine, which is a plurality of arcade game devices, and a management server 4000 as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a single game. It is also possible to apply to an apparatus.

It is a schematic structure figure of the whole operation state management system concerning an embodiment. It is an external view which shows an example of the horse racing game machine which comprises the operating state management system. It is a control block diagram which shows the main control part for controlling the whole operation | movement of the horse racing game machine integratedly. It is a control block diagram which shows the station control part provided for every station of the horse racing game machine. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the structure of the station part in the pusher game machine which comprises the same operation state management system. It is a block diagram which shows the main structures of the game control system of the pusher game machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the game screen for slots displayed on the display part of the same pusher game machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the game screen for bingo displayed on the display part of the same pusher game machine. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the slot machine which comprises the same operation state management system. It is a detailed front view which shows a part of front panel of the slot machine. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram related to the main configuration of the slot machine. It is a control block diagram of a management server. It is a functional block diagram of the management server and medal game machine in connection with the management of the operating state in the embodiment. It is a sequence flow figure showing a flow of operation state management in an embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the list displayed on the management screen for pusher game machines 2000. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1000 Horse racing game machine (medal game machine)
1010 station 1101 main controller 1201 station controller 2000 pusher game machine (medal game machine)
2500 Play field 2601, 2161, 2621 Control device 3000 Slot machine (medal game machine)
3101 Control device 4000 Management server 4001 Control device 4101 Communication unit 4102 Storage unit 4103 Display processing unit 4104 Operation reception unit 4105 Correction determination unit 6001 Game progress control unit 6002 Operating state information collection unit 6003 Storage unit 6004 Abnormality determination unit 6005 Storage processing unit 6006 Communication unit 7000 Gateway device

Claims (9)

An operating state management system for collecting and managing operating state information indicating an operating state of a game device,
Operating state information collecting means for collecting at least one type of operating state information indicating the operating state of the game device;
An operating state information storage unit for storing the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit;
When it is determined whether or not the operating state indicated by the operating state information exceeds a predetermined allowable range based on the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit. The operation state indicated by the operation state information is either an error state where the operation of the game device is stopped, a state where the operation of the game device should be stopped, or a warning state which is not the error state A judging means for judging whether or not
Provided in the game device, when the determination unit determines that the error state is present, a stop process is performed to stop the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the error state, and the determination unit is in a warning state. Error processing means for continuing the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the warning state without performing the stop processing when it is determined,
The operating state information stored in the operating state information storage unit is distinguished from the operating state information determined by the determining unit as being in an error state and the operating state information determined as being a warning state by the determining unit. And an operation state management system. The operating state management system according to claim 1,
A plurality of game devices of the same type are provided, and a management device that is communicably connected to these game devices via a communication network is provided.
The storage means stores operation state information of each game device in the operation state information storage unit in a state associated with game device identification information for identifying a corresponding game device,
The management device classifies the same type of operation state information in at least two or more of the same type of game devices stored in the operation state information storage means for each game device identification information, and includes an error state and a warning state. And a device comparison display processing means for performing a display process for displaying on the same screen in a state where they can be distinguished from each other. In the operating state management system according to claim 1 or 2,
The operating state information collecting means collects two or more types of operating state information indicating the operating state of the game device,
The management device displays a plurality of types of operating state information stored in the operating state information storage means on the same screen in a state where an error state and a warning state can be distinguished from each other. An operating state management system comprising an information comparison display processing means for performing processing. In the operation state management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A management device that is communicably connected to the game device via a communication network;
The game device includes the determination unit, and also includes a warning processing unit that transmits warning information indicating the fact to the management device via the communication network when the determination unit determines that the determination unit is in a warning state. And
When the management device receives the warning information from the game device, whether the operation state indicated by the operation state information corresponding to the warning information is an error state according to a determination condition different from the determination unit of the game device If it is determined that the error state, the correction information is transmitted to the game device that is the source of the warning information via the communication network,
An operating state management system, wherein the error processing means of the game device performs the stop processing when receiving correction information from the management device. In the operating state management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The game apparatus includes a movable member, a detection unit that detects an operation result of the movable member, and an operation control unit that controls the operation of the movable member.
The operating state management system, wherein the operating state information collecting unit collects operating state information based on the operation result detected by the detecting unit. In the operating state management system according to claim 5,
The operation control means of the game device operates the movable member a predetermined number of times until the operation result detected by the detection means matches the target result when the operation result detected by the detection means does not match the target result. It is what
The determination means is in an error state if the detection means does not detect the operation result or if the operation result detected by the detection means does not match the target result even if the movable member is operated the predetermined number of times. If the number of movements of the movable member operated until the operation result detected by the detection means matches the target result is not less than the specified number and not more than the predetermined number, the warning state An operating state management system characterized by determining that In the operating state management system according to claim 5,
The detection means of the game device detects a time from when the movable member starts operating until the operation is completed as an operation result,
The determination means determines that an error state is detected when the detection means does not detect an operation result, and determines that the warning state is detected when the time detected by the detection means is equal to or longer than a specified time. An operating state management system characterized by that. A game device comprising game progress control means for controlling game progress and management means for collecting and managing operating state information indicating its own operating state,
Operating state information collecting means for collecting at least one type of operating state information indicating its own operating state;
An operating state information storage unit for storing the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit;
When it is determined whether or not the operating state indicated by the operating state information exceeds a predetermined allowable range based on the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit. The operation state indicated by the operation state information is either an error state where the operation of the game device is stopped, a state where the operation of the game device should be stopped, or a warning state which is not the error state A judging means for judging whether or not
When it is determined that the determination unit is in an error state, a stop process for stopping the operation related to the operation state information corresponding to the error state is performed, and when the determination unit is determined to be in a warning state, the stop process is performed. Error processing means for continuing the operation related to the operating state information corresponding to the warning state without performing
The operating state information stored in the operating state information storage unit is distinguished from the operating state information determined by the determining unit as being in an error state and the operating state information determined as being a warning state by the determining unit. And a storage means for storing the game apparatus. A management device for collecting and managing operating state information indicating an operating state of a game device,
Operating state information collecting means for collecting at least one type of operating state information indicating the operating state of the game device;
An operating state information storage unit for storing the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit;
When it is determined whether or not the operating state indicated by the operating state information exceeds a predetermined allowable range based on the operating state information collected by the operating state information collecting unit. The operation state indicated by the operation state information is either an error state where the operation of the game device is stopped, a state where the operation of the game device should be stopped, or a warning state which is not the error state A judging means for judging whether or not
The operating state information stored in the operating state information storage unit is distinguished from the operating state information determined by the determining unit as being in an error state and the operating state information determined as being a warning state by the determining unit. And a storage means.