JP2011182914A - System for game hall - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a system for a game hall which does not obstruct a game even while preventing the theft of a recording medium specifying a value during the game. <P>SOLUTION: A lending machine 3 starts the operation of an issuance timer and shifts to a suppression state when an issuance button 16 is pressed, and when receiving FeliCa (R) in the suppression state (C1: YES), collates the ID of the received FeliCa (R) with a key ID in Fig.4 (C13), and issues a balance card (C11) when both IDs match (C13: YES). Further, when receiving a key card in the suppression state (C6: YES), whether the key card ID matches with the key ID is determined (C8). When they match (C8: YES), after adding a security amount to the balance (C9), the key card is collected (A10), the total balance including the security amount is made to correspond to the key card, and the balance card is issued (C11). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game room system capable of issuing a recording medium on which a valuable value is recorded.

  In game arcades, games using game media are allowed by renting game media with valuable value as consideration. In this case, for example, a predetermined amount of valuable value is associated with a recording medium such as a prepaid card, and the gaming medium is lent out as a part of the valuable value by a lending operation in a state where the recording medium is received.

  Now, when a player leaves the gaming machine with the recording medium received, there is a possibility that the other person will issue the recording medium when the user is away from the seat and the recording medium will be stolen. In this case, if a recording medium is issued in advance, there will be no theft damage, but the issuing operation may be forgotten. For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2005-296440 A

  By the way, the theft in a recent game hall is surprisingly malicious compared with the situation at the time of filing of Patent Document 1, and it is stolen not only while away from the seat but also during the game. Cases can also be seen. That is, a thief of two rogues sits in front of the gaming machine so that the target player is sandwiched between them, while one rogue speaks to the player and draws attention, while the other rogue issues This is a case where the recording medium is issued by performing an operation, and then, as if nothing happened, the target player leaves and the target player notices that the recording medium was stolen during the next lending operation.

However, in such a case, since the user is not away from the seat, the configuration as in Patent Document 1 cannot prevent theft, and a system corresponding to this case is desired.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game room system that prevents theft of a recording medium whose value is specified during a game but does not become an obstacle to the game. is there.

  The invention described in claim 1 is provided corresponding to a gaming machine, and is provided with value receiving means for executing a value receiving process for receiving a valuable value, and corresponding to the value receiving means. Lending means for executing a lending process for lending a game medium to a player using the received valuable value as a consideration, and when a valuable value is received in the value receiving process, is added, and the valuable value is obtained by the lending process. Balance storage means for storing the balance to be subtracted when the price is paid, and a balance recording medium that can specify the balance stored in the balance storage means, or the balance is assigned to a balance ID that can specify the balance Balance issuing means for performing a balance issuing process, which is an association process, and an individual ID issued when the value receiving means receives a valuable value, or the value receiving means receives a valuable value A key ID specifying means for specifying a player ID corresponding to the player accepted as a key ID, an ID receiving means capable of receiving an ID including at least the key ID, and the key ID specifying means When the key ID is specified by the ID storage means for storing the key ID and the key ID specifying means, the lending process is allowed, while the balance issue process is suppressed, and in the suppressed state, A suppression means for canceling the suppression state of the balance issuance process on condition of a collation process for collating the key ID and the key ID stored in the ID storage means when the key ID is accepted by the ID accepting means; It is provided with.

  The invention described in claim 2 is a key medium issuing means for issuing a key medium in which a collateral amount that is a part of the balance and a key medium ID are associated when the value receiving means receives a valuable value. And a medium recovery means capable of recovering the key medium, wherein the key ID specifying means specifies the key medium ID of the key medium issued by the key medium issuing means as the key ID, and receives the ID The means is capable of accepting the key medium, and accepts the key medium ID as the key ID when the key medium is accepted, and the medium collection means accepts the key medium by the ID accepting means, When the restrained state is released by the verification process, the accepted key medium is collected, and the balance issuing means solves the restrained state in response to acceptance of the key medium. It is the fact in the case of performing the balance issuing treated with, wherein the amount of collateral to perform the balance issuing process comprises the balance stored by the balance storage means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, when the medium collecting unit receives a key medium in a state where the balance stored by the balance storing unit is equal to or less than a predetermined issue limit, the medium collecting unit associates the medium with the key medium. At least one of a case where a key medium whose managed balance is equal to or less than a predetermined collection amount is accepted, or a case where the key medium is accepted and a collection operation is performed by a player or a game hall staff. When the non-issuance collection process for collecting the received key medium without the balance issuance process is executed, and the non-issuance collection process is executed by the medium collection unit, The value receiving process or the lending process using the collateral amount as a consideration is executed.

  In the invention described in claim 4, when the key ID specifying means receives the player ID in response to receiving the valuable value, the player ID is specified as the key ID, while the player ID is If the ID is not accepted, the key medium ID of the key medium issued by the key medium issuing means is specified as the key ID, and the ID receiving means can accept both the player ID and the key medium ID. The balance issuing means associates the balance including the collateral amount with the key medium collected by the collecting means when the restrained state is released in response to acceptance of the key medium. Then, issuing the balance medium by issuing the key medium as the balance recording medium or issuing the balance recording medium in which the accepted player ID is associated as the key ID. On the other hand, when the processing is performed in response to acceptance of the player ID, the balance issuance processing is performed by associating the balance with the balance ID using the player ID as the balance ID. And

  In the invention described in claim 5, the value accepting unit can accept the balance recording medium, and when accepting the balance recording medium, the value accepting unit accepts the corresponding balance as a valuable value. When the player ID is associated with the accepted balance recording medium, the player ID can be accepted as the key ID, and the balance ID is received by the balance recording medium. If the key ID is not stored in the ID storage means, a player ID that is the balance ID is specified as the key ID.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, theft during the game (that is, the theft of the recording medium) by the extremely malicious thief as described above can also be prevented by suppressing the balance issue processing by the suppressing means. In this case, although the balance issuance process is suppressed, the lending process is allowed because the game is in progress, so the player's game is not hindered and the game is not hindered.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the key medium is issued in response to the receipt of the valuable value. Therefore, if the key medium is managed, the player is not burdened to store the personal identification number separately. In addition, since a part of the balance is associated with the key medium as a collateral amount, a collateral for collecting the key medium is created, and even if the player brings the key medium after the game is over, the playground side bears the cost of the key medium with the collateral amount There is no risk of doing so. Of course, if the balance issuance process is performed with the key medium, the balance including the collateral amount is issued in association with the balance recording medium, so that it is possible to expect the player to collect the key medium spontaneously.

According to the invention of claim 3, when the player uses up the balance due to the game, or when the balance issuance processing is performed with a key ID other than the key medium corresponding to a plurality of types of key IDs, the balance issuance Although the key medium is not required to perform the processing, even if the key ID is received in this state, since the lending processing corresponding to the collateral amount is performed, the player can expect a voluntary collection effect and the like.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, both the balance medium and the key medium can be used in common, and while the convenience of the player is improved, the game side cost is reduced and the maintenance such as replenishment of the recording medium is also improved. To do.

  The player also issues a balance recording medium during the so-called table movement to change the gaming machine to be played, but after moving the table, before accepting the balance recording medium, the player receives a valuable value and plays a game, and then the balance recording medium Since it can be assumed that the balance recording medium is received so as to remember the existence and to add the balance of the balance recording medium to the balance, it is desirable that the balance recording medium can be received even if there is a balance. On the other hand, when the player ID is used as the key ID before the table is moved, it is desirable to take over after the table is moved. However, it is possible to assume theft using this function. That is, the thief issues a balance recording medium corresponding to a small balance, adds the balance of the balance recording medium to the balance of the player who is playing the game, changes the key ID, and uses all the acquired key IDs However, according to the invention of claim 5, the player ID that is the balance ID is provided that the key ID is not stored in the ID storage means. By specifying as a key ID, not only can theft be prevented, but there is no need to issue a useless key ID, so that it is possible to provide an amusement system excellent in usability.

Schematic which shows the whole structure of the system for game centers in one Embodiment of this invention. Top view of the ball tray on the gaming machine as seen from above Diagram showing the lending settings managed by the management device Diagram showing lending machine storage area Diagram showing balance card storage area The flowchart which shows the money and balance card reception processing by the system for game halls The flowchart which shows the button operation processing by the system for game halls Flowchart showing Felica and key card reception processing by the game system

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a game hall system. The game hall system 1 includes a gaming machine 2, a lending machine 3, a relay device 4, a management device 5, and the like. These devices are connected to each other via a LAN 6 so that signals can be transmitted and received. Although omitted in FIG. 1, several hundred gaming machines 2 are actually managed by the management device 5.

  In the gaming machine 2, a ball (corresponding to a game medium) fired on the board surface by an operation on the operation handle 7 constituting the launching device wins a general winning port 8, a first starting port 9 or a second starting port 10. The corresponding balls are paid out in accordance with the prize, and a lottery lottery is performed according to the winning (start winning) at the first starting port 9 or the second starting port 10, and the lottery result is notified by the symbol variation performed on the display unit 11. The jackpot is generated according to the fluctuation result. When the jackpot is generated, for example, the big winning opening 12 is opened for 15 rounds (15R). The balls paid out by winning at each winning opening are received by the ball receiving tray 13a, and the balls that are overflowing when the ball receiving tray 13a is full are received by the ball receiving tray 13b. The number of 1R upper limit winnings is 10, the upper limit opening time is 30 seconds, and 1R is terminated when either the upper limit winning number or the upper limit opening time is satisfied. In this embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine is assumed as the gaming machine 2, and a pachinko ball is assumed as the gaming medium.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ball receiving tray 13a of the gaming machine 2 is provided with a remaining frequency display section 14 (30 in FIG. 2), a lending button 15, an issue button 16, and a payout port 17. The ball 18 paid out from the machine 2 or the ball 18 lent out by pressing the lending button 15 (lending operation) is paid out from the payout port 17 to the game medium tray 19.
The following gaming signals are output from the gaming machine 2 configured as described above.
Out signal = a signal that can specify the number of used balls (out) output from an out BOX for collecting used balls. Since one pulse is output for 10 recovered (used and driven) balls, “the number of out signals × 10” is specified as out. A signal output from the gaming machine 2 may be used.

Safe signal = a signal that can specify the number of payout balls (safe) output from the gaming machine 2. Since one pulse is output for 10 payouts corresponding to a game (winning) in the gaming machine 2, “safe signal number × 10” is specified as safe. In addition, it is good also considering the replenishment signal output from the replenishment apparatus which is not shown in figure as a safe signal.
Start signal = a signal that can specify the number of symbol fluctuations (number of actuated items, start) output from the gaming machine 2. Since one pulse is output per symbol change (actual action, start processing) in the display unit 11 that changes (actuates) by winning at the first start port 9 or the second start port 10, “the number of start signals × 1 ”is specified as the start. In addition, it is good also considering the start winning signal output according to the winning to the 1st starting port 9 or the 2nd starting port 10 as a start signal.

Jackpot signal = a signal that can identify the jackpot output from the gaming machine 2. Since it is a status signal that is output at a level during the jackpot, it is determined that the jackpot signal is being received as a jackpot.
Special state signal = a signal that can specify a special state output from the gaming machine 2. Since it is a state signal (probability change signal) that is output in a special state, which is a state where it is easier to generate a big hit such as during a probability change where the jackpot probability is improved than in the normal state, the special state signal being received is identified as being in the special state. It is also possible to use a status signal (time reduction signal) that is level-output during the time when the winning rate to the first start port 9 or the second start port 10 is improved. Further, a period in which no jackpot signal or special state signal is received is specified as a normal state.

    Sales signal = signal that can specify sales information (number of sales balls, sales amount) output from the lending machine 3 described later. Since one pulse is output for every 25 balls that are valued as valuable to the player, “sales signal number × 25” is specified as the number of sales balls, and the number of sales balls × the rental unit price is specified as the sales amount. .

  The lending machine 3 (lending means, balance storing means, balance issuing means, key ID specifying means, ID storing means, suppressing means, key medium issuing means, medium collecting means, value receiving means, ID receiving means) is a control comprising a CPU. , CR (compact flash (registered trademark)), RAM, ROM, a storage unit (corresponding to ID storage means), a transmission / reception unit comprising an interface for transmitting and receiving signals, etc. As shown in FIG. 1, a money slot 20 (corresponding to value receiving means), a liquid crystal display unit 21 and a touch panel 22, a Felica (registered trademark) receiving part 23 (corresponding to value receiving means and ID receiving means), a card insertion slot 24. (Corresponding to key medium issuing means, medium collecting means, value receiving means, ID receiving means). The lending machine 3 accepts money of a plurality of denominations (equivalent to valuable value) at the money insertion slot 20 (equivalent to value reception processing), and the Felica ID such as a Felica-compatible mobile phone or Felica card at the Felica reception unit 23. (Balance ID, equivalent to player ID) can be received, and valuable values stored in Felica's storage area can be received.

  When the rental button 15 is pressed on the gaming machine 2, a rental request signal is transmitted from the gaming machine 2 to the rental machine 3. When the lending machine 3 receives the lending request signal, the lending machine 3 refers to the balance, and transmits a lending permission signal to the gaming machine 2 when there is a balance (greater than 0). The gaming machine 2 that has received the lending permission signal pays out the lending balls from the payout port 17 in units of the remaining number (100 yen), updates the remaining number display unit 14, and transmits the lending request signal to the lending machine 3 again. In this way, the lending machine 3 executes the lending process. The lending process is repeated until payout for 5 times (lending unit) is completed in response to one lending button pressing. If the balance runs out on the way, a lending rejection signal is transmitted and the lending process is terminated. At this time, the remaining frequency display unit 14 displays the balance information to the gaming machine 2 at the time of updating the balance in the lending machine 3 such as accepting valuable value or paying out the loaned balls, and the remaining frequency is updated by the balance information. To do. The lending machine 3 configured as described above has the following functions.

  1) A so-called member card or visitor card 26 in which a unique ID is recorded can be received at the card insertion slot 24. When money is received at the coin insertion slot 20 with the card received, the value is used as a balance. It memorize | stores in the rental machine memory area (refer FIG. 4) mentioned later. In this embodiment, as the visitor card 26, a balance card (corresponding to a balance recording medium) in which a balance is recorded, and a key card (corresponding to a key medium) in which a collateral amount and a key medium ID described later are associated with each other. Is assumed. These balance card and key card also serve as a medium, and both can be issued and received from the card insertion slot 24.

  2) At the back of the card insertion slot 24, there is a stock section capable of stocking a predetermined number (for example, five) of initialized visitor cards 26, and accepting visitor cards 26 possessed by membership cards or players. If money is accepted in the absence, the balance is recorded on the stocked visitor card 26, and the visitor card 26 is placed in the accepting state. When the visitor card 26 is issued, the visitor card 26 having the latest acceptance order is sequentially issued from the stock section as a balance card (corresponding to a balance issuance process).

3) When the lending button 15 provided on the gaming machine 2 is pressed in a state where the balance can be specified, as described above, the payout port 17 pays out and lends it to the player, transmits a sales signal, and subtracts the balance. To do.
4) If a member card is received, payout by replay using so-called stored balls as a consideration can be made in response to a pressing operation on a replay button (not shown). 2 is paid out from the payout opening 17 and a replay signal is transmitted.

5) When a pressing operation of a return button (not shown) is received in a state where the visitor card 26 is received, the card being received is ejected.
6) The information display unit 21 can display lending or storage-related information, and if predetermined conditions such as accepting a membership card are satisfied, game information and the like regarding various corresponding gaming machines 2 can be displayed.

  The relay device 4 is connected to the two gaming machines 2 and the two rental machines 3 and is connected to the management device 5 via the LAN 6. The relay device 4 includes a control unit including a CPU, a storage unit including a CF, a RAM, and a ROM, and a transmission / reception unit including an interface for transmitting and receiving signals, and relays information received from the gaming machine side, Display game data based on it.

  The management device 5 includes a control unit including a CPU, a storage unit (corresponding to storage means) including an HDD (hard disk device), a RAM, and a ROM, a transmission / reception unit including an interface for transmitting and receiving signals, a monitor, and a printer (not shown). An input unit such as an output unit and a keyboard for receiving a user operation input is provided. The management device 5 manages, for example, a well-known jackpot history by receiving various signals transmitted from the gaming machine side. Although not shown, an island edge counter for counting game balls acquired by the gaming machine 2 is also provided in the game hall.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the lending setting set by the management apparatus 5. The management device 5 stores the lending setting in the storage unit. When the lending setting is changed by an employee of the game hall, the setting indicating that the lending setting has been changed for the lending machine 3. Send information. This lending setting is also stored in the lending machine 3, and the lending machine 3 updates the lending setting stored in itself when receiving the setting information. The meaning of each item in the lending setting is as follows.

Lending unit = the upper limit of the number of balls to be paid out when the lending button 15 is pressed once. When the balance corresponds to the consideration of the loaned balls with less than the lending unit, the loaned balls with the entire balance as consideration are paid out.
Withdrawal unit = value of valuable value per withdrawal from the storage area of Felica when accepting a Felica ID. If the valuable value in the storage area of Felica is less than a predetermined amount, the total valuable value is stored as a balance.
Collateral amount = the amount of valuable value recorded on the key card when the key card is issued. A key card is not issued if the balance is less than the collateral amount.
Issue timer = a timer that operates when the issue button 16 is pressed. When a key card or Felica is received during operation, a verification process described later is performed, and a balance card storing the balance is issued.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a storage area of the lending machine 3. The balance and the key ID are stored in the lending machine storage area, and the lending machine 3 updates this storage area by accepting the valuable value, pressing the lending button 15, or accepting the key card or Felica. The meaning of each item stored in the storage area is as follows.
Balance = the balance that can be rented by the player who is playing. It is added according to acceptance of money, Felica, etc., and subtracted by lending processing. In addition, it is good also as a structure which memorize | stores a balance indirectly by memorize | storing the received amount, a lending value, etc.
Key ID = issued key card ID (corresponding to key medium ID) or accepted Felica ID.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a balance card storage area (balance card storage area). In the balance card storage area, a card ID (corresponding to an individual ID), a balance, and a key ID (here, a Felica ID) allocated individually for each balance card are stored. When the balance card is issued in response to the acceptance of the key card, the key card is collected, so there is no need to store the key ID. The card ID and the key ID are assumed to be IDs stored in advance in the card, but may be IDs that can be updated by issuing a new ID for each issuing process. The balance card and the key card can be settled and collected by a settlement machine (not shown).

Next, the operation of the gaming hall system 1 configured as described above will be described with reference to FIGS. The lending machine 3 repeatedly executes a main process (not shown). As one of the main processes, a currency and balance card reception process (FIG. 6), a button operation process (FIG. 7), a Felica and a key card reception process ( FIG. 8) is executed.
First, the key card issuing process will be described. The lending machine 3 determines whether or not money has been accepted in the money and balance card acceptance process shown in FIG. 6 (A1) or balance card (A8). If none has been accepted (A1: NO) , A8: NO), return.

  When the player inserts money into the money insertion slot 20 to start the game, the lending machine 3 accepts the money (A1: YES), and then adds the received amount to the balance by the value receiving process described above ( A2), it is determined whether the key ID is not stored in the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4 (A3). Since the key ID is not stored at the start of the game (A3: YES), it is determined whether the balance in FIG. 4 is larger than the collateral amount (A4). If the balance is larger (A4: YES), After subtracting the collateral amount to be paid for the key card from the balance (A5), the key card is issued (A6), and the key card ID (ID stored in the issued key card, corresponding to the key medium ID) is used as the key The ID is specified and stored in the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4 (A7). Thereby, a balance and key ID are matched. When the key ID is already stored (A3: NO) and when the balance is equal to or less than the collateral amount (A4: NO), step A7 is not executed (the key card is not issued).

  Next, the lending operation will be described. In the button operation process shown in FIG. 7, the lending machine 3 determines whether or not the balance is greater than 0 (B1). If the balance is greater than 0 (B1: YES), whether the lending button 15 is further pressed ( B2) or whether the issue button 16 has been pressed (B7). If no operation has been performed (B2: NO, B7: NO), the process returns.

  The player operates the lending button 15 to receive lending based on the inserted money when there is no hand-held ball at the start of the game or when the game continues and the number of hand-held balls decreases. At this time, when the lending machine 15 is pressed down with the lending button 15 in a state where the balance is greater than 0 (B1: YES), the lending machine 3 subtracts the balance (B2) and pays out the lending balls (B4). Execute. Subsequently, it is determined whether the balance has become 0 by this lending process (B5). If the balance has become 0 (B5: YES), the key ID in FIG. 4 is initialized (B6), and then the return. To do. On the other hand, when lending is performed and the balance is not 0 (B5: NO), it returns as it is in preparation for the next lending.

  Next, a balance card issuing operation will be described. When the player moves the platform or presses the issue button 16 to end the game, the lending machine 3 determines that the issue button 16 is pressed in the button operation processing shown in FIG. 7 (B7: YES). The operation of the issue timer is started (B8). That is, when the issue button 16 is pressed when there is a balance, the lending machine 3 of this embodiment does not immediately issue a balance card in response to the press operation of the issue button 16 as in the conventional case. In order to determine whether the person who pressed the button 16 is a legitimate player, first, the operation of the issue timer is started. That is, in a state where there is a balance, simply pressing the issue button 16 will result in a suppressed state in which a balance card is not issued (corresponding to a suppression process). Even if the balance card issuance is suppressed, the pressing operation of the lending button 15 is accepted (lending processing is allowed).

  The lending machine 3 determines whether the Felica and the key card receiving process shown in FIG. 8 have received Felica (C1) or the key card (C6), and if neither has been received (C1: NO, C6: NO), return. On the other hand, if the player inserts the key card issued as described above during the operation of the issuing timer, the lending machine 3 accepts the key card (C6: YES), and the issuing timer is operating (C7 : YES), it is determined whether or not the key card ID matches the key ID of FIG. 4 (C8, corresponding to the verification process). If they match (C8: YES), the balance card issuance is suppressed. After canceling the state and adding the collateral amount to the balance (C9), the key card is collected (C10). Subsequently, after issuing a balance card by associating all balances including the collateral amount with the key card (C11), the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4 is initialized (C12), and the process returns. That is, when the key card is inserted while the issuance timer is operating, the lending machine 3 collects the key card when the balance card issuance suppression state is canceled by the verification process. In this way, the lending machine 3 issues a balance card after confirming that a legitimate player has pressed the issue button 16. If the received key card IDs do not match (C8: NO), the process returns as it is to continue the balance card issue suppression state. The issuance timer is deactivated when it operates for a set time in FIG. 3 or when a balance card is issued.

  Next, balance card acceptance processing will be described. When the player inserts his / her balance card into the card insertion slot 24, the lending machine 3 accepts the balance card (A8: YES), and therefore the received amount (the balance stored in the balance card. See FIG. 5). ) Is added to the balance of FIG. 4 (A9), and it is determined whether the key ID is not stored in the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4 (A10). At this time, if the key ID has already been stored (A10: NO), this means that the player is playing the game on the same table, and it is only necessary to continue to manage with that key ID. .

  On the other hand, when the key ID is not stored (that is, when the table moves) (A10: YES), the lending machine 3 does not record the key ID on the balance card (A11: NO). In step A4, if the balance is larger than the collateral amount (A4: YES), the key card is issued and the issued key card ID is stored in the key ID of FIG. 4 (A5, A6, A7).

  Next, the collateral payment process will be described. For example, when the player runs out of balance, the player can also pay out with a collateral amount by inserting a key card. In this case, when the lending machine 3 receives the key card (C6: YES), the lending machine 3 determines whether the issuance timer is operating (C7). In this case, the issuance timer is not operating (C7: NO). 4 determines whether the balance in FIG. 4 is 0 (C15). At this time, if the balance is 0 (C15: YES), after paying out a lending ball corresponding to the collateral amount (C16), the key card is collected (C17, corresponding to non-issue collection processing), and the process returns. On the other hand, if the balance is not 0 (C15: NO), it is not necessary to collect the key card, so the key card is returned (discharged from the card insertion slot 24) (C14) and then the process returns. Thus, in the lending machine 3, when the issuance timer is not operating, the balance managed in association (see FIG. 4) is equal to or less than a predetermined issuance limit (eg, 0 in step C15). When the key card is accepted, the payout of the loaned ball by the collateral amount and the non-issued collection process for collecting the key card are executed. When the key card is received by a lending machine 3 different from the lending machine 3 that has issued the key card by moving the player, the balance associated with the key card in step C15 is The management apparatus 5 or the like is inquired as to whether the amount is a predetermined collection amount (for example, 0).

  Next, each process by Felica will be described. For example, when the balance becomes small, the player can replenish the balance by holding a Felica ID such as a Felica compatible mobile phone or Felica card over the Felica reception unit 23. When accepting Felica (C1: YES) in the FeliCa and key card acceptance process shown in FIG. 8, the lending machine 3 determines whether the issuance timer is in operation (C2). In this case, the issuance timer is in operation. Since there is not (C2: NO), the withdrawal unit is added to the balance of FIG. 4 from the storage area of the Felica ID (C3). Subsequently, it is determined whether the key ID is not stored (C4). If the key ID is not stored (C4: YES), the received Felica ID is specified as the key ID and stored in the lending machine storage area of FIG. (C5). Thereby, Felica ID and a balance are matched (equivalent to a balance issue process).

  On the other hand, when the player holds the Felica ID over the Felica reception unit 23 during the operation of the issuance timer, the lending machine 3 receives the Felica in the button operation process shown in FIG. Is in operation (C2: YES), the received Felica ID and the key ID of FIG. 4 are collated (C13, corresponding to the collation process), and if both IDs match (C13: YES) The balance card is issued (C11), and the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4 is initialized (C12). When the balance card is issued, the balance and the received Felica ID are recorded as the key ID.

  In this way, the player when the balance is added by the acceptance of Felica and the person who pressed the issue button 16 are the same person, that is, the issue button 16 was pressed by a legitimate player. Is confirmed, the restrained state is released and a balance card can be issued. If the Felica ID and the key ID do not match (C13: NO), the player cannot be confirmed and the process returns to continue the suppression state.

  In addition, when the lending machine 3 receives the balance card issued in the state of accepting the Felica ID in the money and balance card receiving process shown in FIG. 6 (A8: YES), the lending machine 3 stores it in the lending machine storage area of FIG. If the key ID is not yet stored (A10: YES), the key ID is stored in the balance card (A11: YES), so the reception key ID (the key ID stored in the received balance card) Is specified as the key ID of FIG. 4 and stored in the lending machine storage area (A12), and the process returns. As a result, the Felica ID of the Felica-compatible mobile phone or Felica card owned by the player is stored in the rental machine 3 at the destination, and thereafter managed by the Felica ID. Note that the key ID is not stored in the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4 in step A10 because the unauthorized person accepts the fraudster of the unauthorized person and updates the key ID while there is a balance. In order to prevent the balance card from being issued after receiving the Felica ID of the unauthorized person.

In this way, even if the thief does not notice the player during the game and presses the issue button 16 of the lending machine 3, the lending machine 3 is already registered during the operation of the issuance timer. Since no key ID other than the key ID (stored in the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4) is received, the balance card is not issued illegally, and the theft card can be securely stolen. Can be prevented.
As described above, the lending machine 3 executes normal lending processing and the like, and executes suppression processing for suppressing the issuance of balance cards in connection with the present invention, and issuance of balance cards is performed by a legitimate player. Judging.

According to the game hall system 1 described above, the following effects can be obtained.
When the balance is present, the gaming system 1 shifts to a restrained state in which issuance of balance cards is suppressed, and the key ID issued when the balance is added (see FIG. 4) and the issue button 16 are pressed. Since it is determined whether the Felica or key card (see FIG. 6) received when operated is the same, theft or balance card by a very malicious thief who issues a balance card and steals it during the game Theft can be prevented. In this case, since the balance card issuance is suppressed because the game is in progress, the lending is permitted, so that the player's game is not hindered and the game is not hindered.

  Since the key card is issued in response to the acceptance of money, if the key card is managed, it is not necessary to separately store a personal identification number or the like, and the player is not burdened. Also, since a part of the balance is associated with the key card as a collateral amount, a collateral for collecting the key card is born, and even if the player brings the key card back after the game ends, the cost due to the loss of the key card due to the collateral amount Will no longer be worn by the game hall. Of course, if the key card is returned and the balance card is issued, the balance including the collateral amount is issued in association with the balance card, so that the player can expect a voluntary recovery effect of the key card.

  If the player uses up the balance due to the game, the key card is no longer necessary. However, even if the key card is received in this state, a loan equivalent to the collateral amount is provided (step C16). The key card recovery effect is expected.

Both the key card and the balance card can be used in common, improving the usability of the player, reducing the cost on the game hall side, and improving the maintainability such as card replenishment.
The player also issues a balance card during the so-called table movement to change the gaming machine to be played, but after moving the table, before entering the balance card, play a game with a valuable value, and then check the presence of the balance card. Since it can be assumed that a balance card is inserted, it is desirable that the balance card can be accepted even if there is a balance. Further, since the player ID as the balance ID is specified as the key ID on the condition that the key ID is not stored in the lending machine storage area of FIG. 4, a balance card corresponding to a small balance is issued and the game is being played. In addition to preventing theft such as adding the balance of the balance recording medium to the player's balance and changing the key ID and issuing a balance card in which all balances are associated with the acquired key ID, Since it is not necessary to issue a useless key card, it is possible to provide a game system 1 that is excellent in usability.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows.
When the key card is received in the state where the issuing operation is not performed, the key card is collected as it is if the balance is 0. However, the player may be inquired whether to collect the key card. In this case, it is assumed that a response operation (collection operation) is performed by an employee or a player. In addition, the balance is managed in association with the key card ID by the management device 5, and the key card has not been collected even though the balance has become 0 (recovery amount) by using up the balance. The key card may be collected. In addition, although the lending ball equivalent to the collateral amount was paid out when collecting the key card, the balance may be added.

Although the issue timer is activated after the issue operation, the issue operation may be identified as being performed until the cancel operation is performed without operating the issue timer. Further, when a key ID is received without pressing the issue button 16 in a state where there is a balance, an issue operation may be accepted.
Although the collateral amount is recorded on the key card, since the collateral amount is a fixed amount, it is not necessary to record the collateral amount directly if it can be identified as a key card. Further, the management device 5 may manage the key card ID and the collateral amount in association with each other. The same applies to the balance card. If the balance is managed by the management apparatus 5, information such as a balance ID that can identify the balance may be stored.

When issuing a balance card in response to the acceptance of the key card, the balance is recorded on the received key card and reissued as it is, but the key card and the balance card are separate media (for example, the key card is made into coins, etc.) It is also good. Of course, as the medium, IC coins or the like can be employed in addition to the card.
When accepting Felica, the withdrawal unit has been transferred to the balance. However, the player may be allowed to specify whether or not he / she wishes to transfer by specifying a transfer amount by displaying an input screen for the transfer amount.
Although both money and ferrica are illustrated as examples of accepting valuable value, it is possible to deal with only one of them. Moreover, you may respond | correspond to 3 or more types of ID, such as ID of a membership card. Of course, other player IDs than those exemplified, for example, a player's fingerprint or the like, such as an ID that can be specified by biometric authentication, may be supported.

When a fingerprint or the like is employed as the key ID, the value reception and the key ID can be effectively associated with each other if the lending process is performed on condition that the currency is accepted and the key ID is accepted.
When it is possible to accept a valuable value corresponding to a plurality of IDs, only the first stored ID is stored as the key ID, but the key ID received for each type of ID may be stored. In this case, it is desirable to store a balance for each type of ID in order to prevent theft. Further, any ID may be preferentially stored instead of the storage order. In this case, if the player ID such as Felica or fingerprint is given priority over the key card ID, it is not necessary to separately issue a key card medium, which is meaningful.

  Although the balance card is issued when issuing processing is performed in response to acceptance of Felica or the like, there is no need to issue a balance card if it is added to the valuable value of Felica or if the balance is stored in Felica's balance storage area. The issuing process of the present invention means a process of associating a balance with an ID including such a case.

  Any numerical value of one embodiment is an example, and any other numerical value may be adopted. In addition, expressions such as “exceeding” and “less than” are expressions including the concepts “above” and “below”. Furthermore, the expression “not stored” is also an expression including the concept of “not stored effectively”. For example, an ID received in the past is stored, but it must be stored as a valid ID. It is included in the concept of “not remembered”. In addition to pachinko machines, pachislot machines can also be assumed as gaming machines, and not only balls but also medals can be targeted.

  The key card was issued on the condition that it is equal to or greater than the collateral amount associated with the key card at the time of key card issuance, but a key card is issued on the condition that the balance is equal to or greater than the minimum issuance amount set separately. You may do it. In this case, if the collateral amount is 500 yen and the issuance lower limit is 5000 yen, it is not necessary to perform the troublesome process of issuing the key card if the damage amount of theft such as a thousand yen bill or a 2,000 yen bill is small.

The present invention can also be adopted for so-called each counter and each replay machine. That is, it is possible to adopt a game medium as a valuable value or balance, a betting ticket that can specify the number of game media under the player's control as a balance card, and the number of collateral balls as a collateral amount. In this case, counting the game media as the balance corresponds to accepting the valuable value, so it is only necessary to issue a key media such as a key card or accept the player ID according to the count. . Of course, the lending process includes a concept such as a so-called replay process. Further, the present invention may be applied to a lending machine in which a lending machine such as a so-called nozzle is provided in the lending machine itself in addition to a lending machine that pays out game media from a payout opening of the gaming machine during lending processing.
A part of information processing performed by the lending machine 3 may be performed by the relay device 4 or the management device 5. Similarly, part of the information processing performed by the management device 5 may be performed by the relay device 4 or the lending machine 3.

  In the drawing, 1 is a game system, 2 is a gaming machine, 3 is a lending machine (lending means, balance storage means, balance issuing means, key ID specifying means, ID storage means, suppression means, key medium issuing means, medium recovery Means, value accepting means, ID accepting means), 25 is a Felica compatible mobile phone (player ID, balance ID), and 26 is a visitor card (balance card (balance recording medium), key card (key medium)).

Claims (5)

A value receiving means that is provided corresponding to the gaming machine and executes a value receiving process for receiving a valuable value;
A lending unit that is provided corresponding to the value receiving unit and executes a lending process that lends a game medium to a player as a consideration for the valuable value received in the value receiving process;
Balance storage means for storing a balance that is added when a valuable value is accepted in the value receiving process, and subtracted when the valuable value becomes a consideration by the lending process;
A balance issuing means for issuing a balance recording medium capable of specifying the balance stored in the balance storage means, or performing a balance issuing process which is a process of associating the balance with a balance ID capable of specifying the balance;
Key ID identification that specifies, as a key ID, an individual ID issued when the value accepting unit accepts a valuable value, or a player ID corresponding to a player accepted when the value accepting unit accepts a valuable value Means,
ID receiving means capable of receiving an ID including at least the key ID;
ID storage means for storing the key ID specified by the key ID specifying means;
When the key ID is specified by the key ID specifying means, the lending process is allowed, while the balance issuance process is suppressed, and the key ID is accepted by the ID receiving means in the suppressed state. And a suppression means for canceling the balance issue process suppression state on condition of a matching process for matching the key ID and the key ID stored in the ID storage means,
A game system characterized by comprising: A key medium issuing means for issuing a key medium associated with a collateral amount that is a part of the balance and a key medium ID when the value receiving means receives a valuable value;
Medium recovery means capable of recovering the key medium,
The key ID specifying means specifies the key medium ID of the key medium issued by the key medium issuing means as the key ID,
The ID receiving means can receive the key medium, and when receiving the key medium, receives the key medium ID as the key ID;
The medium recovery means recovers the received key medium when the key medium is received by the ID receiving means and the restrained state is released by the verification process,
The balance issuing means includes the collateral amount in the balance stored in the balance storage means when performing the balance issue processing by releasing the restraint state in response to acceptance of the key medium. The game system according to claim 1, wherein issue processing is performed. In the case where a key medium is received in a state where the balance stored in the balance storage means is equal to or less than a predetermined issuance limit, the medium recovery means determines that the balance managed in association with the key medium is a predetermined recovery amount When the following key medium is received or when the key medium is received and a collection operation is performed by a player or a game hall staff, the received key medium A non-issuance collection process that collects without the balance issuance process,
3. The value receiving process corresponding to the collateral amount or the lending process using the collateral amount as a consideration when the non-issuance collection processing is executed by the medium collection unit. Game system. The key ID specifying means specifies the player ID as the key ID when the player ID is received in response to the receipt of the valuable value, and the key medium when the player ID is not received. Specifying the key medium ID of the key medium issued by the issuing means as the key ID;
The ID receiving means can receive both the player ID and the key medium ID,
The balance issuing means associates the balance including the collateral amount with the key medium collected by the collecting means when the restrained state is released in response to acceptance of the key medium. The balance issuance process is performed by issuing the key medium as the balance recording medium, and when the player ID is released in response to the acceptance of the player ID, the player ID is used as the balance ID. The balance issuing process is performed by associating the balance with an ID or by issuing the balance recording medium in which an accepted player ID is associated with the key ID. Amusement system. The value accepting means is capable of accepting the balance recording medium, and when accepting the balance recording medium, accepts the corresponding balance as a valuable value,
The ID receiving means can receive the player ID as the key ID when the player ID is associated with the received balance recording medium,
The key ID specifying means specifies the player ID as the balance ID as the key ID on the condition that the key ID is not stored in the ID storage means when the balance recording medium is accepted. The game system according to claim 4, wherein:

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