JP2012152409A - Game medium management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a highly convenient game medium management system where a game medium used for a game can be shared by a plurality of names.SOLUTION: When an information recording medium C having a set card ID is thrown into a check-in terminal device 700 and check-in operation is performed via an operation panel 701, a group management server 600 performs group registrations such that management is performed in group units in which the card ID and a group ID are stringed, generates and manages an own ball account shared by a group for transferring and withdrawing own balls on data corresponding to each group, transfers balls owned by a player to the own ball account shared by a group exclusive for the group concerned or withdraws them from the own ball account shared by a group with an information recording medium C registered in a group as a medium, thus providing environment for sharing own balls only by group members within a game hall.

Description

  The present invention can manage game media used for games on a gaming machine installed in a game arcade as data, and rent game media to a player using an information recording medium to which unique identification information is given. The present invention relates to a game media management system.

  Conventionally, in game halls where game machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are installed, games are personally enjoyed using game media borrowed or deposited by the players. On the other hand, in game centers where a wide variety of game machines that do not use game media are installed, there are game machines capable of playing in groups or playing online (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). Although pachinko machines and slot machines cannot be played by a large number of people, there are cases where players who come to the store play a game with different game machines and enjoy the game results in competition. Improving services for group players is also important for amusement stores. Therefore, a game system has been proposed in which new players can publish new recording media in which the balls are divided in a pedestal ball lending machine so that players of acquaintances can easily and easily share balls. (For example, see Patent Document 2).

JP 2004-141544 A JP 2010-227556 A

  However, the gaming system described in Patent Document 2 is merely a method in which a recording medium on which the number of balls is recorded is passed instead of passing a real ball stored in a so-called dollar box to another player. It was not always convenient to share the possession of the entire group.

  In other words, in the game system described in Patent Document 2, a player who wants to borrow a ball walks in the store because he / she cannot acquire the ball via a recording medium unless an acquaintance with sufficient margin is searched. It is very cumbersome to search for acquaintances and ask them to transfer their possessions. In addition, there is not enough room for the acquaintances of the acquaintance who found the corner, and if you can only give a small amount, you have to search for other acquaintances, so that you can share the possession with the group Not suitable for.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game medium management system capable of sharing a plurality of game media used for a game with high convenience.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention according to claim 1 is an information recording medium that manages game media used for gaming in a gaming machine installed in a game arcade as data and is provided with unique identification information. In a game medium management system that can rent game media to a player by using, register a player who possesses an information recording medium as a group by associating the identification information of the information recording medium with the group identification information, Group generation means for generating a shared game medium storage area for storing game media that can be shared by players belonging to the group as data, and data of the shared game medium stored in the generated shared game medium storage area for each group When a game media transfer request from a player who manages and belongs to a group is accepted, the game media on the data possessed by the requester is reduced and shared When transfer processing is performed to increase the number of shared game media in the technical media storage area and a game media withdrawal request is received from a player belonging to the group, the shared game media is subtracted from the shared game media storage area and the requester receives data. And a shared game medium management means for performing a withdrawal process for providing the game medium.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the game medium management system according to claim 1, wherein the group generation means presents an existing group in which a shared game medium storage area has already been generated, and an information recording medium It is characterized in that it is made to belong to an existing group in response to a request from a player who possesses.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the game medium management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the group generation means issues a shared game medium transfer request from a player who does not belong to the group. Based on this, group registration is performed, and a shared game medium storage area is generated.

  Further, the invention according to claim 4 is the game media management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sharing of the group is based on the establishment of a predetermined group dissolution condition. A group dissolution means for erasing the game medium storage area and disposing of the shared game medium based on a predetermined shared game medium disposal procedure when the shared game medium remains in the shared game medium storage area; And

  The invention according to claim 5 is the game medium management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shared game medium management means is a game medium from a player belonging to a group. When the withdrawal request is accepted, the shared gaming medium withdrawal process is not executed until a withdrawal permission is obtained from the owner of the information recording medium registered in advance as a shared gaming medium management authority.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the gaming medium management system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the information recording medium to which the unique identification information is given is accepted, and the rental of the gaming medium is performed. Including a game medium lending device that can add value information that can be consumed or lend a game medium by consuming value information, and the game medium lending device has a local game medium that can be played on a gaming machine, When a game media transfer request is automatically made to the shared game media storage area of the group to which the input information recording medium belongs and a local game media for playing a game machine is required, the game media is withdrawn from the shared game media storage area An automatic sharing activation means for automatically performing a request is provided.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the game media management system according to claim 6, wherein the group generation means sets rank information ranked in two or more categories for members belonging to the group. The automatic sharing activation means is characterized in that automatic sharing is executed only when the in-group rank for the input information recording medium satisfies a predetermined automatic sharing permission condition.

  According to the gaming medium management system according to claim 1, the players possessing the information recording medium are registered as a group by associating the identification information of the information recording medium with the group identification information, and the players belonging to the group Group generation means for generating a shared game medium storage area for storing game media that can be shared as data, and managing the data of the shared game medium stored in the shared game medium storage area for each generated group and belonging to the group When a game media transfer request is received from a player who performs the transfer process, the game media on the data possessed by the requester is reduced to increase the number of shared game media in the shared game media storage area, and the players belonging to the group When a game media withdrawal request is received from the game media, the game media on the data is subtracted from the shared game media storage area to the requester. Because and a shared game medium management means for performing withdrawal processing to impart, game media sharing group through the shared game media storage area can be efficiently achieved, a highly convenient system.

  According to the game medium management system of the second aspect, the group generation means presents an existing group in which a shared game medium storage area has already been generated, and requests a player possessing an information recording medium. Accordingly, since it is made to belong to an existing group, it becomes possible to join the group later and it becomes more convenient.

  According to the game medium management system of claim 3, the group generation means performs group registration based on a shared game medium transfer request made by a player who does not belong to the group, and the shared game Since the media storage area is created, it is possible to easily create a shared game media storage area as needed and create a group in the group without registering the group in advance and creating the shared game media storage area. Sharing can be realized.

  According to the gaming media management system of claim 4, based on the establishment of a predetermined group dissolution condition, the shared gaming media storage area of the group is erased, and the shared gaming media is stored in the shared gaming media storage area. If there is a group, the group dissolution means that disposes of the shared game media based on a predetermined shared game media disposal procedure is provided, so that the number of groups to be managed by the shared game media management means will increase without limit. Can be suppressed.

  According to the game medium management system of claim 5, the shared game medium management means is registered in advance as a shared game medium management authority when receiving a game medium withdrawal request from a player belonging to a group. The shared game media withdrawal process is not executed until the withdrawal of permission from the owner of the information recording medium is held, so that the shared game media management authority in the group grasps the remaining status of the shared game media from time to time. In addition, sharing management of game media within the group can be performed appropriately.

  In addition, according to the game medium management system according to claim 6, the information recording medium to which the unique identification information is given is accepted, and the value information that can be lent out of the game medium is added, or the value information is consumed to play the game A game medium lending device capable of lending a medium, and when there is a local game medium capable of playing a game on a gaming machine, the game medium lending device plays a game to a shared game medium storage area of a group to which the input information recording medium belongs The player has an automatic sharing activation means for automatically making a request for withdrawal of a game medium from the shared game medium storage area when a local game medium for automatically making a medium transfer request and playing a game on a gaming machine is required. Can be used in games without being aware of the game media and local game media in the group shared game media storage area, and can further enhance the convenience of group sharing

  According to the game medium management system of claim 7, the group generation means sets rank information ranked in two or more categories for members belonging to the group, and the automatic sharing activation means Since the automatic sharing is executed only when the in-group rank for the input information recording medium satisfies a predetermined automatic sharing permission condition, the information recording medium input to the game medium lending device When the rank within the group satisfies the automatic sharing permission condition, that is, only the person who is particularly trusted among the group members can automatically share, while safely managing the group shared gaming media storage area, The convenience of automatic sharing can be realized.

It is a schematic block diagram of the game media rental system introduced into the game hall. It is a conceptual diagram of the sharing form using a group shared possession account. It is an image figure of the panel displayed when performing check-in operation with a check-in terminal device. It is a flowchart which shows the check-in process which a check-in terminal device performs. It is a flowchart which shows a group participation qualification authentication process. It is a flowchart which shows a store closing process. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the game media rental apparatus which can share a joke group. (A1) to (a5) are transition diagrams of display contents displayed on the touch liquid crystal display unit when the shared holding ball is withdrawn, and (b1) to (b5) transfer the shared holding ball. It is a transition diagram of the display content sometimes displayed on a touch liquid crystal display part. It is a flowchart which shows the front | former stage of a creation process for every group. It is a flowchart which shows the back | latter stage of a creation process for every group. It is an image figure of the panel displayed on the touch liquid crystal display part of a game media rental apparatus, when a shared holding ball withdrawal request is received. It is a functional block diagram which shows schematic structure of the game media rental apparatus which can share a group shared possession account automatically. It is an image figure of the panel displayed on the touch liquid crystal display part of a game media rental apparatus in the process which cancels | releases after setting a group shared possession account to automatic sharing and performing a game.

  Next, an embodiment of the game medium management system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied to a game hall in which a game machine using a game ball as a game medium is installed. However, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a slot type game machine using a medal is set as a game medium. is there.

  FIG. 1 is an essential configuration in a game arcade shown with a focus on a game media management system. A plurality of game machines 100 installed in the game arcade, game media lending devices 200 provided corresponding to the game machines 100, These game machines 100 and game medium lending device 200 game medium lending device 200 has a game medium counting unit provided to a player's possession ball (a game ball that can be used for a game of game machine 100, acquired balls and game media acquired in the game) The ball box unit 300 for introducing the lending balls borrowed from the lending device 200), the hall computer 400 for collecting and managing various information of the game hall, and the game medium lending device 200 Information recording medium C (member card given to a player registered as a member of the game hall, prepaid card or IC card with a value equivalent to money recorded) A prepaid system management computer 500 that manages usage history, purchase history, etc. of a game store that has been given a card ID that is unique identification information in the game store, and a game acquired by a member of the game store at the game store A group management server 600 including the function of a customer management computer that manages the stored balls in which the balls are deposited, a check-in terminal device 700 that is a terminal device for a plurality of players to perform group registration (detailed later), etc. The game media management system in the hall is realized by connecting the devices via the LAN in the hall and linking the devices.

  The gaming machine 100 plays a game ball from a game board (not shown) through which the player can see the glass through the glass of the glass frame 110. When the game machine 100 wins various winning holes provided on the game board, the game machine 100 is predetermined. A number of prize balls are discharged and introduced into the upper plate 120. When a large amount of balls accumulate in the upper plate 120 and overflow, the prize balls are guided to the lower plate 130 provided in the lower part of the upper plate 120 and accumulated in the lower plate 130. A ball discharge port is provided at the bottom of the lower plate 130, and the ball discharge port can be opened by operating the discharge switch 131, and the balls accumulated in the lower plate 130 are transferred to the ball box unit 300. Can do. The game balls stored in the upper plate 120 are guided to a predetermined launch position and stand by, and when the player turns the operation handle 140, the launching device (not shown) is driven. A game ball is fired to one of the bullets in response to. When the operation handle 140 returns to the initial position, the launching device stops and the firing is stopped.

  The game medium lending device 200 lends game balls according to the amount of money to be inserted and the value of consumption when a bill or information recording medium C is inserted from the money insertion slot 201 or the information recording medium insertion / extraction slot 202. A touch liquid crystal display unit 203 is provided on the front surface of the game medium lending device 200 to display the amount of money inserted and value information of the information recording medium C, or to rent game balls at a desired timing by a panel operation of the player. You can also receive it. It is also possible to provide a remote control light receiving unit 204 that receives a signal (for example, infrared light) from a remote controller possessed by a game shop clerk or the like, and the game shop clerk or the like can issue an operation command to the game medium lending device 200 with the remote control. .

  Since the game medium lending device 200 has a function as a CR unit and a function as a CR game machine of the corresponding gaming machine 100, the gaming machine 100 and the game medium lending device 200 are related to ball lending. The game balls for lending can be discharged from the prize ball discharge device of the gaming machine 100 by exchanging signals, or the game medium payout unit provided in the game medium rental device 200 is operated, The game medium can also be discharged from the ball discharge nozzle 205 adjusted so that the discharge port is located above.

  In addition, the game medium lending device 200 includes a game medium counting unit at a lower portion thereof, and the balls stored in the ball storage unit 301 of the ball box unit 300 are supplied from the ball path in the ball guiding unit 310. When the player's operation or the command signal from the game medium lending device 200 is instructed to count the number of held balls, the game medium counting unit for counting the number of balls detects one held ball, and the game medium lending device 200 The counting of the possession balls and recording on the information recording medium C are performed. The counted balls are further flowed downstream and discharged from the ball discharge path 202.

  Normally, if one player has one information recording medium C, the game medium lending device 200 and the ball box unit 300 are used in addition to the amount charge and ball lending operation performed by inserting the information into the game medium lending device 200. Since it is possible to count the number of possessed balls and manage their data (such as paying out and depositing retained balls), it is possible to play a game in any gaming machine 100 using the information recording medium C. However, since the information recording medium C is owned by each person, when the game medium on the data recorded on the information recording medium C is shared with friends, it is not easy to use.

  Therefore, in the game medium management system according to the present embodiment, if the members of the group sharing the game medium are registered in advance using the check-in terminal device 700, there is a storage area for holding balls that can be shared by the group. It was generated and managed by the group management server 600, and it was made possible to contribute to share the possession balls possessed by the group members, or conversely, to draw out the common possession balls.

  Then, the game medium management system that realizes sharing of the game medium through the shared game medium storage area allows the group management server 600 and the check-in terminal device 700 to collaborate with each other. Group generating means for generating a shared game medium storage area for registering as a group by associating the identification information of the information recording medium and the group identification information and storing game media that can be shared by players belonging to the group as data ” The group management server 600 collaborates with the check-in terminal device 700 or the game medium lending device 200 operated by the player and the group management server 600 to “shares stored in the generated shared game medium storage area for each group” When managing game media data and receiving a game media transfer request from a player belonging to a group When a transfer process is performed to increase the number of shared game media in the shared game medium storage area by reducing the number of game media on the data held by the requester, and when a game media withdrawal request from a player belonging to the group is accepted, the shared game media The shared game medium management means for performing a withdrawal process of subtracting the shared game media from the storage area and giving the requester the game medium on the data, and in a group via the shared game medium storage area The game media sharing can be efficiently realized, and the system becomes highly convenient.

  In addition, a service that can be managed permanently at an amusement store may be provided without sharing the possession balls by the group temporarily, such as only on the day when a group player visits the store. For example, when multiple members register for membership, registering them permanently as the same group through store operations creates a group that maintains membership as a permanent regular group. For example, if a player who belongs to a regular group is playing with that membership card even at a later date, the group shared money will be withdrawn via the regular group shared money account set at the time of membership registration. Transfer is possible. Therefore, when a certain number of members decide to come to the store, it is possible to save the trouble of performing group registration each time, which is highly convenient for the player and can contribute to attracting customers of the group. Note that affiliation to a regular group can be managed separately from the temporary group registered from the check-in terminal device 700 by the group management server 600 storing it as customer management information of the amusement shop members. It is possible to easily apply management conditions different from those of a normal group (for example, not subject to daily dissolution).

  In describing the game media management system that enables sharing of game media, in the following, a shared bank account is created by a plurality of people, and each person can individually carry in and out with a shared account cash card. Compared with the image, the shared game media storage area is called “Group Shared Mototama Account”, the transfer of game media to the shared game media storage area is “transfer”, and the removal of game media from the shared game media is called “withdrawal”. I will call it.

  The sharing form using the group shared possession account is as shown in FIG. 2, and the group management server 600 generates a group shared possession account for each group that can be identified by the group identification information (group ID). Each group shared possession account is associated with the identification information (card ID) of the information recording medium possessed by the players constituting the group, so that the player who can use the group shared possession account (the possession of the information recording medium C) Person).

  For example, if a player who has a card ID: 0001 makes a transfer request or a withdrawal request when an information recording medium C is inserted into the game medium lending device A and a game is played on the gaming machine 100A, In the received group management server 600, it can be seen that the card ID: 0001 belongs to the group 001, so that the process according to the request can be performed with reference to the group shared possession account 1.

  In addition, when a player who possesses the card ID: 0002 makes a transfer request or a withdrawal request while inserting the information recording medium C into the game medium lending device B and playing a game on the gaming machine 100B, The received group management server 600 knows that the card ID: 0002 belongs to both the group 001 and the group 002. First, selectable account candidates are displayed via the touch liquid crystal display unit 203 of the game medium lending device 200. Present and refer to the group shared possession account selected by the player and perform processing according to the request. In this way, the group ID and card ID can be used as unique identification information in the game store, so if a group ID and a card ID are linked to manage the belonging group, one player can be assigned to a plurality of groups. Even if they belong, they can be managed without problems.

  That is, the group generation means has a function of “presenting an existing group in which a shared game medium storage area has already been generated and belonging to the existing group in response to a request from a player having the information recording medium” This makes it possible to join the group later, making it even more convenient. FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen displayed on the touch panel 701 when a check-in operation is performed on the check-in terminal device 700. For the card ID of the information recording medium C input to the check-in terminal device 700, FIG. A plurality of selectable groups are displayed, and the group to which the player possessing the card can freely select his / her belonging group, or a new group can be created without selecting from existing groups.

  In addition, if the management content of the group shared possession account managed by the group management server 600 includes at least the card ID of the group member and the number of possessed balls transferred as a sharing target, other information is combined. You may make it manage. For example, the card ID is stored separately for the parent card and the child card so that the member having the management authority within the group (group disbanding right, permission to withdraw the shared money, etc.) and other members can be distinguished. You may make it leave. In order to register as a parent card, the information recording medium C is a membership card or requires the approval of other members as appropriate. As with pachinko and 10-yen slots, the game media lending rate may differ, and if the information recording medium C manages the number of possessions for each rate, the group management server 600 also creates a group shared possession account. You may make it manage by dividing for every rate.

  Next, a check-in process performed by the check-in terminal device 600 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  First, it is determined whether or not a group ID operation for making a check-in request to a new group or an existing group has been performed (step S101). If a group ID operation has been performed, this is determined by the group check-in button. It is determined whether or not the button has been pressed (step S102). If the group check-in button has been pressed, it is determined whether or not it is a creation of a new group (step S103).

  If it is determined in step S103 that the request is for creating a new group, the group management server 600 is requested to assign a new group ID (step S104). Based on this new group ID assignment request, the group management server 600 A new group ID is assigned and a group shared money account is opened, and this is notified to the check-in terminal device 700 (step S105). On the other hand, when it is determined in step S103 that the request is not a request for creating a new group, the group management server 600 is inquired about a group ID that can participate (step S106), and the reception of the corresponding group ID from the group management server is awaited.

  Then, when a new group ID or an existing group ID that can participate is received from the group management server 600 (step S107), the group ID is presented and an operation by the player (for example, an input operation of the information recording medium C) is performed. Wait (step S107). Subsequently, it is determined whether or not a check-in end operation has been performed by the player (step S109). If the check-in end operation has been performed, the check-in process up to that point is cleared and the step is repeated. Repeat from S101. On the other hand, if the check-in end operation by the player is not kicked, it is determined whether or not the information recording medium C has been inserted (step S110), and it is determined that the check-in operation by the insertion of the information recording medium C has been performed. Then, based on the card ID of the information recording medium C, a group participation qualification authentication process is performed to determine whether participation in the group is permitted (step S111).

  The details of the group participation qualification authentication process performed in step S111 of this check-in process are shown in FIG. 5, and the group management server that reads the card ID of the information recording medium C to be checked-in and has the function of a member management server An inquiry is made to 600 (step S201), and it is determined from the answer whether the card is valid (step S202). If the group management server 600 receives invalid information that the card has already expired or is not a membership card issued at the amusement store, the inserted information recording medium C is determined to be an invalid card. Authentication NG (step S203).

  On the other hand, if it is determined that the inserted information recording medium C is a valid card, it is determined whether or not a password is required to be used when using the card (step S204), and it is necessary to input the password. For example, a screen prompting the input of a personal identification number is displayed on the touch panel 701 (step S205). When the personal identification number is input, whether the personal identification number is appropriate or not is determined based on whether or not it matches the personal identification number received from the group management server 600. If it is determined (step S206) and the personal identification number is incorrect, it is determined that the information recording medium C is not being used by a legitimate holder, and authentication NG is determined.

  Even if you are an authorized owner of the information recording medium C, if you accidentally enter your password incorrectly, you will have to restart the check-in process from the beginning. It may be a process that prompts re-input of a password so as to allow up to a predetermined number of times (for example, twice).

  If it is determined that the password entered in step S206 is proper, the group server authentication is OK and the management server 600 is instructed to register the card ID of the information recording medium C in the group (step S206). S207). Further, the user is prompted to select whether to set the information recording medium C as a parent card (step S208), and the selection result of the parent card or the child card is included in the group registration information.

  When the group participation qualification authentication processing step S111 described above is performed, a registration completion notification or authentication NG notification corresponding to the authentication result is received from the group management server 600 (step S112), and whether or not the final authentication result is OK. Determination is made (step S113). If the authentication result is OK, the information recording medium C after group check-in is returned, and if the authentication result is NG, check-in disabled display is performed and the information recording medium C is returned.

  Subsequently, it becomes the closing time of the amusement hall, and it is determined whether or not a store closing command is received from the hall computer 400 (step S116). If the store closing command is not received, the check-in processing from step S101 is continued again. However, if a store closing command has been received, a store closing process is performed (step S117).

  Details of the store closing process performed in step S117 of this check-in process are shown in FIG. 6. First, the group management server 600 is searched for a group having an unsettled group shared possession ball (step S301), and the group management server Based on the answer from 600, the presence / absence of the corresponding group is determined (step S302), and if there is no unsettled group remaining in the group shared possession, the process ends.

  However, if there is a group that has not settled the group shared money (for example, if the group has been dissolved and has already left the store), the member card of the group is not a member card. It is determined whether or not there is a player registered in (Step S303), and if there is a member card holder, the remaining group shared possession balls are equally divided among all the member card holders, or the parent card or child Depending on the type of card, the distribution number for each member is determined (step S304), and the group management server 600 is instructed to transfer it to the savings account given to the member (step S305). In addition, since the group shared possession balls cannot be distributed to the non-members, the group management server 600 is configured so that the group shared possession balls of the group constituted only by the non-members is cleared to 0 and the group is dissolved. To instruct. Note that this closing process may be performed entirely by the group management server 600 without the check-in terminal device 700 being interposed.

  In this way, the check-in terminal device 700 and the group management server 600 cooperate to “delet the shared game medium storage area of the group based on the establishment of a predetermined group dissolution condition and If the shared game medium remains in the storage area, it can be managed by the shared game medium management means if it functions as a “group dissolution means for disposing of the shared game media based on a predetermined shared game medium disposal procedure” It is possible to prevent the group from increasing without limit.

  In addition, although the group dissolution conditions are not particularly limited, if the group is dissolved at each store closing as in this embodiment, management at the amusement store is easy. However, this group dissolution condition does not apply to permanent regular groups established at the time of membership registration, and as with registration, procedures for withdrawing from a group are not required unless it depends on the operation of the game shop clerk. By disabling the regular group dissolution procedure, the regular group can be kept permanent.

  In addition, the shared game media disposal procedure for disposing of the group shared game media remaining unsettled is not particularly limited, but rather than clearing the unsettled shared game media uniformly to zero, If the process of transferring as a storage ball is performed, it is effective in that troubles between the member and the amusement shop can be avoided.

  The check-in terminal device 700 is provided with a function for the member of the group generated / resolved as described above to transfer or withdraw the group shared ball, and the group member can check-in the terminal as necessary. You may make a transfer / withdrawal to the device 700, or you may rent a portable small terminal for using a group shared possession account from an amusement store. It is assumed that the game medium lending device 200 is provided with both functions of transfer to a shared money account and withdrawal from a group shared money account. Hereinafter, the game medium lending device 200 will be described in detail.

  FIG. 7 shows a schematic configuration of the gaming machine 100 and the game medium lending device 200. The lending interface board 206 of the game medium lending device 200 and the game medium lending device connection terminal plate 101 of the gaming machine 100 are connected to each other by a PIF cable (illustrated). And the gaming machine lending device 200 is connected to the gaming machine lending device 200 with a gaming machine connection confirmation signal (PSI), a gaming machine preparation status signal (PRDY), a gaming machine lending completion signal (EXS), a lending button switch signal, etc. Is transmitted to the gaming machine 100 from the gaming medium lending device 200, a lending device preparation status signal (BRDY) and a lending device lending request signal (BRQ) are transmitted, and appropriate gaming medium lending is performed while mutually checking the status. Control is executed.

  In addition, on the front side of the gaming machine 100, a lending button that a player operates to request lending of a game ball, a lendable lamp that is lit and displayed when the lending button is operable, a game medium lending There is provided a return button or the like for discharging the information recording medium (prepaid card / coin, membership card, etc.) inserted into the device 200, and a main control device that performs the main control of the ball game on the back side of the gaming machine 100, A sub-control device that controls the operation of the production surface such as display control and sound control, a launch control device that controls the launch operation of the game ball, a game ball discharge device that discharges the game ball as a prize and the game ball for lending, this game A discharge control device or the like that controls the discharge of the game ball with respect to the ball discharge device is provided, and a number of game balls according to the rental request from the game medium rental device 200 are discharged from the gaming machine 100 to play a game It is lent to.

  In addition, from the external output terminal plate 207 of the game medium lending device 200, information recording medium C (a prepaid card in which valuable value information that can be used for lending game media is recorded as sales information related to value addition and value consumption) , A prepaid coin with a built-in IC, a membership card, etc.), a sales signal indicating sales information consisting of new issuance and value addition to the issued information recording medium C, and valuable value was consumed by executing game media lending A consumption signal indicating consumption information (for example, consumption frequency or amount of money consumed), a replay signal indicating replay information indicating the use of the storage balls deposited in the amusement store, and the like are output via the hall control relay board 800. To the hall computer 400. In addition, an error signal for reporting an error occurring in the game medium lending device 200 is also transmitted to the hall computer 400 via the hall control relay board 800.

  From the external output terminal board 102 of the gaming machine 100, a prize ball signal, a fraud detection signal, a start prize signal, a symbol stop signal, a big hit signal, a prize ball signal, an out signal, and the like are output, and via the hall control relay board 800 It is transmitted to the hall computer 400.

  The game medium lending device 200 has a function for controlling the lending control of game media and a function for collecting and storing various sales information. In addition, as shown in FIG. A currency identification unit 211 that identifies the face value and authenticity of the currency M, a value medium R / W unit 212 that reads and rewrites information from the information recording medium C inserted from the information recording medium insertion / extraction port 202, and a touch liquid crystal display unit 203 And a display / operation control unit 213 for controlling input and display from the remote control light receiving unit 204, a lending interface signal control unit 214 for controlling signal exchange with the gaming machine 100 via the lending interface board 206, and an external output terminal plate 207. External pulse generation means 215 for generating a pulse to be output to the outside via the communication line, and a higher-level management computer (for example, a program) An external communication means 216 for communicating with the pay system management computer 700 and the group management server 600), a machine number storage means 217 for storing a machine number set as unique information of the game medium lending device 200, and a gaming machine 100 The game medium counting unit 218 that counts and accumulates the balls that are extracted from the tray 130 and supplied from the ball box unit 300 and stores the accumulated balls, and the game media counting unit 218 counts and writes the information to the information recording medium C. A game medium payout unit 219 for paying out a game ball from the ball discharge nozzle 205 to the upper plate 120 using the ball information is provided.

  Furthermore, the game medium lending device 200 has a recording medium ID holding unit 220 that holds a card ID that is identification information of the information recording medium C that has been inserted, and a card ID that is stored in the recording medium ID holding unit 220. A group ID that holds a group ID (all IDs if belonging to a plurality of groups), which is identification information of the belonging group notified from the group management server 600 when there is a linked group Holding means 221 is provided.

  Then, the game medium lending device 200 uses the card ID and group held in the recording medium ID holding means 220 and the group ID holding means 221 in response to a transfer request or withdrawal request made by the player using the touch liquid crystal display unit 203. Using the ID, a message for a transfer request and a withdrawal request to the group management server 600 is generated and transmitted.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the display transition state of the touch liquid crystal display unit 203 operated when the player makes a transfer request and a withdrawal request.

  For example, when the group member A, who has run out of remaining balls, withdraws the group shared ball from the group shared ball account, when the “Group” button at the bottom of the normal display (see FIG. 8 (a1)) is pressed, The display switches to the group selection display (see FIG. 8A2). At this time, all group IDs held in the group ID holding means 221 are presented as selection candidates to prompt the player to select. In addition to displaying the group ID, if the current group shared possession number is acquired and displayed from the group management server, it becomes important information for the player to select a group.

  When the player selects the group ID 001 as the group to be withdrawn, a screen (FIG. 8 (a3)) for selecting whether to transfer to the group shared money account or withdraw from the group shared money account by specifying the number of balls to be moved is displayed. Display). If there is only one group, the transfer or withdrawal selection screen may be displayed without performing group selection display. Then, if 1000 balls out of 10,000 shared balls are selected from the group shared ball account, an update screen (see FIG. 8 (a4)) after the withdrawal process is completed is displayed. Is reduced to 9000, and it can be confirmed that his own possession increased by 1000 balls. When the withdrawal request is completed, the “return” button at the bottom of the display screen is pressed to return to the normal screen (see FIG. 8 (a5)).

  When a plurality of members registered in the same group make a withdrawal request almost at the same time, the group management server 600 processes the requests in the order received. For this reason, there may be cases where there are not enough group-owned balls remaining to satisfy the withdrawal request of the post-processed member, so it is recommended that a withdrawal request based on the number of remaining balls be prompted again or unreserved It is desirable that the number is withdrawn at once or a remaining processing method is set in advance.

  Conversely, when group member B who has plenty of money and has enough money to transfer the group shared money to the group shared money account, the “Group” button at the bottom of the normal display (see FIG. 8 (b1)) When is pressed, the screen is switched to the group selection display (see FIG. 8B2). At this time, all group IDs held in the group ID holding means 221 are presented as selection candidates to prompt the player to select. In this case, not only the display of the group ID but also if the current group share possession number is acquired and displayed from the group management server, it becomes important information for the player to select the group, and the group share ownership of the group ID 001 is obtained. It can be seen that the ball account has decreased from 10,000 balls to 9000 balls.

  When the player selects the group ID 001 as the group to be transferred, the screen (FIG. 8 (b3)) is selected to specify whether the number of balls to be transferred is to be transferred to the group shared holding account or withdrawn from the group shared holding account. Display). If there is only one group, the transfer or withdrawal selection screen may be displayed without performing group selection display. Then, if you choose to transfer 1000 balls to the group shared holding account with 9000 shared balls remaining, the update screen (see Fig. 8 (b4)) after the transfer process is completed will be displayed. It can be confirmed that the number of balls has increased to 10,000, and the number of balls he own has decreased by 1000 balls. When the transfer request is completed, the “return” button at the bottom of the display screen is pressed to return to the normal screen (see FIG. 8 (b5)).

  As described above, when the group member B transfers the number of balls that the group member A has withdrawn to return the remaining number of the group shared possession account to a predetermined number, It can be used in the same way as splitting a ball that has been stored in a dollar box and passing it to an acquaintance. In other words, the check-in terminal device 700 does not create a group for sharing the ball in advance, but if necessary, the game medium lending device 200 is operated to create a group each time and deliver the ball in the group. If there is a group shared money account operation (created for each group) that cancels the group when the account becomes zero, it is possible for a player who brought in a store with several people to interchange their possessions with each other It becomes easy.

  In order to do so, the game medium lending device 200 and the group management server 600 cooperate to perform “group registration based on a shared game medium transfer request made by a player who does not belong to the group, Realize the function as the "group generation means for generating a shared game medium storage area", and easily create a group shared possession as needed without having to create a group shared possession account in advance by group registration An account was created to enable group sharing. Note that the game medium lending device 200 has information recordings possessed by other members constituting the group in addition to the host card insertion slot into which the information recording medium C of the player who is playing the game machine 100 is inserted. A guest card slot for inserting a medium is provided in advance.

  9 and 10 show the creation process for each group. First, it is determined whether there is a group generation request from the touch liquid crystal display unit 203 (step S401). If there is a group generation request, the group management server 600 is requested to assign a group ID, and the assigned group is requested. After receiving the ID, the group ID is displayed on the touch liquid crystal display unit 203 to notify the player (step S402). Subsequently, a group participation qualification authentication process similar to that described above is performed (step S403). If the authentication is OK, the inserted card (information recording medium C inserted into the host card slot) is assigned to the group. Registration is performed (step S405). Subsequently, the member who is the host sets the number of shared money transfers (step S406), and requests the shared money transfer process (step S407), so that the group management server 600 stores the group shared money transfer account. Mochitama enters.

  After the coin is transferred to the group shared possession account of the group newly generated as described above, a card to be additionally registered in this group is inserted into the guest card slot (step S408), and this information record is recorded. Group participation qualification authentication processing is performed based on the card ID of the medium C (step S409). If the authentication is OK, the guest card (information recording medium C inserted from the guest card slot) is registered in the group (step S409). S411). Then, by setting the number of balls to be distributed and transmitting to the group management server 600, the group shared ball is withdrawn from the group shared ball account to the guest card registered in the group (step S412), and when this withdrawal is completed, the guest card The guest card inserted from the insertion slot is discharged (step S413).

  After sharing the host card holder's possession to the guest card holder as described above, it is determined whether the group shared possession account has become zero (step S414), and if not yet zero, Returning to step S408, the user is prompted to insert the next guest card. That is, by registering a plurality of guests to a group created by a player playing a game in the game medium lending apparatus 200 that performs the creation process for each group, a plurality of acquaintances can be given their possession. It can be done.

  On the other hand, when it is determined in step S414 that the group shared possession account has become zero, the game medium lending apparatus 200 that performs the creation process for each group by instructing the group management server 600 to dissolve the group. The group generated at the request of the player who is playing the game is automatically dissolved, and the creation process is completed for each group. That is, in the creation process for each group, in order to distribute the possession ball of the host card to the guest card, a group shared possession account is temporarily created, and if that purpose is achieved (withdrawal of the possession ball) If the group shared money account returns to zero), the group is automatically dissolved, so that it is possible to save the trouble of the host card holder from carrying out the group dissolution procedure and to improve the convenience.

  The process of registering with the host card and withdrawing from the group shared possession account with the guest card may be performed by another gaming machine medium lending device 200. In such a case, as in the case of making a withdrawal request to an ordinary group shared possession account, it is only necessary to perform group participation qualification authentication so that the number of withdrawal balls can be arbitrarily set. When a ball account is returned to zero, the group is automatically disbanded from a normal group.

  In addition, when creating a group shared possession account such as the parent card or the host card described above, when the group shared possession management authority is set, every time there is a request for withdrawal of the shared possession ball from the group member, A display as shown in FIG. 11 is displayed on the touch liquid crystal display unit 203 of the game medium lending device 200 in which the card is inserted to prompt the selection of permission / rejection, thereby determining whether or not a withdrawal request from the group member is permitted. May be. That is, the shared game medium management means realized by the cooperation of the game medium lending device 200 and the group management server 600 is “when a game medium withdrawal request from a player belonging to a group is received, If it has the function of `` do not execute shared game media withdrawal processing until withdrawal permission is obtained from the owner of the information recording medium registered as an authorized person '', the shared gaming media management authority within the group will Therefore, it is possible to grasp the remaining situation of the shared game media and appropriately manage the sharing of the game media in the group.

  In the above-described game medium management system, the group management server 600 manages the transfer and withdrawal to the group shared possession account by the group management, and each player must make the transfer request and withdrawal request by himself / herself. In addition, it is somewhat inconvenient because it cannot handle the local holding balls in the group shared holding account and the local holding balls in the same way. Therefore, in the game medium lending apparatus 200 ′ shown in FIG. 12, when a player who has an information recording medium C with a card ID satisfying a preset automatic sharing condition plays a game, the game medium used for the game has group sharing. It was automatically withdrawn from the ball account, and the game media earned by the game were automatically transferred to the group shared ball account. In FIG. 12, the same components as those in FIG.

  In such a case, the members assigned to the group are ranked at the time of group registration (for example, rank 1 and rank 2), and only members set to a certain rank or higher (for example, family members set to rank 1). Can automatically share a group shared money account, so that members less than a certain rank (for example, general group members set to rank 2) are not allowed to share a group shared money account automatically. As a result, flexible management and operation according to group members becomes possible.

  Therefore, in-game rank lending device 200 ′ is provided with in-group rank holding means 212, and the in-group rank stored in the read information recording medium C is stored here, and the in-group rank is an automatic sharing permission condition. If the rank satisfies the condition, as shown in FIG. 13A, an automatic sharing button is displayed on the touch liquid crystal display unit 203 to allow the player to select on / off of automatic sharing. Here, if the player does not press the automatic sharing button, the withdrawal or transfer from the group shared possession account is not automated, and the game in the gaming machine 100 is performed using the local possession ball. If you do not follow the procedure, you can not withdraw or transfer from the group shared money account.

  On the other hand, when the player presses the automatic sharing button, the automatic sharing activation means 223 automatically performs withdrawal and transfer from the group shared holding account, so that all local holding balls are transferred to the group shared holding account. When the player presses the designated payout button, the specified number of payouts (for example, 25) is automatically withdrawn from the group shared possession account, so that the gaming machine 100 is like a local possession ball. Can be used (see FIG. 13B). Then, when ending the game on the gaming machine 100, by operating the release button, the group shared possession account is separated, and the local possession ball is returned (see FIG. 13C). When sharing is canceled, if there are more group shared balls than local balls at the start of sharing, cancel the group sharing after returning to the same number as when sharing started. Alternatively, the player may be allowed to decide whether or not to return the ball to the local.

  In this way, in the game medium lending device 200, “when there is a local game medium capable of playing a game on a gaming machine, a game medium transfer request is automatically made to the shared game medium storage area of the group to which the input information recording medium belongs, When local game media for gaming on a gaming machine is required, automatic sharing activation means for automatically requesting withdrawal of game media from the shared game media storage area is provided to enable automatic sharing of group shared possession accounts Then, the game media lending device 200 automatically transfers or withdraws money to the group shared money account on behalf of the player, so that the player is aware of the money in the group shared money account and the local money. It can be used for games without doing so, and the convenience of group sharing can be further enhanced. In addition, the automatic sharing activation unit 223 executes automatic sharing only when the intra-group rank for the input information recording medium C satisfies a predetermined automatic sharing permission condition (for example, rank 1). If the restriction is imposed on, the automatic sharing can be permitted only to those who are trusted as family members, and the convenience of automatic sharing can be realized while managing the group shared possession account safely.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of the game media rental apparatus based on this invention was described based on the accompanying drawing, the inclusion range of this invention is not limited to this embodiment, and can transfer a well-known existing method suitably. It does not matter if it is realized.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Game machine 200 Game media rental apparatus 300 Ball box unit 500 Prepaid system management computer 600 Group management server 700 Check-in terminal device C Information recording medium

Claims (7)

A game medium management system capable of managing game media used for games in a game machine installed in a game hall as data and renting the game media to a player using an information recording medium provided with unique identification information In
A shared game medium in which a player who possesses an information recording medium is registered as a group by associating the identification information of the information recording medium with the group identification information, and game media that can be shared by players belonging to the group are stored as data A group generation means for generating a storage area;
Manages the data of the shared game media stored in the generated shared game media storage area for each group, and when receiving a game media transfer request from a player belonging to the group, the data on the data possessed by the requester Transfer processing to increase the number of shared game media in the shared game media storage area by reducing the game media, and when a game media withdrawal request from a player belonging to the group is accepted, the number of shared game media is reduced from the shared game media storage area A shared game medium management means for performing a withdrawal process for giving a game medium on data to the requester;
A game medium management system comprising:   The group generation means presents an existing group in which a shared game medium storage area has already been generated, and is made to belong to an existing group in response to a request from a player who possesses an information recording medium. The game medium management system according to claim 1.   The group generation means performs group registration based on a shared game medium transfer request made by a player who does not belong to a group, and generates a shared game medium storage area. The game media management system according to claim 1 or 2.   Based on the establishment of a predetermined group dissolution condition, if the shared game medium storage area of the group is erased and the shared game medium remains in the shared game medium storage area, a predetermined shared game medium disposal procedure The game media management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising group dissolution means for disposing of the shared game media based on the game.   When the shared game medium management means receives a game medium withdrawal request from a player belonging to a group, the shared game medium management means obtains a withdrawal permission from the owner of the information recording medium registered in advance as a shared game medium management authority The game media management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the shared game media withdrawal process is not executed. Including a game medium lending device that accepts an information recording medium provided with unique identification information, adds value information that can be rented out of the game medium, or rents the game medium by consuming the value information;
When there is a local game medium that can be played on a gaming machine, the gaming medium lending device automatically issues a gaming medium transfer request to the shared gaming medium storage area of the group to which the input information recording medium belongs. 6. The system according to claim 1, further comprising automatic sharing activation means for automatically requesting withdrawal of a game medium from a shared game medium storage area when a local game medium for playing a game is required. The game media management system described in 1. The group generation means sets rank information ranked in two or more categories for members belonging to the group,
7. The automatic sharing enabling means executes automatic sharing only when the intra-group rank for the input information recording medium satisfies a predetermined automatic sharing permission condition. The game media management system described in 1.

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