JP2013070842A - Game unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game unit for executing a predetermined informing performance corresponding to an investment amount invested in the game machine until a winning state, such as a jackpot and a bonus, results during the winning state, and for executing a predetermined informing performance corresponding to the number of successive winning times in a game state except the winning state of the game machine.SOLUTION: The number of loaded game media and the number of put-out game media are totaled each for each reception of a loading signal and a put-out signal. When a difference obtained by subtracting a cumulative total value of the number of put-out game media from a cumulative total value of the number of loaded game media becomes not less than the number of lending units for indicating the number of lendable game media per predetermined unit price (S4), the unit price is added to the investment amount for storage (S5), and notification is performed while following a notification pattern (S14) corresponding to the investment amount (S12) in reception of the winning signal for indicating transition of a game state from a game state, where the game funds are spent, to the winning state.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus provided with notifying means for notifying predetermined information related to a gaming machine provided side by side, and more particularly, to a gaming apparatus for notifying gaming funds that have been invested before winning a big hit or bonus.

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a gaming apparatus is known that is provided with a gaming machine such as a slot machine or a pachinko machine and includes a notification unit that notifies predetermined information about the gaming machine.
As such a gaming device, it is disposed above the gaming machine, and includes a notification means such as a display means such as an LED or a liquid crystal display, a sound output means for emitting a sound or a sound effect from a speaker, and the notification means. By driving, the hit state of the gaming machine such as a big hit or a bonus is notified in a predetermined manner (for example, blinking of the LED), the number of occurrences of the hit state and the number of games spent until the hit state is determined (For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, the gaming device described in Patent Document 2 is in a continuous chain state in which the winning of the bonus is continuous when the number of games between the end of the bonus at the slot machine and the generation of the next bonus is within a predetermined number of times. It is determined that there is, and the time from the start to the end of the continuous state is measured, and the number of continuous changes and the continuous time are displayed on a predetermined display means.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-1555056 JP 2001-340617 A

By the way, the players are competing to compete with each other in order to quickly generate a big hit or a bonus hit (hereinafter simply referred to as “hit”) with a small investment.
Because of this kind of competitiveness, how much game money is spent per game is the most important concern for the players around.
However, in the gaming apparatus that determines a hit within a predetermined number of games as described above as a continuous game, although the number of games spent from the previous hit to the current hit can be known, the investment invested to the hit I could not know the amount.

In particular, the investment amount invested to the point varies depending on the characteristics of the gaming machine. For example, a gaming machine with a low base (ratio of the number of payouts to the number of game media input) invests per game. Since gaming machines with a high base and a high base have a small investment amount per game, it has been difficult to estimate the investment amount from the number of games to the winning.
Also, since the number of games spent from the previous hit to this hit is the number of games that are not reset even if the player is changed during that time, the number of games spent until each hit is not calculated. Moreover, there was no way to know from the outside how much money each individual invested.

  In addition, a game effect performed by a conventional gaming device, and in particular, a decoration effect that blinks a lamp such as an LED is usually performed during a hit state, and in such a game state other than during the hit state. There has been no suggestion of a gaming device for performing a decorative decoration.

  The present invention has been proposed to solve such a conventional problem, and performs a predetermined notification effect corresponding to the investment amount invested in the gaming machine until the winning state is reached during the winning state of the gaming machine. In addition, an object is to provide a gaming apparatus that performs a predetermined notification effect corresponding to the number of consecutive hits in a gaming state other than during the winning state of the gaming machine.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a gaming machine that reaches a predetermined winning state through a gaming state in which gaming funds are invested, and has a notifying means for notifying predetermined information about the gaming machine. A calculating means for calculating an investment amount up to the hit state;
A storage for storing a predetermined number of lending units indicating the number of game media that can be lent per predetermined unit price, an investment amount calculated by the calculation unit, and a predetermined notification pattern corresponding to the investment amount performed by the notification unit in the hit state Means, an input signal indicating the number of game media input to the gaming machine, a payout signal indicating the number of game media paid out from the gaming machine, and a gaming state in which the gaming funds are thrown Receiving means for receiving a hit signal indicating a transition of the gaming state to a winning state, as the game of the gaming machine progresses, and the calculating means includes a cumulative value of the payout number from a cumulative value of the input number. When the difference obtained by subtracting the value is equal to or greater than the number of lending units, the unit price is added to the investment amount, the storage unit updates and stores the investment amount to which the unit price is added, and the notification unit includes: There a structure to perform a notification in accordance with the notification pattern corresponding to the amount invested for storing in the storage means at the time it receives the serial per signal.

  According to the gaming device of the present invention, the predetermined notification effect corresponding to the investment amount invested in the gaming machine until the hit of the big hit or bonus is performed during the hit state of the gaming machine, and the continuous number of hits is supported. By performing the predetermined notification effect to be performed in a gaming state other than during the hit state of the gaming machine, the investment amount and the number of consecutive hits can be identified from the notification effect.

It is the schematic which shows typically the whole game system containing a game device. It is a block diagram which shows the kind of data transmitted / received in a game system. It is a figure which shows the external appearance of a game device, (a) is a front view of a part of game device, (a) is a perspective view of a part of game device. It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of a game device. It is a flowchart which shows the investment amount determination process performed in a control part. It is a flowchart which shows the continuous hit determination process performed in a control part. (A) is a flowchart showing the light output pattern setting process executed in the control unit, (b) is a chart showing the relationship between the investment amount and the light output pattern, (c) ) Is a chart showing the relationship between the number of consecutive hits and the light output pattern. The sound output pattern is shown, (a) is a flowchart showing the sound output pattern setting process executed in the control unit, and (b) is a chart showing the relationship between the investment amount and the sound output pattern.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the gaming apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  There are various forms and types of gaming devices that are arranged above the gaming machine and that include notifying means such as sound output means that emits sound or sound effects from a speaker, and display means such as LEDs, lamps, and liquid crystal displays. In this embodiment, the display lamp and the sound output means are provided, but a so-called call lamp that calls a store clerk at a game hall by performing a predetermined call effect based on an operation by the player is provided. A case where the present invention is applied will be described.

  The calling lamp 1 according to the present embodiment is a gaming machine 50 installed in a game hall, and is attached to a slot machine that can acquire medals as gaming media by rotating a plurality of reels, for example, and is called a bonus game. A predetermined notification effect corresponding to the investment amount invested in the slot machine until reaching the hit state is performed during the hit state of the gaming machine 50 (during bonus game) and also corresponds to the number of consecutive wins (bonus winning) By performing the predetermined notification effect to be performed during a normal game in which the investment amount is invested in a game state other than the winning state (during bonus game), the investment amount and the number of consecutive hits can be identified from the notification effect. It has become.

  Such a call lamp 1 is incorporated as a part of the gaming system S in the game arcade, and together with other devices, from the gaming machine 50 and the gaming media lending device 40 that lends gaming media as compensation for the insertion of cash, While receiving a predetermined game signal output as the game progresses, predetermined game data (for example, the number of games, number of wins, sales, etc.) is totalized and managed.

As shown in FIG. 1, in addition to the gaming machine 50, the gaming medium lending device 40, and the calling lamp 1, the gaming system S includes relay information processing devices such as a stand computer 10 and an island computer 20 that are connected so as to be capable of data communication. The game signal input from the gaming machine 50 and the game medium lending device 40 to the call lamp 1 is relayed between the base computer 10 and the island computer 20 via the call lamp 1. Then, it is input to the hall computer 30.
The game signals output from the gaming machine 50 and the game medium lending device 40 are changed to a data format that can be read by the player, the game hall manager, etc. while being accumulated and aggregated in each device. .

As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming signal output from the gaming machine 50 includes an insertion signal indicating the number of gaming media inserted into the gaming machine 50, a payout signal indicating the number of gaming media paid out from the gaming machine 50, a predetermined signal. There is a jackpot signal (one jackpot signal, two jackpot signals) indicating the winning state (during bonus game).
The jackpot signal is a signal that is output during the hit state of the gaming machine 50, and the timing when the output is turned on indicates the transition of the game state from the game state in which game funds are thrown to the hit state, and the output is off ( The stop timing indicates a transition of the game state from the hit state to the normal game state in which a game fund is thrown.

  In addition, the game signal output from the game medium lending device 40 includes a sales signal indicating the amount of money input as a price when the game medium is lent. Note that the game medium lent out from the game medium renting apparatus 40 is a medal, and 50 medals are lent out in units of a predetermined unit price (for example, 1000 yen).

Based on the reception of such a game signal, the call lamp 1 monitors the gaming state of the gaming machine 50 (the hit state and the normal gaming state other than the gaming state), while the LED, the liquid crystal display, etc. A predetermined notification effect corresponding to the investment amount invested up to the winning state (bonus game) can be obtained by driving the notification means including the display means and the sound output means that emits sound or sound effect from the speaker. While the gaming machine 50 is in a winning state (during bonus game), a predetermined notification effect corresponding to the number of consecutive wins (bonus winnings) is made in a gaming state other than the winning state (in bonus game) and the investment amount It is configured to be performed during a normal game.
Hereinafter, the calling lamp 1 which is an example of the gaming apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[Call lamp]
The call lamp 1 includes two call lamps 1a and 1b each having a display means and a sound output means built therein.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the calling lamp 1 receives a game signal output from the gaming machine 50 and the game medium lending device 40, and transmits the game signal to the computer 10; A data display unit 2 (2a, 2b) for displaying predetermined game data generated from the received game signal and a plurality of LEDs (light sources) are incorporated, and information on the gaming machine 50 is notified in a predetermined light output pattern. Light emitting unit 3 (3a, 3b), sound output unit 4 (4a, 4b) for notifying information related to gaming machine 50 in a sound output pattern consisting of voice and sound effects, central processing unit such as CPU, ROM, RAM A control unit 6 configured to drive the data display unit 2, the light emitting unit 3, and the sound output 4 based on a game signal received from the communication unit 5. Eteiru.

The calling lamp 1a includes a data display unit 2a, a light emitting unit 3a, a sound output unit 4a, a communication unit 5, and a control unit 6, and the surface shown in FIG. 3A and the installation surface S on which the gaming machine 50 is installed. Are arranged in the center of the upper part of the gaming machine 50 so as to be parallel.
On the other hand, the calling lamp 1b includes a data display unit 2b, a light emitting unit 3b, and a sound output unit 4b, and as shown in FIG. Located on the upper left side.
In other words, the call lamp 1 is composed of two call lamps, a call lamp 1a and a call lamp 1b, but is configured to be integrated and controlled by the control unit 6 provided in the call lamp 1a.

Each data display unit 2 includes, for example, a liquid crystal display, a driver circuit for driving a liquid crystal, a processor for image control (such as VDP), a VRAM, an image ROM storing image data, and the like. The predetermined game data is converted into character information such as numerals, characters, figures, etc. and output to the liquid crystal display.
The liquid crystal display is composed of a touch panel that detects a touch operation by the player, and by touching a predetermined display area, a signal for calling a store clerk in the game hall and a signal for instructing a change in display contents are provided. Based on this output signal, the control unit 6 can change the display content of the data display unit 2 or drive and control the light-emitting unit 3 and the speaker 4 based on the output signal. And so on.

  Each light emitting unit 3 includes a plurality of LEDs (L1 to L5) classified by control system and an LED driver circuit that controls lighting of the LEDs of each control system, and in accordance with instructions from the control unit 6, the LEDs (L1 to L5) ) Is turned on to notify information related to the gaming machine 50 in a predetermined light output pattern.

  Moreover, each light emission part 3 is formed in the peripheral part of each calling lamp 1, LED (L1-L5) is arrange | positioned in a line along a peripheral part, and the light output pattern of LED is visible. Further, it is covered with a colorless or colored transparent resin cover in which a predetermined cut (for example, diamond cut) for diffusing light is formed.

In particular, in the calling lamp 1b, the cover that covers the light-emitting portion 3b protrudes substantially perpendicular to the installation surface S and is arranged side by side along the installation surface S as shown in FIG. Two transparent window portions (pointing to two surfaces facing each other in the horizontal direction among the covers).
And each LED in the light emission part 3b is arrange | positioned in a row along the peripheral part between two transparent window parts.
Thereby, although each LED is arrange | positioned in 1 row, since one LED can be visually recognized from two horizontal directions along the installation surface S, both ends of the gaming machine island where a gaming machine is installed The light output pattern of one LED can be visually recognized.
Thereby, the structure is simplified and the number of LEDs can be reduced as compared with the case where the LEDs are respectively attached to the two opposing surfaces along the installation surface S.
Further, by arranging the LEDs at the lower part at the periphery, the light output pattern of one LED can be visually recognized by a player who is seated almost directly below the calling lamp 1b.
In the present embodiment, each LED in the light emitting unit 3b is arranged along the peripheral edge. However, one (or one row) of LEDs are arranged in the data display unit 2b, and these are arranged horizontally along the installation surface S. It can also comprise so that it may pinch | interpose with the cover which has a window part with two transparent surfaces.

  In addition, each sound output unit 4 includes, for example, a speaker, a PCM sound source, an amplifier, and the like, and according to an instruction from the control unit 6, by driving and controlling the speaker, information on the gaming machine 50 is notified in a predetermined sound output pattern. To do.

  With this configuration, for example, when a big hit signal (one big hit signal or two big hit signals) indicating a hit state is input from the gaming machine 50, the hit state stored in the ROM of the control unit 6 The light emitting unit 3 is controlled based on the light output pattern in the LED to cause the LED to emit light, and the sound output unit 4 is controlled based on the sound output pattern in the hit state stored in the ROM of the control unit 6 to To output a predetermined sound / sound effect.

Further, the control unit 6 drives and controls the light emitting unit 3 and the sound output unit 4, and is a notification pattern (light sound) corresponding to the investment amount invested in the gaming machine 50 until the hit state, which is a feature of the present invention. The output pattern) is performed during the winning state, and the notification pattern (light output pattern) corresponding to the number of consecutive hits is performed during the normal game.
In order to produce such a notification pattern, the control unit 6 calculates the investment amount invested by one player until the gaming machine 50 reaches the winning state, and displays a notification pattern corresponding to this investment amount. The number of consecutive hits is calculated based on the calculated investment amount, and a notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits is stored.
Furthermore, in order to manage the investment amount for each player, the replacement of the players is monitored.
Hereinafter, means for realizing such an operation will be described in detail.

[Calculation of investment amount and notification pattern corresponding to investment amount]
First, the control unit 6 operates as a calculation unit, and in order to produce a notification pattern corresponding to the investment amount invested in the gaming machine 50 until the winning state is reached, the controlling unit 6 throws it in the gaming machine 50 until the winning state is reached. Calculate the investment amount.
This calculation is not based on the investment amount invested up to the hit state directly from the amount invested in the gaming medium lending machine 40, but from the number of gaming media thrown into the gaming machine 50 and the gaming machine 50. This is a method of indirectly obtaining the investment amount invested in the gaming machine 50 from the number of paid out game media. In this way, the sales amount output from the game medium lending machine 40 can directly determine the investment amount invested until reaching the hit state, but once the player reaches the hit state, After acquiring a predetermined number of medals, the medals are not lent out and the game shifts to a game using the acquired medals, so the sales signal is not output during this period, and the acquired medals are played during this period. This is because it is not possible to obtain an investment amount related to a substantial investment to be invested in the machine 50.

  For this reason, in order to indirectly determine the investment amount invested in the gaming machine 50 from the number of inputs and the number of payouts, the control unit 6 receives an input signal and a payout input from the gaming machine 50 via the communication unit 5. Based on the signal, the number of inputs and the number of payouts are acquired, respectively, and these are totaled, and the difference obtained by subtracting the cumulative value of the numbers of payouts from the cumulative value of the inputs is calculated.

During normal gaming, which is a gaming state in which game funds are thrown, for example, three medals are inserted for each game, and as a result, a winning is achieved with a predetermined winning probability (for example, 1/6). It is a gaming state that is paid out, and is a gaming state with little return on investment per game.
In such a gaming state, on average, the cumulative value of the number of inputs exceeds the cumulative value of the number of payouts, and as the game progresses, the difference (cumulative value of the number of inputs-cumulative value of the number of payouts) Will expand.

In order to continue the game in such a game state, it is necessary to purchase medals to compensate for the difference.
Further, medals can be purchased at a predetermined unit price, for example, 1000 yen.
From these, whenever the difference between the cumulative value of the number of inputs and the cumulative value of the payouts becomes the common multiple of the number of medals that can be purchased in units of 1000 yen (the number of loaned units), the player It can be estimated that 1000 yen medals were purchased.
That is, the present invention determines that the player has spent a predetermined unit price every time the difference between the number of coins inserted and the number of payouts reaches a common multiple of the number of medals that can be purchased at a predetermined unit price. Is added to the investment amount, and such addition is repeated until a jackpot signal is input, thereby calculating the investment amount invested in the gaming machine 50 until the hit state is reached.
The number of loan units, which is the number of medals that can be purchased at a predetermined unit price, is stored in advance in the ROM of the control unit 6, and the calculated investment amount is sequentially stored in the RAM of the control unit 6. It has become.

In addition, a notification pattern (light output pattern and sound output pattern) corresponding to the investment amount invested up to the hit state is stored in the ROM of the control unit 6.
FIG. 7B shows a light output pattern to be performed by the light emitting unit 3 corresponding to the investment amount. For example, if the investment amount invested until reaching the hit state is within 1000 yen, the light emitting unit 3 is turned on. If it is within 2000 yen, the light emitting unit 3 is lit in blue. If it is within 3000 yen, the light emitting unit 3 is lit in green. If it exceeds 3000 yen, the light emitting unit 3 is yellow. It is designed to light up.
This light output pattern is executed as a light effect during the hit state by being referred to by the CPU of the control unit 6 during the hit state.

FIG. 8B shows the sound output pattern of the sound effect output from the sound output unit 4 corresponding to the investment amount. For example, the investment amount invested until reaching the hit state is within 1000 yen. If there is, the sound effect "Phi Phi" will be output, if it is within 2000 yen, the sound effect "Phi Phi" will be output, if it is within 3000 yen, the effect "Phi Phi" will be output If the sound is output and exceeds 3000 yen, the sound effect is not output.
This sound output pattern is referred to during the hit state by the CPU of the control unit 6 so as to be executed as a sound effect during the hit state.
Note that the sound output pattern executed during the hit state is prioritized over the big hit start sound (fanfare sound). For example, when a big hit signal is input, the above sound output pattern is output first. Subsequently, a jackpot start sound can be output.

  In this way, by performing the light / sound output pattern corresponding to the investment amount invested up to the hit state as an effect during the hit state, the amount of winning (bonus winning) was won. It can be known not only by the player who is playing the game machine 50 but also by other players, and the expectation of the game can be enhanced.

Further, this light / sound output pattern corresponds only to the investment amount without corresponding to the number of games that increase as the game progresses in the gaming machine 50.
Thereby, it is possible to compare gaming machines on a scale of investment amount.
In other words, if the light / sound output pattern is made to correspond to the number of games that increase with the progress of the game, the game machines can be compared with each other on the scale of the number of games, but the number of games that can be played differs per number of units lent. In the case of each other, even if the investment amount is the same, the number of times of the game is different, so it was not possible to determine from the outside how much money was actually spent. Therefore, by making the light / sound output pattern correspond to the investment amount as in the present invention, even among gaming machines having different number of games that can be played per number of rented units, the investment with the highest interest of the player You can compare on a scale of money.

[Calculation of the number of times per continuous and notification pattern corresponding to the number of times per continuous]
In addition, the control unit 6 calculates the number of consecutive hits in order to produce a notification pattern (light output pattern) corresponding to the number of consecutive hits during the normal game.
This calculation is performed by referring to the investment amount described above, and every time the investment amount invested until reaching the hit state is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the number of consecutive hits indicating the continuity of hit is updated by one. It has become.

Specifically, when the investment amount when the jackpot signal is input is equal to or less than a predetermined amount (for example, 3000 yen or less), the control unit 6 updates the number of consecutive hits by 1 and inputs the jackpot signal. Regardless of whether the investment amount exceeds a predetermined amount, the number of consecutive hits is managed by resetting the number of consecutive hits to zero.
Note that the calculated number of consecutive hits is stored in the RAM of the control unit 6.

In addition, a notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits is stored in the ROM of the control unit 6.
FIG. 7C shows a light output pattern to be performed by the light emitting unit 3 corresponding to the number of consecutive hits. For example, if the number of consecutive hits is 0, the light emitting unit 3 is not turned on and if it is once. The light emitting unit 3 is moved and flashed in red, and if it is 2 times, the light emitting unit 3 is moved and blinked in blue. If it is 3 times, the light emitting unit 3 is moved and blinked in green. The unit 3 is moved and blinked in yellow, and is moved and blinked in rainbow colors (an output pattern in which red, blue, green, and yellow are repeatedly lit in a short time) if the number of times is 5 or more.
The moving blinking is a so-called running light output pattern in which the LEDs of the light emitting unit 3 are lit in the order of L1 to L5.
This light output pattern is referred to during the normal game by the CPU of the control unit 6 so as to be executed as a light effect during the normal game.

In this way, by performing the light output pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits as an effect during the normal game, a number of consecutive hits (bonus winnings) are spent at what amount of money. This can be known not only by the player playing the game on the gaming machine 50 but also by other players, and the expectation of the game can be enhanced.
Further, by performing such an effect during the normal game, it is possible to make the effect during the normal dry game gorgeous.

The light output pattern corresponds to the number of consecutive hits determined based on the investment amount without corresponding to the number of games that increase as the game progresses in the gaming machine 50.
Thereby, it is possible to compare gaming machines with a scale of investment amount.
In other words, if the light output pattern is made to correspond to the number of games that increase as the game progresses, the game machines can be compared with each other on the scale of the number of games. In this case, since the number of games is different even if the investment amount is the same, it has been impossible to determine from the outside how much money is actually spent and how many times it is won. Therefore, as in the present invention, by making it correspond to the number of consecutive times obtained based on the light output pattern, even among gaming machines having different number of games that can be played per number of rented units, It can be compared on the scale of investment amount of interest.

In this embodiment, only a light notification pattern is used as a notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits. However, a sound notification pattern (sound output pattern) may be provided (for example, the number of consecutive sound effects And so on).
In addition, the notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits can be performed not only during the normal game but also during the hit state.

[Monitoring player turnover]
In addition, the notification pattern corresponding to the investment amount invested until reaching the hit state and the notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits as described above are the notification effects that are performed only for the player who has actually invested game funds. When a player who has invested game funds ends the game and is replaced with a new player, a notification pattern corresponding to the investment amount invested by the new player is adopted.
In order to realize such an operation, the game funds invested in the game must be managed for each player, so the control unit 6 monitors the replacement of the players.
The replacement of the player is determined based on the game signal input from the gaming machine 50 and the game medium lending device 40, when the input signal or the payout signal is not detected for a predetermined time or more and the sales signal is input. In the gaming machine 50, it is assumed that a player who is playing is replaced with another player.

Specifically, the control unit 6 operates as a non-working time counting means, monitors the non-working time at which the time is started every time when an input signal or a payout signal is input from the gaming machine 50, and the non-working time is predetermined. When the sales signal is input after the time has elapsed, it is considered that the player in the game has been replaced by another player, and the investment amount stored in the RAM at that time is reset to zero.
By monitoring the replacement of players in this way, it is possible to manage the game funds invested in the game for each player.
In other words, even if the players are replaced, the game funds that each player has invested in one gaming machine are not accumulated, and can be managed as game funds for each player. Game funds can be calculated accurately. As a result, the notification pattern notifies the investment amount for one player only.

  The operation of the control unit 6 as described above is realized by the CPU executing a program (stored in the ROM) according to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Hereinafter, the operation flow of the control unit 6 will be described with reference to these flowcharts.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a main program for realizing the features of the present invention. The flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6, 7A, and 8A relate to a subroutine called from the main program. It is a flowchart.
Specifically, the flowchart shown in FIG. 5 represents the process of monitoring the calculation of the investment amount and the replacement of the players based on the game signals input from the game medium lending device 40 and the gaming machine 50, and is shown in FIG. The flowchart represents a process for calculating the number of consecutive hits based on the calculated investment amount. In the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7A and 8A, the notification corresponding to the calculated investment amount and the number of consecutive hits is shown. It shows the process of setting a pattern.
The flowchart shown in FIG. 5 will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6, 7 (a), and 8 (a).

The control unit 6 monitors game signals input from the game medium lending device 40 and the gaming machine 50, and branches the process according to the type of the game signal (S1, S11, S18, S22).
First, it is monitored whether or not the input game signal is an input signal or a payout signal (S1). This monitoring has two purposes: the first is to calculate the investment amount and the other is to monitor the replacement of players.

  Specifically, since the number of inputs and the number of payouts are indispensable for calculating the investment amount, the input of the input signal and the payout signal is monitored in order to obtain these.

In addition, in order to monitor the replacement of the player, it is necessary to detect the presence / absence of an input operation by the player on the gaming machine 50 or the presence / absence of a predetermined internal operation in the gaming machine 50.
The input signal is a signal output from the gaming machine 50 as a result of the game medium input operation by the player, and the payout signal is a signal output from the gaming machine 50 as a result of the game medium being paid out. Therefore, the signal generated as a result of the operation by the player and the result of the internal operation of the gaming machine 50 is a signal indicating that one player is playing the game at the time when this signal is input. ing.
By monitoring the input signal or the payout signal from the characteristics of the input signal and the payout signal as described above, if these inputs are not detected even after a predetermined time has elapsed after the detection of these inputs, the gaming machine 50 It can be regarded as being in a non-operating state. That is, the control unit 6 monitors the input signal or the payout signal as a trigger for starting timing of the non-operation time.

  Next, when detecting the input of the input signal or the payout signal (S1-Yes), the control unit 6 resets the non-working time being counted to zero each time it is detected (S2). This is because the input signal or the payout signal is input before the predetermined time elapses because it can be considered that the game operation is frequently performed by the player.

Subsequently, in order to calculate the investment amount, a value obtained by subtracting the difference between the number of inputs (cumulative value) and the number of payouts (cumulative value) from the number of loan units (X = number of loan units− [number of inputs−number of payouts]) ) Is calculated (S3).
The number of inputs (the number of inputs) and the number of payouts (the number of payouts) are the sum of each time the input signal and the payout signal are input from the gaming machine 50, and the number of lending units is a value stored in the ROM in advance. refer.
The number of lending units indicates the number of medals that can be lent in a predetermined unit price, for example, 1000 yen. For example, in the case of a game hall where the lending fee per medal is 20 yen, the number of lent units is 50 pieces. Become.

In addition, since the number of lending units is a value that changes in accordance with the difference in lending fee per medal, for example, one lending unit number is selected from a plurality of lending unit numbers stored in advance in the ROM. A predetermined switch (for example, a DIP switch) that can be selected can be provided in the control unit 6 so that an administrator such as a game shop clerk can select a rental unit number corresponding to the rental fee of the game hall.
Further, the number of lending units can be directly input and set by touching the data display unit 2, and an infrared receiving unit is provided in the calling lamp 1, which is transmitted from an infrared remote controller carried by a store clerk or the like. It is also possible to receive the number of lending units to be received.

Next, the calculated value (X) is compared with zero (0) (S4), and if the calculated value (X) is equal to or less than zero (0) (S4-Yes), a game is played on the gaming machine 50. The player considers that the player has spent medals (for example, 50) for the number of loaned units, adds the unit price (for example, 1000 yen) to the investment amount, and updates the investment amount (S5).
In this case, the cumulative number of inputs and payouts is further reset to zero, and a new loan unit number (for example, 50 cards) is calculated using the formula (X = number of loan units− [number of inputs−number of payouts]). (S6).
In other words, in this embodiment, each time the difference between the number of inputs (cumulative value) and the number of payouts (cumulative value) reaches the number of loan units, the cumulative value of the input number and the cumulative value of the number of payouts are reset. It is.

When the calculated value (X) is compared with zero (0) and the calculated value (X) is less than zero (0), the value (X) is carried over to the difference after reset. .
For example, when a value (X) obtained by subtracting the difference (for example, 52 sheets) between the number of inputs and the number of payouts from the number of lending units (for example, 50 sheets) is less than zero (0) (for example, -2 sheets), The difference after reset (number of inputs-number of payouts) starts from the difference carried over (for example, 2 sheets), not from zero (0 sheets).
This makes it possible to calculate an accurate investment amount with no excess or deficiency.
In addition to this configuration, each time the difference reaches a common multiple of the number of loaned units without resetting the cumulative value of the number of inputs and the cumulative value of the number of payouts, the player receives medals for the number of loaned units. It can also be configured that the investment amount is renewed by assuming that the game is spent and adding a unit price (for example, 1000 yen) to the investment amount.

  On the other hand, if the calculated value (X) is not equal to or less than zero (0) (S4-No), it is considered that medals for the number of lending units have not yet been consumed, and the process proceeds to S10.

When the investment amount has been updated, the control unit 6 subsequently monitors the updated investment amount (S7), and if the updated investment amount exceeds a predetermined amount (for example, 3000 yen) (for example, 4000 yen) (S7-Yes), and further, it is determined whether or not the continuous production indicating that the notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits is being output (S8), and if it is during the continuous production (S8-Yes), The continuous production ends.
This is because the continuous production (notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits) corresponds to the number of consecutive hits, and as described above, the investment amount when the jackpot signal is input is predetermined as the number of consecutive hits. If the investment amount exceeds a predetermined amount regardless of whether a jackpot signal is input, the value is reset to zero. Regardless of whether or not the jackpot signal is input, if the updated investment amount exceeds a predetermined amount (for example, 4000 yen), it loses the meaning of outputting the notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits. Is to end.

On the other hand, if the updated investment amount does not exceed the predetermined amount (S7-No), and even if the updated investment amount exceeds the predetermined amount (S7-Yes), it is not in the continuous production (S7-Yes) (S8-No), since there is no need to end the continuous production, the process proceeds to S10.
In S10, the non-working time is started based on the input of the input signal or the payout signal, and the process is terminated.
It should be noted that such processing from S2 to S10 is executed during a normal game in which no big hit signal is detected.

Next, when the input game signal is not an input signal or a payout signal (S1-No) and a big hit signal (a signal output during the hit state) is detected (S11-Yes), At this time, the investment amount stored in the RAM is determined as the investment amount invested until reaching the winning state (S12).
As a result, the notification pattern corresponding to the investment amount invested until reaching the hit state is uniquely determined, and the investment amount serving as a determination material for whether to update the number of consecutive hits by one or to reset is determined. The

Next, the control unit 6 executes a continuous hit determination process for calculating the number of consecutive hits based on the calculated investment amount (S13).
This continuous hit determination process will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the continuous hit determination process, first, it is determined whether the calculated investment amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount or an amount exceeding the predetermined amount (S30).
If the calculated investment amount exceeds the predetermined amount (for example, 4000 yen) (S30-No), then the number of consecutive hits stored in the RAM is reset to zero (S31), The process ends.
On the other hand, if the calculated investment amount is equal to or less than a predetermined amount (eg, 3000 yen) (S30-Yes), the number of consecutive hits stored in the RAM at that time is determined (S32), and the number of consecutive hits is determined. If it is zero (S32-Yes), the number of consecutive hits is set to one (S33), and the process is terminated. If the number of consecutive hits stored in the RAM is not zero (S32-No), the number of consecutive hits is updated by 1 (S34), and the process is terminated.
By executing such processing, the number of consecutive hits increases each time a small amount of investment is invested, and the number of consecutive hits is reset when the investment amount exceeds a predetermined amount on the way. Therefore, it is possible to grasp the continuous change characteristics of the gaming machine 50 based on the investment amount.

Next, following the continuous hit determination process (S13), the control unit 6 sets the notification pattern based on the calculated investment amount and the number of consecutive hits updated in the continuous hit determination process. Pattern setting processing is executed (S14).
The light sound output pattern setting process will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 8 (a).
In the light sound output pattern setting process, a notification pattern for effects performed during the hit state and a notification pattern for effects performed during normal games are set.

Specifically, in the light sound output pattern setting process, a light output pattern and a sound output pattern corresponding to the calculated investment amount are set as a notification pattern of the effect performed during the hit state (S40, S50), and the normal game A light output pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits is set as a notification pattern of the effect performed inside (S41), and the process is terminated.
The setting in this case means, for example, setting an identifier that can specify an output pattern such as an effect number in the RAM. This identifier is referred to by the CPU in each gaming state, and an output pattern corresponding to this identifier. Is loaded from the ROM, it is executed as an effect during the hit state and during the normal game.

Next, following the light output pattern setting process (S14), the control unit 6 stores the calculated investment amount and the winning amount (for example, the serial number in the order of occurrence) in association with each other in the RAM. A history of the amount of investment spent on is created (S15).
Then, the calculated investment amount is reset to zero (S16), and the investment amount is calculated in order to prevent the investment amount from being updated during the winning state (because the input signal and the payout signal are input during the winning state). Is interrupted (S17), and the process is terminated.
The calculated investment amount may be reset when the end of the hit state described later is detected.

  Next, when the game signal input from the control unit 10 is not an input signal or a payout signal (S1-No) and is not a big hit signal (S2-No), the control unit 6 determines that the non-working time and sales during the time measurement. By monitoring the signal, a process for determining the replacement of the player is executed.

Specifically, it is determined whether or not the non-working time when the time measurement is started in S10 has passed a predetermined time (S18).
If the non-working time has elapsed for a predetermined time or longer (S18-Yes), it is considered that the game has not been continuously performed for the predetermined time or longer, and the sales signal input from the game medium lending device 40 is monitored. (S19).
If there is a sales signal input (S19-No), a non-working time has continued for a predetermined time or more, and a new medal has been lent out by inserting cash. It is determined that the game has started by replacing with another new player (S20). On the other hand, if there is no input of a sales signal (S19-Yes), the process is terminated without determining the replacement of the player.

This determination is based on the following reason.
When a player who is playing a game leaves the gaming machine 50, the non-operation time becomes a predetermined time or more. Then, when a new player is seated, in order to rent game media from the game media renting apparatus 40, cash or the like is always inserted.
This is because it can be determined that the player has been replaced when a sales signal is input after the non-working time has exceeded a predetermined time.
When it is determined that the player is replaced, the investment amount stored in the RAM for the player is reset to zero, and if the effect is in progress, the effect is terminated (S21), and the process is performed. finish.

  Next, the control unit 6 determines that the game signal input from the gaming machine 50 is not an input signal or a payout signal (S1-No), not a big hit signal (S2-No), and further, the non-operation time during counting When the predetermined time has not elapsed (S18-No), it is monitored whether or not the hit state is finished.

The end of the hit state can be monitored, for example, by detecting output stop (off) of the big hit signal output during the hit state.
When the output stop of the big hit signal is detected, the calculation of the investment amount suspended during the hit state (S17) is resumed (S23), and the processing is ended.

  Next, the control unit 6 determines that the game signal input from the gaming machine 50 is not an input signal or a payout signal (S1-No), not a big hit signal (S2-No), and further, the non-operation time during counting If the output stop of the big hit signal indicating the end of the hit state is not detected without passing the predetermined time (S18-No) (S22-No), other processing according to the other input game signals is executed. (S24), and all the processes are terminated.

  By executing the processing based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 as described above, while calculating the investment amount based on the game signal input from the game medium lending machine 40 and the game machine 50, the player's While monitoring the replacement, the number of consecutive hits can be calculated based on the calculated investment amount, and a notification pattern corresponding to the investment amount and the number of consecutive hits can be set.

As a result, the light / sound output pattern corresponding to the investment amount invested until the hit state is achieved as an effect during the hit state, and the light output pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits is performed as an effect during the normal game. The gaming machine 50 can determine how much money is spent per hit, or how many times the consecutive hits are spent over what amount of money. Not only the player who is playing the game but also other players can be known, and the expectation for the game can be enhanced.
Further, by performing the light output pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits as an effect during the normal game, it is possible to make the effect during the normal game that is tasteless and dry.

  Furthermore, by monitoring the replacement of players, it is possible to manage the game funds invested in the game for each player, so the game media acquired with one game machine can be thrown into another game machine to play the game. Even in a game hall that allows a table-moving game to be performed, it is possible to provide a notification effect by a light / sound output pattern based on the investment amount for each player.

  As described above, according to the calling lamp 1 which is an example of the gaming apparatus of the present embodiment, the predetermined notification effect corresponding to the investment amount invested in the gaming machine 50 until reaching the winning state is given to the gaming machine 50. While being performed during the state, a predetermined notification effect corresponding to the number of consecutive hits can be performed during the normal game of the gaming machine 50.

  The preferred embodiment of the gaming device of the present invention has been described above, but the gaming device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

For example, in the present embodiment, the investment amount invested in the gaming machine 50 until the hit state is reached when the jackpot signal (the signal output during the jackpot) is detected (for example, the rising edge of the jackpot signal). For example, the investment amount can be determined when an internal winning signal related to the bonus winning is detected in the slot machine. That is, when the gaming machine 50 is a slot machine, the winning state according to the present invention may be either during bonus game or during bonus internal winning.
In the present embodiment, the winning state is a bonus game, but it may be AT (assist time) or ART (assist replay time).

The light / sound output pattern (notification pattern) may be any output pattern as long as the investment amount and the number of consecutive hits can be identified.
In this embodiment, the slot machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention can also be applied to a pachinko machine or other game machines, and when applied to a pachinko machine, the winning state is referred to as a big hit. .

In this embodiment, the call lamp 1 is composed of the two call lamps, the call lamp 1a and the call lamp 1b. However, the call lamp 1 may be composed of only one of the call lamps 1a or 1b. it can.
In addition, when the call lamp 1 is comprised only with the call lamp 1b, it is necessary to provide the communication part 5 and the control part 6 in the call lamp 1b.

  In this embodiment, the gaming apparatus according to the present invention is applied to the calling lamp. However, for example, the gaming apparatus can be applied to a table display machine that is installed between gaming machines and includes display means such as a TV.

  In this embodiment, in order to make the notification pattern correspond to the game funds thrown by one player, the replacement of the players is monitored. However, without such monitoring, a plurality of players throw the notification pattern. It is also possible to correspond to the accumulated value of game funds.

  Further, by using the input signal and the payout signal sales signal, the winning amount for each player is calculated by calculating the winning amount (for example, [the number of payouts−the number of inputs] × the rental fee per game medium−the sales amount). Can also be displayed on the data display unit 2 in real time. In this case, the replacement of the player is determined by providing a predetermined reset button operated by the player in the gaming device (calling lamp) in addition to the above-described determination method, and detecting the pressing operation of this button. You can also.

  The present invention can be suitably used for a gaming machine that reaches a winning state such as a big hit or a bonus by throwing game funds.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Call lamp 2 (2a, 2b) Data display part 3 (3a, 3b) Light emission part (notification means)
4 (4a, 4b) Sound output section (notification means)
5 Communication part (reception means)
6 Control part (calculation means, storage means, non-operation time counting means)
10 computers 20 island computers 30 hall computers 40 game media lending devices 50 game machines (slot machines)
S game system

Claims (5)

A gaming device provided with a gaming machine that reaches a predetermined winning state through a gaming state in which gaming funds are invested, and has notification means for notifying predetermined information about the gaming machine,
A calculation means for calculating the investment amount up to the hit state;
A storage for storing a predetermined number of lending units indicating the number of game media that can be lent per predetermined unit price, an investment amount calculated by the calculation unit, and a predetermined notification pattern corresponding to the investment amount performed by the notification unit in the hit state Means,
From an input signal indicating the number of game media input to the gaming machine, a payout signal indicating the number of game media paid out from the gaming machine, and from a gaming state in which the gaming funds are thrown to the winning state And a receiving means for receiving a hit signal indicating transition of the gaming state of the gaming machine as the game progresses,
The calculating means includes
When the difference obtained by subtracting the cumulative value of the number of payouts from the cumulative value of the inputs is equal to or greater than the number of loan units, the unit price is added to the investment amount,
The storage means updates and stores the investment amount to which the unit price is added,
The notifying means performs notifying according to the notifying pattern corresponding to the investment amount stored in the storing means when the winning signal is received. A non-operation time measuring means for measuring a non-operation time indicating a non-operation state of the gaming machine based on whether or not the insertion signal or the payout signal is received;
The receiving means receives a sales signal output with a rental of game media from a predetermined game media rental device provided alongside the gaming machine;
When the sales signal is received after the non-working time has become a predetermined time or more, it is considered that the player who is playing in the gaming machine has been replaced with another player, and the storage means The gaming machine is characterized in that the investment amount is reset to zero. The storage means
When the investment amount stored when the hit signal is received is less than or equal to a predetermined amount,
The number of consecutive hits indicating the number of consecutive hit states is updated by 1 and stored,
Storing a predetermined notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits performed by the notification means;
The notification means includes
A notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits stored in the storage means is performed in the gaming state in which the gaming funds are thrown, and when the investment amount exceeds the predetermined amount, the notification pattern corresponding to the number of consecutive hits is terminated. The gaming device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Without making the notification pattern correspond to the number of games that increase as the game progresses, the investment amount, or the number of consecutive hits determined based on the investment amount,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, with the investment amount as a scale, gaming machines having different number of games that can be played per number of lending units can be compared. The notification means includes a light emitting unit having a predetermined light source and a cover that covers the light source,
The cover has two transparent window portions protruding substantially perpendicular to the installation surface and arranged in a horizontal direction along the installation surface,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein one light source is disposed between the two window portions.

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