JP2014217607A - Game parlor system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game parlor system which increases a player's convenience and reduces discomfort by shortening, as much as possible, a waiting time for issuing processing in a game machine device.SOLUTION: A game parlor system 1 is provided with notification means which identifies whether or not a first notification condition that is satisfied by having no recording medium to stock is satisfied, identifies whether or not a second notification condition is satisfied when valuable values to be notified is at a notification level, performs special notification when the first notification condition and the second notification condition are satisfied, and does not perform the special notification or performs normal notification different from the special notification when only one of the first notification condition and the second notification condition is satisfied.

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system.

  In the amusement hall, a player inserts money (including banknotes) to play, and counts if he / she has a ball. In this case, since the convenience of money can be improved by allowing not only one lending unit (for example, 500 yen) but also a plurality of lending units (for example, 10,000 yen) to be inserted, Since the balance excluding the usage amount is associated with the recording medium and is issued, it is possible to accept money for a plurality of lending units without any restriction on the total amount of money to be paid. Similarly, by providing a gaming machine device equipped with a counting function called a so-called counter counter in association with a gaming machine, the number of possessed balls is counted, and the counted number of retained balls is associated with a recording medium as an issue target. This also increases convenience.

  Since such balances and holding balls are issued for the recording medium, it is necessary to stock the recording medium in the gaming machine device. However, since there is no recording medium stock, it is possible to accept money and count the number of balls. Since it is inconvenient if it is not possible, for example, in Patent Document 1, even if the recording medium is not stocked (no stock state), the balance can be stored internally, so that money can be input or lended. It has been proposed to do.

Japanese Patent No. 5032526

  However, as described in Patent Document 1, when there is no stock, the fact is notified and the game hall employee is urged to replenish the recording medium. However, in the game hall, the cost of the recording medium is taken into consideration. Only about 2 to 3 times the number of gaming machines are prepared, it is difficult to always keep all gaming machine devices out of stock, and for example, if it is empty, the issuing process can be performed immediately. Because there is no need to replenish because there is no, and it is difficult to do work to replenish by other work, etc., there is chronically informed of no stock in any gaming machine device It is a fact.

Here, as in Patent Document 1, if money can be inserted even if there is no stock, it is possible to eliminate the hindrance to the game at that time and to improve convenience in that respect, but there is no stock If the game is played as it is, an error is displayed because there is no recording medium when issuing a balance, etc., and it is necessary to call a game hall employee to replenish the recording medium by the error display. There was a risk of making the player uncomfortable due to waiting time or the like.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to increase the convenience of the player and reduce discomfort by minimizing the waiting time of the issuing process in the gaming machine device. Is to provide.

  The invention described in claim 1 is provided corresponding to a gaming machine, and is a value acceptance means for accepting at least one valuable value among money inserted by a player and a gaming value acquired by the corresponding gaming machine. And, in exchange for the valuable value received by the value receiving means, a value giving means for giving a game value usable for a game, and among the valuable values received by the value receiving means, the value giving means Issuing means for issuing a recording medium that can specify the remaining valuable value excluding the valuable value exchanged for the played game value, and the recording medium to be issued by the issuing process can be received; The stock means for stocking the received recording medium, the number of recording media stocked by the stock means, or the presence or absence of stock media to be stocked are specified. In this case, the first notification condition specifying means for specifying whether or not the first notification condition that is satisfied by the absence of the recording medium to be stocked is satisfied, and the valuable value is received by the value receiving means. In addition, the value to be notified and at least one of the remaining value to be issued in the issuance process based on the value, and the reference value set in advance for the value to be notified By comparing, the second notification condition specifying means for specifying whether or not the second notification condition that is established when the notification target valuable value is at the notification level is satisfied, the first notification condition, and The special notification is performed when the second notification condition is satisfied, while the special notification is performed when only one of the first notification condition and the second notification condition is satisfied. No, or it is characterized in that and a notifying means for performing an ordinary broadcast is different from the notification from the special notification.

In the invention described in claim 2, the stock means accepts a replenishment operation by an amusement hall employee, and enters an accepting state in which an unspecified recording medium, which is an unspecified recording medium, can be received. The unspecified recording medium is received on condition that the receiving state is set, while the receiving state is set without receiving the replenishment operation when the special notification is being performed.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the state in which the notification means performs the special notification, the special notification ends when the unspecified recording medium is received by the stock means. The reception state is continued even when the special notification is completed by receiving the unspecified recording medium.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the case where the notification means performs the special notification, the notification means performs notification with a plurality of gaming machine devices, and at least one of the gaming machine devices provides a game to the player. It is characterized by notifying that it can continue.
The invention described in claim 5 is set in advance even when the first notification condition and the second notification condition are satisfied when the valuable value is received by the value receiving means. A suppression unit that suppresses the special notification until the notification suppression cancellation condition is satisfied is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the invention, the special notification is performed when the balance becomes the notification level (the second notification condition is satisfied) and the recording medium is not stocked (the first notification condition is satisfied). Unlike the normal notification that is performed when the recording medium is not stocked, it is possible to notify the game hall employee that there is a high possibility that the player will be uncomfortable because the issuing process cannot be performed. Thereby, it can reduce that it is left as it is, and even if it keeps keeping the preparation number of recording media low, the possibility of making a player unpleasant can be reduced.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, in the state where the special notification is performed, the refilling operation is accepted without receiving the replenishment operation. An unspecified recording medium such as a so-called blank card (a card that is not associated with a balance or the like) can generally be accepted by an employee's replenishment operation. This is because even if a game hall employee thinks an unspecified recording medium, it is actually associated with a valuable value, or an unspecified recording medium is accepted with a valuable value associated with a recording medium. In such a case, the associated specific recording medium (the recording medium to which the valuable value is already associated) is replaced, and therefore there are various reasons for the preparation of the association. However, since it is highly likely that the player is playing in a state where special notification is being performed, the player may feel uncomfortable if the game hall employee performs many operations. Therefore, when the special notification is being performed, the number of necessary operations can be reduced by reducing the player's discomfort by setting the state where the information can be received without the replenishment operation.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, even if the recording medium is replenished and the special notification is finished, the stock means continues the acceptance state. Although there is no stock of the recording medium to perform the special notification, even if only one recording medium is replenished in that state, the recording medium is likely to be issued by the player who is playing, It may be necessary to replenish the recording medium after refilling. Therefore, by continuing the reception state even after the special notification is completed, additional recording media can be replenished, and it is possible to reduce the possibility that the recording media will be exhausted after the issuing process without performing an extra operation.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, a special notification is given by a plurality of gaming machine devices, and at least one of the gaming machine devices is notified to the player that the game can be continued. By performing the special notification with a plurality of gaming machine devices, it can be expected that the possibility that the game hall employee overlooks the special notification is reduced. On the other hand, if a special notification is given, the player may not understand the reason (that is, for example, by misunderstanding that a failure has occurred), and the game may be interrupted. Therefore, by notifying that the game can be executed, such a fear can be reduced.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even if the first notification condition and the second notification condition are satisfied when the valuable value is received by the value receiving means, the notification suppression cancellation condition is satisfied. Suppress special notification until For example, when a valuable value such as money is accepted, it is highly likely that a value-giving process (a process for giving a game value that can be used for a game) will be performed thereafter, so that the value-giving process is performed. It is considered that there is no need to perform special notification when there is no notification target value such as a balance (or when the value is less than the reference value). On the other hand, if the second notification condition is satisfied at the time of accepting the valuable value, such as the accepted valuable value exceeds the reference valuable value, the need for special notification is no longer necessary. There is a possibility that a special notification will be unnecessarily performed. If such special notification is repeated, unnecessary replenishment may be performed, or unnecessary replenishment may not be performed due to unnecessary replenishment. That is, there is a possibility that confusion will be caused by performing special notification. Therefore, by suppressing the special notification until the notification suppression cancellation condition is satisfied, such a fear can be reduced.

The figure which shows schematically the structure of the system for game centers by one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the item memorize | stored in the terminal storage area of a gaming machine apparatus The figure which shows an example of the setting information set to a gaming machine apparatus Flow chart showing gaming machine device processing by the gaming machine device 1 Flowchart 2 showing gaming machine device processing by the gaming machine device

Hereinafter, a game system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a game hall system 1. A plurality of gaming machines 2 are installed in the game hall where the game hall system 1 is provided. In the case of the present embodiment, a so-called pachinko gaming machine is assumed as the gaming machine 2. Each gaming machine 2 is provided with a gaming machine device 3 and an information display device 4, respectively. The gaming machine device 3 functions as a so-called counter counter that counts the acquired media acquired by the player through the game of the gaming machine 2 and a so-called lending machine that gives (rents) a gaming value in exchange for the price. With functionality.

  These gaming machine 2, gaming machine device 3 and information display device 4 are connected to a relay device 5. The relay device 5 is connected to the management device 6 via the LAN, and various game signals output from the gaming machine side such as the gaming machine 2 and the gaming machine device 3 and various types of signals transmitted from the management device 6. Receive information. The management device 6 is installed in, for example, an office in the game hall, and is connected to a monitor 8 or the like. In the amusement hall, for example, several hundred gaming machines 2 are juxtaposed in so-called amusement island units, and are managed by the management device 6. In the present embodiment, a pachinko gaming machine is illustrated as the gaming machine 2, but the gaming machine 2 may be a slot machine or both a pachinko gaming machine and a slot machine. In this amusement hall, a well-known POS for exchanging prizes is also installed.

  The gaming machine 2 includes a handle 10 for launching a ball (game value, so-called pachinko ball) as a game medium to the board surface, a general winning port 11, a first start port 12, and a second start port for winning the ball. 13. Display unit 14 whose display pattern changes according to the winning of the ball, large winning opening 15 that is opened at the time of the big hit, the upper plate 16 from which the ball is paid out, and the ball that overflows from the upper plate 16 is temporarily stored A ball tray 17 is provided. The gaming machine 2 performs a big hit lottery according to the winning of the ball to the first starting port 12 or the second starting port 13 (start winning prize), and displays the variation of the symbol due to the so-called special symbol (special symbol) based on the lottery result. This is executed by the unit 14. Then, when the symbol stopped and displayed on the display unit 14 is a big hit symbol, a big hit is generated.

  The first starting port 12 is a winning port whose so-called winning rate does not vary (so-called navel winning port), and the second starting port 13 is based on the lottery result of the ordinary drawing lottery performed in conjunction with the winning of the ordinary drawing winning port 11. It is a winning opening (so-called electric Chu) where the winning rate fluctuates. Specifically, the second start port 13 is in an open state with a high winning rate when winning the normal drawing lottery. In this case, the fluctuation time (lottery time) for one time in the normal figure is 30 seconds in the normal state, and 3 seconds in the so-called short time state. The opening time is 0.3 seconds in the normal state and 5 seconds in the short time state. That is, in the short-time state, the usual fluctuation time is shorter than in the normal state, while the open time is long, so that the winning rate for the second start port 13 is increased.

As described above, when the start winning is won, the special symbol variation starts, but when a new start win occurs during the symbol variation, the predetermined holding upper limit value (the first start in the present embodiment). The symbol variation is cumulatively held up to four for each of the mouth 12 and the second start port 13, and the suspended symbol variation is sequentially started after completion of the symbol variation being executed. In addition, when a start winning is made in a state where the number of symbols on hold (the number of holds) is the upper limit of holding, the change in symbols is not held.
The big winning opening 15 is opened as many times as the number of rounds (R) corresponding to the big win. In the gaming machine 2, for example, the maximum number of winnings in which a ball wins a prize winning hole 15 in 1R is set to 10 and the upper limit opening time of the big winning opening 15 is set to 30 seconds or the like. 1R ends when either is satisfied. The number of balls paid out (granted) to the player in accordance with the winnings at each of these winning holes corresponds to a safe indicating the game value given according to the game, and the number of balls fired is consumed according to the game. It corresponds to the out indicating the game value. Note that the above-described specifications such as numerical values are merely examples, and are set in various ways according to the type of the gaming machine 2 and the like.

In this gaming machine 2, the winning probability (hit probability) of the big hit lottery is 1/360, and the probability change rate, which is the ratio of the big hit (probable change big hit) that becomes the probability change state (probability change) thereafter (the normal state, the probability change state). Both are 66.6%. When a big hit occurs, the grand prize opening 15 is opened for 15 rounds (R). Further, during the probability change, the big hit probability is improved to 1/31, and the winning time rate to the second starting port 13 becomes high (short time). Since the probability change continues until the next big hit, it continues until a big hit (normal big hit) that becomes a normal gaming state (normal state) that is neither a big hit nor a probable change after the big hit occurs, and then a predetermined number (this embodiment) In this case, the time is reduced until the symbol variation is performed 100 times, and then the normal state is obtained.
The balls paid out from the gaming machine 2 are first stored in the upper plate 16. About 200 balls can be stored in the upper plate 16. When a large number of balls are paid out, such as during a big hit, the balls overflowing from the upper plate 16 are temporarily stored in the lower ball receiving tray 17 that can store about 200 balls.

From the gaming machine 2 side having such a configuration, for example, a game signal as shown below is output as the game progresses.
Out signal = a signal (operation signal) that can specify a consumption value (out) output from an out BOX (not shown) for collecting used balls. Since one pulse is output for 10 consumed balls (used balls, driven balls, collected balls), the number of out signals × 10 is specified as the number of used media (out). A signal directly output from the gaming machine 2 may be used.
-Safe signal = a signal that can specify the prize-giving value output from the gaming machine 2 (safe, the number of balls given according to the game). Since 1 pulse is output for 10 payout balls, the number of safe signals × 10 is specified as safe. In addition, it is good also considering the replenishment signal output from a replenishment apparatus (illustration omitted) as a safe signal.

Start signal = a signal that can specify the start (symbol change, accessory operation, unit game) in the liquid crystal display unit (combination) that changes (actuates) due to the start winning that is output from the gaming machine 2. Since it is output when the symbol variation is finalized (when symbol variation is completed), the symbol variation is specified according to the signal input, so the number of start signals × 1 is specified as the number of start times. In addition, it is good also as a signal which shows having won each starting port.
Big hit signal = A signal that can specify the big hit period output from the gaming machine 2. Since it is a status signal that is output at a level during a big hit, the big hit signal being input is specified as being a big hit.
Special state signal = a signal that can specify a special state (Amanaka) output from the gaming machine 2. Since the level signal is output during the special state (during time reduction) in which the winning rate of the second start port 13 is improved, the special state signal being input is specified as being in the special state. Further, a period in which neither the big hit signal nor the special state signal is input is specified as the normal state.

  The gaming machine device 3 (corresponding to value receiving means, value giving means, issuing means, stock means, first notification condition specifying means, second notification condition specifying means, notification means, and suppression means) is a lower ball of the gaming machine 2 A movable ball tray 18 that receives balls from the tray 17, a guide arm 19 that guides balls from the movable ball tray 18, a money insertion slot 20 that inserts money (including banknotes), and a touch panel type display unit that displays various information. 21. A payout nozzle 22 that pays out sales balls (corresponding to a value given as a game value given in exchange for a value) to the gaming machine 2, a recording medium (in the present embodiment, a so-called IC card is assumed). ) As a card insertion slot 23 for inserting a general card 7, a status lamp 24 that also functions as a notification means, a payout button 25 for paying out (renting out) balls, and an issuance for issuing a general card 7. Button 2 It has a like. A stock mechanism for stocking cards is provided in the back of the card insertion slot 23, and accepted general cards 7 and blank cards (general cards 7 not associated with a balance or the like) are stocked.

  The gaming machine device 3 flows from a control unit configured with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, a transmission / reception unit capable of inputting the above gaming signals, a storage unit configured with a storage medium storing various data, and the gaming machine 2 It has a counting unit that counts the balls. The control unit controls the entire gaming machine device 3 and displays the status lamp 24 by turning on / flashing / changing the color to indicate the occurrence of a failure or abnormality, or a special case described later in connection with the present invention. Notification and normal notification are performed.

  As described above, the gaming machine device 3 also has a function as a lending machine. When money is received (when money acceptance processing is performed), the payment amount is balanced in both the gaming machine 2 and the gaming machine device 3. When the payout button 25 of the gaming machine 2 is pressed (lending operation, giving operation) with the balance being displayed, for example, when lending at 4 yen per ball, it corresponds to a lending unit such as 125 balls The ball to be played (value-giving value) is paid out to the gaming machine 2 (a game value that can be used for the game is given. Value-giving processing). At this time, the consideration is deducted from the balance. In addition, as money, it is possible to accept a portion corresponding to a plurality of considerations (for example, up to 10,000 yen). In the present embodiment, the remaining valuable value excluding the valuable value exchanged for the game value given from the deposit amount inserted from the money insertion slot 20 is handled as a balance (notification target valuable value).

  In addition, the gaming machine device 3 also has a function as each counter as described above, and when the player operates a lever or the like (not shown) provided on the lower ball tray 17 of the gaming machine 2, The balls stored in the lower ball receiving tray 17 flow into the gaming machine device 3 via the movable ball receiving tray 18 and the guide arm 19. The gaming machine device 3 executes a counting process in which the counting unit counts the balls that have flowed from the guide arm 19, and stores the counted number of balls in the storage unit as a counting ball. Further, the gaming machine device 3 plays a game based on the player's acquired value (game value) counted up to the number of balls counted by the counting unit (the number of balls, the game value acquired by the corresponding gaming machine 2). The replay processing that can be performed is executed. Specifically, the gaming machine device 3 pays back a payout unit (for example, 125 balls) from the payout nozzle 22 to the player and pays back the player in response to the player pressing a re-play button (not shown). The number of balls is subtracted from the counted ball.

In addition, when the return button (not shown) of the gaming machine 2 is pressed in a state where the balance or the remaining ball remains (when the issuing operation is accepted), the gaming machine device 3 can identify the balance and the retained ball. Issue 7 In the present embodiment, for the sake of simplification of explanation, divided issuance with a balance or a part of the ball as a subject of issue is not possible, but it may be possible.
The gaming machine device 3 communicates with the relay device 5 to perform the above-described money reception processing and consideration provision processing, balance, number of balls to be borrowed, amount of money to be paid, number of balls to be borrowed, and consideration for the loan balls, and The acceptance and issue processing of the general card 7 can be specified, but these may be specified by a pulse signal (for example, a signal that outputs one pulse for every 1000 yen received, one pulse for every 100 yen sales, etc.). .

As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine device 3 stores the following information in its storage area. In addition, the numerical value of this FIG. 2 is an example.
-Deposit amount: the amount of money (deposit amount) received from the money insertion slot 20.
-Sales amount: The amount of money used as the consideration for the loaned ball out of the amount received (the value of valuable in exchange for the assigned game value).
・ Balance: The balance that can be used, excluding the consideration of the loaned items, out of the deposit amount. In addition, since the balance is added by accepting the general card 7 that can identify the balance, the balance does not always become the deposit amount−the sales amount, but in any case, among the received valuable values, It shows the residual value excluding the valuable value exchanged for the gaming value given by lending processing.

Card stock: The number of general cards 7 stocked by the gaming machine device 3 is specified by adding at the time of receiving a card and subtracting at the time of issuing a card.
In addition, various information other than these items is also stored in the storage area of the gaming machine device 3. As will be described later, in this embodiment, for the sake of simplification of explanation, the holding ball is omitted and only the balance is described. However, the holding ball is also subject to management, processing, and the like in the same manner as the balance. At this time, the balance and the possession ball are associated with any general card 7 stocked by being equal to or greater than the minimum reference value (for example, 100 yen or the number of balls equivalent to 100 yen), but when the card stock is 0 When a blank card is replenished once associated with a virtual general card (or an encapsulated card not to be issued), the correspondence is switched to the blank card.

The following setting information is set in the gaming machine device 3.
・ Payment timer: A timer that operates at the time of money receipt (payment). When this timer is in operation, even if there is no card stock and the balance exceeds the notification standard value, as will be described later, considering the subsequent lending process. Call processing (processing to display on the gaming machine device 3 and the information display device 4 for calling employees, or to perform calling by in-store broadcasting, etc.) is suppressed.
-Replenishment timer: A timer that is activated when a blank card is received as card stock. A blank card can be accepted on condition that this timer is activated.
-Notification standard value: This is the standard value of the balance for performing call processing when the card stock becomes 0 (when the first notification condition is satisfied). After the receipt of money, the balance exceeds this standard value. Call processing is performed when the second notification condition is satisfied.
・ Acceptance standard value: This is the standard value for the balance when accepting money and general cards 7. When accepting money, etc., if the balance is not less than this standard value, the acceptance process is suppressed (error process) and the balance after accepting money A reference value for adjusting the upper limit of.

  Although not shown, the management device 6 includes a control unit configured with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like, a storage unit configured with an HDD, and an input / output unit that transmits and receives the game signals described above. Yes. The management device 6 operates according to the control program stored in the storage unit, and manages game information specified by a game signal from the gaming machine 2 side input to the input / output unit. Specifically, as is well known, the management device 6 specifies the out based on the out signal input from the gaming machine 2 side, specifies the safe based on the safe signal, etc. The game information such as the ball rate, operation rate, and sales amount is tabulated and managed for each gaming machine 2, each model, or the entire amusement hall.

Next, the operation of the above-described game hall system 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 show a series of processing of the gaming machine device processing performed in the gaming machine device 3, but for the sake of simplicity of explanation, each step of FIG. For convenience, each step in FIG. 5 is described with “B”. In the following processing, each flag is 0 as an initial value.
The gaming machine device 3 executes the gaming machine device processing shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, whether money has been received (A1), whether there is a balance (A16), whether the replenishment flag is 0 (A20), replenishment operation Is received (A21), whether a card is received (B1), or whether an issuing operation is received (B13). In this case, if none is accepted and no operation is performed (A1: NO, A16: NO, A20: YES, A21: NO, B1: NO, B13: NO), the process waits. Hereinafter, this flow is referred to as a standby flow for convenience.

  Now, when the game machine apparatus 3 inserts money by the player, that is, when money is received (A1: YES), if the balance after money reception does not reach the acceptance reference value (A2: YES). Then, the deposit amount data ("deposit amount" in FIG. 3) is updated, that is, the storage area is updated (A3), and the deposit timer is started (A4). Note that the condition that the balance does not reach the acceptance reference value in step A2 is to prevent the balance from becoming too high. If the balance reaches the acceptance reference value (A2: YES), an error process is performed assuming that the balance is large (A12), and for example, the player is informed that the deposit is not possible.

When the operation of the deposit timer is started, the gaming machine device 3 determines whether the lending operation is accepted (A5), whether the deposit timer is up (A11), or whether the cancel operation for canceling the deposit is accepted (A13). . If none of them is present (A5: NO, A11: NO, A13: NO), the process waits. In other words, by operating the deposit timer, it is possible to prevent the calling process from being performed unnecessarily immediately after the money is inserted (to enter the calling state). In the present embodiment, as described below, as a notification suppression cancellation condition for canceling the call processing suppression state, the lending process has been performed, the deposit timer has timed out, and the cancel operation is performed. Three things that have been done are set.
When the gaming machine device 3 accepts the lending operation (A5: YES), it executes a lending process for lending balls in lending units (A6), and updates the storage area (updates the sales amount and balance). (A7), the process proceeds to step A8. If the deposit timer is up (A11: YES) and if a cancel operation is accepted (A13: YES), the process proceeds to step A8. The canceling operation may be performed by displaying a button on the display unit 21 of the gaming machine device 3 or the like.

  Subsequently, the gaming machine device 3 sets the call flag to 1 (A10) when the card stock is 0 (A8: YES) and the balance exceeds the notification reference value (A9: YES). . That is, if the first notification condition is satisfied (the card stock is 0) and the second notification condition is satisfied (the balance exceeds the notification reference value), the balance may be issued. A call process such as setting the call flag to 1 and setting the gaming machine device 3 and the information display device 4 to the call state is performed. As the calling state, for example, a guidance display for a player such as “The card is not stocked and I will replenish the employee now” is displayed, and the game is continued on the gaming machine device 3 and the information display device 4. However, the above-described display for calling the game hall employee, in-store broadcasting, or the like may be performed. This calling state corresponds to special notification. This special notification is performed, for example, by turning on the display mode of the status lamp 24 of the gaming machine device 3 in a mode different from the normal mode or by displaying a message indicating that the calling process is being performed on the information display unit 4. Is called. Further, the special notification is performed in a notification mode different from the normal notification when only one of the first notification condition or the second notification condition is satisfied. In addition, as long as the special notification and the normal notification can be distinguished, any notification mode may be employed, for example, different colors may be used for the special notification and the normal notification. Further, when the card stock is not 0 (A8: NO) and when the balance does not exceed the notification reference value (A9: NO), special notification is not performed.

  Subsequently, the gaming machine device 3 proceeds to step B1 in FIG. In this case, the gaming machine device 3 waits until some operation or the like occurs, but since it accepts money, it is considered that there is a balance (A16: YES), so a part of the standby flow is There are changes (A1: NO, A16: YES, A17: NO, A20: YES, A21: NO, B1: NO, B13: NO). If the payout button 25 is pressed by the player during this standby flow, that is, if a lending operation is accepted (A17: YES), a lending process is performed (A18), the storage area is updated (A19), and the standby flow to go into.

  Now, in the state of replenishment flag = 0 indicating whether or not a blank card can be received (A20: YES), when a replenishment operation such as a remote control operation by a game hall employee is accepted (A21: YES), the replenishment flag is set. 1 (A22), and after starting the operation of the replenishment timer (A23), a standby flow is entered. In this case, since the replenishment flag is 1 in the standby flow (A20: NO), the flow partially changes (A1: NO, A16: YES, A17: NO, A20: NO, A14: NO, B1: NO, B13: NO). That is, the replenishment of the card (blank card) is basically permitted on condition that the operation of the game hall employee is performed.

  The blank card to be replenished is a general card 7 in which basic information such as a card ID is stored, but no balance is associated, and the balance is associated by issuing processing or the like. That is, the general card 7 and the blank card can be distinguished based on whether or not at least a balance or the like is associated, but the card itself may be specified by providing a blank flag. Since the blank card is carried by the game hall employee and the general card 7 is carried by the player, the operation is required by the employee to accept the blank card, and it is initialized so that it can be used when accepting the blank card. Process. The operation for this corresponds to the replenishment operation. When a refill operation is performed, the refill flag is set to 0 (A15) when the refill timer expires (A14: YES). That is, if the actual replenishment is not performed within a predetermined period despite the replenishment operation, the replenishment is not accepted.

When the gaming machine device 3 accepts the card (B1: YES), it determines whether it is a blank card (B2). If it is a blank card (B2: YES), the call flag is 1. Is determined (B3).
Here, the significance of determining the call flag in step B3 will be described. Basically, the blank card can be replenished when a replenishment operation is performed by a game hall employee as described above. However, the state in which the call flag is 1 in step A10 described above is a state where the card stock is 0 and the balance exceeds the notification reference value, that is, the card should be replenished immediately, but the player has played a game. It is also a state that is likely to be. In such a state, when a game hall employee performs a remote control operation, the player may feel uncomfortable.

Therefore, when the call flag is 1 (B3: YES), the gaming machine device 3 sets the call flag to 0, sets the refill flag to 1 (B4), and keeps the refill flag = 1 state. Is started (re-actuated) (B5), the card can be replenished without performing the replenishment operation. The replenished cards are stocked and the card stock is added (B6). The calling state is canceled by setting the calling flag to 0 (special notification ends).
At this time, the gaming machine device 3 enables additional replenishment by setting the replenishment flag to 1 in step B4. That is, the acceptance state by the stock means is continued. Even if only one blank card is replenished with the call flag = 1, it may be necessary to replenish the card as soon as the card is issued by a player who is playing the game. Therefore, by continuing the acceptance state, additional cards can be replenished without a replenishment operation.

Thus, by determining whether the call flag is 1, it is possible to prevent the player from feeling uncomfortable or to increase the efficiency of replenishment.
On the other hand, if the calling flag is not 1 (B3: NO), the gaming machine device 3 determines whether the replenishment flag is 1 (B7), and if the replenishment flag is 1 (B7: YES), step The process proceeds to B5, the operation of the replenishment timer is started (B5), and the stock is added (B6). In this case as well, a plurality of cards can be replenished by starting the replenishment timer.
If the calling flag is not 1 (B3: NO) and the replenishment flag is not 1 (B7: NO), the gaming machine device 3 reports that there is no need for replenishment, for example, that there is no replenishment situation. Error processing is performed (B8).

  In addition, when the received card is not a blank card (B2: NO), the gaming machine device 3 has both the call flag and the replenishment flag set to 0 (B9: YES), and the balance has reached the acceptance reference value. If not (B10: YES), it is accepted as a general card 7 and the storage area such as stock addition and balance is updated (B11). On the other hand, when the calling flag or the replenishment flag is 1 (B9: NO) and when the balance exceeds the acceptance reference value (B10: NO), error processing such as discharging the accepted card is performed. (B12).

In addition, when the issue button 26 is pressed by the player in the standby flow, the gaming machine device 3 determines whether the card stock is 0 (B14), assuming that the issue operation is accepted (B13: YES). In this case, if the card stock is not 0 (B14: NO), the issuing process for issuing the general card 7 that can specify the balance at that time is performed (B15), the stock is subtracted and the storage area is initialized, etc. Is updated (B16). At this time, when the card stock becomes 0 by subtracting the stock in step B16, the fact that the card stock is 0 is notified (normal notification is performed). This normal notification may be output to the information display device 4 or the like, but when the notification state is different from the above-described calling state (special notification), that is, when the call flag is 0, the special notification is performed. Instead, the information is output (notified) in a manner distinguishable from the special notification (the state where the call flag is 1). If the card stock is 0 (B14: YES) when the issuing operation is accepted (B13: YES), error processing (B12) such as calling a game hall employee is performed.
As described above, the game hall system 1 performs call processing and the like while referring to the call flag and the replenishment flag.

The game hall system 1 described above has the following effects.
Special when stock of general card 7 (including blank card before association) is 0 (first notification condition is satisfied) and the balance is at notification level (second notification condition is satisfied) Since the notification is performed, it is possible to notify the amusement hall employees that there is a high possibility that the player will be uncomfortable because the issuing process cannot be performed, unlike the normal notification performed when the general card 7 is not stocked. It becomes like this. Thereby, it can reduce that the state without a card is left as it is. In other words, since the gaming machine device 3 to be preferentially replenished is presented, unnecessary replenishment can be prevented even when the number of cards prepared is kept low, making the player uncomfortable. The fear can be reduced.

In a state where special notification is being performed (call flag = 1 state), a card can be received without receiving a supplement operation such as a remote control operation. This makes it possible to simply replenish cards without performing any operation on the gaming machine device 3 that is likely to be played by the player. Therefore, the discomfort level of the player can be reduced. In other words, the card can be replenished without causing a misunderstanding such as “the gaming machine 2 that the player is playing has been operated by the game hall employee”.
Even if the blank card is replenished and the special notification is finished (even if the calling flag is cleared by setting the call flag to 0), the acceptance state is continued by re-activating the replenishment timer. Thus, additional cards can be replenished without performing extra operations such as replenishment operations, and the possibility of running out of recording medium stock after the issuing process can be reduced.

  Even if the first notification condition and the second notification condition are satisfied after depositing (after the value is accepted by the value receiving means), the special notification is suppressed until the notification suppression cancellation condition is satisfied. . As a result, it is possible to prevent the possibility of the special notification being unnecessarily performed in spite of the fact that the need to perform the special notification immediately disappears, and unnecessary replenishment is performed by repeating such special notification. It is possible to prevent the possibility that necessary replenishment cannot be performed due to unnecessary replenishment. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility of causing confusion by warping by performing special notification.

(Other embodiments)
The present invention is not limited to the one exemplified in the above-described embodiment, and can be modified or expanded as follows. Moreover, it is possible not to employ a part of the configuration of any of the illustrated embodiments, or it is possible to arbitrarily combine a part or all of the illustrated configuration including modifications.
As described in the embodiment, not only the balance but also the counted holding balls (the player's possession value excluding the payout balls from the counting balls) as the notification target value and the remaining value. Well, in this case, if the payment process is replaced with the counting process and the lending process is replaced with the repatriation process, the equivalent process can be performed. On the other hand, it may be a notification (calling) target when the notification reference value is reached, or may be a notification target when both reach the notification reference value. In addition to the example shown in the embodiment, it may be assumed that the notification reference value is set to 0. In this case, the notification reference value of the balance and the holding ball may be set as a common setting value. It is good also as a structure which determines that 0 which is alerting | reporting reference value is exceeded by determining whether there exists.

  The calling state is exemplified as the notification mode to be notified when the balance etc. exceeds the notification reference value when the card stock is 0. However, if the notification mode is different from the notification mode at the time when the card stock becomes 0, the call is performed. For example, the status lamp 24 of the gaming machine device 3 that normally lights in green may be purple when the card stock becomes 0, or yellow when the notification reference value is exceeded, Of course, a configuration may be adopted in which red is displayed when the card stock is 0 and the notification reference value is exceeded in this state. Moreover, it is good also as a structure which alert | reports only when the notification reference value is exceeded in the state where a card stock is 0, without notifying at the time of a card stock becoming 0, etc.

Although it was exemplified that it is determined whether or not the notification reference value is exceeded for the balance or holding ball, whether or not the second notification condition is satisfied by comparing the deposit amount or counting ball with the notification reference value. You may judge.
Although three examples of the lending process, the elapse of the set time, and the cancel operation are exemplified as the notification suppression release condition, one or two of them may be set as the notification suppression release condition, or other conditions may be adopted. good.
It may correspond to a gaming machine device that performs a deposit / lending process in which a lending process is performed without performing a lending operation when depositing, and in this case, the advantage of the deposit timer is further easily obtained.
Although the card stock number is specified by adding and subtracting the card stock from the card acceptance process, it is only necessary to be able to identify at least the presence or absence of cards. For example, the number of card stocks and the presence or absence of stocked cards can be identified. A sensor may be provided, and the presence or absence of a stock card and the number of stock cards may be specified by the sensor.

If the set values exemplified are set in advance, the setting information can be set from an external (for example, chain store headquarters) management server, whether it is set arbitrarily by the game hall manager, or set by the manufacturer of the management device 6 May be downloaded and set.
Although a card-shaped recording medium is illustrated as an example of the recording medium, another recording medium such as a coin may be used as long as it can be stocked in the gaming machine device 3.
All illustrated game information may be specified directly by an input signal or indirectly by using an arithmetic expression. In addition, numerical values, the number of digits, items, and the like are examples, and any numerical values may be adopted.
As a target gaming machine, a pachinko gaming machine or a slot machine other than the illustrated pachinko gaming machine such as a so-called enclosed type that manages gaming media only by data can be adopted. Note that the game medium is expressed as a game value as necessary in consideration of a so-called enclosing type. In addition, in the case of an encapsulated type or the like, a state in which a valuable value can be consumed for a game is a value providing process for providing a game value usable for the game.

The illustrated processing may be performed not only by the gaming machine device 3 but also by any device such as the relay device 5 and the management device 6.
The configuration in which the special notification is performed by the gaming machine device 3 whose card stock is 0 is illustrated, but the special notification is performed by a plurality of gaming machine devices 3 such as adjacent or belonging to the same gaming island, and any one of them. The gaming machine device 3 may notify the player that the game can be continued. By performing the special notification on the plurality of gaming machine devices 3, it can be expected that the possibility that the game hall employee overlooks the special notification is reduced. On the other hand, if a special notification is given by a plurality of gaming machine devices 3, the player cannot understand the reason (that is, for example, misunderstanding that something has failed), and interrupts the game. There is a risk of it. Therefore, by notifying that the game can be executed, such a fear can be reduced. In addition, even if it is a case where special alerting | reporting is performed only with the applicable game machine apparatus 3 like embodiment, you may alert | report the game possible to a player.

  In the drawings, 1 is a game hall system, 2 is a gaming machine, 3 is a gaming machine device (value receiving means, value giving means, issuing means, stock means, first notification condition specifying means, second notification condition specifying means, notification Means, suppression means), 7 indicates a general card (recording medium).

Claims (5)

A value receiving means provided corresponding to a gaming machine, for accepting at least one of valuable values among money inserted by a player and gaming value acquired by the corresponding gaming machine;
Value giving means for giving a game value usable for a game in exchange for the valuable value received by the value receiving means;
Issuing means for issuing an issuance process for issuing a recording medium capable of specifying the remaining valuable value excluding the valuable value exchanged for the gaming value given by the value giving means out of the valuable value accepted by the value accepting means When,
Stock means capable of accepting a recording medium to be issued by the issuing process and stocking the accepted recording medium;
Whether the first notification condition established by the absence of the stocked recording medium is established by specifying the number of recording media stocked by the stocking means or by specifying the presence or absence of the stocked recording medium First notification condition specifying means for specifying whether or not,
When a value is received by the value receiving means, the value to be notified and the value to be notified, which is at least one of the value and the remaining value to be issued by the issuing process based on the value, and the value to be notified The second notification that specifies whether or not the second notification condition that is established when the notification target value is at the notification level is established by comparing the reference value with a preset reference value. Condition identification means;
When the first notification condition and the second notification condition are satisfied, special notification is performed, while only one of the first notification condition and the second notification condition is satisfied An amusement system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification means for not performing the special notification or performing a normal notification that is a notification different from the special notification.   The stock means accepts a replenishment operation by an amusement hall employee to enter an accepting state in which an unspecified recording medium, which is an unspecified recording medium, can be accepted, and on the condition that the accepting state is reached. 2. The game system according to claim 1, wherein an unspecified recording medium is accepted, and the accepting state is entered without accepting the replenishment operation in a state where the special notification is performed. The notification means terminates the special notification when the unspecified recording medium is received by the stock means in the state of performing the special notification,
3. The game system according to claim 2, wherein the stocking unit continues the reception state even when the special notification is ended by receiving the unspecified recording medium.   The informing means informs a plurality of gaming machine devices when performing the special notification, and informs the player that the game can be continued with at least one of the gaming machine devices. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein   Even when the first notification condition and the second notification condition are satisfied when a valuable value is received by the value receiving means, the notification suppression release condition set in advance is satisfied. The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising suppression means for suppressing special notification.

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