JP2016198201A - Control system for game parlor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To achieve an unprecedented novel machine-closing-business form, reduce workload of employees, yet contribute to proper profit securement in a game parlor side, and appropriately control operation states of game machines.SOLUTION: When the number of putout balls in one-round special state reaches an upper limit, a control device 5 notifies an employee of establishment of a machine-closing condition. When the employee confirms that a game machine transfers to a provability variable state after termination of a jackpot state, the game machine is closed, however, when confirming that the game machine transfers to a normal state after termination of the jackpot state, the employee permits continuation of the game without doing anything, so as to reduce burden of the employee and improve an operating rate of a game machine 1. Further, the control device outputs jackpot history data obtained by aggregating game data during the jackpot period in association with a closing period when determining that the number of putout balls reaches the upper limit. Consequently, the employee can acquire an occurrence state of the jackpot in association with an occurrence state of the machine closure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a game hall management system.

  In a conventional amusement hall, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a business form called so-called stop is known. As described in Patent Document 1, the game stop arbitrarily sets an upper limit value of the number of balls to be played and forcibly ends the game when the upper limit value is reached. Since the number of games that can be obtained with one gaming machine is limited, there is a merit that it becomes easy for the game hall side to secure profits.

JP 2009-101040 A

  However, every time the number of balls reaches the upper limit, the employee has to go to the game machine to perform the work of stopping, which has a problem that the work burden on the employee is large. In addition, while it is easy to secure the profit on the game hall side by stopping, there is also a problem that the game motivation of the player who has stopped is reduced and the operating rate of the gaming machine is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to realize a novel form of stop sales that has not been achieved so far, while reducing the work burden on employees, It is an object of the present invention to provide a management system for a game hall that can contribute to securing profits and can appropriately manage the operating status of gaming machines.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the game value amount acquired by the player in one special state reaches the upper limit value, the notification means notifies the employee to that effect. Go to the gaming machine to check the gaming state, and if it is a jackpot state or a probability variation state (including the case where it shifts to the probability variation state after the jackpot state ends), it is forcibly operated by operating the forced termination operation means By adopting a business form for returning to the normal state, there is no need to do anything if it has already returned to the normal state. Therefore, instead of always stopping when the upper limit is reached as in the past, if it is confirmed that the gaming state has returned to the normal state, allowing the game to continue without doing anything It is possible to reduce the work burden on employees and to increase the operating rate of gaming machines compared to always stopping at the end of the jackpot state. It can contribute to securing profits. Also, since the jackpot history data obtained by summing up the game data during the jackpot period and the stop timing determined that the game value amount acquired by the player has reached the upper limit value are output in association with each other, Not only the occurrence status but also the occurrence status of the stop can be grasped and associated together, and the operating status of the gaming machine can be appropriately managed.

Schematic which shows the whole structure of one Embodiment of this invention. Front view showing gaming machine and counting lending unit Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the gaming machine Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the counting lending unit Front view of game information display device Functional block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the game information display device The figure which shows an example of the jackpot history data by the management apparatus The figure which shows an example of the total data by the management device The figure which shows the big hit middle screen with game information display device The figure which shows the screen during probability change state by the game information display device The figure which shows the screen at the time of the stop occurrence by a game information display device The figure which shows the screen at the time of game continuation by a game information display apparatus

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a game hall management system. A large number of gaming machines 1 are installed in the game arcade, and a counting lending unit 2 and a game information display device 3 are installed as peripheral devices corresponding to each gaming machine 1 on a one-to-one basis. These gaming machine 1, counting / lending unit 2 and game information display device 3 are connected via a relay device 4 to a management device 5 (upper limit setting means, game value specifying means, upper limit determining means, notification means, jackpot period specifying means, jackpot (Corresponding to history data storage means, stop timing specifying means, output means). In this case, two gaming machines 1, two counting / lending units 2 and two gaming information display devices 3 are relayed by one relay device 4.

  The management device 5 is installed in, for example, an office room or the like in the game hall, and includes a keyboard 6 operated by a game hall manager, a monitor 7, a printer (not shown), and the like. The management device 5 transmits and receives various signals to and from the gaming machine side such as the gaming machine 1, the counting / lending unit 2, and the gaming information display device 3. The management device 5 stores and manages the status of each device including the gaming machine 1 and the magnitude of the gaming value for each player (held ball / sold ball (in the case of a member)) based on a signal from the gaming machine side. In addition to the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1, for example, several hundreds of game machines including a slot machine (not shown) are installed in the game hall, and each is a management target of the management device 5.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine 1 includes a launch handle 8, a speaker 9, and a decorative lamp unit 10, a liquid crystal display unit 12, a through-type general-purpose (ordinary symbol) start port 13, It has a variable special figure (special symbol) start opening (electric accessory) 14, special figure display section 15, universal figure display section 16, big prize opening 17, out opening 18, upper tray 19 and lower tray 20. In addition, although many nails are planted on the game board surface 11, they are omitted in FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the gaming machine 1. The gaming machine 1 includes a main control unit 21 (corresponding to jackpot lottery means, gaming state generation means, jackpot state generation means), special figure display section 15, general figure display section 16, effect control section 22, AMP23, display control section 24. , Liquid crystal display unit 12, payout control unit 25, payout mechanism unit 26, power supply circuit unit 27, special drawing winning sensor 28, universal drawing winning sensor 29, big winning sensor 30, RAM clear switch 31 (corresponding to forced termination operation means) , Special figure starting port SLD (solenoid) 32, special prize opening SLD33 and the like. In FIG. 3, the illustration of the I / F unit that transmits and receives various signals and various information to and from the count lending unit 2 and the management device 5 is omitted.

  The main control unit 21 is constituted by a microcomputer having a CPU 21a, a ROM 21b, a RAM 21c, and an I / O 21d, and executes a control program (random number generation unit 34, random number extraction unit 35, etc.) stored in the ROM 21b. The operation of the gaming machine 1 is controlled in accordance with ball driving, winning, etc. The special drawing winning sensor 28 outputs a winning detection signal to the main control unit 21 when detecting a winning at the special drawing starting port 14. When the win-winning sensor 29 detects a win at the open-up start port 13, it outputs a win detection signal to the main control unit 21. The big winning sensor 30 outputs a winning detection signal to the main control unit 21 when detecting the winning in the big winning opening 17. When operated, the RAM clear switch 31 outputs an operation signal to the main control unit 21.

  The special figure starting port SLD 32 opens the special figure starting port 14 when an opening command signal is input from the main control unit 21. The special winning opening SLD 33 opens the special winning opening 17 when an opening command signal is input from the main control unit 21. When the special command display unit 15 receives a display command signal from the main control unit 21, the special graphic display unit 15 performs symbol variation of the special graphic. When the display command signal is input from the main control unit 21, the general-purpose display unit 16 causes the general-purpose symbol display unit 16 to change the symbol of the normal diagram. When the production control signal is input from the main control unit 21, the production control unit 22 outputs a production sound from the speaker 9 through the AMP 23, produces a production display on the decorative lamp unit 10, or displays a liquid crystal through the display control unit 24. The display unit 12 is effect-displayed. When the display command signal is input from the main control unit 21, the liquid crystal display unit 12 displays various game data such as the number of jackpots and the number of special drawing lotteries. When the payout control unit 25 inputs a payout command signal from the main control unit 21, the payout mechanism unit 26 performs payout. The power supply circuit unit 27 supplies operating power to the entire gaming machine 1 including the main control unit 21.

The gaming machine 1 operates as follows.
When winning a prize in the universal drawing start port 13, a random drawing extracting unit 35 draws one random number generated by the random number generating unit 34 and a random drawing extracting unit 35 executes a general drawing lottery. . When winning the special drawing lottery, the winning symbol is displayed on the general drawing display section 16 and the electric combination of the special figure starting port 14 is released to increase the probability of winning the special figure starting port 14. When winning the special figure start port 14 (the lottery start condition is established), the special figure lottery in which one of the random numbers generated by the random number generation unit 34 is drawn by the random number extraction unit 35 is executed and the variation of the special figure is started. To do. The special drawing lottery results are stored up to 4 (not including one in the fluctuation) and the symbol fluctuation is executed sequentially.

  The gaming state of the gaming machine 1 includes a normal state, a jackpot state, and a probability variation state (hereinafter, a probability variation state). When a special drawing lottery is won, a jackpot state is generated. In the big hit state, the winning symbol is displayed on the special figure display unit 16, and the big prize opening 17 is opened 15 times, and when the 15 times open is finished (the end condition is satisfied), the big win state is finished. The opening time of one big winning opening 17 is a maximum of 30 seconds and is closed when 10 pieces are won. After the jackpot state ends, a probability variation state is generated with a probability of 50%. The lottery in the probability variation state is executed simultaneously with the special drawing lottery. In the probability variation state, the usual symbol variation time is greatly shortened, and the opening time of the special diagram start port 14 is further extended. Therefore, the probability variation state not only has a higher probability of winning the special figure than the normal state, but also has a higher payout rate. The winning probability of the special drawing lottery is set to 1/300 in the normal state and 1/30 in the probability variation state.

  The gaming machine 1 stores the current gaming state in the RAM 21c, and when the CPU 21a executes the program stored in the ROM 21b, the gaming state is changed by storing the current gaming state in the RAM 21c. . In this case, by opening the frame of the gaming machine 1 and operating the RAM clear switch 31 provided inside the main body of the gaming machine 1, the contents stored in the RAM 21c are initialized and the gaming state is initialized (forced to the normal state). Can be migrated).

From the gaming machine side, the following signals are transmitted to the relay device 4 in accordance with the execution of the game.
“Punching signal”: a signal indicating the number of game balls that have been driven into the gaming machine 1.
“Payout signal”: a signal indicating the number of safe balls paid out due to the occurrence of a prize.
“Start signal”: a signal indicating that the display of variation of the special figure is started by winning the special figure starting port 14.
“Big hit signal”: a signal indicating that a big hit state has occurred.
“Probability change signal”: a signal indicating that a probability change state has occurred.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the counting / lending unit 2 receives a state display unit 36 indicating a current operation state (normal state, error state, etc.), a bill insertion slot 37 into which a bill is inserted, and an operation input from a player. Along with the progress of the game, a touch-panel type liquid crystal display unit 38 for displaying game data such as the number of symbol variations (start count) and jackpot probability, a payout button 39 for paying out a unit worth (500 yen equivalent). , A dispensing nozzle 40 through which the dispensed ball passes, a remote control light receiving unit 42 for receiving (receiving) a signal from an employee remote control 41 (see FIG. 4) carried and operated by an employee, a general card 43 or a member card 44 A card insertion slot 45 into which (see FIG. 4) is inserted, a counting tray 46 positioned below the lower tray 20 of the gaming machine 1, and the like.

  A lending button 47 and a return button 48 are provided on the upper tray 19 of the gaming machine 1, and the counting lending unit 2 executes a lending process according to an operation on the lending button 47, and according to an operation on the return button 48. Execute card issue processing. Specifically, the counting lending unit 2 lends balls (game media) within the range of the deposit balance, and accepts balls (game value) paid out from the lower tray 20 of the gaming machine 1 as holding balls. Counting processing is performed, and the deposit balance and the number of balls held (count ball count) are recorded on the general card 43 or the membership card 44 (in the case of the membership card 44, only the deposit balance is recorded, and the number of balls is stored in the management device 5 ) And issue. When the general card 43 is received, the deposit balance and the number of possessed balls are displayed, and lending / return processing is performed within those ranges. When the member card 44 is received, the deposit balance is displayed, and the number of possessed balls / the number of stored balls stored in the management device 5 is displayed on condition that the password is authenticated, and the lending / returning process is performed within these ranges. Do.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the counting / lending unit 2. The counting lending unit 2 includes a control unit 49 configured by a microcomputer having a CPU 49a, a ROM 49b, a RAM 49c, and an I / O 49d, and a peripheral unit connected to the control unit 49. As a peripheral part, the I / F part 50 which transmits / receives various signals and various information between the management apparatus 5 and the game machine 1, the banknote process part 51 which determines the authenticity of the banknote thrown into the banknote slot 37, liquid crystal A display unit 38, a touch panel 52 provided on the liquid crystal display unit 38, a card reader / writer 53 for reading and writing various information recorded on the cards 43 and 44 inserted into the card insertion slot 45, and a card insertion A card stock part 54 capable of stocking up to 10 general cards 43 to be replenished from the mouth 45 at any time, a payout button 39, and paying out one unit (for example, 500 yen) of balls when the payout button 39 is operated. A payout unit 55 for paying out from the nozzle 40, a counting unit 56 for counting the number of balls flowing in from the counting tray 46, and the like are provided. The control unit 49 controls the overall operation of the counting / renting unit 2 based on a computer program stored in the ROM 49b or the like.

  IC cards 43a and 44a are built in the general card 43 and the member card 44, respectively, and a general ID and a member ID are stored in the IC chips 43a and 44a, respectively. These cards 43 and 44 are recording media for recording the remaining amount (payment balance, balance information) of the deposit amount deposited into the counting lending unit 2 and the possession information for identifying the number of possessions. The general card 43 is a card that is valid only on that day, and can record the deposit balance and the number of possessions. The membership card 44 is a card that is valid until a preset expiration date (for example, 3 years), and can record the deposit balance, while the number of possessed balls / the number of accumulated balls is stored only in the management device 5.

The counting lending unit 2 operates as follows in the online state with the management device 5.
(1) When the cards 43 and 44 are not inserted, and the banknote insertion slot 37 is deposited, the general card 43 stored in the card stock unit 54 is drawn out to the card reader / writer 53 and the deposited amount (in units of 1000 yen) ) And the deposit amount (payment balance) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 38, and then the number of balls corresponding to the number of times (500 yen) is automatically paid out from the payout mechanism inside the gaming machine 1. At this time, since a signal indicating that the ball for one number has been paid out is sent from the gaming machine 1 to the counting / lending unit 2, an amount corresponding to the number of times (500) is calculated from the deposit balance displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 38. Yen) is reduced and a sales signal is sent. Since this sales signal is transmitted with one pulse every time one ball is paid out, the management device 5 identifies one pulse as a sales amount of 500 yen.

(2) In accordance with the operation of the lending button 47 provided on the gaming machine 1, the number of balls corresponding to the number of times (500 yen) within the range of the deposit balance is paid out from the payout mechanism inside the gaming machine 1 and the deposit balance Update.
(3) The ball dropped from the lower tray 20 of the gaming machine 1 is received by the counting tray 46 and the number of balls is counted by the counting unit 56 to update the number of balls and display it on the liquid crystal display unit 38.
(4) In accordance with the operation of the payout button 39, payout is made one by one within the range of the number of balls (number of balls held) or the number of balls (in the case of members)

  (5) In accordance with an operation (return operation) on the return button 48 provided on the gaming machine 1, the deposit balance and the number of balls are recorded and issued on the general card 43 inserted in the card insertion slot 45. When the membership card 44 is inserted, the deposit balance is recorded on the membership card 44 and the number of balls is transmitted to the management device 5 before the membership card 44 is issued. When the cards 43 and 44 are issued, the issuance information is transmitted to the management device 5 and stored also on the management device 5 side. If neither the general card 43 nor the membership card 44 is inserted into the card insertion slot 45, the general card 43 stocked in the card stock unit 54 is fed (set) to the card reader / writer 53, and the deposit balance and holding Record and issue the number of balls. Further, when the general card 43 is inserted and the deposit balance and the number of balls are zero, the general card 43 set in the card reader / writer 53 is collected in the card stock unit 54. On the other hand, the membership card 44 is held as it is even if the deposit balance and the number of possessed balls / the number of stored balls become zero.

(6) When the general card 43 is inserted into the card insertion slot 45, the deposit balance and the number of possessions recorded in the general card 43 are read by the card reader / writer 53 and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 38. When the membership card 44 is inserted, the deposit balance recorded on the membership card 44 is read out and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 38, and the storage ball stored in the membership account of the management device 5 on condition that the password is authenticated. The number (the number of balls stored on the current day / the number of balls stored on the previous day) is displayed. The number of balls stored on the day is the number of balls stored on the day, and the number of balls stored on the previous day is the number of balls stored up to the previous day. After the end of business, the number of balls stored on the day is added to the number of balls stored on the previous day and stored. In response to an operation (payout operation) on the payout button 39 by the player, the ball is paid out from the payout nozzle 40 within the range of the number of held balls or the number of stored balls, and the number of held balls or the number of stored balls is updated.
(7) The remote controller light receiving unit 42 receives (receives) a command from the employee remote controller 41, and executes various processes (error cancellation, etc.) according to the command content.
(8) The issuance history of the cards 43 and 44 during the day can be read and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 38 according to the operation by the employee.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the game information display device 3 has a lamp unit 57, a liquid crystal display unit 58, a call button 59 for calling an employee, a type of game information displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 58, and the like. A switch button 60 and a light receiving unit 61 that receives (receives) a signal from the employee remote control 41 are provided. The liquid crystal display unit 58 can display various game information according to the operation of the switching button 60. FIG. 5 shows an example of a normal screen by the liquid crystal display unit 58, and the following game information is displayed.

“Number of today's jackpots”: The number of occurrences of the jackpot state today.
“Number of hits on the previous day”: Number of occurrences of the jackpot state on the previous day.
“Number of stoppages today”: The number of stoppages generated today.
“Historical number of jackpots”: Number of occurrences of the highest jackpot state ever.
“Number of start of jackpot”: The number of starts between jackpot states.
“Today's cumulative start count”: The cumulative total of today's start count.
“Number of balls to be paid (number of balls)” is a graph showing the transition of the value obtained by subtracting the number of throws from the number of payouts.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the game information display device 3. The game information display device 3 includes a control unit 62 configured by a microcomputer having a CPU 62a, a ROM 62b, a RAM 62c, and an I / O 62d, and a peripheral unit connected to the control unit 62. The peripheral part includes various signals such as a lamp part 57, a liquid crystal display part 58, a call button 59, a switching button 60, a light receiving part 61, a touch panel 63 formed on the screen of the liquid crystal display part 58, and the relay device 4. An I / F unit 64 that transmits and receives various types of information is provided. The control unit 62 controls the overall operation of the game information display device 3 based on a computer program stored in the ROM 62b or the like.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described.
When the player inserts a banknote into the banknote slot 37 of the counting / lending unit 2, the counting / lending unit 2 stores the amount of money after confirming that the inserted banknote is true, and the lending frequency (1 After the frequency unit) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 38, balls for one degree are automatically paid out from the payout mechanism inside the gaming machine 1. When the player further depresses the lending button 47 of the gaming machine 1 to receive the lending of the ball, a lending process of paying out the ball from the lending mechanism inside the gaming machine 1 is executed one by one according to the operation on the lending button 47. . On the other hand, when the member has more than the payout unit of the gaming machine 1, the payout process of paying out the balls for one payout unit from the payout nozzle 40 by the operation on the payout button 39 is executed.

  As a result of the game by the player, when a big hit occurs in the gaming machine 1, the game information display device 3 displays a big hit middle screen on the liquid crystal display unit 58 based on the big hit signal from the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. 9, a message “Congratulations on the jackpot!” Is displayed on the screen for the jackpot, and the number of jackpots and the number of balls (initial value = 0) are displayed. In this jackpot state, a large number of safe balls are paid out in a short time, and the number of outgoing balls (the number of safe balls−the number of out balls) is updated in real time according to the payout.

  In the big hit state of the gaming machine 1, in addition to the upper saucer 19, the lower saucer 20 is also filled with safe balls, so that the player drops the safe balls from the lower saucer 20 of the gaming machine 1 in order to count the safe balls Let The fallen safe ball is received by the counting tray 46 of the counting lending unit 2 and flows into the counting lending unit 2. When the counting lending unit 2 counts the safe balls that have flowed in by the counting unit 56, the counting lending unit 2 displays the counting balls as holding balls on the liquid crystal display unit 38.

  When the jackpot state at the gaming machine 1 ends and the probability variation state is won, the game information display device 3 displays a screen during the probability variation state on the liquid crystal display unit 58 based on the probability variation signal from the gaming machine 1. In this probability changing state screen, as shown in FIG. 10, a message “Probably changing!” Is displayed. This probability variation state is a state in which the number of balls is gradually reduced although the ball payout rate is higher than that in the normal state. When the big hit state ends and the normal state is restored, the normal screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed.

  The management device 5 creates a record every time a jackpot is generated in the gaming machine 1, and when a jackpot signal is input, specifies the state of the gaming machine 1 at that timing (normal state or probability change state). Create a record. FIG. 7 shows an example of jackpot history data by the management device 5. Although FIG. 7 illustrates the first unit, the management device 5 manages the jackpot history data of all the gaming machines 1.

In the jackpot history data, items of record NO, jackpot occurrence time, state, type, B size, appearance, sales are set, and the meanings of these items are as follows.
“Time”: Time when a big hit occurs.
“State”: a game state when a big hit occurs, and is either “normal” or “probability change”.
“Type”: “Big hit”, “Stop”, or “Continue game”.
“B S”: The number of balls played from the end of the previous jackpot to the current jackpot occurrence (the number of safe balls−the number of balls out).
“Out of ball”: Number of balls in one special state (the number of safe balls−the number of balls out, the amount of game value acquired by the player).
“Sales”: Sales amount.

  Here, one special state is a period until a big hit occurs in a normal state (non-input state of jackpot signal and probability variation signal) and returns to the normal state again. From the number of safe balls in that period A value obtained by subtracting the number of balls out is calculated to specify the number of balls out. That is, the period in which the jackpot signal or the probability variation signal is continuously input is specified as one special state period, and the period in which neither the jackpot signal or the probability variation signal is input is specified as the normal state.

  Now, the management apparatus 5 determines whether the number of balls in one special state (the number of safe balls-the number of out balls) has reached a preset upper limit value. In this embodiment, the upper limit is set to, for example, 10,000 balls, and it is determined that the stopping condition is satisfied when the number of balls in one special state reaches the upper limit (record NO in the example of FIG. 7). .7, 15), the in-store broadcast, the intercom device or the like notifies the employee of the turn number for which the stop condition has been established. In this case, the management apparatus 5 is NO. In the record of No. 7, the stop time is specified as “12:02”, and NO. In 15 records, the stop time is specified as “15:12”. When such notification is given, the employee goes to the corresponding gaming machine 1 for which the stop condition is satisfied and visually checks the gaming state of the gaming machine 1. At this time, because the management device 5 notifies the game information display device 3 of the stop, the game information display device 3 displays a screen when the stop occurs. On the screen when the stop occurs, a message “Stop! Thank you! Please wait for the employee to come!” Is displayed as shown in FIG.

  The employee who went to the corresponding gaming machine 1 checks whether or not the gaming state of the gaming machine 1 is in a probable change state and whether or not the number of balls has reached 10,000 balls. When the gaming machine 1 is in the probability changing state, the player is notified that the player is in the probability changing state by lighting or blinking the lamp portion 57 of the game information display device 3 in accordance with the probability changing signal transmitted from the gaming machine 1. The employee can confirm whether or not the gaming state of the gaming machine 1 is in a certain change state. In many models, an effect is provided for notifying that the probability variation state has occurred in the liquid crystal display unit 12 of the gaming machine 1, and therefore it is specified that the probability variation state has also occurred due to the effect. Can do. On the other hand, the employee confirms the number of balls played by displaying the count value by the counting lending unit 2 and the number of balls played by the game information display device 3. In the middle of the special state, the player may have issued a general card 43 on which the count value is recorded. In this case, the count value may not reach 10,000 balls. Issuance can be specified by checking the card issuance history display of the counting lending unit 2 and the game information display device 3.

  When the employee confirms that the state has shifted to the probable change state after the end of the jackpot state, the employee notifies the player that the game is stopped, and operates the RAM clear switch 31 provided in the gaming machine 1 (RAM The game is forcibly terminated by performing a clear operation. This is because the special state continues while the stop condition is satisfied, so that the special state is terminated and the normal state is restored. After the RAM clear operation, the game continuation is permitted as it is. At this time, when the employee operates the employee remote controller 41 to notify the game information display device 3 that the RAM clear operation has been performed, the game information display device 3 notifies the management device 5 of the fact. Therefore, the management device 5 creates a record indicating that it has been stopped as jackpot history data. In the illustration of FIG. The record 8 is identified and displayed in a different color from the other records (indicated by the hatched area in FIG. 7) that the record has been canceled due to the probability change state. In this case, NO. Since the RAM clear operation is performed on the gaming machine 1 in response to the 7 stop condition being satisfied, the number of balls to be played is set to zero.

  On the other hand, if the employee confirms that the normal state has been restored after the jackpot state ends, the employee permits the game to continue without forcibly terminating the game. This is because the normal state is restored after the special state is completed in the state where the stop condition is satisfied, and it is not necessary to perform the RAM clear operation. At this time, when the employee operates the employee remote controller 41 to notify the game information display device 3 that the RAM clear operation is not performed, the game information display device 3 displays a game continuation screen. On the game continuation screen, as shown in FIG. 12, a message “You can continue the game as it is!” Is displayed. At the same time, since the game information display device 3 notifies the management device 5 to that effect, the management device 5 creates a record indicating that the game has been continued because of the normal state as jackpot history data. In the illustration of FIG. Sixteen records are identified and displayed in a different color from other records (indicated by hatched areas in FIG. 7) that the game has been continued because of the normal state. In this case, NO. Although the 15 clearing condition is satisfied, the RAM clearing operation is not performed, but the number of balls is reset to zero as in the case of the RAM clearing operation.

The management device 5 aggregates various game data for each machine number of the gaming machine 1. FIG. 8 shows an example of the total data, and the target of aggregation is the following items.
“Number of balls out”: Number of balls hit.
“Safe balls”: Number of balls paid out.
“Start”: The number of start times that occurred in the normal state (number of fluctuations in the special figure).
“Big jackpot”: Number of jackpots.
“Probability change”: The number of occurrences of the probability change state.
“Stop”: The number of occurrences of stop.
“Game continuation”: the number of occurrences of game continuation.
“Sales”: Sales amount.

  By the way, in this embodiment, when the stop condition is satisfied, when the probability change state is reached after the big hit state, a business mode is adopted in which the RAM clear operation is performed to forcibly end the probability change state and return to the normal state. Therefore, it will artificially suppress the game machine's original performance, but if you adopt a business policy that loosens the game conditions in the normal state (difficulty to win special figure start opening 14) as a compensation, The burden on the player side in the state can be reduced. That is, it is possible to implement a sales form suitable for a player who wants to reduce the burden in the normal state rather than the size of the ball.

  When the player operates the payout button 39 because there is no safe ball in the trays 19 and 20 due to the game after the special state as described above is finished, a ball for several times within the range of the number of balls is provided. The number of balls currently displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 38 is updated while being paid out from 40 to the gaming machine 1. When the number of balls is less than one, all the numbers of balls are paid out.

  When the player operates the return button 48 of the gaming machine 1 to end the game, the counting / lending unit 2 issues a general card 43 in which the deposit balance and the number of balls at that time are recorded. When the member card 44 is inserted into the card insertion slot 45, only the deposit balance is recorded and issued to the member card 44, and the number of possessed balls is stored in the member account of the management device 5. Then, by inserting the issued cards 43 and 44 into the destination counting / lending unit 2, the deposit balance and the number of possessed balls / the number of stored balls recorded on the cards 43 and 44 (in the case of the membership card 44, the management device) 5) is displayed, so that it is possible to play the ball by lending or returning the ball within the range. The deposit balance stored in the cards 43 and 44 can be refunded by a balance settlement machine (not shown). Further, a player who desires to exchange the number of possessed balls / stored balls for a prize can obtain a desired prize by executing a predetermined prize exchange process with a prize exchange apparatus (not shown).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
In the management apparatus 5, when the number of balls in one special state reaches the upper limit value, the employee is informed that the stopping condition has been established. If it is confirmed that it has been stopped, if it is confirmed that it has transitioned to the normal state after the jackpot state ends, allowing the continuation of the game without doing anything can reduce the burden on the employee, The operating rate of the gaming machine 1 can be increased as compared with the case where it is always stopped at the end.

  Conventionally, the stop is always performed when the stop condition is satisfied. However, in this embodiment, even if the stop condition is satisfied, the game is allowed to continue if the special state is finished and the normal state is finished. Therefore, when multiple special states that become normal after the big hit state have occurred until the hitting, the number of balls at the time of stopping may greatly exceed 10,000 balls, In this case, it becomes a business form close to the conventional non-quantitative business. In this way, in this embodiment, unlike conventional stop (quantitative) sales, depending on the gaming conditions, a sales form close to non-quantitative sales is possible, and it can be said that this is an advantageous sales form for the player. Since the RAM clear operation is executed, the profit of the game hall can be surely ensured. In addition, the jackpot history data obtained by summing up the game data during the jackpot period and the stop timing determined that the number of balls has reached the upper limit are output in association with each other. The occurrence status of the stop can be grasped in association with each other, and the operating status of the gaming machine can be managed appropriately.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified or expanded as follows, or may be combined with the above-described embodiments, or may be combined with each of the modifications.
When the gaming state at the time when it is determined that the number of balls in one special state has reached the upper limit value is a jackpot state, a stop notification is waited until the jackpot state ends (notification standby means) To determine whether the gaming state after the jackpot state ends is a normal state or a probable change state (corresponding to a gaming state determination means), and if it is determined to be a normal state, a stop notification is issued. You may make it cancel. According to such a configuration, it is automatically determined whether the gaming state after the jackpot state is the normal state or the probability variation state, and in the case of the probability variation state, the employee is notified of the stoppage confirmation. Can be expected to reduce the work load.
Each time the special state ends, the number of balls to be played may be reset to zero (corresponding to game value reset means). According to such a configuration, it is possible to reliably specify the game value amount per special state.

  You may make it provide the game stop means to make it transfer to a state in which a game is impossible automatically when it returns to a normal state or a probability change state after a stop condition is satisfied. For example, a means for controlling the ball not to be fired even if the handle is operated, a means for controlling the special drawing lottery or the design variation so as not to be executed even if the special figure starting port 14 is won. In this case, when the game is stopped by the game stop means, it is desirable to display the fact on the liquid crystal display unit 12 and notify the player. By providing such a game stop means, it is possible to confirm whether the employee is in a normal state or a probable change state with the player stopping the game.

Although the RAM clear switch 31 is provided inside the main body of the gaming machine 1, it may be remotely controlled from the employee remote controller 41 possessed by the employee.
When the stop condition is satisfied, the RAM clear operation is performed after waiting for the jackpot state to end, but it is also possible to perform the RAM clear operation immediately without waiting for the end of the jackpot state. This depends on the business policy of the amusement hall.
The RAM clear process is executed in response to the RAM clear operation by the employee, but when returning to the normal state after the stop condition is satisfied, the main control unit 21 of the gaming machine 1 automatically performs the RAM clear process. May be executed.

  The RAM clear operation is always performed when the game state becomes a certain change state when the stop condition is satisfied, but the game is continued without performing the RAM clear operation when a specific game continuation condition is satisfied. You may make it let it. For example, if the winning symbol of the jackpot generated immediately before the stop condition is met matches a predetermined lucky symbol, it is determined that the game continuation condition is satisfied, and the RAM clear operation can be delayed (such as this) Is a so-called lucky number system). In this case, the same process may be repeated every time the stop condition is satisfied again after the grace period.

  In the game information display device 3, in the jackpot state and the probable change state, the maximum number of stoppages that occurred in the past business day may be displayed to produce an effect that raises the player's awareness of the stoppage. In the game information display device 3, the elapsed time from the time when the first big hit state occurs until the time when the stop occurs may be measured and displayed as the required stop time. In this case, it may be possible to increase the player's competition awareness by displaying the shortest time among past required stoppage times together. As described above, in the game information display device 3, when a special state occurs, it is desirable to display various effects to increase the player's awareness of stopping.

A pachinko gaming machine is illustrated as an example of a gaming machine, but a slot machine may be used.
It is not necessary to stop all the gaming machines installed in the amusement hall and make them subject to sales, and a corner for non-quantitative sales may be added. In this case, the installation ratio of the stop sales corner and the non-quantitative sales corner can be appropriately determined in consideration of the needs of both the game hall side and the player side.
Although the target is a pachinko gaming machine that pays out balls when a winning occurs, a pachinko gaming machine of a type (so-called encapsulated type) that gives points instead of paying out balls may be used.

  In the drawings, 1 is a gaming machine, 5 is a management device (upper limit setting means, gaming value specifying means, upper limit determining means, notification means, jackpot period specifying means, jackpot history data storage means, stop timing specifying means, output means), Reference numeral 21 denotes a main control unit (a jackpot lottery means, a gaming state generation means, a jackpot state generation means), and 31 denotes a RAM clear switch (forced termination operation means).

Claims (3)

A jackpot lottery means for executing a jackpot lottery when a predetermined lottery start condition is established in the game;
A gaming state generating means for generating one of a normal state with a low winning probability and a probability variation state with a high winning probability as a gaming state capable of executing the jackpot lottery,
A jackpot state generating means for generating a jackpot state until a predetermined end condition is satisfied when winning in the jackpot lottery;
A management system for a game hall, comprising: a forced termination operation means for forcibly terminating the jackpot state or the probability variation state according to an operation of an employee and generating the normal state. In
In the special state, which is a gaming state in which the jackpot state is generated by winning the jackpot lottery in the normal state, and then the probability variation state and the jackpot state are repeatedly generated without generating the normal state. An upper limit setting means for setting an upper limit of the game value amount that can be acquired,
Game value specifying means for specifying the game value amount acquired by the player in one special state;
Upper limit determination means for comparing the game value amount specified by the game value specifying means with the upper limit value set by the upper limit value setting means and determining whether or not the game value amount has reached the upper limit value. When,
A notification means for performing a notification operation for notifying an employee that confirmation of stoppage should be confirmed when it is determined by the upper limit determination means that the gaming value amount has reached an upper limit;
A jackpot period specifying means for specifying a jackpot period that is a period in which the jackpot state is occurring;
For each jackpot state generated by the jackpot state generating means, the jackpot history data storage means for totalizing game data during the jackpot period specified by the jackpot period specifying means and storing it as jackpot history data;
Stop timing specifying means for specifying a stop timing that is a time when the upper limit determination means determines that the game value amount has reached the upper limit;
A management system for a game hall, comprising: output means for outputting the jackpot history data stored by the jackpot history data storage means and the stop timing specified by the stop timing specifying means in association with each other . Notification waiting means for waiting for notification by the notification means until the jackpot state ends when the gaming state at the time when the gaming value amount is determined to have reached the upper limit value by the upper limit determination means is a jackpot state When,
If the gaming state at the time when the gaming value amount has reached the upper limit value by the upper limit judging means is a jackpot state, the gaming state after the jackpot state has ended is the normal state and the probability variation Gaming state determination means for determining which of the states,
2. The game hall management system according to claim 1, wherein when the game state determination unit determines that the state is the normal state, the notification unit stops execution of the notification operation.   3. The game hall management system according to claim 1, further comprising: a game value resetting unit that zero-resets the game value amount specified by the game value specifying unit each time the special state is completed. .

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