JP2017006461A - Game hall system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game hall system where it is possible for a staff member during prize exchange work to quickly ask other staff members for assistance, if the number of staff performing the prize exchange work is insufficient.SOLUTION: It is so configured that by an operation of an assistance request button key 56a provided to a POS, assistance can be requested to other staff members. Therefore, it is possible for other staff members to quickly coming up for the assistance to deal with the request, which also gives a good impression to players.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a game system.

  Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1, for example, a plurality of POSs as prize exchange devices are installed in a prize exchange counter in a game hall, and an employee operates a POS according to a player's request, A predetermined prize exchange operation is performed.

JP 2008-136720 A

  However, in the above prize exchange work, there are cases where there are many or few players who wish to exchange prizes depending on the time of day, and an appropriate number of employees respond to the actual situation. However, when the number of players who wish to exchange prizes suddenly increases, there is a problem that employees are not aware of the situation and the response is delayed, causing the players to wait for a long time.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and its purpose is to promptly support employees who are giving away prizes to other employees when there are not enough employees to exchange prizes. The object is to provide a system for a game arcade that can be requested.

  According to the system for a game hall of claim 1, when a player who wishes to exchange prizes suddenly increases and queues for the players, the employee requests support means provided in the prize exchange apparatus. By manipulating, it is possible to promptly support other employees. Therefore, it becomes possible for other employees to smoothly support and respond, and the player has a good impression.

1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. External perspective view of POS viewed from the employee side POS functional block diagram The figure which shows the screen before starting the prize exchange processing The figure which shows the screen when reading game value Flow chart showing the flow of the gift exchange process Flow chart showing the flow of request response processing

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration of a game room system 100.
A plurality of gaming machines 1 are installed in the amusement hall, and a counting rental unit 2 is installed corresponding to each gaming machine 1. A plurality of these gaming machines 1 and counting lending units 2 are connected to the relay device 3 one by one. The relay device 3 is connected to the management device 5 via the LAN 4. The management device 5 receives game signals transmitted from devices on the gaming machine side such as the gaming machine 1 and the counting / lending unit 2, thereby playing game data for each gaming machine 1 and personal data for each member player registered as a member. Manage etc. Although detailed illustration is omitted, for example, several hundred gaming machines are installed in the game hall, and a plurality of gaming machine islands with different rental unit prices (rental unit prices) of game media are formed. FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming machine island (4 yen pachinko island) with a rental unit price of 4 yen as a game medium and a 1 yen gaming machine island (1 yen pachinko island).

  A POS 6 and a payment device 7 are also installed in the game hall, and these POS 6 and the payment device 7 are also connected to the management device 5 via the LAN 4. A plurality of POSs 6 are installed in a prize exchange corner (premium exchange counter) for a player to exchange game values for prizes. The POS 6 is connected to an attached card processor 8. As will be described in detail later, when the card processor 8 reads the number of balls (game value) recorded on a general card or a membership card (represented by reference numerals 9 and 10 in FIG. 3), The POS 6 executes a predetermined gift exchange process based on the number of possessed balls according to the operation of the employee. Note that, when the POS 6 is output to the management device 5, the POS No. POS that can identify which of the plurality of POS 6 in the giveaway exchange counter is the signal output. (Device ID) is added.

  When the general card 9 or the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 7a, the checkout apparatus 7 reads the deposit balance recorded in the inserted cards 9 and 10 with a card reader / writer (not shown) and reads the read balance. Return processing is performed to refund the banknotes and coins corresponding to the deposit balance from the return port 7b. When the checkout device 7 and the POS 6 handle the game values recorded on the cards 9 and 10, the checkout device 7 and the POS 6 collate with the magnitudes of the game values stored in advance corresponding to the cards 9 and 10. After that, the handling of game value is made effective.

  The management device 5 installed in the game hall includes a control unit (determination means) including a CPU and a storage unit (not shown), a transmission / reception unit, an output unit such as a monitor 5b and a printer, and an operation unit such as a keyboard 5a and a mouse. The operating status of the gaming machine 1, counting lending unit 2, POS 6, etc. in the hall is managed. Further, the control unit (hereinafter abbreviated as management device 5) of the management device 5 determines the magnitude of the game value for each player ((number of possessed balls / stored balls) based on various signals received from the gaming machine side, the POS 6, etc. Number (in the case of a member), and the balance of deposits, etc. The holding balls are balls counted during the day, and the stored balls are balls counted before the previous day.

  In the game hall, an in-field broadcast device (broadcast device 11) connected to the LAN 4 is installed, and the management device 5 transmits various broadcast command signals to the broadcast device 11. The broadcast device 11 outputs various automatic voice messages according to the received broadcast command signal.

  The gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a CR pachinko machine, and has an operation handle 12, an upper tray 13 and a lower tray 14 that constitute a launching device that launches balls on the board surface 1a, and a liquid crystal display unit 15 on the board surface 1a. It has a start port 16 and a grand prize port 17. When the player operates the operation handle 12, the ball is fired on the board surface 1a, and when the pachinko ball wins the start port 16, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the winning is paid out or a big hit lottery is performed. In the jackpot lottery, the liquid crystal display unit 15 executes a symbol variation based on a so-called special symbol, and a jackpot is generated when the symbol that is stopped and displayed is a jackpot symbol. When a big hit occurs, the big winning opening 17 is opened for 15 rounds, for example.

  The number of out balls indicating the number of game media inserted into the gaming machine 1 is specified from the device on the gaming machine side in accordance with the progress of the game such as the ball being thrown by the player or the start winning at the start port 16. Various signals such as a possible out signal, a safe signal that can specify the number of safe balls indicating the number of game media paid out from the gaming machine 1 by winning, a state signal that can identify the jackpot state generated in the gaming machine 1, and the like. A game signal is transmitted.

  Further, the counting / lending unit 2 shown in FIG. 1 accepts an operation input from a state display unit 22 indicating a current operation state (normal state, error state, etc.), a bill insertion slot 23 into which a bill is inserted, and a player. , A touch-panel type liquid crystal display unit 24 for displaying various data such as information on the balance of deposits, the number of held balls, and the number of stored balls, a payout button 25 for paying out a unit worth (equivalent to 500 yen), a payout It has a dispensing nozzle 26 through which balls pass, a card insertion slot 27 into which a general card 9 or a membership card 10 is inserted, a counting tray 28 detachably connected to the lower tray 14 of the gaming machine 1 and the like. The count lending unit 2 can detect the operation of the lending button 30 and the return button 31 provided in the gaming machine 1. Although not shown in the figure, the counting lending unit 2 reads, for example, a card stock section capable of stocking up to 10 general cards 9 and various information recorded on the cards 9 and 10. A card reader / writer for writing and a counting unit for counting balls flowing in from the counting tray 28 are provided.

  The general card 9 is a card that is valid only on the day and has an IC chip 9a built therein. In the IC chip 9a, a general ID that can identify the card is recorded, and the deposit balance deposited in the counting lending unit 2 and the number of balls held for each unit price are recorded. The membership card 10 is a card that is valid until a preset expiration date (for example, three years), and includes an IC chip 10a. In the IC chip 10a, a member ID capable of specifying a card member is recorded, and similarly to the IC chip 9a of the general card 9, the deposit balance and the number of balls held for each unit price are recorded. Further, the number of stored balls corresponding to the member card 10 is stored in the member account of the management device 5.

The counting lending unit 2 has the following functions.
(1) When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 23, the amount of the inserted bill (in units of 1000 yen) is stored, and the inserted amount (payment balance) is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24.

  (2) When the lending button 30 of the gaming machine 1 is operated, the number of balls corresponding to the number of times (500 yen) is within the range of the deposit balance in accordance with the operation of the lending button 30. Lending processing to lend from the payout mechanism is performed. If it is a counting lending unit 2 installed on a 4-yen pachinko island, 125 balls are paid out, and if it is a counting lending unit 2 installed on a 1-yen pachinko island, 500 balls are paid out. At this time, the game machine 1 sends a signal indicating that the ball has been paid out to the counting lending unit 2 once, so the number of times (500 yen) is deducted from the deposit balance displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24. In addition, a sales signal that can specify the number of borrowed balls indicating the number of balls lent out is transmitted. Since one pulse is transmitted every time the sales signal is paid out for several minutes, one pulse is specified as a sales amount of 500 yen.

  (3) When a ball dropped from the lower tray 14 of the gaming machine 1 is received by the counting tray 28, the ball received by the counting tray 28 flows into the counting section, thereby being a ball that is a game medium (game value). Is counted, and the number of balls counted, which is the number of balls counted, is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24.

  (4) When the payout button 25 is operated, in accordance with the operation of the payout button 25, the number of balls (number of possessed balls) or the number of stored balls (in the case of a member player) is once (500 yen). The equivalent number of balls is paid out from the payout mechanism inside the gaming machine 1.

  (5) When the return button 31 of the gaming machine 1 is operated, the deposit balance and the number of possessions are recorded and issued on the general card 9 or the membership card 10 according to the operation of the return button 31 (return of game media Process). When neither the general card 9 nor the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance and the number of possessions are recorded on the general card 9 stocked in the card stock section by the card reader / writer. Issue. When the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance is recorded on the membership card 10, and the membership card 10 is issued by transmitting the number of possessions to the management device 5 on condition that the PIN number is input. . When the general card 9 or the member card 10 is issued, the management device 5 generates an issuance signal that can specify the deposit balance and the number of possessed balls recorded on the general card 9 or the member card 10 together with the general ID and member ID that can identify the card. , The deposit balance and the number of possessions recorded in the general card 9 or the membership card 10 are also stored on the management device 5 side.

  (6) When the general card 9 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance and the number of possessions recorded in the general card 9 are read out by the card reader / writer and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24. When the general card 9 is accepted, the lending / returning process is performed within the range of the deposit balance and the number of balls recorded on the general card 9. In addition, when the payout process is performed when the number of held balls recorded on the general card 9 is less than the number of balls corresponding to the one-time number, all the number of held balls less than the number of balls corresponding to the one-time number is paid put out.

  (7) When the membership card 10 is inserted into the card insertion slot 27, the deposit balance recorded in the membership card 10 is read out by the card reader / writer and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 24, and the input of a personal identification number is required. The number of stored balls stored in the member account of the management device 5 is also displayed. When the membership card 10 is accepted, it is loaned / returned within the range of the deposit balance and the number of balls recorded in the membership card 10 and the number of stored balls stored in the management device 5 corresponding to the membership card 10 Process. The information related to the number of possessed balls is recorded on the general card 9 or the membership card 10 in association with the information on the unit price.

The POS 6 shown in FIG. 2 includes a card processor 8 and a second display unit 42 (shown only in FIG. 3) as an attached device separate from the main body unit 40.
The main body 40 of the POS 6 is arranged in the first direction D1 where the employee is located in the gift exchange counter, and includes a first display unit 41 and an operation unit 43 that are visible from the first direction D1 side. Provide one. The operation unit 43 of the main body unit 40 includes a warehousing button 43a for performing a warehousing operation of prizes, various operation buttons 43b, an exchange button 43c for performing an exchange operation for special prizes, and for completing a prize exchange process. An end button 43d, a PLU button 43e for selecting the type of the prize, a cancel button 43f for canceling each operation, and a numeric keypad 43g for inputting the quantity of each prize are provided. In the main body 40, a printer 44 is provided at a position above the operation unit 43, and a scanner 45 is provided on the left side.

  The 1st display part 41 displays the display content for employees, for example, consists of a liquid crystal display. A first touch panel 41 a made of, for example, a transparent electrode is provided on the front surface of the first display unit 41. Therefore, the employee can operate the first touch panel 41a with his / her fingers while looking at the first display unit 41 (hereinafter abbreviated as a touch operation).

  On the other hand, the card processor 8 is provided so as to be communicable with the main body 40 of the POS 6, and a general card receiving unit (not receiving) the touch panel type liquid crystal display unit 8 a and the general card 9 can be received without contact (without taking in). A reader / writer unit) 8b, and a member card receiving unit (reader / writer unit) 8c capable of receiving and receiving the member card 10. The card processor 8 in FIG. 2 is shown in the same direction as the main body 40 of the POS 6 for convenience of explanation. However, the player inserts the membership card 10 into the reception unit 8c and the password on the liquid crystal display unit 8a. In order to enable a touch operation such as input, the card processor 8 is installed at the prize exchange counter toward the player.

  Note that the second display unit 42 is arranged, for example, in the prize exchange counter, in a state of being back-to-back with the first display unit 41 of the POS 6, and facing the player side opposite to the arrow D1 in FIG. Display the display contents. The second display unit 42 is configured with a liquid crystal display, for example, similarly to the first display unit 41, and a second touch panel (not shown) is provided on the front surface thereof.

  FIG. 3 shows a functional block diagram of the POS 6. The POS 6 includes a control unit 47 (game value specifying means, prize specifying means) constituted by a microcomputer having a CPU 47a, ROM 47b, RAM 47c, and I / O 47d, and a peripheral unit connected to the control unit 47. As a peripheral part, the I / F part 48 which transmits / receives various signals and various information between the management apparatus 5 and the card processing machine 8, the 1st touch panel 41a, the 1st display part 41, and various buttons 43a-43g. (Operation unit 43), scanner 45, and printer 44. Further, the peripheral part includes a second display part 42 having the second touch panel and an employee card reader 49 (shown only in FIG. 3). The employee card reader 49 is provided in the main body 40 to authenticate the employee at the POS 6, and accepts the employee's IC card (not shown) by the card processor 8 (the card). A configuration in which the function of the reader 49 is also used may be used.

  Although the details will be described later, the control unit 47 of the POS 6 (hereinafter, abbreviated as POS 6 as appropriate) performs the prize exchange process based on the game value specified by the general card 9 received by the card processing machine 8 according to the following procedure. Run with.

  (1) The number of balls in the general card 9 placed in the general card receiving unit 8b of the card processor 8 is read. At this time, the magnitude of the read game value (that is, the number of possessions for each rental unit price) is specified as the magnitude of the possessed game value owned by the player, and is displayed on the first display unit 41 and the second display unit 42. Display each one. Further, the management device 5 is requested (requested) for verification by transmitting information on the number of possessed balls.

  (2) Based on the collation result transmitted from the management device 5, when the handling of the information related to the number of possessed balls is made effective, the number of special prizes that can be exchanged with the number of possessed balls is calculated for each unit price and displayed first. When the information regarding the number of possessed balls is not valid based on the collation result while being displayed on each of the part 41 and the second display part 42, this is displayed as “error” on at least the first display part 41, so that the employee in charge To confirm the authenticity of the card 9.

  (3) Regarding the selection of a prize, any one of a touch operation on the first display unit 41 (first touch panel 41a), a touch operation on the second display unit 42 (second touch panel), and a button operation on the operation unit 43 Based on the operation input, the type of the prize is specified, or the type of the prize that the player desires to exchange is specified based on the operation input by the reading operation of the identification code (for example, barcode) of the prize by the scanner 45. In addition, a calculation process is performed to specify the number of balls (prize value) corresponding to the specified prize.

  (4) The prize to be exchanged is determined, and the result of subtracting the prize value from the possessed game value is calculated as the remaining number of possessed balls. In addition, after the prize is confirmed by the POS 6, the prize is handed over by the employee in charge.

  (5) When the calculated number of remaining balls or deposit balance is not 0, the number of remaining balls or deposit balance is recorded on the general card 9 by the general card receiving unit 8b. The general card 9 on which this recording has been performed is returned to the player by the employee in charge.

Further, the POS 6 executes a prize exchange process related to the membership card 10 in the following procedure.
(1) The number of possessed balls of the membership card 10 inserted from the insertion slot of the membership card receiving unit 8c in the card processing machine 8 is read, and the number of retained balls for each read unit price is displayed on the first display unit 41 and the second display. Each is displayed on the unit 42. Further, as with the general card 9, information on the number of possessed balls is transmitted to the management device 5 to request verification.

  (2) When a PIN is input by a touch operation on the liquid crystal display unit 8a of the card processor 8, the management device 5 is requested for the number of stored balls of the corresponding member, and the number of stored balls transmitted from the management device 5 is calculated. indicate. The number of stored balls is displayed on the first display unit 41 and the second display unit 42 by adding the total number of stored balls and the above-mentioned number of stored balls read from the member card 10 (the number of stored balls + the number of stored balls). This is done by displaying each one.

  (3) As in the case of the general card 9, when the handling of the information regarding the number of balls is made effective, the number of special prizes that can be exchanged with the number of balls or the total number of balls is calculated for each rental unit, and each display unit 41 , 42, and when the information regarding the number of possessed balls is not valid based on the collation result, this is displayed on the first display unit 41 as “error”. Further, based on the operation input of the touch operation on the first touch panel 41a or the second touch panel or the operation using the operation unit 43 or the scanner 45, the prize is specified and the prize value is specified.

  (4) As in the case of the general card 9, the prize to be exchanged is confirmed, and the result obtained by subtracting the number of balls for the prize as the prize value from the number of possessions or the total number of balls as the possessed game value is retained. Calculate as the number of balls.

  (5) When the calculated number of remaining balls or deposit balance is not 0, the number of remaining balls or deposit balance is recorded on the member card 10 by the member card receiving unit 8c. The recorded membership card 10 is returned to the player by the employee in charge.

  The data read by the POS 6 includes the general ID and the member ID, and the management device 5 collates the number of balls for each rental unit price corresponding to the ID. In the following, the general card 9 and the membership card 10 are simply referred to as “card”, and the card information including the ID, the number of balls, etc. is simply referred to as “card information”.

  In addition, the special prize and the general prize are set as the prize of the present embodiment. Specifically, there are three types of special prizes: special prize large (hereinafter also referred to as “large”), special prize medium (hereinafter also referred to as “medium”), and special prize small (hereinafter also referred to as “small”). Has been. For example, the special prize size is set to 5000 yen, the special prize size is set to 1000 yen, and the special prize size is set to 200 yen. The general prize is a general prize such as confectionery (hereinafter simply referred to as a prize), and various kinds of prizes are prepared in the prize exchange counter.

  The POS 6 is provided with operation means that is operated by the employee in charge who is performing an operation for executing the gift exchange process in order to request other employees to support or change. The prize exchange process and operation means will be described with reference to the screen of the first display unit 41 shown in FIGS.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the screen of the first display unit 41 before the start of the gift exchange process. The employee in charge of gift exchange causes the employee card reader 49 of the POS 6 to read the employee IC card in which operator information including his / her name and the like is recorded in advance. As a result, the name of the person in charge is automatically displayed in the date / time column 51 shown at the top of FIG. 4, and the operator information is transmitted to the management apparatus 5 and stored therein. In the “type” column 52 below, “4P” and “1P” corresponding to the 4-yen pachinko and the 1-yen pachinko are displayed as the types of game values read from the card. In addition, for the card, “input” indicating the number of cards read, “total” indicating the total number of read balls and total balls, and the amount of game value that can be exchanged for special prizes out of the total And a column 53 for displaying “fraction (total number−exchangeable number)” obtained by subtracting the exchangeable number from the total number, and “0” is displayed in the state before reading. Is done. Further, a column 54 representing the number of special prizes of “large”, “medium”, and “small”, and a column 55 representing one type of “prize name”, “unit price”, and “number” related to the above-mentioned prizes. However, in the state before reading the card, both are “0” and blank (blank).

  In the upper right portion of the screen, a “support request” button key 56a and a “replacement request” button key 56b are provided side by side. The first display unit 41 and the first touch panel 41a related to the display and operation of the button keys 56a and 56b correspond to support request operation means and replacement request operation means, and any one of the button keys 56a and 56b is touch-operated. Thus, it is possible to execute a support request operation and a replacement request operation described later. As described above, by providing the button keys 56a and 56b for requesting support or replacement for the gift exchange in the POS 6 itself, it becomes possible to smoothly request support or replacement while performing the gift exchange work. Yes. In addition, on the right side of the screen, “Premium Selection” for transitioning to a screen (not shown) of a prize selection panel that displays a list of prizes that can be exchanged within a fractional range (or within the range of owned gaming values). Key 57, “Member Management” key 59 for transitioning to a member management menu screen for member registration, member information inquiry, etc., for storing the number of unexchanged balls for members in the management device 5 as the number of balls to be stored An “storing ball” key 58a and an “end” key 58b for ending the gift exchange process are provided.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of the screen of the first display unit 41 when the number of possessed balls is read from the card. In this case, the card information is read and the result of automatic calculation of the number of special prizes, etc. is obtained with respect to the number of possessed balls that the player has acquired through the game at a 4-yen pachinko. That is, the POS 6 specifies the “type (4-yen pachinko)” and the “total number: 3456” of the number of balls by executing a reading process of a card (for example, one) provided by the player. The POS 6 calculates the total amount (3456 balls × 4 yen = 13824 yen) by multiplying the specified total number by the value of the rental unit price. Next, the POS 6 divides the calculated total amount by, for example, the corresponding amount of “large” of 5000 yen, “medium” of 1000 yen, and “small” of 200 yen in order to minimize the remainder. Find the number of special prizes. At this time, the POS 6 displays in the column 54 the numbers of “large”, “medium”, and “small” calculated by the following division.

13824 yen ÷ 5000 yen = 2 "large" ... remainder 3824 yen 3824 yen ÷ 1000 yen = "medium" 3 pieces ... remainder 824 yen 824 yen ÷ 200 yen = "small" 4 pieces ... remainder 24 yen Thus, POS6 is In response to specifying “total number: 3456”, the number of special prizes that can be exchanged with the total number is specified. The POS 6 calculates and displays “exchangeable number: 3450” and “fraction: 6” from the values (13800 yen and 24 yen) obtained by the above division and the unit price of lending. Note that, when the POS 6 specifies a specific prize (for example, a plurality of prizes exceeding 200 yen) by the operation input, after subtracting the number of balls for the prize, the “large”, “medium”, “ Each number of “small” is obtained by recalculation. Although the amount is converted when calculating the number of special prizes that can be exchanged, the number of balls may be calculated without converting the amount. In this case, “large” is calculated as 1250 balls, “medium” is calculated as 250 balls, and “small” is calculated as 50 balls.

  Although not shown in the drawing, the screen of the second display unit 42 displays, as with the first display unit 41, a column indicating the type such as 4-yen pachinko or 1-yen pachinko, “total number” and “fraction”. In addition to a column indicating the number of special prizes, the premium selection panel, a column indicating a prize selected by the player on the premium selection panel, and the like are displayed.

  Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. 6 shows a flowchart of a gift exchange process executed by the POS 6 at a predetermined cycle, and FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a request response process executed by the management device 5 in response to a support request or a change request. The POS 6 determines the start timing of the gift exchange process during the execution of the main process. When it is determined that the start timing has been reached, the POS 6 shifts from the main process and starts the following gift exchange process. .

  When starting the prize exchange process, the POS 6 stands by until a predetermined input signal is obtained from the first touch panel 41a or the card processor 8. That is, the POS 6 determines whether or not the support request button key 56a is touched (S1). When the POS 6 determines that the support request button key 56a is not touch-operated (S1: NO), the POS 6 determines whether the replacement request button key 56b is touch-operated (S3).

  When the POS 6 determines that the replacement request button key 56b is not touch-operated (S3: NO), the POS 6 determines whether or not the card is received by the card processor 8 (S5). If the POS 6 determines that the card is not received by the card processor 8 (S5: NO), it determines whether or not the card information is stored in its own RAM 47c (S11). If the POS 6 determines that the card information is not stored in the RAM 47c (S11: NO), the POS 6 waits until the touch operation of the button keys 56a and 56b or the card processor 8 accepts the card (S1, S3). , S5 and S11 are repeated).

  Here, a process when a card is received will be described first. When the POS 6 determines that the general card 9 is placed in the general card receiving unit 8b or the member card 10 is inserted into the member card receiving unit 8c and is received by the card processor 8 (S5: YES), The ID recorded on the card and the number of possessed balls (owned game value) for each unit price are read and the card information is developed (stored) in the RAM 47c (S6). Further, the POS 6 transmits a verification request signal that can specify the read ID and the number of balls held for each rental unit price to the management device 5 (S7), and waits for reception of the verification result signal from the management device 5. When the management device 5 receives the verification request signal from the POS 6, the management device 5 holds the number of balls for each unit price corresponding to the ID specified by the verification request signal and the number of units for each unit price corresponding to the ID stored in the management device 5. The number of balls is collated, and the collation result signal is transmitted to the POS 6.

  When the POS 6 receives the verification result signal from the management device 5 and does not validate the handling of the card information based on the verification result signal (S8: YES), the POS 6 displays this as an “error” on the first display unit 41. Then, error notification is performed (S18). In this case, for example, the POS 6 waits for error cancellation until the end button 43d or the key 58b is operated, prompts the employee in charge to confirm the authenticity of the card, and operates the end button 43d or the key 58b. Then, the prize exchange process is terminated (return to the main process).

  On the other hand, when validating the handling of the card information based on the verification result signal (S8: YES), the POS 6 determines “exchangeable number”, “large”, The number of “middle” and “small” special prizes and “fraction” are calculated by the above-described calculation method (S9). In this case, the POS 6 displays on the first display unit 41 and the second display unit 42 the calculated exchangeable number, special prize number and fraction, and the above-described type and total number (specified game value) (S10). ). Further, the POS 6 extracts prizes that can be exchanged based on the calculated fraction from a plurality of kinds of prizes stored in advance, and generates display data represented as the prize selection panel.

  Subsequently, if the POS 6 determines that the card information is not stored in the RAM 47c (S11: NO), the process returns to the first step S1, while determining that the card information in the RAM 47c is stored (S11: YES). Then, it is determined whether or not a prize has been selected (S12). Here, it is assumed that the POS 6 determines that a prize has been selected by touching the prize desired by the player on the prize selection panel of the second display unit 42 (S12: YES). In this case, the POS 6 specifies the type of the prize and the prize value, subtracts the prize value from the fraction, and recalculates the fraction. As a result, the POS 6 identifies exchangeable prizes based on the recalculated fraction, and updates the corresponding fields 53 and 55 of the first and second display units 41 and 42 and the display of the prize selection panel (S19). . For example, in FIG. 5, the player can select a 5-yen equivalent of confectionery as a prize corresponding to “fraction: 6”, and the fractional value is obtained by subtracting the prize value (5 balls) of the confectionery. It is updated to “1”. Thereafter, the POS 6 returns to the first step S1.

  If the POS 6 determines that no prize is selected (S12: NO) and determines that the fraction is not less than a predetermined value (for example, less than 20) (S13: NO), the process returns to the first step S1. Further, even if the POS 6 determines that the fraction is less than 20 (S13: YES), if it is determined that the end button 43d or the key 58b is not operated (no end operation) (S14: NO), the first step Return to S1. Thus, in the gift exchange process, as long as the card information is valid and there is no end operation (S8: YES and S14: NO), the above steps S1 to S13, S19 are repeatedly executed. When the POS 6 determines that the fraction is less than 20 (S13: YES) and the end button 43d or the key 58b is operated (S14: YES), the card information in the card processing machine 8 is used as the above-described processing content (free gift). (S15), the updated card information and premium exchange information are transmitted to the management device 5 (S16), the card information in the RAM 47c is initialized (S17), and the premium exchange process is terminated. To do. In this way, the employee in charge hands over the special prize and the prize confirmed on the first and second display units 41 and 42 to the player.

  Here, for example, when the time when the number of players who want to exchange prizes increases and the prize exchange counter becomes crowded, the employee in charge touches the support request button key 56a of the second display unit 42. At this time, the POS 6 sequentially determines whether or not the support request button key 56a and the replacement request button key 56b are touched in the prize exchange process described above, and determines that the support request button key 56a is touched (S1). : YES) In this case, the POS 6 has its own POS No. A support request signal to which is added is transmitted to the management device 5 (S2).

  In addition, for example, when the employee in charge who performs the operation for executing the free gift exchange process at the POS 6 shifts the free gift exchange work (or when he / she wants to change for free), the change request button key 56b is touched. To do. At this time, when the POS 6 determines that the support request button key 56a has been touched (S3: YES), the POS No. A replacement request signal to which is added is transmitted to the management device 5 (S4).

  On the other hand, the management apparatus 5 executes the request response process shown in FIG. 7 in response to the input from the POS 6. That is, the management device 5 determines whether or not a support request signal is received from the POS 6 in the request response process (S21). When determining that the support request signal is received (S21: YES), the management device 5 determines whether a support request for another employee is required (S22).

  Specifically, for example, the management device 5 communicates with at least a POS 6 other than the POS 6 specified by the support request signal among the POSs 6 installed in the prize exchange counter, and executes a prize exchange process. It is determined whether or not a support request is required by determining whether or not there is a non-operating state (or the standby state) POS 6. Here, when it is determined that there is a non-operating POS 6 (S22: YES), the management device 5 transmits a broadcast command signal instructing the support request broadcast to the POS 6 to the broadcast device 11 (S23). Thereby, the broadcasting apparatus 11 outputs an automatic voice message regarding the POS 6 specified based on the received broadcast command signal. The content of the output voice is, for example, the content of “Please contact for business communication, support of No. POS”, and the output operation of the voice corresponds to the support request operation.

  In addition, even if the management apparatus 5 receives the support request signal from the POS 6 (S21: YES), and determines that there is no non-operating POS 6 (S22: NO), the management apparatus 5 performs a support request operation on the broadcast apparatus 11. I will not let you. In this case, the management device 5 transmits a command signal for invalidating (or impossible) the operation of the support request button key 56a to the POS 6 that is the source of the support request signal (S27). Thereby, for example, the support request button key 56a is grayed out until the other POS 6 becomes inactive, and the operation of the button key 56a is not accepted (the operation input is invalidated). Is done.

  Further, the management device 5 determines whether or not a replacement request signal has been received from the POS 6 (S24), and if it is determined that the support request signal has been received (YES), it determines whether or not replacement with another employee is possible. (S25).

  Specifically, for example, in the management device 5, shift data in which shift work hours in the game hall are associated with all employees including employees in charge of giving away prizes is registered in advance. As a result, the management device 5 causes the shift data, the operator information transmitted from the POS 6 described above, and the POS No. Based on the above, it is determined whether or not the specified POS 6 can be replaced. If the management device 5 determines that the replacement is possible (S25: YES), the management device 5 transmits a broadcast command signal for instructing the broadcast of the replacement request for the POS 6 to the broadcasting device 11 (S26). Thereby, the broadcasting apparatus 11 outputs an automatic voice message regarding the POS 6 specified based on the received broadcast command signal. The content of the output voice is, for example, “business contact, please replace No. POS”, and the output operation of the voice corresponds to a replacement request operation.

  Even if the management device 5 receives the replacement request signal from the POS 6 (S24: YES), the management device 5 does not cause the broadcasting device 11 to execute the replacement request operation when it is determined that the replacement is not possible (S25: NO). In this case, the management device 5 transmits a command signal for making the operation of the replacement request button key 56b impossible (or an invalid state) to the POS 6 that has transmitted the replacement request signal (S28). Thereby, in the POS 6 of the transmission source, for example, the replacement request button key 56b is grayed out until the management device 5 determines that the replacement is possible, and the operation of the button key 56a is not accepted. In this way, the management device 5 ends the processing after returning to the broadcasting device 11 or the POS 6 (returns to the main processing of the management device 5).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.
When the number of players who wish to exchange prizes suddenly increases and the player queues up, the employee operates the support request button key 56a provided in the POS 6 to give another employee You can request support promptly. Therefore, it becomes possible for other employees to smoothly support and respond, and the player has a good impression.
If it is determined in step S22 that all the POSs 6 installed in the prize exchange counter are operating (NO), the operation of the support request button key 56a is disabled or cannot be operated. Can be prevented.

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.
There may be one prize exchange counter in the amusement hall, or two or more prize exchange counters. Further, the number of POSs 6 installed in one prize exchange counter may be any number as long as other POSs 6 are installed in the game hall.

  Although the broadcast device 11 has exemplified the configuration for performing a broadcast requesting support or replacement, the support request unit and the replacement request unit are not limited to the broadcast device 11. For example, it is good also as a structure which performs support or a change request operation | movement by outputting the sound to the effect of requesting support or a change with respect to the income apparatus (illustration omitted) with which the employee has mounted | worn. Specifically, the income device is provided with a headset that is communicable with the management device 5 and directly voice-guides the automatic voice message to the employee. This intercom device also has the same effect as that of requesting support or replacement by the broadcasting device 11 such that an employee can quickly deal with it.

Although the request button keys 56a and 56b are provided on the first display unit 41 (first touch panel 41a) for employees, they may be provided as buttons that can be pressed on the operation surface of the operation unit 43, respectively. .
The management device 5 determines at any time whether or not support and change are possible regardless of whether or not the support request signal and the change request signal are received from the POS 6, and if it is determined that it is impossible, the support request button key 56a and A command may be sent to the POS 6 to invalidate the replacement request button key 56b.

In addition, the management device 5 determines whether or not the support or replacement request operation needs to be performed. However, any one of the POS 6 of the gift exchange counter detects the operating status of the other POS 6 and makes the above determination. You may make it perform the said determination with the other apparatus in a game arcade.
Although a pachinko gaming machine is illustrated as the gaming machine 1, it may be a slot machine. Further, although balls are exemplified as game media, medals may be used.
Although the gaming machine 1 of the type that pays out actual gaming media in accordance with the winning is illustrated, it may be a gaming machine of a type that gives points instead of paying out gaming media.

The game unit lending unit price can be arbitrarily set within the range determined by the rules. The rental unit price is not limited to two types of 4 yen and 1 yen, but may be 3 or more types. Each of the other numerical values is an example, and any numerical value may be adopted. Corresponding expressions such as “not reached” can be applied to “less than” described above.
Although it is assumed that the counting lending unit 2 as a counting machine is attached to each gaming machine 1, one counting machine may be installed for a plurality of gaming machines 1. For example, a configuration in which one counter (counter per island) is installed for each gaming machine island may be used.

  In the drawing, 5 is a control unit (determination unit) of the management device, 6 is a POS (premium exchange device), 11 is an on-site broadcasting device (support and replacement request unit), and 41 is a first display unit (support and replacement request operation unit). ), 41a is a first touch panel (support and change request operation means), 56a and 56b are button keys (support and change request operation means), 47 is a control unit (game value specifying means, prize specifying means), and 100 is a game hall. System.

Claims (5)

In the amusement hall system in the amusement hall in which a prize exchange counter for exchanging a gaming value with a prize by a player is installed with a plurality of prize exchange apparatuses for executing a predetermined prize exchange process according to an operation of an employee,
An employee who performs an operation for executing the gift exchange process, provided in the gift exchange device, operates to request support from other employees, and a support request operation means,
Judgment means for determining whether or not there is a non-operating prize exchange apparatus that has not executed the prize exchange process among the plural prize exchange apparatuses installed;
If the determination means determines that there is a non-operating premium exchange device when the support request operation means is operated, a support request to execute a predetermined support request operation for another employee Means,
A game system characterized by comprising: An employee who is performing an operation for executing the gift exchange process, a replacement request operation means that is operated to request another employee for replacement, and
The game room system according to claim 1, further comprising: a replacement request unit that executes a predetermined replacement request operation when the replacement request operation unit is operated.   The said determination means makes the operation of the said support request | requirement operation means an impossible state or an invalid state, when it determines with the prize exchange apparatus of the said non-operation state existing. A game system described in 1.   The support request means performs the support request operation by broadcasting to the effect that support is requested by an on-site broadcasting device, or by outputting a sound requesting support to an intercom device worn by an employee. The system for a game arcade according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the system is executed. The prize exchange device includes a game value specifying means for specifying the game value owned by the player as the owned game value, and a prize specifying means for specifying the value of the prize that the player desires to exchange as the prize value,
The game system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the prize exchange process, the prize value is subtracted from the owned game value.

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