JP2020005687A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a game machine in which a game can be executed without using real tokens and a player easily checks the number of stored tokens.SOLUTION: A slot machine 20 is provided with a transparent display window 42 for a front surface door 24 and, behind this display window 42 is arranged a display board 50. The display board 50 is provided with a balance display part 52 and a possessed token number display part 54. The balance display part 52 displays balance of cash charged for a sand 18. A player can consume balance displayed there and rent tokens. The possessed token number display part 54 displays the number of tokens the player possesses. The player can play games by using tokens displayed there. Since the balance display part 52 and the possessed token number display part 54 are on the side of the slot machine 20, it is easier to check than when they are on the side of the sand 18.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine installed in a game arcade such as a pachinko parlor.

  A slot machine is widely known as a game machine installed in a game room such as a pachinko parlor. Generally, medals are used as game media in slot machines, but Patent Document 1 below describes a slot machine that enables a game using pseudo medals without using actual medals.

  In this slot machine, when cash is inserted into a medal lending machine or when a small role wins, the value of the number of stored medals displayed on the medal number display section is displayed without lending or paying out actual medals. Is increasing. When the bet button is operated, the number of stored medals is reduced.

JP-A-2015-130955

  However, in the slot machine described in Patent Document 1, a medal lending machine provided separately from the slot machine is provided with a medal number display section. For this reason, there is a problem that it is difficult for the player to check the number of stored medals (numerical data relating to the number of medals).

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a gaming machine in which a player can easily confirm numerical data relating to the number of medals.

In order to achieve the above object, a gaming machine of the present invention
Without using actual medals, in gaming machines that can be played by electromagnetically managing numerical data related to the number of medals,
A number-of-medals display board that controls a number-of-medals display unit capable of displaying a value based on the numerical data relating to at least more than 50 medals as numerical data relating to the number of medals that can be provided for a game;
A display window provided on the front surface of the gaming machine main body, for visually recognizing the medal number display section;
It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, a display window for visually recognizing the medal number display section is provided in the gaming machine, so that the player can easily confirm the numerical data relating to the number of medals.

It is a block diagram of a game system. It is an external view of a slot machine and a sand. It is a top view of a display substrate. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the slot machine and the sand. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of an electronic medal lending and settlement.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 10 includes a management server 12, an intermediate management terminal 14, a hall management terminal 16, and an external device (a device corresponding to a medal lending machine (sandwich) of an existing gaming machine. And a slot machine 20, which is the gaming machine of the present invention.
The slot machine 20 is a gaming machine capable of playing without using actual medals by electromagnetically managing the increase / decrease of game media (medals) (electromagnetically managing numerical data relating to the number of medals). The slot machine 20 is connected to a sand 18 for communicating with the slot machine 20 and transferring numeric data relating to the number of medals (processing corresponding to lending, returning, and settlement of medals in existing gaming machines). Used as a set.

  The hall management terminals 16 are installed, for example, one at a game hall (hall), and are connected to the sand 18 and the slot machine 20 via the sand 18. Information relating to the transfer of numerical data relating to the number of medals performed between the sand 18 and the slot machine 20 and information such as the operating state of the slot machine 20 are input to the hall management terminal 16. The hall management terminal 16 records and manages the input information.

  The management server 12 is provided to manage the gaming system 10 in an integrated manner, and stores, for example, information on a slot machine 20 and a sand 18 such as a manufacturing time and a place, an installation time and a place, and the like. Manages information. In addition, the management server 12 is connected to the hall management terminal 16 via the intermediate management terminal 14, and obtains information obtained by communicating with the hall management terminal 16, that is, information related to transfer of numerical data relating to the number of medals, Information such as the operating state of the slot machine 20 is also managed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine 20 includes a storage box 22 and a front door 24, and a gaming machine main body is configured from these. The storage box 22 stores a reel unit (not shown) in which a plurality (for example, three) of reels (not shown) are unitized.
The front door 24 is supported by a hinge (not shown) so as to be openable and closable with respect to the storage box 22. The front window 24 visually recognizes a reel window 26 for visually recognizing the reels and a liquid crystal display (not shown) for displaying various images. A liquid crystal window 28, a bet button 30 for performing a betting process described later, a start lever 32 operated when starting a game, and stop buttons 34a, 34b, 34c for stopping a spinning reel. Is provided.

The slot machine 20 is a gaming machine that can be played without using actual medals as described above. For this reason, in the slot machine 20, unnecessary components are generated as compared with existing gaming machines, and such components are eliminated. Abolished parts include a hopper device, a medal passage, a medal detection sensor, a medal selector, and the like. The hopper device is a device (parts) that stores medals inserted for playing a game and pays out the stored medals. The medal passage is a component for guiding the inserted medals to the hopper device. The medal detection sensor and the medal selector are both components arranged in a medal passage, the medal sensor is provided for detecting a medal, and the medal selector is a component provided for selecting an appropriate medal.
Thus, by eliminating unnecessary parts, cost reduction and weight reduction can be achieved.

  In the present embodiment, members not used in the slot machine 20, such as a medal insertion slot 36, a payout port 38 for paying out actual medals, and a medal tray 40 for receiving actual medals paid out from the payout opening 38. , But these may be abolished. Further, the opening portions such as the medal insertion slot 36 and the payout opening 38 may be illegally inserted, such as insertion of a wire. I do that.

In the slot machine 20, a transparent display window 42 is provided on the front door 24, and a display substrate 50 (medal number display substrate) (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is arranged behind the display window 42. .
In the existing gaming machines, a credit counter for displaying the number of medals credited to the gaming machine with an upper limit of 50 is arranged behind the display window 42. That is, in the existing gaming machine, the display window 42 makes the credit counter visible. On the other hand, the display window 42 in the slot machine 20 makes the display substrate 50 visible. As described above, the slot machine 20 is configured to divert the display window 42 used in the existing gaming machine and visually recognize a display substrate 50 different from the existing gaming machine.

As shown in FIG. 3, the display substrate 50 is provided with a balance display section 52, a possessed medal count display section 54 (medal count display section), and a payout count display section 56.
Each of these display units 52, 54, and 56 is, for example, a 7-segment display device, and is mounted on the display substrate 50 in the present embodiment. The display units 52, 54, and 56 are driven and controlled by the display substrate 50 to display various numerical values. In the present embodiment, a three-digit numerical value can be displayed on the balance display part 52, a five-digit numerical value can be displayed on the possessed medal number display part 54, and a two-digit numerical value can be displayed on the payout number display part 56. ing.

The display window 42 and the display substrate 50 may both be provided on the front door 24, or only the display window 42 may be provided on the front door 24, and the display substrate 50 may be provided on the storage box 22.
However, when the display substrate 50 is provided on the front door 24, there are the following problems as compared with the case where the display substrate 50 is provided on the storage box 22.
That is, the slot machine 20 is provided with a control board 80 (see FIG. 4) for driving and controlling each part of the slot machine 20, and the control board 80 is disposed in the storage box 22. The display substrate 50 is connected to the control substrate 80. Here, if the display substrate 50 is provided on the front door 24, the distance between the display substrate 50 and the control substrate 80 is increased, so that the wiring for connecting them is also provided on the front door 24. It will be longer compared to. In particular, since the front door 24 is openable and closable, the wiring path becomes more complicated and longer in order to prevent problems due to opening and closing. For this reason, not only does it take time and effort to design and assemble, but also there is room for illegal acts such as interrupting an illegal circuit in the wiring.
Considering such circumstances, it is preferable that the display substrate 50 be provided in the storage box 22, and this is the case in the present embodiment (see FIG. 4).

Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which the display units 52, 54, and 56 are mounted on the display substrate 50, that is, an example in which the display units 52, 54, and 56 are provided integrally with the display substrate 50 has been described. Is not limited to this. Some or all of the display units 52, 54, and 56 may be provided separately from the display substrate 50, and may be arranged at different locations.
In this case, for example, it is conceivable that all or a part of the display units 52, 54, and 56 are arranged on the front door 24, and the remaining display units and the display substrate 50 are arranged on the storage box 22.
Further, for example, the display units 52, 54, and 56 are arranged behind the front door 24 and the display window 42, and the display substrate 50 is arranged near the front door 24 and the hinge (a hinge that supports the front door 24 so that the front door 24 can be opened and closed). For example, they may be arranged at different places in the front door 24.
Similarly, the display units 52, 54, and 56 are arranged behind the storage box 22 and the display window 42, and the display board 50 is arranged near the storage box 22 and the control board 80. They may be located at different locations.

Returning to FIG. 2, the sand 18 is provided with a bill insertion slot 60 and a card insertion / removal slot 62, and the slot machine 20 is provided with a lending button 64 and a settlement button 66.
The bill insertion slot 60 is a slit-shaped opening into which bills are inserted. In the present embodiment, 10,000 yen bills, 5000 yen bills, and 1000 yen bills can be inserted.
When a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 60, the type of the bill is discriminated and notified to the slot machine 20, and the balance display unit 52 of the display substrate 50 displays, for example, "100" for 10,000 yen, and "5000" for 5000 yen. If there is, a number corresponding to the amount of the inserted bill is displayed, such as "50" or "10" for 1000 yen.

The lending button 64 is operated when receiving numerical data relating to the number of medals (processing corresponding to lending of medals in an existing gaming machine) using the bills inserted into the bill insertion slot 60.
The lending button 64 is operated when the balance display unit 52 is operated with a predetermined number (for example, “5” (for 500 yen)) or more of balances (hereinafter also referred to as cash balances) displayed. Is accepted. When the operation of the lending button 64 is received, a lending process is performed. In the lending process, a predetermined number is subtracted from the balance displayed on the balance display section 52. In exchange, the number of medals possessed by the display substrate 50 is equal to the number of the reduced predetermined balance (for example, “25”). The numerical value of the display unit 54 (the numerical value indicating the numerical data relating to the number of medals (the value based on the numerical data relating to the number of medals)) is added. This completes the lending process.

Numerical value displayed on the possessed medal number display unit 54 (a numerical value indicating numerical data relating to the number of medals, and hereinafter, may be referred to as a numerical value indicating the balance relating to the number of medals, or simply referred to as a balance relating to the number of medals). Is deducted by operating the bet button 30, and a bet is placed on the game.
The operation of the bet button 30 is received when the bet button 30 is operated in a state where a numerical value equal to or more than a specified number (for example, “3”) is displayed on the possessed medal number display unit 54. When the operation of the bet button 30 is received, a bet process is performed. In the betting process, a prescribed number is subtracted from the numerical value of the possessed medal number display section 54 and a bet is placed on the game. When the betting process is completed, the operation of the start lever 32 is validated.

When the activated start lever 32 is operated, the game is started. When the game is started, an internal lottery is executed. In the internal lottery, at least one of a plurality of winning areas to which a role or a loss is assigned is determined, and the role assigned to the determined winning area becomes a winning (winning role).
When the game is started, the reel starts rotating. The operation of the stop buttons 34a, 34b, and 34c is enabled when the rotation speed of the reel reaches a constant speed and the rotation of the reels reaches a constant speed, and the operation of the activated stop buttons 34a, 34b, and 34c corresponds to the operated stop button. Reels to be stopped can be stopped. Then, when the symbol combination corresponding to the winning combination is displayed when all the reels are stopped, the winning combination becomes a winning, and the process corresponding to the winning combination (winning process) is executed.

The slot machine 20 is provided with three types of winning combinations, that is, bonuses, replays, and small winning combinations.
The bonus is a hand that shifts to the bonus mode when a prize is won.
The replay is a role of automatically performing the above-described bet processing without operating the bet button 30 (no new bet) when a prize is won.
The small combination is a combination for which a payout process is performed when a prize is won. In the payout processing, after the payout number corresponding to the winning small combination is displayed on the payout number display section 56 of the display substrate 50, the payout number is decreased by "1" until it becomes "0". On the other hand, every time this decrease is performed, the numerical value of the possessed medal number display section 54 is incremented by "1". This completes the payout process.

The settlement button 66 is operated when ending the game in the slot machine 20.
The operation of the settlement button 66 is accepted when the balance button 66 is operated in a state where the balance remains in either the balance display section 52 or the possessed medal number display section 54 (a value other than “0” is displayed). When the operation of the payment button 66 is accepted, the payment processing is performed. In the settlement process, the numerical value displayed on the balance display section 52 (a numerical value indicating the balance related to cash) and the numerical value displayed on the possessed medal number display section 54 (the numerical value indicating the balance related to the number of medals) are displayed on the sand 18. (In the case where a game is performed by inserting a card instead of a bill into the sand 18 as described later, a card inserted prior to the game) (written). You. Then, the card is ejected from the card slot 62. Thereby, the settlement process is completed.

The player can use this card to receive a refund of the balance related to cash, or exchange the balance related to the number of medals for a prize.
Further, the player uses the card to play a game at the same slot machine 20 with a certain time interval (after the game is completed, the player returns to the same platform (slot machine 20) to play the game, It is possible to play a game (play a game by moving the platform) with another slot machine 20 having the same configuration as that of the slot machine 20.
When playing a game using a card, the card may be inserted into the card slot 62. When the card is inserted into the card slot 62, the information stored in the card by the sand 18, that is, the balance related to cash and the balance related to the number of medals is read out and notified to the slot machine 20. In the slot machine 20, the display contents of the display board 50 (the balance display section 52 and the possessed medal number display section 54) are updated based on the information notified from the sand 18. Then, a game can be played in the same manner as in the above-described case (when playing a game by inserting bills).

As shown in FIG. 4, a communication unit 70, a bill detection / determination unit 72, a card reading / writing unit 74, and a control unit 76 are provided inside the sand 18.
The communication unit 70 transmits and receives various information to and from the slot machine 20.
The bill detection / discrimination unit 72 detects whether a bill has been inserted into the bill insertion slot 60 and, when it is detected that a bill has been inserted, discriminates the type of the inserted bill.
The card reading / writing unit 74 reads information stored in the card inserted into the card slot 62, and stores (writes) information (a balance relating to cash and a balance relating to the number of medals) to the card. I do.

The control unit 76 controls the driving of each unit of the sand 18 in an integrated manner.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when a bill or a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 60, the type (amount) of the inserted bill is notified to the slot machine 20. When a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 62, the slot machine 20 is notified of information (a balance related to cash and a balance related to the number of medals) stored in the inserted card.
Further, when the settlement button 66 is operated in the slot machine 20, the control unit 76 provides a cash-related balance (numerical value displayed on the balance display unit 52) and a medal number-related balance (medal possession) from the slot machine 20. The numerical value displayed on the number display section 54) is notified. When receiving this notification, the control unit 76 writes the information notified from the slot machine 20 to the card and discharges the information from the card insertion / removal slot 62.

Referring back to FIG. 4, the slot machine 20 is provided with the control board 80 for integrally controlling the driving of each part of the slot machine 20 as described above. The control board 80 is provided with a communication control unit 82, and a connection terminal plate 84 (connection board) is connected to the communication control unit 82. The display board 50, the lending button 64, and the settlement button 66 are connected to the communication control unit 82 via the relay board 86.
The communication control unit 82 transmits and receives information (signals) to and from the sand 18 via the connection terminal plate 84 and transmits and receives information (signals) to and from the display substrate 50 via the relay substrate 86. . An operation signal is input to the communication control unit 82 when the lend button 64 and the settlement button 66 are operated.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion slot 60, the amount of the inserted bill is notified from the sand 18 via the connection terminal plate 84 and the communication control unit 82 to the control board 80. Is done. The control board 80 updates the display content of the display board 50 (balance display section 52) based on this notification.
In addition, when a card is inserted into the card insertion slot 62, the control board 80 is notified of information (a balance relating to cash and a balance relating to the number of medals) stored in the inserted card. The control board 80 updates the display contents of the display board 50 (the balance display section 52 and the medal count display section 54) based on the notification.

Further, when the lending button 64 is operated in a state where a numerical value equal to or greater than a predetermined number (a balance relating to cash equal to or more than a predetermined amount) is displayed on the balance display section 52, the lending process described above is performed, and the possessed medals are obtained. When the bet button 30 is operated in a state where a numerical value (a balance relating to the number of medals) equal to or more than a specified number is displayed on the number display section 54, the above-described bet processing is performed.
In addition, the control board 80 starts the game when the start lever 32 activated by performing the betting process is operated, and performs the above-described payout process when the small win is won as a result of the game.

  Further, the control board 80 performs the above-described settlement processing when the settlement button 66 is operated in a state where the balance remains in either the balance display section 52 or the possessed medal number display section 54. In the settlement process, the balance relating to cash and the balance relating to the number of medals are notified from the control board 80 to the sand 18, and the balance relating to cash and the balance relating to the number of medals are stored in the card in the sand 18. The settlement is completed by discharging the card, that is, the settlement process is completed by the cooperation of the slot machine 20 and the sand 18.

As described above, according to the slot machine 20, it is possible to play a game without using actual medals.
The slot machine 20 is different from the existing gaming machines in that it can be played without using actual medals, but is otherwise common to the existing gaming machines as described above. For this reason, similarly to the existing gaming machines, the slot machine 20 has an effect control section 90 for controlling the progress and execution of the effect, a reel controller 92 for controlling the rotation and stop of the reels, and an internal lottery section 94 for performing an internal lottery. Are provided (see FIG. 4).

  The effect control unit 90 is provided with an effect data storage unit (not shown) in which data of various effect images and various effect sounds (effect data) is stored. When the game is started, the effect control unit 90 performs an effect lottery based on the current game state and determines an effect to be executed. Then, effect data corresponding to the determined effect is read out from the effect data storage unit, and the game is produced by reproducing and outputting from a liquid crystal display or a speaker (not shown).

  The reel controller 92 starts the rotation of the reel in response to the operation of the start lever 32 and stops the reel corresponding to the operated stop button in response to the operation of the stop buttons 34a, 34b, 34c. Do. In the stop control, the reel controller 92 stops the rotation of the reels so that a winning combination (winning combination) corresponding to the winning area won by the internal lottery is won.

  Note that performing stop control so that the winning combination wins means that when the stop button is operated, the symbols (winning symbols) that constitute the symbol combination in which the winning combination wins the winning combination line (winning symbols). This indicates that when the winning combination is within a predetermined pull-in range (in this embodiment, within a range of four frames) from the winning line, the winning symbol is drawn on the pay line and stopped. I have. For this reason, even if the stop control is performed so that the winning combination wins, depending on the operation timing of the stop button, it may be determined whether or not the winning combination wins (the stop control is performed so that the winning combination wins). Even if you do, the winning combination does not necessarily win.) However, as described above, replays are designed so that they will not be missed (the spacing between symbols has been adjusted), and will always win if stop control is performed to win. ing.

  The internal lottery unit 94 performs an internal lottery using the internal lottery table at the start of the game. As described above, the internal lottery table is a table in which a random number is associated with each of a plurality of winning areas to which a loss (non-winning) or at least one combination is assigned. For example, 65,536 random numbers are prepared, and each random number is associated with one of the winning areas. In the internal lottery, a random number generated by a random number generator (not shown) is compared with an internal lottery table to determine which winning area corresponds to the winning area, and the role associated with the corresponding winning area is won (winning). Role).

  As described above, the slot machine 20 is convenient because it is possible to play a game without using actual medals. Further, since the display substrate 50 is provided on the slot machine 20 side, it is easy for the player to check the balance relating to the number of medals (the numerical value (numerical data relating to the number of medals) displayed on the possessed medal number display unit 54).

In the above embodiment, the example in which the sand 18 is provided separately from the slot machine 20 has been described. However, the function of the sand 18 may be built in the slot machine 20. That is, the sand 18 may be provided integrally with the slot machine 20.
Further, in the above embodiment, the example in which the display board 50, the lending button 64, and the settlement button 66 are provided in the slot machine 20 has been described. However, these may be provided in the sand 18 (the slot machine 20 and the sand 18). It may be provided on both) or may be provided only on the sand 18.

Further, in the above embodiment, the credit counter existing in the conventional gaming machine is abolished, but the slot machine 20 may be provided with a credit counter. In this case, a credit counter may be provided integrally with the display substrate 50, or a credit counter may be provided separately from the display substrate 50.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the connection terminal plate 84 and the relay board 86 are provided has been described. However, the present invention is not limited by the presence or absence and the grounding location, and one or both of them are abolished. Alternatively, the installation location may be changed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Game system 12 Management server 14 Intermediate management terminal 16 Hall management terminal 18 Sand 20 Slot machine (gaming machine)
22 storage box 24 front door 26 reel window 28 liquid crystal window 30 bet button 32 start lever 34a, 34b, 34c stop button 36 medal slot 38 payout 40 medal tray 42 display window 50 display substrate (medal number display substrate)
52 Balance display section 54 Owned medal number display section (medal number display section)
56 Payout number display section 60 Bill insertion slot 62 Card slot 64 Lending button 66 Settlement button 70 Communication section 72 Bill detection / determination section 74 Card reading / writing section 76 Control section 80 Control board 82 Communication control section 84 Connection terminal board ( Connection board)
86 relay board 90 effect control unit 92 reel controller 94 internal lottery unit

Claims (1)

Without using actual medals, in gaming machines that can be played by electromagnetically managing numerical data related to the number of medals,
A number-of-medals display board that controls a number-of-medals display unit capable of displaying a value based on the numerical data relating to at least more than 50 medals as numerical data relating to the number of medals that can be provided for a game;
A display window provided on the front surface of the gaming machine main body, for visually recognizing the medal number display section;
A gaming machine characterized by having:

Images