JP2024053384A - Gaming machine information display device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a gaming machine information display device that can realize a display mode according to the player's desire while exerting as much of a presentation effect as possible. [Solution] A gaming machine information display device D includes an operation input unit and a calculation processing unit 108 that controls the display of a display panel 2 on which game information of a gaming machine M is displayed. When a setting operation for the simple display mode is performed on the operation input unit, the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process to switch the display of the display panel 2 from the normal display mode to the simple display mode, and when a set time has elapsed after the process of switching to the simple display mode or when the gaming machine M is in a non-operating state, executes a process to return the display of the display panel 2 from the simple display mode to the normal display mode. [Selected Figure] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine information display device that is installed above each gaming machine and can display information about that gaming machine as well as information about the entire gaming center.

Traditionally, gaming machine information display devices known as call lamps have been installed above the pachinko and slot machines in gaming parlors to display information about the balls and jackpots of each machine, as well as information about the entire gaming parlor, and also to call staff, etc.

In recent years, configurations using large LCD panels have become mainstream for such gaming machine information display devices. In addition to larger LCD panels, the resolution of LCD screens has also increased, increasing the amount of information that can be displayed. Display processing performance has also improved, and by displaying moving images using character images in the background in conjunction with the gaming information of the gaming machine, a display that creates a sense of unity between the gaming machine and the gaming information display device is now being produced.

Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine information display device that uses a large liquid crystal panel. By enlarging the display panel in this way, it is possible to enhance the decorativeness of the gaming machine information display device and increase the number of game information items and amount of information displayed on one screen, thereby increasing the player's sense of excitement and satisfaction.

Patent document 2 shows a technology for a gaming information display device in which a segment display unit and a liquid crystal display unit are arranged side by side, and gaming information is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit separately from the segment display unit, and multiple digits of gaming information are displayed on the segment display unit and the liquid crystal display unit.

JP 2015-180436 A JP 2017-153778 A

As mentioned above, there are advantages to increasing the user's sense of excitement by enhancing the decorativeness of the gaming machine information display device, and providing users with more information by increasing the number of gaming information items and amount of information displayed on one screen. Furthermore, for gaming facilities, by linking the display of the gaming machine information display device with the gaming machines and enhancing its decorativeness, it is possible to appeal to users who are wondering whether to start playing by highlighting the appeal of the gaming machines and encouraging them to play.

On the other hand, players come in a wide range of ages, and their eyesight also varies widely. Taking into account such factors as age, visual condition, and lengthy gameplay periods, if the gaming machine information display device is made more decorative and glossy, or the number of gaming information items or amount of information displayed on one screen is increased, the displayed gaming information may become difficult to see due to the color scheme or background color scheme, resulting in a problem that the gaming information cannot be read.

The present invention was made in consideration of these points, and its purpose is to provide a gaming machine information display device that realizes a display mode that is not bothersome to players, as players come from a wide range of age groups and have a wide variety of visual acuity, without compromising the presentation effect of the entire gaming arcade or the gaming information of the gaming machines.

To achieve this objective, this invention is configured such that, in the gaming machine information display device, when a switching operation to the simple display mode is performed on the operation input unit, the calculation processing unit executes processing to switch the display of the display panel from the normal display mode to the simple display mode, and when a set time has elapsed after the switching process to the simple display mode or when the gaming machine is in a non-operating state, the calculation processing unit executes processing to return the display of the display panel from the simple display mode to the normal display mode.

Specifically, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a gaming machine information display device is provided for a gaming machine information display device installed in the vicinity of a gaming machine, and includes a display panel on which gaming information of the gaming machine is displayed, an operation input unit that receives an operation to set the display of the display panel from a normal display mode to a simple display mode that simplifies the display, and a calculation processing unit that controls the display of the display panel, and when an operation to set the simple display mode is performed on the operation input unit, the calculation processing unit executes a process to switch the display of the display panel from the normal display mode to the simple display mode, and when a set time has elapsed after the process of switching to the simple display mode or when the gaming machine is in a non-operating state, executes a process to return the display of the display panel from the simple display mode to the normal display mode.

According to this configuration, when an operation to switch to the simple display mode is performed on the operation input unit, a process is executed to switch the display on the display panel from the normal display mode to the simple display mode. This makes it possible to switch to the simple display mode, in which the game information display screen is simply configured, according to the player's wishes due to age, visual condition, game situation, etc.

Furthermore, when a set time (e.g., a preset fixed time) has elapsed after the process of switching to the simple display mode, or when the gaming machine is in a non-operating state, the calculation processing unit executes a process of returning the display on the display panel from the simple display mode to the normal display mode. This makes it possible to provide a gaming machine information display device that realizes a display mode that does not bother the player, while not compromising the presentation effect of the entire gaming arcade or the gaming information of the gaming machine. Furthermore, because the display on the display panel is returned to the normal display mode when the gaming machine is in a non-operating state, a user who is starting a new game does not feel uncomfortable with the display screen, and there is no need to go through the trouble of switching to the normal display mode.

As mentioned above, the simple display mode has a simpler game information display screen than the normal display mode, but the specific display format is not particularly limited.

For example, in the normal display mode of the above embodiment, the game information may include numbers, letters, and graph information, and in the simple display mode, the game information may consist of only numbers and letters. Also, for example, the calculation processing unit may be configured to enlarge the numbers and letters in the simple display mode compared to the normal display mode, or to display the numbers and letters in Gothic font instead of decorative font. Also, for example, in the normal display mode of the above embodiment, the game information may include numbers, letters, and graphs, and the calculation processing unit may be configured to simplify the font and color of the numbers and letters while maintaining the color of the graph when switching to the simple display mode.

In the above aspect, the calculation processing unit may be configured to execute a process of returning the display of the display screen from the simple display mode to the normal display mode when an operation to cancel the setting of the simple display mode is performed on the operation input unit after the switching process to the simple display mode.

In this way, by supporting switching operations from simple display mode to normal display mode, it is possible to realize a display that meets the user's wishes, such as checking game information in normal display mode or enjoying the presentation of normal display mode after switching to simple display mode.

As explained above, the present invention can provide a gaming machine information display device that can realize a display mode according to the player's desires while exerting as much of a dramatic effect as possible.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an installation state of the gaming machine information display device. 1 is a front perspective view of a gaming machine information display device; A block diagram showing a configuration example of a gaming machine information display device. 1 is a flow diagram showing an example of the operation of the gaming machine information display device; FIG. 1 is a front view of the gaming machine information display device, showing a display example in the normal display mode; FIG. 13 is a front view of the gaming machine information display device, showing a display example in the simple display mode; FIG. 13 is a front view of the gaming machine information display device, illustrating selection of a simple display mode in a modified example. A flow chart showing the operation of a modified example of the gaming machine information display device. FIG. 13 is a front view of the gaming machine information display device, showing a modified example of the simple display mode.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The following description of the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses.

Figure 1 shows the installed state of the gaming machine information display device D. Figure 2 shows a front perspective view of the gaming machine information display device D. In the following explanation, up and down are defined based on the installed state of the gaming machine information display device D. Furthermore, with the gaming machine information display device D installed, the user X side is the "front" and the side of the island where gaming machines such as pachinko machines are installed is the "rear", and left and right are defined based on the viewpoint of user X (front view) (see Figure 2).

As is well known, an amusement center has an "island" I on which multiple gaming machines M are arranged. FIG. 1 is a side view of the island I showing the installed state of the gaming machine information display device. A beam I2 extending in the left-right direction is provided between the top panel I1 and the gaming machines M on the island I, and a gaming machine information display device D is installed via a mounting member T.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine information display device D comprises a transparent front plate member 1 provided on the front side, a display panel 2 provided behind it, a decorative light-emitting portion 3 provided around the periphery of the display panel 2, and a body portion 5 provided with a mounting portion 52 that is fixed to a mounting member T. The mounting portion 52 protrudes rearward from the bottom rear of the body portion 5 and is configured so that it can be attached to the mounting member T (see FIG. 1).

The front plate member 1 is composed of a horizontally long rectangular transparent flat panel material made of resin. At the four corners of the front plate member 1, insertion holes 1a for inserting the detachable bolts 6 are formed penetrating in the front-rear direction. By screwing and fixing these four sets of detachable bolts 6 and detachable nuts 8, the front plate member 1 is attached and fixed to the body portion 5, and the gaming machine information display device D is assembled.

The front plate member 1 is located at the very front of the gaming machine information display device D, and is formed to be wider in the vertical and horizontal directions than the outer shape of the body portion 5 when viewed from the front from the user X side. In other words, the front plate member 1 is configured to cover the entire front surface of the display panel 2.

When viewed from the front, the display panel 2 is located in the center of the front plate member 1, and its front surface is the display screen W. The display panel 2 is configured to receive control signals from an arithmetic processing unit 108, which will be described later, and display various information on the display screen W. The display panel 2 is attached to the body portion 5 so that the display screen W faces the front plate member 1, and the information on the display screen W can be viewed through the front plate member 1. In addition, a black-bordered bezel portion Z having a predetermined width is provided around the periphery of the display panel 2 on the front plate member 1.

The display panel 2 is, for example, a large 15.6-inch liquid crystal display. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine information display device D is installed in a high position above when viewed from the user X seated in front of the gaming machine M. Therefore, in the gaming machine information display device D, the display panel 2 is made large so that the user X can easily see it, and the gaming information displayed on the display panel 2 is displayed as large as possible. The information displayed on the display screen W will be explained in detail later.

The decorative light-emitting section 3 is provided around the display panel 2 to enhance the decorativeness of the gaming machine information display device D. Figure 6 is a front view of the gaming machine information display device D, showing an example in which the decorative light-emitting section 3 is configured to surround the outer periphery of the display panel 2 with a double frame of light rays.

The decorative light-emitting unit 3 is not particularly limited in its specific configuration, as long as it can illuminate the light-emitting position Q. For example, a light-emitting element may be directly attached to the light-emitting position Q to turn it on, blink, or turn it off. Although not shown, a light source such as an LED lamp may be provided on the body portion 5, and the light source may be used to indirectly turn on, blink, or turn off the light-emitting position Q.

Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the gaming machine information display device D. For example, a control board (not shown) is built into the body part 5, and the circuits shown in Figure 3 are implemented on the control board or are directly or indirectly connected to it.

The gaming machine information display device D includes a calculation processing unit 108 that controls the display of the display panel 2 using image information stored in the memory unit 114 according to the game status notified from the gaming machine M (hereinafter referred to as "gaming machine M1") corresponding to the gaming machine information display device D. The calculation processing unit 108 includes a main control circuit 109 and an audio/image control circuit 110.

The main control circuit 109 has the function of controlling the entire gaming machine information display device D based on the programs stored in the memory unit 112. Specifically, the main control circuit 109 is configured to perform various calculation processes and to perform display control of the gaming machine information display device D, such as display control of the display panel 2 and blinking control of the decorative light-emitting unit 3.

The audio/image control circuit 110 is controlled by a control signal output from the main control circuit 109. Under the control of the main control circuit 109, the audio/image control circuit 110 transmits an image signal to the image signal conversion circuit 115 and transmits audio information to the audio output unit 106. The image signal conversion circuit 115 is connected to the display panel 2, and the image display data generated by the image signal conversion circuit 115 is displayed on the display panel 2.

The memory unit 114 stores image data for constructing the display of the display screen. The image data includes one or more frame image data used for a frame image G that divides the display screen W (see FIG. 6), a plurality of game information image data used for displaying game information of the gaming machine M1, and a plurality of background image data used for displaying a background image B that is displayed in the background of the game information image and the frame image.

Furthermore, the gaming machine information display device D includes an input/output unit 101, an external communication unit 102, and an external memory socket 103 as input/output means, a remote control receiver 104 and a touch switch 105 as input means, and the aforementioned display panel 2 and decorative light-emitting unit 3, and an audio output unit 106 as output means.

The input/output unit 101 is configured to be able to communicate with the gaming machine M1 and acquires gaming information from the gaming machine M1. The input/output unit 101 is also configured to be able to communicate with the hall computer H and outputs the gaming information acquired from the gaming machine M1 to the hall computer H.

The external communication unit 102 is configured to be able to communicate with the management computer C etc., receives audio information and image information transmitted from the management computer C etc., and transmits the information to the memory unit 114 via the audio/image control circuit 110 described later.

The external memory socket 103 is configured to be able to connect to a storage medium (not shown) such as a USB memory, receives audio information and image information recorded on the storage medium, and transmits it to the memory unit 114 via the audio/image control circuit 110 described below.

The remote control receiver 104 is configured to receive operation signals transmitted from a remote control (not shown) operated by a game center attendant or the like, and transmits the operation signals received from the remote control to the main control circuit 109, which will be described later.

The touch switch 105 is configured to be able to acquire information on touch operations (hereinafter referred to as "operation information") on the call button P1 and setting buttons P2 to P8, which will be described later, from the surface (front surface) of the front plate member 1. The operation information acquired by the touch switch 105 is transmitted to the main control circuit 109, which will be described later, via the touch controller 111. More specifically, the touch switch 105 has a function of acquiring operation information for switching the display of the display panel 2 from the "normal display mode" to the "simple display mode" and for returning the display from the "simple display mode" to the "normal display mode."

The configuration of the touch switch 105 is not particularly limited, and a touch panel type display panel 2 in which the display screen W and the touch sensor are integrally configured may be used, or a touch sensor may be provided separately from the display panel 2.

<Display Operation of Gaming Machine Information Display Device>
Next, the operation of the gaming machine information display device D will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 8. As described above, the display control of the gaming machine information display device D is mainly performed by the calculation processing unit 108. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, the description of the subject of display control may be omitted.

-Normal display mode-
4, when the power supply of the gaming machine M1 and the gaming machine information display device D is turned on, the gaming machine M1 becomes ready for play, and a normal game image that is displayed when the gaming machine M1 is in a normal game state is displayed on the display screen W of the gaming machine information display device D. In other words, the calculation processing unit 108 refers to the storage unit 114 and performs processing of the normal display mode in which a normal game image is displayed on the display screen W.

The normal game image includes a frame image G, a normal game information image NL, and a normal background image NB.

Frame image G is an image displayed using frame image material stored in memory unit 114.

The normal game information image NL is an image displayed in the display area V partitioned by the frame image G, and shows the current and past game information of the gaming machine M1 using material selected from multiple game information materials stored in the memory unit 114.

The normal background image NB is a background image B for normal play that is displayed using a material selected from a plurality of background image materials stored in the memory unit 114.

Figure 5 shows an example of a normal game image in normal display mode.

The normal game image in FIG. 5 is divided into an upper display area RU that extends left and right at the top edge of the display screen W, a lower display area RL that extends left and right at the bottom edge of the display screen W, and a middle display area RM that is positioned between the upper display area RU and the lower display area RL.

In the upper display area RU, the machine number L7 and the model name (here, "One A Monogatari") are arranged side by side.

The lower display area RL contains a call button P1 used to call a store clerk, and a number of setting buttons arranged in a row to the right of the call button P1 for configuring various settings such as the display content and display items.

In the example of FIG. 5, the setting buttons are exemplified as a "Menu button P2" which displays various menus, a "Simple display button P3", a "Break button P4" which indicates that the player is on a break, a "Model information button P5" which displays model information, a "Maximum data button P6" which displays the highest data, a "Past data button P7" which displays past data, and a "History button P8". The Menu button P2, Simple display button P3, Break button P4, Model information button P5, Maximum data button P6, Past data button P7, and History button P8 are examples of setting buttons. In the following explanation, for convenience of explanation, P2 to P8 may be collectively referred to as setting buttons P2 to P8.

The intermediate display area RM displays the aforementioned frame image G, normal game information image NL, and normal background image NB.

In the example of FIG. 5, the frame image G is composed of three horizontal grid lines extending in parallel in the left-right direction and four vertical grid lines extending in parallel in the up-down direction. The horizontal grid lines are composed of grid line GL1 that separates the upper display area from the middle display area, grid line GL3 that separates the middle display area from the lower display area, and grid line GL2 that separates the display area V in the middle display area RM at the middle position between the top and bottom of the middle display area RM. The vertical grid lines are composed of grid lines GL4 and GL7 that extend in the up-down direction to connect the two ends of grid lines GL1 and GL2 at the left and right ends of the display screen, and two grid lines GL5 and GL6 that separate the display area V in the middle display area RM at the middle position between the left and right of the middle display area. Thus, in the example of FIG. 5, five display areas V1 to V5 (shown by dashed frames in FIG. 5) are partitioned as display areas V in the middle display area by three horizontal grid lines and four vertical grid lines.

In the example of FIG. 5, the normal game information image NL is displayed in display areas V1 to V5 partitioned by frame images G.

Display area V1 (upper left area of middle display area RM) displays a text image L1 indicating the "BB count," "RB count," and "composite probability" of the current day as the game content of gaming machine M1. Also, a text image L2 indicating the "BB count," "RB count," and "composite probability" of the previous day and the day before that is displayed as an image indicating the past game content of gaming machine M1.

Display area V2 (to the right of display area V1) displays a text image L3 indicating the "number of times BB and RB were combined" which indicates the game content of the gaming machine M1 on the day, and a text image L4 indicating the "number of times BB and RB were combined" which indicates the game content of the past (the day before, the day before that).

In display area V3 (to the right of display area V2), a difference in number of coins trend graph X1 is displayed as the game content of gaming machine M1 on that day.

Display area V4 (below display area V1) displays text images L5 indicating the "total number of starts" and "current number of starts" as images showing the game content of gaming machine M1 on that day.

Display area V5 (below display areas V2 and V3) displays a graph X2 showing the number of coins won on gaming machine M1 on the current day and in the past (in this example, from 1 day ago to 15 days ago).

In this way, the normal game information image NL includes text images L1 to L5 (including number images) and graph images (e.g., difference in number transition graph X1, won number transition graph X2). That is, in the normal display mode, the game information displayed on the display panel 2 includes numbers, text, and graph information.

The normal background image NB is a background image for normal play, and is displayed in the background of the frame image G and the normal play information image NL. Conventionally, a method of configuring display layers separately has been known, and for example, the frame image G, the normal play information image NL, and the normal background image NB are displayed on different display layers. The image displayed as the normal background image NB is not particularly limited. For example, a still image or a moving image may be displayed as the normal background image NB. In addition, a background image corresponding to the gaming machine or store may be displayed as the normal background image NB, or a character image may be displayed.

When a game is started on the gaming machine M1, normal game information, which is game information related to normal game, is transmitted from the gaming machine M1 to the gaming machine information display device D. When the gaming machine information display device D receives game information from the gaming machine M1, the display on the display screen W is updated each time. The operation of transmitting game information from the gaming machine M1 to the gaming machine information display device D and the operation of displaying and updating game information on the gaming machine information display device D are the same as those of conventional technology, and detailed explanations thereof will be omitted here.

When a touch operation on the simple display button P3 is detected in step S2 of FIG. 4, the flow proceeds to step S3, where the calculation processing unit 108 executes processing in the simple display mode.

- Simple display mode -
FIG. 6 shows an example of the display on the display screen W in the "simple display mode" in step S3.

In the example of FIG. 6, the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process of switching from a normal background image NB, which has a pattern drawn using curves or the like, to a monochrome simple background image SB. Similarly, for the frame image G, a process of switching from colorful grid lines to monochrome simple grid lines is executed.

In addition, the calculation processing unit 108 simplifies the colors of the number images and character images (character images L1 to L5) in the normal game information image NL, while maintaining the colors of the graph images (ball difference trend graph X1 and ball payout trend graph X2). This makes the game information easier to see compared to the "normal display mode."

In addition, in the simple display mode, the display content of the lower display area RL is changed to a simple display. Specifically, the display of the setting buttons P2 to P8 is deleted, and instead, a "back button P10" for canceling the "simple display mode" is displayed to the right of the call button P1.

-Normal display mode-
After the switching process to the "simple display mode" in step S3, when a set time (hereinafter referred to as the "set time") has elapsed or the gaming machine M1 is in a non-operational state (YES in step S5), the flow returns to step S1, and the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process to return the display of the display panel 2 from the "simple display mode" to the "normal display mode."

In addition, if a touch operation to the back button P10 is detected after the switching process to the "simple background mode" in step S3 (YES in step S5), the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process to return the display on the display panel 2 from the "simple display mode" to the "normal display mode" even before the set time has elapsed or the gaming machine M1 has not yet become in an inoperative state.

The "set time" that determines whether to switch to the normal display mode can be set arbitrarily, and the setting method and set time are not particularly limited. For example, a predetermined fixed time may be stored in advance in the memory unit 112, or a time notified from the management computer C or the hall computer H may be used.

The method for determining whether gaming machine M1 is in a non-operating state can be a conventionally known method, so a detailed explanation will be omitted here. For example, the calculation processing unit 108 determines that gaming machine M1 is in a non-operating state when the game information received from gaming machine M1 is not updated for a predetermined period of time.

The display content in "simple display mode" is as explained in Figure 6 above, so a detailed explanation will be omitted here.

As described above, in this embodiment, when a touch operation of the simple display button P3 is detected, the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process of switching the display of the display panel 2 from the "normal display mode" to the "simple display mode." Then, after the switching process to the "simple display mode," when a set time has elapsed or when the gaming machine M1 is in a non-operating state, the calculation processing unit 108 is configured to execute a process of returning the display of the display panel 2 from the "simple display mode" to the "normal display mode."

According to this configuration, when a switching operation to the "simple display mode" is performed on the operation input unit, a process is executed to switch the display on the display panel from the "normal display mode" to the "simple display mode" in which the game information display screen is configured more simply than in the normal display mode. This makes it possible to switch to the simple display mode in which the game information display screen is configured simply, at the player's request due to age, visual condition, game situation, etc.

Furthermore, after the process of switching to the "simple display mode", when a set time (e.g., a certain amount of time set in advance) has elapsed, or when the gaming machine M1 is in a non-operating state, the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process of returning the display of the display panel from the "simple display mode" to the "normal display mode". This allows the gaming machine information display device D to have more time to exert its presentation effects while realizing a display mode according to the player's desire. In addition, because the display of the display panel is returned to the "normal display mode" when the gaming machine M1 is in a non-operating state, a user who is starting a new game will not feel uncomfortable with the display screen W, and there is no need to go through the trouble of switching to the normal display mode.

Other Embodiments
As described above, the embodiments have been described as examples of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to these, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are appropriately made. In addition, it is also possible to combine the components described in the above embodiments to create new embodiments.

For example, the display panel 2 is not limited to a liquid crystal display, but may be a panel capable of displaying other information, such as an organic EL display or an LED display, as long as it is capable of displaying information about gaming machines, etc.

<Modification of simple display mode>
In the above embodiment, an example of the simple display mode has been described in which the normal background image NB is simplified to a simple background image SB. However, the display in the simple display mode is not limited to this. For example, the display in the simple display mode may be such that the number of display items of the game information is reduced, or the letters and numbers constituting the game information are enlarged.

Other examples of simple display will be described in detail below with reference to Figures 6 to 9. The differences from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described.

In this example, as shown in FIG. 7, when an operation input to the simple display button P3 is detected, display mode setting buttons P31, P32, and P33 are displayed side by side as a submenu to the right of the call button P1, which is different from the previously described embodiment. P31 is a setting button for "simple background mode," P32 is a setting button for "enlarged text mode," and P33 is a setting button for returning the display screen W to its previous state (labeled "back" in the drawing).

Figure 8 is a flow diagram showing the operation of this modified example. In Figure 8, the same reference numerals are used for processes corresponding to those in Figure 4, and the following explanation focuses on the differences from Figure 4.

In step S2 of FIG. 8, when a touch operation on the simple display button P3 is detected, the display mode selection buttons P31, P32, and P33 (hereinafter also simply referred to as "setting buttons P31, P32, and P33") are displayed as described above. Then, in step S2, if an operation input on the setting button P31 is detected, the flow proceeds to step S31, and if an operation input on the setting button P32 is detected, the flow proceeds to step S32. At this time, if an operation input on the setting button P33 is detected, the calculation processing unit 108 returns the display on the display panel 2 to the display in the upper part of FIG. 7.

- Simple display mode -
[Simple background mode]
In step S31, the calculation processing unit 108 executes processing in the "simple background mode." The "simple background mode" is an example of a "simple display mode" in which the display of the background image is simplified from the "normal display mode."

Here, the "simple background mode" is, for example, the same display screen W (see FIG. 6) as the "simple display mode" in the above embodiment, and a detailed description of it will be omitted here.

If an additional operation input to the setting button P32 is detected in step S31, the flow proceeds to step S32, where the calculation processing unit 108 executes processing for the "magnified text mode" in addition to the "simple background mode." If an operation of the back button P10 is detected, the flow returns to step S1, where the calculation processing unit 108 executes processing for returning the display on the display panel 2 to the "normal display mode." The operation of the back button P10 here corresponds to an "operation for canceling the setting of the simple display mode."

[Text enlargement mode]
In step S32, the calculation processing unit 108 executes processing in the "enlarged text mode." The "enlarged text mode" is a display mode in which the number of display items or the amount of information displayed for game information is reduced from the "normal display mode," i.e., simplified, and the remaining game information text (including character images and number images) is enlarged, and is an example of the "simple display mode."

Figure 9 shows an example of the display of the display screen W in "enlarged text mode." Note that Figure 9 also shows an example in which the aforementioned "simple background mode" is applied in addition to the "enlarged text mode."

In this example, the graph information (ball difference trend graph X1 and ball payout trend graph X2) has been deleted from the normal game information image NL. In addition, the number images and text images are displayed in a larger size than in the "normal display mode." In this way, by enlarging the number images and text images, a display that is easier to see for elderly people and the like than in the "normal display mode" can be realized.

Although not shown, when only the "text enlargement mode" is applied, the background image remains the normal background image NB, and a process is executed to enlarge the text of the game information (including letter images and number images). In this state, when operation information for the setting button P31 is additionally obtained, the "simple background mode" is applied in addition to the "text enlargement mode" (see FIG. 9).

-Normal display mode-
After the switching process to the "simple background mode" in step S31 or the "enlarged text mode" in step S32, if the set time has elapsed or the gaming machine M1 has become non-operating (YES in step S5), the flow returns to step S1, and the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process of returning the display of the display panel 2 to the "normal display mode." Also, similar to the above-mentioned embodiment, if the operation of the back button P10 is detected even before the set time has elapsed or the gaming machine M1 has become non-operating, the flow returns to step S1, and the calculation processing unit 108 executes a process of returning the display of the display panel 2 to the "normal display mode." The operation of the back button P10 here corresponds to an "operation of canceling the setting of the simple display mode."

The "set time" and the method of determining whether gaming machine M1 is in a non-operating state are the same as in the above embodiment, so a detailed explanation will be omitted here.

As described above, this modified example also provides the same effect as the previously described embodiment. Specifically, the effect is that the game information display screen can be switched to a simple display mode with a simple configuration at the player's request due to age, visual condition, game situation, etc. Furthermore, while realizing a display mode according to the player's request, it is possible to ensure more time for the game machine information display device D to exert its presentation effect, and the display screen W does not cause a user who is starting a new game to feel uncomfortable, and there is no need to go through the trouble of switching to the normal display mode.

As explained above, the present invention is useful in a gaming machine information display device that is installed above each gaming machine and can display information about that gaming machine as well as information about the entire gaming center.

D Gaming machine information display device M Gaming machine 2 Display panel 108 Arithmetic processing unit

Claims (5)

A gaming machine information display device that is installed in the vicinity of a gaming machine,
A display panel on which game information of the gaming machine is displayed;
an operation input unit that accepts an operation to set the display of the display panel from a normal display mode to a simple display mode that has been simplified;
a processor for controlling the display of the display panel;
The arithmetic processing unit is
When a setting operation for the simple display mode is performed on the operation input unit, a process of switching the display of the display panel from the normal display mode to the simple display mode is executed;
A gaming machine information display device that executes a process of returning the display of the display panel from the simple display mode to the normal display mode when a set time has elapsed after the switching process to the simple display mode or when the gaming machine is in a non-operating state. In the normal display mode, the game information includes numbers, letters, and graph information;
2. The gaming machine information display device according to claim 1, wherein in the simple display mode, the gaming information is composed of numbers and letters only. The gaming machine information display device according to claim 2 , wherein the calculation processing unit displays numbers and letters in an enlarged manner in the simple display mode compared to the normal display mode. In the normal display mode, the game information includes numbers, letters, and graphs,
The gaming machine information display device according to claim 2 , wherein, when switching to the simple display mode, the calculation processing unit simplifies the colors of the numbers and the letters while maintaining the colors of the graphs. A gaming machine information display device as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the calculation processing unit executes a process of returning the display of the display panel from the simple display mode to the normal display mode when an operation to cancel the setting of the simple display mode is performed on the operation input unit after the switching process to the simple display mode.