JP4612004B2 - Game console with card payout function - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game machine with a card payout function for paying out a card as a game is executed.

  In recent years, game machines that read card data recorded on a card and execute a game using the card data have become widespread. For example, there is a game in which a card prepared by a user is used to play against another user or a computer. In this type of game machine, a new card is supplied to the user as one game is executed. There are a plurality of types of cards supplied from the game machine, and some of them are supplied with a small number of cards (premier cards and rare cards). The user can use the newly acquired card for subsequent games. In addition, some users run a game only for the purpose of obtaining a card called a premier card or a rare card.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a prize dispensing device that collects card-type prizes together. In the prize dispensing device described in Patent Document 1, a prize card is taken out from each hopper in accordance with a point value input by a keyboard or a counter, and information indicating that the use is valid is added to each of the taken out prize cards. At the same time, each taken out premium card is once stocked on the stock shutter, and all the stocked premium cards are released to the receiving port at once by opening the stock shutter. As a result, all the prizes to be paid out can be quickly received together, thereby making it clear that the payout of the prize has ended without giving the recipient a sense of irritation.
JP-A-9-138881

  In a conventional game machine, one card is discharged as one game is executed. For this reason, a user who aims only at collecting cards will play the game repeatedly. However, in a situation where you can wait for the game to use the game, if a user who is not interested in the main part of the game and wants to collect cards has waited many times, he / she can play the game purely. The intended user will wait for a long time in vain. In addition, the act was also a factor that deteriorated the overall image of the card game with a bad impression.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game machine with a card payout function that is easy to use for both game users and card users.

The present invention relates to a game machine with a card payout function for paying out a card when a game is executed, a payout setting means for setting whether or not a plurality of cards are to be paid out at once, and a plurality of cards by the payout setting means When it is set not to be paid out at once, the first fee collecting means for collecting the game fee for one time and when the plurality of cards are to be paid out at once by the payout setting means, A second fee collecting means for collecting a game fee; a first game executing means for executing a first game when a first game fee is collected by the first fee collecting means; Second game execution for executing a second game having a shorter execution time than the first game when a plurality of game charges are collected by the fee collection means of No. 2 And stage, the number of cards in accordance with the collected by the game fee by the first tolling means or the second fee collecting means pays out along with the execution of the first game or the second game And a card payout means.

  According to the present invention, for a card-purpose user, a plurality of cards can be acquired together with the execution of the game, and for a game-purpose user, the card-purpose user does not wait for a turn many times. Since there is no need to wait in vain, it is easy to use for both game users and card users.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the game machine in the present embodiment. The game machine in this embodiment is a game machine with a card payout function for paying out a card as the game is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the game machine is provided with a CPU 20, a RAM 21, a ROM 22, a hard disk device (HDD) 23, a communication unit 24, a display control unit 26, a sound control unit 27, and an input / output control unit 28.

  The CPU 20 implements various functions by executing programs stored in the RAM 21 or the ROM 22 and controls the entire game machine. In the present embodiment, the CPU 20 executes a game processing program to execute a battle game (game processing) using card data recorded on the card. In the game process, one card is normally discharged as one game is executed. However, when a user requests a bulk purchase of cards, a plurality of cards are discharged in batch for one game (bulk purchase). can do.

  The RAM 21 and ROM 22 store programs and various data. The HDD 23 records various programs and data, and the stored programs and data are read out as necessary and stored in the RAM 21. The HDD 23 stores bulk purchase management data set by a bulk purchase management setting process described later.

  The communication unit 24 controls communication with another device connected via the network 12, for example, a game server that collectively manages a plurality of game machines under the control of the CPU 20.

  The display control unit 26 executes control for displaying a game screen on the display 29 under the control of the CPU 20. The sound control unit 27 outputs sound effects, BGM, and the like during game processing from the speaker 30 under the control of the CPU 20.

  The input / output control unit 28 controls data input / output with various devices provided in the game machine. A coin detection sensor 31, a card reader 32, a card dispenser 34, a button 35, and the like are connected to the input / output control unit 28.

  The coin detection sensor 31 detects a coin charged as a game fee (play fee) inserted from a coin insertion slot provided in the apparatus housing, and notifies the CPU 20 through the input / output control unit 28.

  The card reader 32 reads card data recorded on a card used in the game machine. The card reader 32 may read data by any method, for example, a method of optically reading a bar code or a QR (Quick response) code, or data recorded on a magnetic tape attached to the card. And a method of reading data by short-range communication from an IC tag (RFID (Radio Frequency Identification)) embedded in the card. Other methods may be used. The card reader 32 is provided on the outer surface portion of the apparatus housing, and reads card data recorded on the card by, for example, contacting the card with the surface.

  The card dispenser 34 causes a card to be provided to the player to be discharged from a card payout opening provided in the apparatus housing in accordance with a game executed under the control of the CPU 20. In the card dispenser 34, a plurality of cards are stored in a pre-stacked state, and are discharged in order from the card at the top, for example. The card stored in the card dispenser 34 is printed according to the type of card, and different card data is recorded according to the type of card used when executing a game on the game machine. Yes. In general, the plurality of cards stored in advance in the card dispenser 34 include types of cards (so-called premier cards and rare cards) with a small supply number. Users aiming to collect cards aim to acquire such rare cards.

  The button 35 is used for inputting various instructions from the user. From the button 35, for example, an instruction for bulk purchase selection that allows a plurality of cards to be discharged for one game is input.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a use situation of the game machine realized by the game machine with a card payout function in the present embodiment. FIG. 2A shows the usage situation of a conventional game machine that cannot be purchased in bulk. In a game machine that discharges one card as one play is executed, a card-purpose user who intends to collect cards waits in turn many times. Therefore, the game purpose user aiming to play the game purely waits in vain.

  FIG. 2B shows the usage status of the game machine with a card payout function in the present embodiment. In the game machine according to the present embodiment, a plurality of cards can be paid out together with the execution of a one-play game, so that the card purpose user does not have to wait for the turn many times. For this reason, shortening of the turn waiting time of the game purpose user can be expected.

Next, the operation of the game machine with a card payout function in this embodiment will be described.
First, the bulk purchase management setting process will be described. In the collective purchase management setting process, collective purchase management data for controlling the payout of cards when a collective purchase of cards is requested by the user is set. For example, it is activated when an administrator of the game machine instructs the execution of the bulk purchase management setting process. The bulk purchase management data may be set for each game machine by executing the bulk purchase management setting process in each game machine, or the bulk purchase management setting process is performed in a game server that collectively manages a plurality of game machines. Alternatively, each game machine may be set through the communication unit 24 of each game machine. In the following description, it is assumed that the bulk purchase management setting process is executed in the game machine.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the bulk purchase management setting process.
First, when an upper limit setting for bulk purchase is instructed by an operation on the button 35, for example, the CPU 20 waits for input of numerical data indicating the upper limit number of coin insertions (step A1). When the numerical data is input by operating the button 35, the CPU 20 stores the upper limit number of coin insertions as bulk purchase management data, for example, in the HDD 23 (step A2).

  By setting the upper limit number of inserted coins, it is possible to limit the number of cards purchased in bulk. The manager of the game machine can set an upper limit according to the situation such as the tendency of the number of cards intended to be purchased by a card-purpose user, the number of cards-purpose users, or the number of cards in stock. Although the upper limit of the number of coins inserted is set here, an upper limit of the number of cards to be paid out may be set.

  When the discount rate setting is instructed, the process waits for input of numerical data indicating the discount rate (Yes in step A3). When the numerical data is input by the operation on the button 35, the CPU 20 stores the numerical data indicating the discount rate as collective purchase management data (step A4).

  By setting a discount rate for bulk buying, the user can be encouraged to use bulk buying. By increasing the number of users who make bulk purchases, it is possible to increase the coins (game fee) that can be acquired in the game machine within a fixed time (the rotation rate of the game machine can be increased). In addition, if there are many users for game purposes, the use of bulk purchases can be suppressed by reducing the discount rate or eliminating the discount.

  In the bulk purchase management setting process, settings other than the above-described upper limit setting and discount rate setting may be performed. When other settings are instructed, the CPU 20 inputs data according to the contents of the settings and sets them as bulk purchase management data (steps A5 and A6).

  Bulk purchase management data can be read and referenced as necessary.

FIG. 4 shows an example of the bulk purchase management data set by the bulk purchase management setting process.
As shown in FIG. 4, as the collective purchase management data, the upper limit number of coin insertions indicating the upper limit of the collective purchase, the discount rate, and other setting data are set. The discount rate shown in FIG. 4 indicates that, for example, when five coins are inserted as a bulk purchase game fee, one extra card is paid out. In the normal case where there is no discount, one card is ejected for one coin (charge for one game), so when five coins are inserted, five cards are ejected, as shown in FIG. Depending on the setting of the discount rate, one card is added and six cards are discharged for the insertion of five coins.

  Thus, by making it possible to arbitrarily set the bulk purchase management data by the bulk purchase management setting process, it is possible to dynamically control bulk purchases according to the trend of the user of the store where the game machine is installed. .

Next, the game processing of the game machine with a card payout function in this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, a normal game-purpose user who does not make bulk purchases inserts a coin as a play allowance from the coin insertion slot (step B1, No). Here, coins for one play are inserted. When the coin detection sensor 31 detects the insertion of coins for one play (step B2), the CPU 20 starts the game. For example, the CPU 20 uses the card reader 32 to read card data recorded on a card possessed by the user, and uses this card data to execute a game for playing against other users or computers (steps). B3).

  When the game is over (Step B4, Yes), the CPU 20 pays out a card to the user who has played the game. That is, the CPU 20 discharges one card from the card dispenser 34 (step B5).

  On the other hand, a card-purpose user can select execution of a game by bulk purchase by a predetermined operation on the button 35. When the CPU 20 detects that bulk buying is selected by the notification from the button 35 (step B1, Yes), the CPU 20 sets execution of bulk buying to pay out a plurality of cards for one play game, It will be in the state of waiting for the insertion of the coin. When bulk purchase is selected, the CPU 20 allows coins of two or more plays (multiple game charges) to be inserted. A card-purpose user can insert coins according to the number of cards to be acquired.

  When the coin detection sensor 31 detects the insertion of a coin (step B6), the CPU 20 counts the number of inserted coins (step B7). The CPU 20 determines whether or not the coin insertion number has reached the upper limit number of coin insertions set in the bulk purchase management data. Here, if the upper limit number of coin insertions has not been reached (No at Step B8), the CPU 20 continues to wait for coin insertion. The user can continuously insert coins up to the upper limit number of coin insertions.

  The CPU 20 calculates the number of cards to be paid out after the game ends based on the discount rate set in the bulk purchase management data according to the number of coins inserted according to the number of coins inserted, and displays it on the display 29. You may make it let it. Thereby, the user can insert coins for the desired number of cards while confirming the number of cards displayed on the display 29.

  Whether the number of coins inserted by the user reaches the upper limit number of coin insertions (step B8, Yes), or the end of coin insertion is instructed by, for example, an operation on the user's button 35 (or a predetermined time has elapsed) Then (step B9, Yes), the CPU 20 starts the game. The CPU 20 executes the game in the same way as when bulk buying is not performed (step B10). When bulk buying is selected, the game can be changed to a different game content from the game executed when bulk buying is not performed (step B3). For example, the game execution time may be made shorter than in a normal game.

  When the game is over (Step B11, Yes), the CPU 20 pays out a card to the user who has played the game. Here, the CPU 20 discharges as many cards as the number of coins inserted into the user. The CPU 20 refers to the bulk purchase management data stored in the HDD 23 and determines whether a discount rate for the bulk purchase is set.

  Here, when the discount rate is not set (step B12, No), the CPU 20 causes the card dispenser 34 to eject the number of cards according to the number of coins inserted by the user for bulk buying (step B13). . For example, if the game fee for one play is one coin, the same number of cards as the number of inserted coins are discharged. Therefore, when 10 coins are inserted, 10 cards are discharged.

  On the other hand, when the discount rate is set (step B12, No), the CPU 20 causes the card dispenser 34 to eject the number of coins inserted and the number of cards according to the discount rate set in the bulk purchase management data. (Step B14). For example, when 10 coins are inserted, 12 cards are discharged if the discount rate shown in FIG. 4 is set.

  In this way, in the game machine with a card payout function in the present embodiment, a plurality of cards can be paid out together with the execution of the game according to the user's selection. The user can obtain a plurality of cards smoothly without waiting for the turn many times and executing the game. Some card-purpose users may not be interested in the game at all. If many of these users are waiting for a turn, other general users will have a bad impression on the game machine. It is possible to improve the image by reducing the waiting time. In addition, for the game purpose user, the card purpose user does not wait for the turn many times, so that the game can be enjoyed without waiting for the turn for a long time.

  In addition, for managers who manage game machines, if the number of users who buy in bulk increases, the number of coins that can be obtained within a certain period of time will increase. it can. Furthermore, by setting a discount rate for bulk purchases, it is possible to return profits to card-purpose users and encourage further game use.

In the above description, the card dispenser 34 mounted on the game machine is a storage type in which a plurality of cards are stored in advance, but the card type is determined when the card is ejected, and printing according to the card type It is also possible to mount a printing type card dispenser 34 that can be discharged after being applied. In this case, the type of card to be discharged can be changed according to the game result (win / loss) and the bulk purchase situation (number of cards, etc.). For example, when the game result is won or the number of bulk purchases is larger than a predetermined value, a card with a high rare degree may be discharged.

The block diagram which shows the function structure of the game machine in this embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the utilization condition of the game machine implement | achieved by the game machine with a card payment function in this embodiment. The flowchart for demonstrating a bulk purchase management setting process. The figure which shows an example of the bulk purchase management data set by the bulk purchase management setting process. The flowchart for demonstrating the game process of the game machine with a card payment function in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

  20 ... CPU, 21 ... RAM, 22 ... ROM, 23 ... HDD, 24 ... communication unit, 26 ... display control unit, 27 ... audio control unit, 28 ... input / output control unit, 29 ... display, 30 ... speaker, 31 ... Coin detection sensor, 32 ... card reader, 34 ... card dispenser, 35 ... button.

Claims (3)

In a game machine with a card payout function that pays out a card as the game is executed,
A payout setting means for setting whether or not a plurality of cards are to be paid out together;
A first fee collecting means for collecting a game fee for one time when it is set not to pay out a plurality of cards by the payout setting means;
A second fee collection unit that collects a plurality of game fees when a plurality of cards are set to be paid out together by the payout setting unit;
First game execution means for executing the first game when a game fee for one time is collected by the first fee collection means;
Second game execution means for executing a second game having a shorter execution time than the first game when a plurality of game charges are collected by the second fee collection means;
Card payout means for paying out the number of cards according to the game fee collected by the first fee collection means or the second fee collection means in accordance with the execution of the first game or the second game. A game machine with a card payout function. Further comprising upper limit setting means for setting an upper limit of the game fee collected by the fee collecting means when it is set to pay out a plurality of cards by the payout setting means;
2. The game machine with a card payout function according to claim 1, wherein the fee collection means collects a game fee within a range of an upper limit set by the upper limit setting means. Further comprising a discount setting means for setting a discount rate against the game fee which has been collected by said second charge collection means when it is set paying out in a plurality of cards by the payout setting means,
2. The game machine with a card payout function according to claim 1, wherein the card payout means pays out a number of cards according to the discount rate and the game fee collected by the second fee collection means .

Images