JP6489976B2 - Amusement park management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game hall management system.

  Conventionally, as described in Patent Document 1 below, for example, gaming machines are provided with external output terminals for outputting various game information to the outside. The gaming machine is configured to output gaming information such as jackpot signals, symbol variation signals, fraudulent signals and the like to peripheral devices such as gaming information display devices and hall computers via an external output terminal.

  The game information display device displays information for judging whether the gaming machine is good or bad by receiving the above-described gaming information. Based on the above-described game information, the hall computer totals and displays information for the game hall manager to manage the operating status of the gaming machine.

JP, 2014-124248, A

  However, the type of information output from the external output terminal provided in the gaming machine is proportional to the number of terminals, and there is currently a restriction of about 10 types at the most. To increase the number of types, the number of external output terminals itself is set. It was necessary to increase. Under such restrictions, it is difficult to output a signal indicating dozens of effects executed on the gaming machine, and there is a situation that detailed information regarding the effects cannot be collected.

  In view of the above circumstances, the present invention is capable of collecting detailed game information related to effects from a gaming machine without involving a large-scale hardware change. It is intended to provide a system that can analyze what emotions are held and what trends are shown.

  The game hall management system according to the present invention is a management system corresponding to a gaming machine capable of outputting a sound watermark representing effect information superimposed on a sound effect when outputting various sound effects according to the execution of the effect. . This management system for amusement hall can store the effect information by acquiring the effect information from the sound watermark superimposed on the sound effect and specifying the effect type.

  The game hall management system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a game end specifying means for specifying a game end point when the player ends the game. The game hall management system of this aspect can specify and output the type of effect executed within a predetermined period retroactive from the game end point as the end opportunity effect.

  The game hall management system according to the second aspect of the present invention includes facial expression specifying means for specifying a facial expression from the face image of the player. The management system for a gaming hall according to the second aspect can store and output the player's facial expression specified in association with the type of effect performed.

  The gaming machine according to the present invention can convert information indicating the type of effect performed into a sound watermark and superimpose it on a sound effect for output. Therefore, in the game hall management system of the present invention, it is possible to collect detailed information related to the production without adding a special hardware configuration to the gaming machine side.

  In this game hall management system, by specifying the player's facial expression when each production is executed, or the continuation or termination of the game, what emotions the player has for each production, or It is possible to analyze whether to stop the game. The information obtained by such an analysis is extremely useful information for, for example, the next game machine development and grasping the game trend of the player.

The system diagram which shows the structure of the management system for game halls. The front view which shows a pachinko machine. The block diagram which shows the electrical constitution of a pachinko machine. The front view which shows a game information display apparatus. The block diagram which shows the electrical structure of a game information display apparatus. The number of detections of each facial expression (number of facial expressions) by stage. Number of end triggers by stage.

The embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the following examples.
Example 1
This example is an example related to a game hall management system 1 including a gaming machine capable of outputting production information to the outside using an audio watermark technology. The contents will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the game hall management system 1 is a system built around a management device 41 that manages a large number of gaming machines such as a pachinko machine 2 and a slot machine (not shown). In this game hall management system 1, one relay device 42 installed for every two gaming machines is connected to the communication network 40 together with the management device 41, the prize exchange device 13, the payment device 15, and the like.

  Further, in the game hall management system 1 of this example, an image processing apparatus 100 that performs image processing on a face image obtained by photographing a player's face is connected to the communication network 40. In a game hall to which the game hall management system 1 is applied, a camera 10 as a face image acquisition means for acquiring a player's face image is installed for each gaming machine, and the image processing apparatus 100 described above is provided for each of the four cameras 10. Are installed one by one. The camera 10 is installed so as not to be conspicuous at a position adjacent to the side of the pachinko machine 2.

  In addition to gaming machines such as the pachinko machine 2, the gaming information display device 3 and the counting lending unit 43 for each gaming machine are connected to the relay device 42 so that they can communicate with each other. The relay device 42 realizes data communication between the gaming machine side and the management device 41 and relays data communication between the game information display device 3 and the gaming machine. The relay device 42 installed at a rate of one for every two gaming machines collects various operation information from each gaming machine, the counting lending unit 43, and the gaming information display device 3 and transmits it to the management device 41. At the same time, various setting information received from the management device 41 is transmitted to the gaming machine or the like.

  The counting lending unit 43 is a device that lends balls used for games as game values and counts balls acquired by the player, and is installed individually for each pachinko machine 2. The counting lending unit 43 lends balls with the inserted money as a consideration, and counts the balls thrown into the counting tray. At the end of the game, it is possible to issue a recording medium that records the number of balls and the balance of the inserted money.

The giveaway exchanging apparatus 13 is an apparatus that executes a giveaway exchanging process corresponding to the number of counting balls recorded on the recording medium issued by the counting lending unit 43.
The settlement device 15 is a device that pays out the remaining amount of cash by the settlement processing of the remaining amount recorded on the recording medium issued by the counting medium.

  The game hall management system 1 of this example includes a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine 2, a game information display device 3 attached to the gaming machine, and a management device 41. Hereinafter, each apparatus which comprises this management system 1 for game centers is demonstrated.

(Game machine)
A pachinko machine 2 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a gaming machine that is played using a pachinko ball as a game medium. The pachinko machine 2 executes a jackpot lottery (special symbol determination or special symbol determination) in accordance with a winning at the special symbol starting port 22 forming the start winning portion, and displays the jackpot symbol when the jackpot is won. It is a so-called seven machine that generates a big hit state. In the pachinko machine 2, as a gaming state in which the big hit lottery is executed, a normal state where the player's advantage degree is low, a probability variation state where the big hit probability is high, and the like are provided.

  The front surface of the pachinko machine 2 is composed of an upper part provided with a substantially circular game area 230 and a lower part provided with an operation handle 245 in addition to an upper plate 235 and a lower plate 237 which are ball trays. Yes. A decorative lamp portion 236 is disposed on both upper sides of the game area 230, and a speaker 231 is disposed on the lower left side.

  The game area 230 in which balls, which are game media, flow down, is formed around the liquid crystal display unit 29 that displays effect symbols for informing the result of the big win lottery. At the bottom of the game area 230, an out hole 238 is provided for collecting balls that have flowed down without winning a prize. In the gap between the liquid crystal display unit 29 and the out hole 238, a special drawing start port 22 which is a start winning port and a large winning port 246 which is opened in a big hit state are arranged. In the left region of the liquid crystal display unit 29 as viewed from the player side, a passing gate type general start port 244 is arranged. Further, a special figure display unit 211 and a general figure display unit 212 are arranged along the left edge of the game area 230.

  The usual start port 244 is a gate for detecting a passing ball. The payout of the winning ball is not set in the passing gate type general-purpose starting port 244 that only allows the ball to pass. When the passing ball of the normal start port 244 is detected, a random number for lottery for normal symbol determination (hereinafter referred to as “normal determination”) is extracted and the normal determination is executed. It should be noted that the common-game winning is notified by turning on the general-drawing display unit 212.

  The special figure starting port 22 is a winning opening that becomes an opportunity for a big hit lottery (special drawing determination). When a ball wins the special figure starting port 22, a random number for lottery for special figure determination is extracted and a big hit lottery is executed. The special drawing start port 22 is provided with an electric tulip (electrical accessory) including a pair of movable blades 221. The electric tulip is opened for a predetermined number of seconds in accordance with the winning of the ordinary drawing, making it much easier to win a prize. Become. The opening time of the electric tulip differs depending on the type of gaming state, and is 3 seconds in the probability variation state and 0.2 seconds in the normal state.

  The special figure display unit 211 is a display unit that constitutes an example of a lottery result display unit that displays the result of the jackpot lottery to the player. The result of the jackpot lottery is notified by the stopped symbol after the symbol variation period by the special symbol display unit 211. However, the display pattern by the special figure display unit 211 is a control code inside the gaming machine and is difficult for the player to understand. Therefore, the result of the jackpot lottery is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner by the effect by the liquid crystal display unit 29 that displays the numerical figures for effect in a variable manner.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the pachinko machine 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The pachinko machine 2 is configured around the main control unit 25. For the main control unit 25, a payout control unit 285 for controlling the payout of balls, a firing control unit 287 for controlling the driving of balls, an effect control unit 281 for controlling game effects by display or sound effects, Passing ball detection sensors 261 to 263, an electric chew solenoid 266 for driving the movable blade 221 of the special drawing start port 22, a special prize opening solenoid 268 for opening the special prize opening 246, and a special figure display unit which is a display unit for a lottery result. 211, the universal map display unit 212, an external output terminal 284 for outputting various signals to the outside, a power supply circuit unit 289 for supplying power, and the like are electrically connected.

  The effect control unit 281 is electrically connected to an amplifier 282 for outputting sound effects from the speaker 231 and a decorative lamp unit 236, and a display control unit 283 for controlling the liquid crystal display unit 29 is communicably connected thereto. Yes.

  As a detection sensor of a winning ball or a passing ball, a special figure winning sensor 261 for detecting a starting winning prize, a general winning prize sensor 262 for detecting a passing ball of the ordinary figure starting port 244, and a winning ball to the big winning port 246 are detected. There is a big prize sensor 263 that performs. The special figure winning sensor 261 is attached to the special figure starting port 22 so that a winning ball can be detected. The big prize sensor 263 is attached so as to be able to detect a prize ball that has flowed into the big prize opening 246.

When a winning occurs, the payout control unit 285 receives an instruction from the main control unit 25 and controls the payout mechanism unit 286 to execute the payout of a predetermined number of balls.
The firing control unit 287 controls the launching strength of the ball by controlling the firing device 288 according to the operation amount of the operation handle 245.

  The main control unit 25 shown in FIG. 3 includes a CPU 251, ROM 252 and RAM 253 as storage elements, an I / O unit 254 that forms an input / output interface, a random number generation unit 256 that generates a predetermined range of random numbers, and a random number that extracts lottery random numbers. An extraction unit 255 and the like are provided.

The ROM 252 stores various processing programs to be executed by the CPU 251 and stores a lottery table for special figure determination and a lottery table for normal figure determination (not shown).
In the lottery table for special figure determination, a jackpot winning random number in the normal state and a jackpot winning random number in the probability variation state are defined. The number of winning random numbers in the probabilistic state is defined more than the winning random numbers in the normal state. As a result, the expectation of jackpot is higher in the probabilistic state. In addition, the jackpot winning random number includes a normal jackpot winning random number that shifts to the normal state after the jackpot state ends, and a winning random number of probability variation jackpot that is followed by a probabilistic change state, and in the lottery table for special figure determination, The jackpot winning random numbers are distributed to the jackpot winning random numbers or the probabilistic jackpot winning random numbers at a predetermined distribution ratio.

  The RAM 253 is a readable / writable storage element used for the work area of the CPU 251 or temporary writing. In the storage area of the RAM 253, a special figure reservation area for four data is provided. The special figure reservation area is a storage area for a reserved random number indicating whether or not the special figure determination is successful. In the special figure holding area, the random numbers for lottery extracted in response to the start winning to the special figure starting port 22 are stored as the reserved random numbers for special figure determination up to four. Even if four special random numbers for reserved figure determination are stored and a winning is made to the special figure starting port 22, the random number for lottery at that time is canceled and deleted as it is.

The pachinko machine 2 has functions as the following means.
(1) jackpot lottery means: means for executing a jackpot lottery when a predetermined start condition is established by winning a ball to the special drawing start port 22, and is realized by the main control unit 25.
(2) Effect pattern determination means: means realized by the main control unit 25 for determining the type of effect when displaying the jackpot lottery result from various patterns prepared in advance.
(3) Effect execution means: means for executing an effect for suggesting the result to the player when the special figure display unit 211 as the lottery result display means displays the result of the jackpot lottery. The effect execution means executes an effect suggesting the big hit lottery result by displaying the change of the design for effect on the liquid crystal display unit 29, blinking of the decoration lamp unit 236, or the like.
(4) Sound effect output means: means for outputting various sound effects when the effect execution means executes the effect. The sound effect output means outputs various sound effects from the speaker 231 during symbol variation for notifying the jackpot lottery result (during game progress from the jackpot lottery to the result notification).
(5) Audio watermark output means: It is possible to convert effect information indicating the type of effect executed by the effect execution means into an audio watermark and superimpose it on the sound effect output from the sound effect output means. means. The acoustic watermark is effect information converted by the encoding process executed by the main control unit 25. In order to reduce the processing load on the CPU 251 and increase the speed of the conversion process, a dedicated audio processing chip that executes the above-described encoding process may be employed.

The pachinko machine 2 includes an external output terminal for outputting game signals to the outside, and can output the following game signals to the relay device 42 as the game progresses.
(1) Payout signal (safe signal): Output once for every 10 payout balls. The number of payout balls (safe) is the number of payout signals × 10 balls.
(2) Driving signal (out signal): Output once for every 10 hitting balls. The number of shots (out) is the number of shot signals × 10 balls. Strictly speaking, the driving signal is not output from the pachinko machine 2 but from a ball collecting device (not shown) provided for collecting used balls.
(3) Start signal: One pulse is output per symbol change (actual action, start processing) triggered by winning at the special figure starting port 22.
(4) Jackpot signal: A status signal that is level-output while the jackpot state is continuing.

Further, the pachinko machine 2 has a function of outputting information from the speaker 231 by superimposing a sound watermark on the sound effect, and can output the following effect information during execution of effects such as symbol variation.
(5) Production information: Information indicating which type of production is being executed among a plurality of types (for example, 100 types) of production (design suggesting the result of the jackpot lottery) based on symbol variation and sound effects. .

(Game information display device)
As shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the game information display device 3 is a device provided with an employee calling function in addition to a function of displaying various types of guidance information related to gaming machines such as the pachinko machine 2. As will be described in detail later, the game information display device 3 of this example includes a microphone 37 as an acoustic watermark acquisition unit described later.

  The game information display device 3 includes a large liquid crystal display unit 33 as shown in FIG. Operation buttons such as a call button 341 and a data switching button 343 for calling employees are arranged below the display area 330 of the liquid crystal display unit 33. On the upper part of the game information display device 3, there is provided a lamp unit 32 that is lit in a predetermined pattern during calling.

  The liquid crystal display unit 33 is a display unit that can be touch-operated with a transparent sheet-like touch panel 331 stacked thereon. Various information such as a jackpot history and past game data can be displayed in the display area 330 of the liquid crystal display unit 33. For example, during a normal game, the normal screen illustrated in FIG. 4 is displayed in the display area 330. In the initial setting, a normal screen for displaying the game data of the corresponding pachinko machine 2 is displayed. By operating the data switching button 343, for example, it is possible to switch to a normal screen for displaying the player's personal data.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the game information display device 3 is electrically configured around a control unit 30. The control unit 30 includes a CPU 301 that executes software to perform various calculations, a ROM 302 and a RAM 304 as memory means, and an I / O unit 305 that inputs and outputs signals. For the control unit 30, an external I / F unit 38 that performs transmission and reception of signals with the outside, a liquid crystal display unit 33, a lamp unit 32, a touch panel 331, a call button 341, a data switching button 343, a microphone 37, and the like are electrically connected. It is connected to the.

The game information display device 3 has functions as the following means.
(1) Acoustic watermark acquisition means: means for acquiring an acoustic watermark output by the pachinko machine 2, and is realized by the microphone 37.
(2) Effect specifying means: means for acquiring effect information based on the sound watermark output from the sound watermark output means included in the gaming machine and specifying the type of effect. The effect information is acquired by the CPU 301 applying a predetermined calculation process (decoding process) to the sound watermark. Note that a dedicated audio processing chip or the like may be employed to reduce the processing load on the CPU 301 and speed up the processing.
(3) Game end specifying means: means for specifying the game end point when the player ends the game.

(Image processing device)
The image processing apparatus 100 is an apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on a player's face image acquired by the camera 10. One image processing apparatus 100 is installed for every four cameras 10, and the output images of the four cameras 10 are configured to be switched in time and taken in order.

  The image processing apparatus 100 is connected to the communication network 40 and can transmit image processing results and the like to the management apparatus 41. When the image processing result is transmitted, the image processing result is output in association with the machine ID of the gaming machine to which the camera 10 that has acquired the image is attached so that the corresponding gaming machine can be identified by the transmission destination.

The image processing apparatus 100 has functions as the following units.
(1) Expression specifying means: means for specifying the player's expression by analyzing the face image acquired by the camera 10 as the face image acquiring means. The facial expression specifying means determines the presence or absence of a face in the image acquired by the camera 10, and specifies the type of facial expression if a face is reflected.
(2) Recognition information output means: means for outputting to the management device 41 image processing results such as the presence / absence of a face and the player's facial expression. When outputting the image processing result as the recognition information, the game machine ID of the corresponding gaming machine is associated so that the management apparatus 41 can identify the output gaming machine.

(Management device)
The management device 41 is installed at a gaming machine such as the pachinko machine 2, the counting lending unit 43 or the gaming information display device 3 installed for each gaming machine, the prize exchange device 13 installed at the prize counter, the island edge of the gaming island, etc. This is a device for managing the operating status of all devices installed in the game hall, such as the settlement device 15 that has been set up.

  The management device 41 includes a control unit including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an I / O (Input / Output), a HDD (hard disk drive), and the like. An output unit including a main body 413, a monitor 411, and a printer (not shown), and an operation unit including a keyboard 412 and a mouse (not shown). The management device 41 has a function of identifying and identifying the game information of each pachinko machine 2 to which a machine number (game machine ID) is assigned.

The management device 41 has functions as the following means.
(1) Effect storage means: means for storing the type of effect specified by the effect specifying means included in the game information display device 3. The effect storage means totals the number of executions for each type of effect and stores the totaled result together.
(2) Facial expression storage means: means for storing the facial expression of the player specified by the facial expression specifying means provided in the image processing apparatus 100 in association with the type of effect stored by the effect storage means.
(3) Game end specifying means: means for specifying the game end point when the player ends the game.
(4) End opportunity production specifying means: the types of effects executed within a predetermined period (5 minutes is set in this example) retroactive from the game end time among the types of effects stored by the effect storage means A means for specifying as an end opportunity production.
(5) End trigger number calculating means: means for calculating the number of times specified as the end trigger effect by the end trigger effect specifying means as the end trigger number for each type of effect.
(6) Number of facial expression calculation means: means for calculating the number of facial expressions by dividing the number of times facial expressions are stored by the facial expression storage means into the types of effects and the types of facial expressions.
(7) End trigger production output means: means for outputting the end trigger production effect.
(8) End trigger number output means: means for outputting the end trigger number.
(9) Output means: Output means for outputting the type of effect stored in the effect storage means and information corresponding to the facial expression stored in the facial expression storage means.
(10) Expression number output means: means for outputting the expression number.

  Note that various output methods such as a display output on the display screen of the monitor 411 and a print output by a printer can be employed as a method for outputting information by the end opportunity production output means, the expression count output means, and the like.

The operation of the game hall management system 1 having the above configuration will be described.
(Machine machine operation)
In the game of the pachinko machine 2, a jackpot lottery is performed by extracting a lottery random number for jackpot determination according to the winning of a ball (predetermined starting condition) to the special chart start port 22, and the symbol by the special chart display unit 211. The game that changes will be started. The results of the jackpot lottery (special symbol determination) are suspended (stored) with an upper limit of 4 except for the symbol corresponding to the changing symbol, and are sequentially digested by repeated symbol variation.

  The result of the jackpot lottery (special drawing determination) is notified by the special chart display unit 211, and an effect that suggests the result of the jackpot lottery is executed by the liquid crystal display unit 29, the decorative lamp unit 236, and the like. In the liquid crystal display unit 29, the decorative lamp unit 236, and the like, any type of effect determined internally according to the jackpot lottery result is executed from among various effect patterns. Further, a sound effect is output from the speaker 231 during the performance of the liquid crystal display unit 29 or the like.

  The production by the liquid crystal display unit 29 of the pachinko machine 2 starts the fluctuation display of the numerical figures for the production, and whether or not the special figure is judged according to the combination of the symbols that are stopped and displayed after a predetermined symbol fluctuation time has elapsed (big hit or miss) Is a display effect that suggests. The speaker 231 outputs a sound effect for more effectively raising the display effect at the time of the display effect by the liquid crystal display unit 29.

  When the big win is generated, the three-digit numeric symbol of the doublet is stopped and displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 29. The even-numbered numbers are the notification symbols for the probability variation jackpots, and the odd-numbered numbers are the notification symbols for the normal jackpots. A promising jackpot is a jackpot that shifts to an advantageous probability changing state that increases the probability of winning the jackpot lottery after the jackpot status ends. is there.

  When the jackpot is notified, a jackpot state in which a jackpot 246 called an attacker is opened, the winning probability is remarkably increased, and the number of balls is rapidly increased is generated. In the big hit state, the big winning opening 246 is opened for a maximum of 30 seconds, and a game round in which up to 10 balls can be won is repeatedly executed 15 times. When the big hit state ends, the state shifts to a probability change state or a normal state. Since the probability variation state continues until a new jackpot state is generated, if the probability variation jackpot is won, then the jackpot is continuously generated (continuous) until the normal jackpot is won.

  In particular, the pachinko machine 2 of this example uses sound watermarks, which are encrypted sound effect information representing the type of effect, as sound effects during the execution of effects such as pattern fluctuations and light emission of lamps to suggest the jackpot lottery result. It is possible to output by superimposing. If the sound watermark output by the pachinko machine 2 being superimposed on the sound effect is used, it is possible to specify the type of effect being executed by decoding the effect information.

(Operation of image processing device)
Regardless of whether or not the corresponding gaming machine is playing a game, the image processing apparatus 100 sequentially captures images taken by the four connected cameras 10 in a cycle of 4 seconds while switching every second. Predetermined image processing is performed on the captured image to determine whether or not a player's face is present in the image, and if a face is present, the facial expression is analyzed.

  Specifically, the image processing apparatus 100 attempts to identify areas occupied by facial parts such as eyes and mouths in the captured image, and when these areas can be identified, the player's face exists in the image. It is determined that When a face is present in the image, the relative height of the outer corner of the eye, the relative height of the mouth corner, and the like in the area such as the eyes and mouth are measured. It is specified whether it can be distinguished among a surprised expression, (3) a joyful expression, (4) an angry expression, and (5) a sadness expression.

  The image processing apparatus 100 transmits recognition information, which is an image processing result, to the management apparatus 41 every time an image is acquired. The recognition information is information indicating the presence / absence of a face in the image and the type of facial expression, and is associated with a machine ID so that the management machine 41 can identify the corresponding gaming machine. Note that even if the player is seated, the player's face may not be detected depending on the face orientation or posture. In such a case, the recognition that the face is not present in the image Information is sent.

(Operation of game information display device)
The game information display device 3 determines the game start and game end of the corresponding gaming machine, and specifies the game period from the game start to the game end. Specifically, the game start is determined according to the detection of the out signal, and the game end is determined when reception of the out signal is interrupted for a predetermined time or more. Note that the game start and game end are also determined on the management device 41 side, so the determination result may be acquired to specify the game period.
The game information display device 3 executes the acquisition of effect information from the sound watermark superimposed on the sound effect output by the gaming machine while counting the game information during the game period.

  The game information display device 3 receives game signals such as (1) payout signal, (2) driving signal, (3) start signal, (4) jackpot signal, etc. from the pachinko machine 2 side via the relay device 42, By counting the number of receptions, the following game information is summed up.

(1) Number of jackpots: Number of jackpot conditions.
(2) Number of start of the jackpot: Number of start of the jackpot lottery after the end of the previous jackpot state.
(3) Cumulative start count today: Cumulative start count after opening on that day.
(4) Number of difference balls: The balance of balls as seen from the player side. The number of balls is calculated by subtracting the number of balls to be added by 10 balls each time a driving signal is input from the number of balls to be added by 10 balls each time a payout signal is input.

  The game information display device 3 displays the normal screen illustrated in FIG. 4 in the display area 330, and displays various game data in the normal screen. In the case of the normal screen illustrated in FIG. 4, graph areas 391 and 392 are arranged in the center, and data display areas are provided on the left and right. The upper graph area 391 is a graph area that displays, by a line graph, fluctuations in the number of difference balls obtained by subtracting the number of shot balls from the number of payout balls. The lower graph area 392 is a graph area that displays, in a bar graph, the number of jackpot start times for the past 10 jackpots.

In the data display area on the left, the number of jackpots for today, the previous day, and the day before the previous day is displayed in the upper display field 361, the middle display field 363, and the lower display field 365, respectively.
In the data display area on the right side, the past maximum jackpot count, jackpot start count, and today's cumulative start count are displayed in the upper display column 371, the middle display column 373, and the lower display column 375, respectively.

  In addition, by operating the data switching button 343, the player can switch to the display of personal information after the game has started, and display of production data such as the number of executions of each production and the number of jackpots for each production. Switching is possible.

  In particular, the game information display device 3 collects the sound effect output from the pachinko machine 2 by the microphone 37, acquires the sound watermark superimposed on the sound effect, and performs arithmetic processing such as decoding processing to decode the sound watermark. To obtain production information. By obtaining the effect information in this way, the type of effect that is being executed by the gaming machine is specified in order to suggest the result of the jackpot lottery. The game information display device 3 transmits this effect information indicating the type of effect being executed by the gaming machine to the management device 41.

(Operation of management device)
The operation of the management device 41 is as follows: (1) Total management of game data, (2) Total management of production data, (3) Judgment of player start / end, (4) Production and player trend Can be explained in terms of analysis and management.

(1) Total Management of Game Data The management device 41 receives various game data from the relay device 42, and totals and manages the operating status of each gaming machine. Examples of the types of game data to be aggregated include the following.
-Number of out balls: Game data indicating the number of game media inserted in the gaming machine.
-Number of safe balls: Game data indicating the number of game media paid out from the gaming machine.
-Number of jackpots: Game data indicating the number of jackpots that occurred in the gaming machine.
Start count: Game data indicating the number of symbol changes executed on the gaming machine.
-Operating time: Game data indicating the time during which the gaming machine is operating.

(2) Total management of production data The management device 41 receives production information representing the type of production executed on the gaming machine from the image processing device 100, and collects and manages production data based on the production information. The effect pattern executed by each gaming machine is stored in time series for each gaming machine. The production data to be tabulated and managed includes, for example, the following.
-Number of executions by production: The number of times each production was executed.
-Execution probability by production: Probability calculated by (number of executions by production / number of symbol fluctuations).
-Number of jackpots by performance: The number of times that a jackpot occurred when each performance was executed.
-Probability by jackpot by production: Probability calculated by (number of jackpots by production / number of executions by production).

(3) Judgment of player start / end The management device 41 changes from a state in which the player's face image is not recognized to a state in which the player's face image is recognized. judge. Thereafter, when the occurrence of the out ball is interrupted and the face image is not recognized (the state where it is determined that there is no face in the acquired image of the camera 10), it is determined that the game has ended, and the time is It is specified as the game end point.

(4) Analysis and management of effects and player trends The management device 41 executes analysis for clarifying the relationship between effects and player trends for each model of gaming machines installed in the game hall.
-Number of facial expressions by performance: Number of times of detection of each of the five facial expressions of the player by type of performance.
-Number of times of end by production: The number of times by type of production executed within 5 minutes before the end of the game.

  Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the analysis result of the model A, the number of times each of the above five facial expressions of the player is detected is calculated as the number of facial expressions for each type of effect. To do. Further, the effect executed within 5 minutes before the game end time is specified as the end opportunity effect, and for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the number of times specified as the end opportunity effect (end event Count).

  The management device 41 can output such a total result for each type of effect, including the number of facial expressions illustrated in FIG. 6 and the number of end triggers illustrated in FIG. 7. If there is an output of the total result for each type of effect, it is possible to clarify the tendency of the player's facial expression according to the execution of each effect. In addition, if there is an output of the number of end triggers for each type of effect, it becomes possible to grasp the tendency of the effect that triggers the end of the game.

  As described above, the pachinko machine 2 constituting the game hall management system 1 can convert the production information representing the production pattern suggesting the jackpot lottery result into an acoustic watermark and superimpose it on the sound effect and output it. The management system 1 for amusement hall acquires production information from the sound watermark superimposed on the sound effect, specifies the type of production and stores it.

  This management system for game hall 1 can specify and output the type of effect executed within a predetermined period that goes back from the game end point when the player ends the game as the end opportunity effect. Moreover, since the management system 1 for a gaming hall can specify the facial expression from the player's face image, it is also possible to store and output the player's facial expression in association with the type of effect executed by the gaming machine. is there.

  According to this management system 1 for game halls, by specifying the player's facial expression when each effect is executed, or the continuation or end of the game, what kind of emotion the player has with respect to each effect. It is possible to analyze whether or not to stop the game. Information obtained by such an analysis is extremely useful for, for example, the next game machine development and grasping game trends of the player.

  In addition, according to the gaming machine capable of externally outputting the sound watermark superimposed on the sound effect, it is possible to externally output the type of effect being executed without adding an external output terminal. Further, the processing such as conversion to sound watermark and superimposition to sound effect can be performed by the main control unit 25 including the CPU 251, and the sound effect on which the sound watermark is superimposed can be output via the speaker 231. The acoustic watermark is sufficiently likely to be realized by the existing hardware configuration provided in the pachinko machine 2, and the need for adding a special hardware configuration is reduced.

Note that the following configuration may be employed instead of or in addition to the configuration of this example. Further, the following configurations may be combined as appropriate.
Although the microphone for acquiring the acoustic watermark is provided in the game information display device, the installation position of the microphone is not limited to this. Any position where the acoustic watermark output from the gaming machine can be acquired is acceptable.
The camera may be installed anywhere as long as the player's face image can be acquired, but it is preferable that the camera be installed around the face on the side of the gaming machine.

One relay apparatus is installed for every two gaming machines, but one relay apparatus may be installed for every three or more machines. Similarly, the number of cameras corresponding to the image processing apparatus is not limited to four.
The type of game data and the type of effect data are examples, and are not limited to those described in the description. Various types of game data and effect data can be calculated based on signals received from the gaming machine.

Although the predetermined period for specifying the end opportunity effect is set to be within 5 minutes before the game end time, it is not limited to this and can be set as appropriate.
Further, the predetermined period may be determined based on the number of out balls or the number of symbol fluctuations instead of the time.

  Although the pachinko machine 2 is exemplified as a gaming machine, the present invention can be similarly applied to a slot machine. In the case of a slot machine, a jackpot lottery is performed when a start operation is performed with game media (medals, balls, etc.) inserted, and symbol variation by the reel is started, and a reel is operated when a stop operation is performed. A game is executed to stop the game and determine whether or not there is a prize.

  As a pachinko machine, it may be a type that pays out balls according to a prize, or a so-called enclosed pachinko machine that uses points to fire balls and is awarded points according to the prize. good. The slot machine may be of a type that is played using medals, coins, etc. as a game medium (game value), but using medals or other points as a game value (betting) It may be a so-called complete credit type slot machine that can be played and points are awarded when winning. Further, it may be a parrot (registered trademark) using balls as game media.

You may make it provide the management apparatus outside a game hall which collects and collects information from the management apparatus installed in several game halls.
The management device 41 exemplifies a configuration in which the management device 41 executes the totaling of the production data of the number of executions by production and the number of jackpots by production, the number of facial expressions by production, the number of times of termination by production, and the like. It may be configured such that the game information display device 3 executes and the totaling result is managed by the management device 41.
Instead of or in addition to the configuration of this example, a symbol or a figure corresponding to the player's facial expression may be output.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was described in detail, these Examples are only disclosing the example of the technique included by a claim. Needless to say, the scope of the claims should not be construed as limited by the configuration, numerical values, or the like of the embodiments. The scope of the claims includes techniques that variously modify, change, or appropriately combine the embodiments using known techniques and knowledge of those skilled in the art.

1 management system for amusement hall 10 camera (face image acquisition means)
100 Image processing device (facial expression specifying means, recognition information output means)
2 Pachinko machines (game machines, jackpot lottery means, effect pattern determination means, effect execution means, sound effect output means, sound watermark output means)
22 Special drawing start port 21 Special drawing display (lottery result display means)
29 liquid crystal display unit 25 main control unit 231 speaker 281 effect control unit 3 game information display device (acoustic watermark acquisition means, effect specifying means, game end specifying means)
37 microphone 40 communication network 41 management device (effect storage means, facial expression storage means, game end specifying means, end trigger effect specifying means, end trigger number calculating means, facial expression number calculating means, end trigger effect output means, end trigger number output means , Output means, facial expression number output means)
42 Relay device

Claims (4)

A jackpot lottery means for performing a jackpot lottery in response to establishment of a predetermined start condition;
Lottery result display means for displaying a result of the jackpot lottery to a player;
When the lottery result display means displays the result of the jackpot lottery, the effect execution means for executing an effect for suggesting the result to the player;
A sound effect output means for outputting various sound effects when the effect execution means executes the effect;
Sound watermark output means capable of converting effect information indicating the type of effect executed by the effect execution means into an audio watermark and superimposing the sound information on the sound effect output from the sound effect output means; A management system for a game hall that manages gaming machines,
Production specifying means for obtaining production information based on the audio watermark output from the audio watermark output means, and identifying the type of production;
Effect storage means for storing the type of effect specified by the effect specifying means;
A game end specifying means for specifying a game end time when the player ends the game;
Among the types of effects stored by the effect storage means, an end opportunity effect specifying means for specifying, as an end opportunity effect, the type of effect executed within a predetermined period retroactive from the game end point;
A management system for a game hall, comprising: an end opportunity effect output means for outputting the end opportunity effect. An end opportunity number calculating means for calculating the number of times specified as the end opportunity effect by the end opportunity effect specifying means as the end opportunity number for each type of effect;
The game room management system according to claim 1, further comprising an end trigger number output unit that outputs the end trigger number. A jackpot lottery means for performing a jackpot lottery in response to establishment of a predetermined start condition;
Lottery result display means for displaying a result of the jackpot lottery to a player;
When the lottery result display means displays the result of the jackpot lottery, the effect execution means for executing an effect for suggesting the result to the player;
A sound effect output means for outputting various sound effects when the effect execution means executes the effect;
Sound watermark output means capable of converting effect information indicating the type of effect executed by the effect execution means into an audio watermark and superimposing the sound information on the sound effect output from the sound effect output means; A management system for a game hall that manages gaming machines,
Production specifying means for obtaining production information based on the audio watermark output from the audio watermark output means, and identifying the type of production;
Effect storage means for storing the type of effect specified by the effect specifying means;
A face image acquisition means for acquiring a player's face image;
A facial expression specifying means for specifying the facial expression of the player by analyzing the facial image acquired by the facial image acquisition means;
Facial expression storage means for storing the player's facial expression specified by the facial expression specifying means in association with the type of effect stored by the effect storage means;
An amusement park management system, comprising: output means for outputting the type of effect stored in the effect storage means and information corresponding to the facial expression stored in the facial expression storage means. The number of facial expressions stored by the facial expression storage means is classified into the type of expression and the type of facial expression, and is calculated as the number of facial expressions.
4. The management system for a game hall according to claim 3, further comprising: a facial expression number output means for outputting the facial expression number.

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