JP7336800B2 - Game system and game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention provides a gaming system for enabling a game to be played by a gaming machine that awards predetermined game points upon occurrence of a prize, and a gaming system that is communicatively connected to a gaming machine that awards predetermined game points upon occurrence of a prize. The present invention relates to a gaming device that includes a connecting portion for enabling a game to be played on the gaming machine. Furthermore, it relates to a gaming machine connectable to the gaming device.

A conventional game system of this type includes a plurality of pachinko machines, a counter provided in each pachinko machine for counting the game balls paid out from the pachinko machine when a prize is generated, There is known a game system including a card unit that records the counting results of each counter on a card and ejects the card (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP 2010-12053 A JP 2013-17584 A

However, in this type of conventional gaming system, the game balls were directly paid out when a prize was won, so management of the game balls was difficult. Maintenance was required to prevent clogging.

Therefore, it is conceivable to adopt a system in which an enclosed pachinko machine in which game balls are enclosed is adopted, and the data of the game balls is added instead of paying out the game balls when a prize is won. . When such a system is adopted, the counting operation for counting the game balls is not required, so that the game ball data is recorded on the card and ejected when the game ends.

However, players who are familiar with the conventional gaming system in which each counter is provided in the pachinko machine perform the operation of counting the game balls that have been put out and then the operation of returning the cards that record the counting results. , Because it is customary to leave the seat with the ejected card in hand, there is a risk of feeling uncomfortable or confused by the above system that ends the game by suddenly returning the card without counting. There is It should be noted that Patent Documents 1 and 2 are technical materials published by the Patent Office for the purpose of protecting inventions, and these technical materials are not copyrighted and may be referred to as publicly known technology. Then, the present invention will be explained. That is, it is a major premise that these technical documents and accompanying drawings, which are publicly known documents, are copyright-free, and are acceptable.

The present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances. To provide a game system which does not confuse a player as much as possible in terms of operability for the player compared to the system of (1).

The gaming machine of the present invention according to claim 1 is a gaming machine that gives predetermined game points when a prize is won in order to achieve the above object , the gaming machine being connectable to a gaming device. , the game device performs a process of converting the points into the game points based on detection of an operation of the first conversion operation means for converting the points into the game points. processing means; and second conversion processing means for converting the game points into the points based on detection of an operation of the second conversion operation means for converting the game points into the points. and receiving means for validly accepting the operation of the first conversion operation means during the conversion processing performed by the second conversion processing means; and a display means for displaying that the operation is in a suspended state. It is possible to set a pending state by distinguishing it from a long-pressing operation in which the pressing time is longer than the operation, and the display means displays a non-holding state when the holding state is canceled. and

According to the gaming system and gaming machine according to the present invention, when a player performs a counting operation, the data of game balls is counted and converted into the data of owned balls. When a replay operation is performed during the counting process by the counting operation, the replay operation is effectively accepted, and the replay operation is put on hold and waits. Even if a replay operation is performed again, it is effectively accepted and the pending state is released. That is, it returns to the non-operating state. Triggered by the end of the counting process, the pending replay operation is validated, and the ball-in-hand data is converted into game ball data. Therefore, even when the data of the game balls are counted and converted into the data of the held balls, the data of the held balls are immediately converted into the data of the game balls, and the game can be played again. Also, after the confirmation operation, the game becomes possible again.

In addition, since the replay operation is distinguished between a short-press operation and a long-press operation, and the operation is displayed as a pending state, immediately after the conversion to the data of the ball, the loan processing from the ball to the game ball according to the operation is performed. becomes possible.

It is a front view showing a card unit and a pachinko machine. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine. It is a front view for explaining the circulation mechanism of game balls. It is a rear view for explaining the circulation mechanism of game balls. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit used for a card unit and a pachinko machine. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining various data stored on the card unit side and the pachinko machine side and transmission and reception thereof; It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the outline of commands and responses that are transmitted and received between the card unit and the pachinko machine. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a state information request; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a CU state; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a status information response; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a status information response; It is an explanatory diagram for explaining the meaning of various numbers of balls and the content of fixed points. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of each bit of gaming machine state 1; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of each bit of gaming machine state 2; It is an explanatory view explaining the contents of the type information in the game information. It is an explanatory view explaining the contents of prize ball information in game information. It is an explanatory view for explaining the contents of the card insertion notification. It is an explanatory view for explaining the contents of the card insertion response. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of the card return notification; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a card return response; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a recovery request; It is an explanatory view for explaining the contents of the recovery processing of the pachinko machine. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a recovery response; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a communication start request; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a communication start response; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a communication termination request; FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a communication end response; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of a communication test request; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the content of a communication test response; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing how commands and responses are transmitted and received between a card unit and a pachinko machine; FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of processing when a communication disconnection is detected on the card unit side; It is a figure which shows an example of a process at the time of detecting the disconnection of communication in the pachinko machine side. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of processing in the card unit and the pachinko machine when the power is turned on; It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine when a card is inserted in a card unit. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of processing between the card unit and the pachinko machine when money is deposited into the inserted card; It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine when a ball is lent from the prepaid balance of the inserted card. It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine at the time of carrying out payout and stored ball payout. It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine when subtracting some game balls. It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine when subtracting all the game balls. It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine when returning the inserted card. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of processing between the card unit and the pachinko machine in the case of prompting the counting operation when the returning operation of the inserted card is detected. It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine when the inserted card is automatically collect|recovered. It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine during a big hit. It is a figure which shows an example of the process of a card unit and a pachinko machine when counting operation is detected during a game. It is a figure which shows an example of possession ball sharing processing performed between a card unit and a pachinko machine. It is a figure which shows an example of the wagon service process performed between a card unit and a pachinko machine. It is the figure which showed the example of the combination of the structure of the system for gaming. FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining processing of the gaming system when the number of game balls is equal to or greater than a predetermined number; FIG. It is a screen figure of a display when ball share processing is performed. It is a screen figure of a display when ball share processing is performed. It is a screen figure of a display when ball share processing is performed. It is a screen figure of a display when ball sharing processing is performed. It is a screen figure of a display when ball sharing processing is performed. It is a screen figure of a display when ball sharing processing is performed. It is a screen figure of a display when ball sharing processing is performed. FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of a display when a wagon service is performed; FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of a display when a wagon service is performed; FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of a display when a wagon service is performed; FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of a display when a wagon service is performed; FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of a display when a wagon service is performed; FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of a display when a wagon service is performed; FIG. 10 is a screen diagram of a display when a wagon service is performed; It is a block diagram showing the relationship between the game board of the pachinko machine and the game frame (front frame) for fraud detection processing. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining information transmitted from the main control board in response to an information request of the payout control board in order to perform fraud detection processing; 7 is a flowchart showing control of fraud detection processing when power is turned on. It is a flow chart showing fraud detection processing during a game. It is an example of a dollar box display performed on the display of the card unit. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining operation processing of a replay button in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining operation processing of a counting button; It is a figure which shows an example of the display of counting operation. It is a flow chart for explaining the control of the payout control unit and the CU control unit by the radio wave sensor. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front door of the slot machine is opened; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining various data stored in each of the card unit and the slot machine and how the data is transmitted and received; FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining operation processing (an example of transformation operation processing) of a replay button 319; FIG.

Basic implementation:
(1) The present invention is a gaming system for enabling a game to be played by gaming machines (P machines, S machines) that award predetermined game points when a prize is won,
a first conversion operation means (replay button 319) for converting points owned by the player into the game points;
First conversion processing means ( FIG. 37 , payout control section 171, CU control section 323) for converting the points into the game points based on the detection of the operation of the first conversion operation means; ,
Second conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the points,
Second conversion processing means (Fig. 41, Payout control unit 171, CU control unit 323),
The predetermined period processed by the second conversion processing means includes first conversion operation invalidation means (S684) for invalidating the operation of the first conversion operation means.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the first conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the second conversion processing means, the points are converted into the game points during the process of converting the game points into the points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(2) Another aspect of the present invention is to enable games to be played by gaming machines (P machines, S machines) that subtract and update predetermined game points by using games and add and update points when winning occurs. A gaming system for
a first conversion operation means (replay button 319) for converting points owned by the player into the game points;
First conversion processing means ( FIG. 37 , payout control section 171, CU control section 323) for converting the points into the game points based on the detection of the operation of the first conversion operation means; ,
Second conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the points,
Second conversion processing means (Fig. 41, Payout control unit 171, CU control unit 323),
The predetermined period processed by the first conversion processing means includes second conversion operation invalidation means (S698) for invalidating the operation of the second conversion operation means.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the second conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the first conversion processing means, the game points are converted into the points during the process of converting the points into the game points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(3) In the gaming system of (1) above, the first invalidation processing notification means (the operation of pressing the replay button 319 is invalidated) for notifying that the invalidation processing by the first conversion operation invalidation means has been executed. , the display 54, 312 or the like may display a message "The operation of the replay button is invalid because the count is being processed".

According to the above configuration, since the execution of the invalidation process by the first conversion operation invalidation means is notified, the player can recognize that the operation of the first conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(4) In the gaming system of (2) above, second invalidation processing notification means for notifying that the invalidation process has been executed by the second conversion operation invalidation means (the operation of pressing down the counting button 28 is invalidated) , the display device 54, 312 or the like may display a message "The operation of the counting button is disabled due to the processing of lending balls from the owned balls/stored balls".

According to the above configuration, the execution of the invalidation process by the second conversion operation invalidation means is reported, so that the player can recognize that the operation of the second conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(5) In the game system according to any one of (1) to (4) above, the conversion display of the game points into the points is performed based on detection of the operation of the second conversion operation means. Further includes display means (display 54, 312, 510).

According to the above configuration, when the player operates the second conversion operation means, the game points are converted and displayed, so that the game media obtained by the game are counted. It is closer to the conventional game system that can be visually recognized, and the confusion of the players accustomed to the conventional game system can be prevented more reliably.

(6) Another aspect of the present invention is provided with a connection unit for communicatively connecting to gaming machines (P units, S units) that award predetermined game points upon occurrence of winning, and playing a game with the gaming machine. A gaming device (CU) for enabling
A first conversion for converting the points owned by the player into the game points based on detection of a first conversion operation (pressing of the replay button 319) for converting the points owned by the player into the game points. processing means (FIG. 37, CU control unit 323);
Based on the detection of the second conversion operation (pressing of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the possessed points, the process of converting the game points into the possessed points is divided into a plurality of predetermined times. A second conversion processing means (FIG. 41, CU control unit 323) performed over a period of
The predetermined period processed by the second conversion processing means includes first conversion operation invalidation means (S684) for invalidating the first conversion operation.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the first conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the second conversion processing means, the points are converted into the game points during the process of converting the game points into the points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(7) Another aspect of the present invention is provided with a connecting portion (connector) for communicatively connecting to gaming machines (P units, S units) that award predetermined game points when a prize is generated, A gaming device (CU) for enabling a game at
A first conversion for converting the points owned by the player into the game points based on detection of a first conversion operation (pressing of the replay button 319) for converting the points owned by the player into the game points. processing means (FIG. 37, CU control unit 323);
Based on the detection of the second conversion operation (pressing of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the possessed points, the process of converting the game points into the possessed points is divided into a plurality of predetermined times. A second conversion processing means (FIG. 41, CU control unit 323) performed over a period of
The predetermined period processed by the first conversion processing means includes second conversion operation invalidation means (S698) for invalidating the second conversion operation.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the second conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the first conversion processing means, the game points are converted into the points during the process of converting the points into the game points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(8) In the game device of (6) above, a first invalidation process informing means (an operation of pressing the replay button 319 is invalidated) for informing that the invalidation process has been executed by the first conversion operation invalidating means. , the display 54, 312 or the like may display a message "The operation of the replay button is invalid because the count is being processed".

According to the above configuration, since the execution of the invalidation process by the first conversion operation invalidation means is notified, the player can recognize that the operation of the first conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(9) In the game device of (7) above, second invalidation processing notification means for notifying that the invalidation process has been executed by the second conversion operation invalidation means (the operation of pressing the count button 28 is invalidated). , the display device 54, 312 or the like may display a message "The operation of the counting button is disabled due to the processing of lending balls from the owned balls/stored balls".

According to the above configuration, the execution of the invalidation process by the second conversion operation invalidation means is reported, so that the player can recognize that the operation of the second conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(10) In the gaming device according to any one of (6) to (9) above, display means ( Further includes a display 54, 312, 510).

According to the above configuration, when the player operates the second conversion operation means, the game points are converted and displayed, so that the game media obtained by the game are counted. It is closer to the conventional game system that can be visually recognized, and the confusion of the players accustomed to the conventional game system can be prevented more reliably.

(11) In the gaming system of (1) above, the predetermined period during which the second conversion processing means converts the game points into the points is adjusted according to the time for operating the second conversion operation means. do.

(12) In the game system of (2) above, the predetermined period during which the first conversion processing means converts the points into the game points is adjusted according to the time for operating the first conversion operation means. do.

(13) In the game device of (3) above, the second conversion processing means adjusts the predetermined period for converting the game points into the points according to the time for the second conversion operation.

(14) In the game device of (4) above, the first conversion processing means adjusts the predetermined period for converting the points into the game points according to the time for the first conversion operation.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of pachinko machine>
First, referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of a pachinko machine according to the present embodiment will be described. A plurality of game islands (not shown) arranged in the game hall are provided with enclosed circulation type pachinko machines (hereinafter abbreviated as pachinko machines or P machines) 2 as an example of game machines. At a predetermined lateral position of the pachinko machine 2, a card unit (hereinafter also abbreviated as CU) 3, which is an example of a game device, is installed in one-to-one correspondence with the pachinko machine 2. there is

The pachinko machine 2 encloses pachinko balls, which are an example of game media, inside, and when a player operates a ball hitting operation handle 25, a shooting motor 18 (see FIG. 2) is driven to shoot one enclosed ball. It is constructed so that a game can be played by hitting one by one into a game area 27 on the front surface of the game board 26. - 特許庁Specifically, a touch sensor is provided around the ball hitting operation handle 25, and when the player's hand touches the touch sensor while the player is operating the ball hitting operation handle 25, the player's hand touches the touch sensor. is detected by the touch sensor, and the ejection motor 18 is driven. In this state, the ball is shot into the game area 27 by adjusting the hitting ball shooting momentum according to the amount of rotation operation of the hitting ball operation handle 25 by the player.

The pachinko balls enclosed inside the pachinko machine 2 are generally made by plating the surface of the pachinko ball body, such as a steel ball or a stainless steel ball, with hard chromium. However, in place of this chrome plating, a material such as diamond-like carbon (DLC) that is hard and has excellent lubricity, wear resistance, and surface smoothness may be used for coating. The coated diamond-like carbon thin film preferably has a Vickers hardness of about 7000 Hv, which is about the same hardness as diamond.

Furthermore, as another example of the pachinko ball body, instead of steel balls or stainless steel balls, JIS G4
305 or SUS304 stipulated in JIS G4304 may be used to manufacture a spherical shape with a diameter of about 11.0 mm, for example. Its mass is preferably 5.4 g or more and 5.7 g or less.

Further, hard chromium plating may be applied to the surface of the pachinko ball manufactured in this manner instead of the material such as diamond-like carbon (DLC) described above. Since chromium is a non-magnetic metal material, even if the surface of the pachinko ball is plated, there is no possibility that the magnet will illegally guide the pachinko ball to the winning slot.

In addition, SUS304 has the following mass percent chemical components as defined by GISG4305 or GISG4304.

C: 0.08% or less, Si: 1.00% or less, Mn: 2.00% or less, P: 0.045% or less, S: 0.030% or less, Ni: 8.00 to 10.50% , Cr: 18.00-20.00%. The remainder other than these components is iron and unavoidable impurities.

Moreover, pachinko balls may be made of austenitic stainless steel other than SUS304 (for example, SUS305 or the like). This austenitic stainless steel is steel specified by JISG0203. Furthermore, pachinko balls may be made of metal other than austenitic stainless steel, such as aluminum.

When pachinko balls are manufactured from such a non-magnetic metal material, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts in which the pachinko balls launched into the game area 27 are illegally guided to various prize-winning openings using magnets, but the pachinko balls are not Although it is a non-magnetic material, since it is a metallic material, it is possible to detect the pachinko ball with a conventionally common proximity switch.

Moreover, as a means to prevent fraudulent use of magnets to illegally guide pachinko balls to various winning slots, for example, a magnet detection sensor is provided in the game machine, and when the magnetic force of the magnet is detected, an abnormality is determined and an abnormality is notified. However, in this case, the magnet detection sensor must be provided in the gaming machine, which causes the inconvenience of increasing the cost of the gaming machine. However, when pachinko balls made of non-magnetic metal material are used, the above-mentioned inconvenience of cost increase does not occur.

The pachinko machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called first-class pachinko machine, and a variable display device (also called a special symbol) 278 is provided in the center of the game area 27 . In addition, the game area 27 is provided with a plurality of types of prize winning openings through which the hit pachinko balls can win. In the game area 27 shown in FIG. 1, one big winning hole (variable winning ball device) 271, three normal winning holes 272, 273, 274, and three start winning holes 275, 276, 277 are shown. ing. In particular, the starting prize-winning port 276 is composed of an electric tulip that can be changed between a first state (e.g., open state) that is advantageous to the player and a second state (e.g., closed state) that is disadvantageous to the player. .

The variable display device 278 variably displays based on the detection signal of the starting prize winning balls that have entered the respective starting prize winning openings 275 , 276 and 277 . When the display result of the variable display device becomes a combination of specific identification information (for example, a grid), a jackpot state occurs and the jackpot 271 is opened.

In addition, the display result of the variable display device is a combination of predetermined special identification information (for example, a combination of probability variable symbols such as 777) among the combination of the jackpot symbols (slot), so that the probability variable jackpot state After the end of the accompanying jackpot state, a probability variable state (probability variable state) in which the probability of occurrence of the jackpot is improved occurs.

A pachinko ball hit into the game area 27 wins a prize in one of the winning holes or is collected to an out hole 145 (see FIG. 2) without winning a prize. The pachinko balls that have entered the winning slot and the pachinko balls that have been recovered to the out slot 145 are returned to the ball shooting position through the recovery path in the pachinko machine 2 again. Then, when the player operates the hitting operation handle 25, the pachinko ball at the hitting ball shooting position is hit into the game area 27 again.

A display 54 is provided below the game area 27 of the pachinko machine 2 . The display 54 is composed of a liquid crystal display device, and displays a display screen to the player as will be described later with reference to FIGS. 49 to 62 or 70. FIG.

Further, a counting button 28 for counting the game balls to the balls in hand is provided on the left side of the ball hitting operation handle 25 in the pachinko machine 2 . Although details will be described later, when the counting button 28 is pressed once, for example, 100 balls are counted from the game balls to the balls held, and when the button is pressed for a long time (long press), the game balls currently held are taken into consideration. The count from the game balls to the balls held is performed by the number of balls corresponding to the time of pressing the button.

Thus, since the counting button 28 is provided on the P table side, the operability of the player sitting facing the P table can be improved compared to the case where the counting button 28 is provided on the CU side.

<Configuration of card unit>
Next, still referring to FIG. 1, the configuration of the card unit according to this embodiment will be described. This card unit 3 can be a visitor card (also called a general card) with a prepaid function, which is a recording medium for games issued to general players who are not registered as members, or a visitor card (also referred to as a general card) that is issued to general players who are not registered as members. A membership card, which is a game recording medium issued to a player, is accepted. A visitor card or a membership card is composed of an IC card.

The card unit 3 that receives these cards has a function of converting the game value owned by the player (for example, the card balance, the number of balls held, or the number of accumulated balls, etc.) specified by the recorded information of the card into "game ball data". have In the pachinko machine 2, a pinball game corresponding to the number of balls specified by the game ball data is enabled. In other words, the “game ball data” is data indicating the remaining number of shots that can be shot. In the following description, the "game ball data" is simply referred to as "game ball" as well as stored balls and owned balls.

On the front side of the card unit 3, there are a banknote insertion slot 302 for inserting banknotes, a projecting portion 305 projecting from the front of the device toward the front of the device, and a card insertion/ejection port for inserting a member card or a visitor card. 309 are provided. A card reader/writer (not shown) accepts a member card or visitor card inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 309, and reads information recorded on the card.

On the surface facing the player in the projecting portion 305 described above, there is a display 312, and when a membership card is accepted, a membership card ID (simply referred to as a card ID) recorded in the membership card and the membership card. An IR sensor unit 320 receives an infrared signal from a replay button 319 for executing a replay game using the number of stored balls specified by the ID and a remote controller (not shown) possessed by a game hall attendant to generate an electronic signal. An IR receiving unit is provided which converts and outputs the .

The display 312 displays the prepaid balance (also referred to as the card balance or simply the balance) recorded in the inserted game recording medium (card), and can display the number of game balls and other various information. In addition, the surface is composed of a transparent touch panel, and various operations can be input by touching various display items displayed on the display section of the display device 312 with a finger.

When the replay button 319 is operated and the number of balls possessed by the player is recorded in the inserted card, part of the number of possessed balls is withdrawn and converted into game balls, and converted into game balls. Based on this, it becomes possible to play a game using the pachinko machine 2 . On the other hand, if the inserted card is a membership card, the number of balls held is not recorded, and the accumulated balls are recorded in the hall management computer, etc., part of the accumulated balls will be withdrawn and turned into game balls. It is converted and the game by the pachinko machine 2 becomes possible. That is, when both accumulated balls and points are stored in association with the inserted card, the balls are preferentially withdrawn.

Here, "stored balls" are game media deposited in a game hall, and are generally managed by a hall management computer or other management computer installed in the game hall.

"Number of balls held" means the number of game balls owned by the player as a result of playing games on the game machine, recorded on the card, and the number of balls that have not yet been deposited in the game hall. It's about. In general, the number of balls acquired by a player on the day at a gaming facility is called "balls possessed", and the number of balls acquired by a player on the day before and deposited at the gaming facility is called "balls stored". Say.

"Game ball" is data on the number of balls that can be shot from the game machine. This data, as already explained, is generated in exchange for the withdrawal of the prepaid card balance, balls, or stored balls.

The number of balls owned may be managed by a management device for managing the number of owned balls set in the game hall. In short, the difference between "stored balls" and "balls in possession" is the number of balls that have been deposited in the game hall after performing the ball storage operation for depositing them into the game hall, or the number of balls that have not yet been deposited in the game hall. The point is whether it is the number of balls at the stage where it is not.

In this embodiment, the stored ball data is not recorded directly on the membership card, but is stored in a host server such as a hall management computer in association with the membership card number, so that the corresponding stored ball data can be retrieved based on the membership card number. ing. On the other hand, the possession ball is recorded directly on the card. However, it is not limited to this, and both may be stored in the host server in association with the card number. In the case of the visitor card, the balls are recorded directly on the visitor card. However, it is not limited to this, and the balls may be stored in the host server in association with the card number. When the card number is stored in the host server in correspondence with the card number, data that can specify the time stored in the host server may be written in the card (member card, visitor card) and ejected. Also, the prepaid balance is directly written on the card (membership card, visitor card) and ejected.

The timing for storing the balls in the card (member card, visitor card) or the host server is, for example, stored in real time each time the counting button 28 is operated and the counting process is performed, or stored at regular intervals. or store all at once when the card is returned.

A bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 302 is taken in by a bill validator (not shown), and its authenticity and bill type are identified.

Further, on the front side of the card unit 3, a ball lending button (also referred to as a lending button) 321 and a return button 322 are provided. The ball lending button 321 is a button for performing an operation (conversion operation to game balls) for withdrawing the balance recorded on the inserted card and using it for a game by the pachinko machine 2 . The return button 322 is operated when the player ends the game, and the number of game balls determined at the time of the end of the game is added to the inserted card (the number of balls held at the time of card insertion - the number of conversions to game balls + the counting operation). It is an operation button for storing and discharging the number of balls counted by.

<Circulation path of pachinko balls>
2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 2, FIG. 3 is a front view for explaining the game ball circulation mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a rear view for explaining the game ball circulation mechanism. With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, the circulation path of pachinko balls of the enclosed circulation type will be mainly described.

The game board holding frame 95 of the pachinko machine 2 is provided with a rotary lever 100 for mounting the game board. The pachinko machine 2 according to the present embodiment can thus be divided into the game board 26 and other game machine frames. In particular, the game board 26 differs for each pachinko machine model developed by each company, while the game machine frame is a common frame regardless of the model. Therefore, when a game store replaces a new machine, it is sufficient to replace only the game board.

All the winning balls that have won from the winning openings provided in the game area 27 or the variable winning ball device are collected by the winning ball collection cover member 144 and guided to the collected ball passage path 901 . On the other hand, the out ball that has entered the out port 145 also flows down the out ball flow path 702 . An out ball detection switch 701 is provided in the out ball flow path 702 to detect balls flowing down the out ball flow path 702 .

On the other hand, the foul ball flows down the foul ball return path 151 , passes through the foul ball return path 902 from the foul ball return port 150 , and flows down the recovered ball passage path 901 . A foul ball detection switch 33 for detecting a falling foul ball is provided in the middle of the foul ball return path 151 .

The out balls flowing down the out ball flow path 702 enter the collected ball passage path 901 and flow down together with the winning balls and the foul balls to enter the ball collection path 189 . A shot ball detection switch 903 is provided in the middle of the collected ball passage path, and all balls in which winning balls, out balls, and foul balls join are detected.

Further, a supply 50 piece detection switch (also referred to as a game ball shortage detection switch) 904 is provided at a midpoint on the downstream side of the shooting ball detection switch 903 . The supply 50 pieces detection switch 904 is for detecting whether or not the number of pachinko balls built into the pachinko machine 2 has reached a predetermined number (50). On the other hand, the above-mentioned projectile ball detection switch 903 detects all the pachinko balls hit into the game area 27 by collecting them. When the number of pachinko balls detected by the detection switch 903 becomes equal, it is detected that all the pachinko balls hit into the game area 27 have been collected.

The projectile ball detection switch 903 having such a role also serves to detect that the number of enclosed balls built into the pachinko machine 2 exceeds a predetermined number (50). That is, when the number of pachinko balls enclosed in the pachinko machine 2 is a predetermined number (50), the last 50 pachinko balls of the enclosed balls that are stationary in the non-operating state in which no game is played. The position is configured to lie exactly between the 50 supply detection switch 904 and the projectile detection switch 903 .

As a result, when more than a predetermined number (50) of pachinko balls are enclosed in the gaming machine 2, the pachinko balls remaining in a non-playing state exceed the detection position of the shooting ball detection switch 903. , the projectile ball detection switch 903 is always in the ball detection state, whereby it is possible to detect that the number of enclosed balls is too large. On the other hand, if the number of enclosed balls is less than the predetermined number (50), the stationary pachinko balls in the non-playing state will be downstream of the detection position of the 50 replenishment detection switch 904, and 50 replenishment will occur. The individual detection switch 904 is in a non-detection state in which balls are not detected. This makes it possible to detect that the number of enclosed balls is less than the predetermined number (50).

The pachinko balls flowing down the ball recovery path 189 enter a conveying device 190 for conveying the pachinko balls upward. The conveying device 190 incorporates a conveying screw 190b that is rotated by the conveying motor 40, and pachinko balls are conveyed upward by the rotation of the conveying screw 190b. The conveying device 190 is further provided with a pair of right and left polishing members 913 for polishing the pachinko balls by coming into contact with the pachinko balls being conveyed. be. The grinding member 913 is rotated by the driving force of the grinding motor 193a to grind the pachinko balls.

A ball lifting switch (lower) 41b is provided near the pachinko ball inlet of the conveying device 190, and the pachinko balls entering the conveying device 190 are detected. On the other hand, the pachinko balls conveyed upward by the conveying device 190 and discharged from the conveying device 190 are detected by the ball-up switch (upper) 41a. The detected pachinko balls flow down to the rectifier 916 . The rectifier 916 is for supplying the pachinko balls one by one to the ball shooting position. When the player operates the ball-striking operation handle 25, the shooting motor 18 is driven and the ball-striking hammer 920 is intermittently rocked. One pachinko ball supplied to the shooting position by the rectifier 916 is rebounded by the hitting ball hammer 920 and hit into the game area 27 .

In order to supply the pachinko balls one by one to the ball shooting position of the ball hitting hammer 920, the rectifier 916 is provided with a rectifier solenoid 916a and a ball feeding member 916b that swings up and down by the driving force of the rectifier solenoid 916a. there is The ball feeding member 916b is U-shaped as shown in FIG. 2, and receives one pachinko ball that has flowed down. The member 916b swings downward. Then, one pachinko ball that has been received is supplied to the ball shooting position. The pachinko ball is struck into the game area 27 by the hitting ball hammer 920 repulsing the supplied one pachinko ball.

The ball-striking hammer 920 is biased by a spring in the ball-striking direction, and the action of a cam rotated by the driving force of the shooting motor 18 causes the ball-striking hammer 920 to swing in the direction opposite to the hitting direction (backswing direction). be shaken. When the predetermined amount of rocking has been performed, the action of the cam is released and the ball hitting hammer 920 is rocked in the hitting direction by the urging force of the spring to shoot the pachinko balls. The biasing force of the aforementioned spring that biases the ball in the hitting direction can be adjusted by rotating the ball operating handle 25 by the player, thereby making it possible to adjust the momentum of the hitting ball.

A ball extractor 915 is provided between the rectifier 916 and the ball-up switch (upper) 41a. The ball removing portion 915 is provided with a ball removing motor 915a. When a game parlor attendant operates a ball removal switch 922 provided on the relay board 921, the ball removal motor 915a rotates by a predetermined amount, making it possible to remove the enclosed ball out of the path.

The detection signal of the pick-up switch (upper) 41 a is used to turn on/off the conveying motor 40 . Since the straightener 916 does not perform the ball feeding operation in a state in which the hitting operation is not performed by the hitting ball operation handle 25 and the hit ball is not fired, the pachinko balls conveyed upward by the conveying device 190 flow down at the location of the straightener 916. is blocked and stopped. When the stationary pachinko balls reach the detection position of the ball-lifting switch (upper) 41a, the ball-detection signal is constantly output from the ball-lifting switch (upper) 41a. When such a ball detection signal continues to be output for a predetermined time (for example, several milliseconds), the driving of the transport motor 40 is stopped, and the upward transport of the ball is stopped.

On the other hand, when the player rotates the batting operation handle 25 to shoot a batted ball, the rectifier 916 executes the ball feed operation, and as a result, the ball that has stopped flowing down at the rectifier 916 is stopped. Then, the ball detection signal is not output from the ball lifting switch (upper) 41a. Then, the drive of the conveying motor 40 is started and the ball is conveyed. Since the number of balls lifted per unit time by driving the conveying motor 40 is controlled to be greater than the number of balls fired per unit time by driving the shooting motor 18, the driving of the conveying motor 40 is started. After a short period of time has elapsed, the ball detection signal is output again from the ball lifting switch (upper) 41a, and the driving of the conveying motor 40 is stopped. However, since the ball is still being launched, the ball detection signal is not output from the ball lifting switch (upper) 41a again. Then, the drive of the conveying motor 40 is started and the ball is conveyed. In the operating state in which the player is performing the ball hitting operation, the transport motor 40 is repeatedly driven and stopped.

Game ball launch detection for detecting that the number of game balls has been launched into the game area 27 is detected when the ball raising switch (upper) 41a changes from on to off. This detection is detected by port input in the payout control board 17 (see FIG. 5) provided with the payout control unit 171, and based on the detection, the payout control unit 171 subtracts "1" from the number of game balls. do.

The firing motor 18 is provided with a firing motor origin sensor (not shown). This firing motor origin sensor is for stopping the firing motor 18 at a predetermined origin position. The firing motor 18 stops when the player releases the touch link (not shown) provided on the ball-hitting handle 25, and when the firing motor origin sensor detects the origin of the firing motor 18 at the time of the stop. to stop the firing motor 18.

When the power of the pachinko machine 2 is turned on, if the firing motor 18 is displaced from the origin position and the output of the firing motor origin sensor 37 is OFF, the firing motor 18 is rotated forward according to the current position of the firing motor 18. Alternatively, the stop position of the shooting motor 18 is moved to the origin without causing the pachinko ball to shoot in reverse. By comparing the current stop position of the firing motor 18 with the origin position, it is determined whether the forward or reverse rotation direction of the firing motor 18 is closer to the origin position. The stop position may be moved to the origin by controlling the rotation of the .

Similarly, the ball removing motor 915a is provided with a ball removing motor origin sensor (not shown), and the ball removing motor 915a is controlled to stop at the origin position.

The winning ball detection switch, supply 50 piece detection switch 904, ball lifting switch (upper) 41a, ball lifting switch (lower) 41b, foul ball detection switch 33, and out ball detection switch 701 described above have electrostatic capacity due to passage of balls. It consists of a proximity switch that detects changes in On the other hand, only the projectile detection switch 903 is composed of a light projecting/receiving photo sensor. In amusement arcades, fraudulent acts using radio waves such as transmitting illegal radio waves to illegally detect ball detection switches may occur. When such illegal radio waves are transmitted, the proximity switch may erroneously detect, but the photosensor does not erroneously detect.

As a result, if a fraudulent act of transmitting illegal radio waves occurs, the winning ball detection switch, the foul ball detection switch 33, and the out ball detection switch 701, which are configured by proximity switches, output a detection signal associated with erroneous detection. Also, since there is no possibility of erroneous detection by the shot ball detection switch 903, which is composed of a photo sensor, the total number of detected balls by the foul ball detection switch 33, the out ball detection switch 701, and the winning ball detection switch and the number of shot balls There is a discrepancy between the number of balls detected by the detection switch 903 and the number of balls detected. As a result, it is possible to monitor fraudulent activities using radio waves. The winning ball detection switch, supply 50 piece detection switch 904, ball lifting switch (upper) 41a, ball lifting switch (lower) 41b, foul ball detection switch 33, out ball detection switch 701, and projectile ball detection switch 903 described above are used. , may all be configured with the same type of switch.

<Configuration of card unit and pachinko machine>
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the card unit 3 and the pachinko machine 2. As shown in FIG. The outline of the control circuit for the card unit 3 and the pachinko machine 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

The card unit 3 is provided with a CU control section 323 comprising a microcomputer or the like. This CU control unit 323 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control center.
Unit), ROM (Read Only Member) that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, RAM (Random Access Memory) that functions as a work area for the CPU
), an input/output interface and the like are provided for maintaining signal consistency with peripheral devices.

The CU control unit 323 is provided with an external communication unit (not shown) for communicating with a management computer for halls and a host server 801 (see FIG. 63) that performs security management, and controls the pachinko machine 2. A security board 325 is provided for communicating with the payout control board 17 while ensuring security. The card unit 3 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) to the pachinko machine 2 side, and the pachinko machine 2 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) to the card unit 3 side. These connecting portions are configured by connectors or the like, for example.

The security board 325 on the CU side and the payout control board 17 on the P stand side are communicably connected via this connector and connection wiring. The security board 325 is provided with a communication control IC 325 a for controlling communication between the security board 325 and the payout control board 17 and a security chip (SC) 325 b for monitoring the security of the pachinko machine 2 .

The authenticity and type of the banknote are identified by the above-described money validator, and the identification result signal is input to the CU control unit 323 . When the IR sensitive unit 320 receives an infrared ray emitted from a remote control possessed by a game hall attendant, the received light signal is input to the CU control unit 323 . The card reader/writer reads recorded information on the inserted card, and the read information is input to the CU control unit 323. At the same time, the CU control unit 323 sends the card reader/writer data to be written to the inserted card. When transmitted, the card reader/writer writes the data to the inserted card.

The CU control unit 323 manages and stores the balls possessed by the player while the player is playing. Data such as the balance or the number of game balls is output from the CU control unit 323 to the display control unit 350 and converted into display data by the display control unit 350 . The display data converted by the display control unit 350 is output to the display device 312, and the display device 312 displays the output display data. Also, when the player operates the touch panel provided on the surface of the display device 312 , the operation signal is input to the CU control section 323 via the display control section 350 . When the player operates the ball lending button 321 , the operation signal is input to the CU control section 323 . When the player operates the replay button 319 , the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323 . When the player operates the return button 322 , the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323 .

The pachinko machine 2 includes a main control board 16 for controlling the progress of the game of the pachinko machine 2, a payout control board 17 for managing and storing game balls, and a firing motor 18 driven and controlled based on instructions from the payout control board 17. A firing control board 31 and a variable display device 278 are provided. In addition, in FIG. 5, illustration of a display control board (also referred to as an effect control board) that controls the display of the variable display device based on commands from the main control board 16 is omitted.

The main control board 16 is provided on the game board 26 . The main control board 16 is equipped with a game control microcomputer, which is the main control section 161 . The game machine control microcomputer consists of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as the control center, a ROM (Read Only Member) that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, and a RAM (RAM) that functions as a work area for the CPU. Random Access Memory), an input/output interface for maintaining signal integrity with peripheral devices, and the like. The main control unit 161 is connected to a winning sensor 162 and a radio wave sensor 163 provided on the game board 26 . The game board 26 is further provided with a display control board (effect control board) for controlling the variable display device 278 and the like.

A payout control board 17 is provided in the game frame (front frame) 6 . The payout control board 17 is equipped with a payout control microcomputer, which is a payout control unit 171 . The payout control microcomputer includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as the control center, a ROM (Read Only Member) that stores programs and control data for the CPU to operate, and a RAM that functions as a work area for the CPU ( Random Access Memory), an input/output interface for maintaining signal integrity with peripheral devices, and the like.

Also, the above-described fired ball detection switch 903, out ball detection switch 701, foul ball detection switch 33, counting button 28, and radio wave sensor 173 are electrically connected to the payout control board 17. FIG. This radio wave sensor 173 is for detecting a fraudulent act of illegally transmitting radio waves and mainly keeping the doffing switch (upper) 41a in the ON state. A detection signal of the radio wave sensor 173 is input to the payout control unit 171 through an input port (not shown) of the payout control board 17 . As described above, the ball raising switch (upper) 41a detects the shooting of game balls by changing from ON to OFF, and based on the detection, the payout control unit 171 subtracts "1" from the number of game balls. do. Therefore, when the ball-up switch (upper) 41a is always on due to illegal radio waves, the number of game balls is not subtracted no matter how many balls are fired. The radio wave sensor 173 detects such fraud by radio waves. Details will be described with reference to FIG. Note that not only the ball-up switch (upper) 41a, but also the launch ball detection switch 903 (see FIG. 2) may be subject to fraudulent use of radio waves. In other words, when only the ball-lifting switch (upper) 41a is turned on all the time by the illegal radio wave, the ball launch is not detected, but the actually launched ball is recovered and detected by the launch ball detection switch 903. In this case, a discrepancy occurs in the number of fired balls and recovered balls (out balls), an abnormality is detected, and fraud detection information 3 of "the number of fired/out mismatched balls" is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU 3. (described later with reference to FIG. 11). However, by transmitting an illegal radio wave to this launch ball detection switch 903 as well and making it undetectable, there is a problem that the fraud detection information 3 of the above-mentioned "fired/out unmatched number of balls" will not be sent from the P stand 2 to the CU 3. occurs. In the present embodiment, since the radio wave sensor 173 also detects such illegal radio waves transmitted to the launch ball detection switch 903, the above-described inconvenience can be prevented.

From the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17, the main control chip ID, winning opening information, round information, connection confirmation signal, winning detection signal, starting winning opening winning information, error information, number of design determinations, jackpot information, manufacturer specific Jackpot information is sent.

The main control chip ID (also referred to as main chip ID) is a chip ID recorded in the main control board 16 of the pachinko machine 2, and is transmitted to the payout control board 17 when the power of the pachinko machine 2 is turned on. Information. The winning hole information is information including the type of winning hole (starting winning hole, normal winning hole, big winning hole) and the number of prize balls (the number of payout balls when game balls enter the winning hole). It is transmitted to the payout control board 17 when the machine 2 is powered on. The round information is information on the number of rounds when the jackpot is won, and is transmitted to the payout control board 17 when the power of the pachinko machine 2 is turned on.

The connection confirmation signal is a signal for confirming that the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17 are connected. A signal of a predetermined voltage is always supplied from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17. The payout control board 17 is configured to control the operation on condition that the payout control board 17 receives the predetermined voltage signal. The winning detection signal is a detection signal of a pachinko ball that has won a winning opening other than the starting winning opening. The payout control board 17 that receives this detection signal performs control to add the number of balls to be given to one winning ball to the number of game balls and the number of additional balls. This will be explained in detail later.

The starting winning hole winning information is information indicating that a pachinko ball has won in either the starting winning hole 1 or the starting winning hole 2 . The error information is information for notifying the payout control board 17 to that effect when an error occurs while the main control board 16 is performing game control.

The number of design determinations is information on the design determined as the display result of the variable display device for winning a prize in each starting prize winning opening.

The jackpot information is information indicating that a jackpot has occurred, and includes common jackpot information indicating jackpots common to each manufacturer and manufacturer-specific jackpot information indicating manufacturer-specific jackpots. The common jackpot information is a jackpot commonly adopted by game machine manufacturers, such as a 15-round jackpot, for example. When a time-saving state (control state for shortening the variable display time of the variable display device) occurs, the time-saving information is included. A maker-specific jackpot is a jackpot state that is adopted only by a certain gaming machine maker, such as a sudden probability change (suddenly).

A health check command and a prize ball number reception command are transmitted from the payout control board 17 to the main control board 16 . A health check command is a command for checking whether the main control board 16 is operating normally. The prize ball number acceptance command is a command indicating that the number of additional balls has been accepted.

An out-ball detection signal is input from the out-ball detection switch 701 to the payout control board 17 . The payout control board 17 to which the out-ball detection signal is input subtracts and updates the number of balls in play (the number of floating balls floating in the game area 27) as described later. When the foul ball detection signal is input from the foul ball detection switch 33, the payout control board 17 adds and updates the number of added balls and the number of game balls, and subtracts and updates the number of playing balls, as will be described later. A shot ball detection signal is input from the shot ball detection switch 903 to the payout control board 17 . The payout control board 17 to which this shooting ball detection signal is input subtracts and updates the number of balls in game.

The security board 325 of the card unit 3 and the payout control board 17 of the pachinko machine 2 are electrically connected. Various commands such as request, status information request, card insertion notification, card return notification, and communication test request are transmitted.

The recovery request is a command for requesting notification of recovery information to the pachinko machine 2, as will be described later. The payout control board 17 receives the recovery request and notifies the recovery information of the pachinko machine 2 to the card unit 3. - 特許庁The communication start request is a command for requesting the pachinko machine 2 to start communication. The payout control board 17 receives the communication start request and responds to the card unit 3 to start communication. The communication termination request is a command for requesting the pachinko machine 2 to terminate communication. The payout control board 17 receives the communication end request and responds to the card unit 3 to end the communication.

The state information request is a command for requesting the pachinko machine 2 to notify the state information. The payout control board 17 receives the state information request and notifies the card unit 3 of the state information of the pachinko machine 2 . The card insertion notification is a command for notifying the pachinko machine 2 that a card has been inserted. The payout control board 17 receives the card insertion notification and responds to the card unit 3 that the card has been inserted. The card return notification is a command for notifying the pachinko machine 2 that the card has been returned. The payout control board 17 receives the card return notification and responds to the card unit 3 that the card has been returned. The communication test request is a command for notifying the pachinko machine 2 of test data. The payout control board 17 responds with test data to the card unit 3 upon receiving the communication test request.

Various responses such as a recovery response, a communication start response, a communication end response, a status information response, a card insertion response, a card return response, and a communication test response are transmitted from the payout control board 17 to the security board 325 .

The game frame (front frame) 6 is provided with a firing control board 31 and a firing motor 18 . The shooting control board 31 emits a shooting motor excitation output to drive the shooting motor 18 when a touch ring input signal for detecting that the player touches the ball hitting operation handle 25 is input.

A firing control signal and a firing permission signal are output from the payout control board 17 to the firing control board 31 . The firing control board 31 receiving it outputs a signal for exciting the firing motor 18 . As a result, the pachinko balls are shot to the game area 27 .

A display 54 is provided in the game frame (front frame) 6 . The display device 54 receives display data from the display control section 350 of the card unit 3 and displays a display screen. In this way, in the present embodiment, the display 54 on the P side is configured to be controlled by the CU side, but instead of this, the display on the P side is controlled. A display control substrate may be provided for the purpose. In this case, the display control board controls the display of the display 54 based on the instruction from the payout control section 171 .

<Mode of transmission and reception between the card unit side and the pachinko machine side>
Next, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing main data among the various data stored on the card unit 3 side and the pachinko machine 2 side, respectively, and the manner of transmission and reception thereof. With reference to FIG. 6, major data among various data stored on the card unit 3 side (CU side) and the pachinko machine 2 side (P machine side), and transmission/reception mode thereof will be described.

In the present embodiment, fluctuations in the number of game balls are calculated on the side of the P table 2, and the current latest number of game balls is stored and managed. The CU3 side also calculates and stores the current number of game balls, but the number of game balls is based on the information transmitted from the P machine 2 side. On the other hand, the balls held, the accumulated balls, and the card balance are managed and stored on the CU3 side.

FIG. 6 shows data stored in the RAM provided in the CU control unit 323 on the CU3 side and data stored in the RAM mounted on the payout control board 17 on the P stand 2 side. First, when the P machine 2 (pachinko machine 2) and the CU 3 (card unit 3) are installed in the game hall and the power is turned on in a state where they are electrically connected for the first time, the payout control board on the P machine 2 side 17 receives the main chip ID (main control chip ID) from the main control board 16, transmits the main chip ID to the CU 3 side, and receives the payout chip ID (payout chip ID) stored in the payout control board 17 itself. control chip ID) to the CU3 side.

The CU3 side stores the transmitted main chip ID and payout chip ID. Next, the connection time, that is, the data of the time when the CU3 side and the P machine 2 side are connected and communication is started is transmitted from the CU3 side to the P machine 2 side, and the P machine 2 side receives the transmitted connection time. memorize

In this state, the main chip ID, the payout chip ID, and the connection time identified on the CU3 side are stored on the CU3 side and the P stand 2 side. When the power is turned on thereafter, the three pieces of information, that is, the main chip ID, the payout chip ID, and the previous connection time data, are transmitted from the P stand 2 side to the CU 3 side.

On the CU3 side, the transmitted data and the already stored data are collated to determine whether or not the same P unit 2 as last time is connected. As for the connection time data, every time the power is turned on, new connection time data is sent from the CU3 side to the P stand 2 side when the communication between the CU3 side and the P stand 2 side is started. The time data is stored on the P stand 2 side.

Also, the serial number is updated by adding "1" each time a command and a response are transmitted on the CU3 side and the P machine 2 side, and the serial number is stored on the CU3 side and the P machine 2 side. This serial number is a communication number that is updated every time data is transmitted and received between the CU 3 and the P unit 2 and used to confirm whether or not the communication is properly performed. The final serial number is the last updated number of the updated communication number.

A specific mode of serial number backup in the CU 3 and the P unit 2 in this embodiment will be described. The CU 3 backs up and stores the serial number transmitted to the P unit 2 by the command, and next receives the serial number from the P unit 2, rewrites the backed up serial number with the received serial number and stores it. Then, when the next command is transmitted, the backup-stored serial number is updated by adding 1 and transmitted to the P unit 2, and the transmitted serial number is back-stored. CU3 repeats such processing.

Similarly, the P unit 2 also backs up and stores the serial number received from the CU 3 with a command, and when the next time the P unit 2 transmits a response to the CU 3, it updates the backed up serial number by adding 1 to it and transmits it. Back up the sent serial number. Then, when the next response is received, the backup-stored serial number is rewritten to the received serial number and stored. In the P stage 2, such processing is repeated.

For example, the CU3 side transmits a certain command to the P machine 2 side and also transmits the serial number n at that time, and the P machine 2 side stores the transmitted serial number n. Then, when a response is returned from the P unit 2 side to the CU 3 side, the stored serial number n plus 1 (n+1) is also transmitted. On the CU3 side, 1 is added to the serial number n that has already been stored in the returned serial number n+1, so it is judged that the data communication has been performed normally. Send the serial number to the P machine 2 side.

Current ball-related information (ball-related information being counted) is transmitted from the P table 2 side to the CU 3 side. This current ball related information is stored in the current ball related information storage area of the RAM of the payout control unit 171 (see FIG. 5) on the P table 2 side. Specifically, information on the added ball number counter, information on the subtracted ball number counter, and information on the counting ball number counter are included. The number of game balls is not included in the current ball-related information, and is transmitted from the P machine 2 side to the CU 3 side as the count value of the game ball number counter as described later.

Information on these counters is collectively transmitted to the CU side as a response.

The added ball number counter is a counter that counts the added ball number. The additional ball is the sum of "the number of winning balls x the number of winning balls" and "the number of back balls". A back ball is a foul ball. That is, the additional ball indicates the number to be added to the game ball by the additional ball counter. The subtraction ball number counter is a counter that counts the number of subtraction balls. The subtraction ball is the "number of shot balls". That is, it is the number of balls detected by the output change from ON to OFF of the ball lifting switch (upper) 41a. It should be noted that the “number of balls to be counted” does not include the “number of balls to be counted”. The counting ball number counter is a counter that counts the counting ball number. The number of balls to be counted is "the number of balls converted from game balls to possessed balls by a counting operation".

For example, when a pachinko ball hit into the game area 27 wins and winning information is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17, the game balls are added based on the winning information. The added ball number counter counts the number, and the value of the added ball number counter (the added ball number) is transmitted from the P stand 2 side to the CU 3 side. In addition, a subtraction ball number counter counts the number of shot balls as the number of subtraction balls based on the output change of the ball-up switch (upper) 41a from on to off due to the pachinko balls being shot into the game area 27. The value of the subtraction ball number counter (subtraction ball number) is transmitted from the P stand 2 side to the CU 3 side.

Alternatively, the payout control unit 171 counts the number of game balls as the number of balls to be counted by pressing the count button 28, and transmits the value of the number of balls to be counted (the number of balls to be counted) from the P machine 2 side to the CU3 side.

Each time the values of the added ball number counter, the subtracted ball number counter, and the ball number counter are transmitted to the CU3 side, the count values are stored (rewritten) as backup data in the previous ball-related information storage area on the P machine 2 side. ), the values of the added ball number counter, the subtracted ball number counter, and the counting ball number counter as the current ball related information are cleared to zero. In this embodiment, "clear" has the same meaning as "initialize".

As a result, the data of the number of added balls, the number of subtracted balls, and the number of counted balls, which are the current ball-related information transmitted to the CU3 side immediately before, are stored in the storage area for the previous ball-related information (current ball-related information transmitted immediately before). is stored as backup data. When the current ball-related information is not transmitted from the P unit 2 side to the CU 3 side, this backup data stores not only the current counter values but also the previous counter values that were not transmitted at the time of the next transmission. This is so that you can also send

In addition, the payout control board 17 updates the value of the game ball number counter in accordance with the occurrence of winning, the shooting of balls, the occurrence of back balls, and the occurrence of counting balls (conversion from game balls to possession balls), The updated value of the game ball number counter is transmitted to the CU side as the game ball number.

On the CU3 side, the cumulative data storage area in the RAM contains the number of game balls, the number of cards held (also referred to simply as the number of held balls), the number of stored balls, the balance, the total number of added balls (accumulated number of added balls), and the total subtraction. The number of balls (total number of subtracted balls) and the number of balls held when the card is inserted are stored. It should be noted that the number of balls on the card is the number of balls obtained by subtracting the number of balls on hand from the number of balls on card at the time of insertion of the number of balls on hand (the number of balls converted from the number of balls on the card to the number of game balls) and adding the number of counted balls. That is, the number of cards possessed is the number of possessed balls currently owned by the player.

Based on the value of the added ball number counter (additional ball number) transmitted from the P machine 2 side, the total added ball number is added to update the ball number. Also, based on the value of the subtraction ball number counter (subtraction ball number) transmitted from the P stand 2 side, the total subtraction ball number is subtracted to update the ball number. Further, based on the value of the counting ball number counter transmitted from the P machine 2, the card holding ball number is added and updated. In this way, the CU3 updates the total number of added balls, the total number of subtracted balls, and the number of held balls on the card according to the current ball-related information sent one by one from the P machine 2, thereby managing the latest information. becomes possible.

As shown, the CU3 has an area for storing game balls, and also receives the count value of the game ball number counter (also referred to as the number of game balls or total number of game balls information) from the P table 2 side. CU3 updates the area for storing game balls in the following procedure. That is, CU3 stores the value of the added ball number counter (the number of added balls), the value of the subtracted ball number counter (the number of subtracted balls), and the value of the counted ball number counter transmitted from the P machine side. At the same time, it is determined whether or not the count value of the game ball number counter transmitted from the P side at the same timing coincides with the updated number of game balls. If they match, the game is allowed to continue.

As a result, for example, an error notification is performed by an abnormality notification lamp or display 312, or an error notification signal is transmitted to the hall management computer or host server 801 to the effect that an error has occurred (in this case, the hall Error notification may be performed by the management computer or the host server 801). As a result, a predetermined notification is issued to prompt the attendant to take a manual action.

Instead of moving to the error state and stopping the game, the number of game balls stored on the CU side may be replaced with the count value of the game ball number counter transmitted from the P machine side. . Alternatively, instead of that, the number of game balls managed on the CU3 side and the number of game balls stored on the P machine 2 side may be corrected to an average value.

Thus, in the present embodiment, the number of game balls is also stored on the CU3 side, and it is determined whether or not the number of game balls matches the number of game balls managed and stored on the P machine 2 side. (CU3 side function). Therefore, even if the number of game balls stored on the P machine 2 side does not match the number of game balls stored on the CU 3 side due to fraud or other circumstances, it is possible to check that fact. Here, the determination function is provided on the CU3 side. It is also possible to receive the number of game balls that are in agreement and determine whether or not they match.

As shown in FIG. 6, CU3 has a storage area for storing the number of cards held and the number of stored balls, a storage area for storing the card balance of the accepted (inserted) card, and the total number of added balls (number of added balls). total), the total number of subtracted balls (cumulative number of subtracted balls), and a storage area for storing the number of balls held when the card is inserted. The CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 5) stores stored balls in response to an input requesting the use of stored balls (for example, press input of replay button 319 provided in CU3 (when no balls are held)). A predetermined number of accumulated balls is subtracted from the area.

The CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 5) is an input requesting the use of the ball (for example, pressing the replay button 319 provided on the CU 3 when there is a ball (however, when there is a ball)) A predetermined number of balls are subtracted from a storage area for storing balls in accordance with. Furthermore, the CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 5) subtracts a predetermined value from the storage area for storing the card balance in response to an input requesting use of the card balance (for example, pressing the ball lending button 321).

When a player conducts an operation to deduct value from a game value owned by the player (e.g., prepaid balance, number of balls held, or number of stored balls) and use it in a game, the number of balls for the withdrawal is called the number of game balls. The number of balls to add to the counter is transmitted from the CU3 side to the P table 2 side. In response to this, the P machine 2 side increments and updates the game ball number counter.

In the gaming system according to the present embodiment, on the other hand, it is possible to receive an order for a so-called wagon service in which the gaming value owned by the player is withdrawn and exchanged for a drink or the like. However, receiving wagon service with game balls is restricted, and wagon service can only be received with wagon balls. This is an image of a conventional enclosed pachinko machine equipped with a counter for each machine, in which it is prohibited to pick out the balls remaining on the plate before being counted and use them for wagon service.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the wagon service operation is executed, if the number of balls held is less than the number of balls corresponding to the desired menu of the wagon service, the player is prompted to perform a counting operation. It is At that time, when the player executes a counting operation, the number of balls counted based on the operation is transmitted from the P stand 2 side to the CU 3 side. In response to this, the CU3 side subtracts the number of game balls and adds and updates the number of cards held. The number of balls held by the card indicates the number of balls held by the current CU3, and is the sum of the number of balls held when the card is inserted minus the number of balls paid out and the number of counted balls added.

<Commands and responses sent and received between the CU and the P unit>
Next, with reference to FIG. 7, an outline of commands and responses transmitted and received between the card unit (CU) 3 and the pachinko machine (P units) 2 will be described.

FIG. 7 shows the direction of transmission, whether the data to be transmitted is a command or a response, and the name and outline of the transmission information. First, a command named recovery request is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2 . This recovery request command requests recovery information from the P machine 2 .

A response named recovery response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. This recovery response notifies recovery information to CU3. A communication start request command is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2 . This communication start request command requests the P unit 2 to start communication.

A communication start response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. This communication start response is a response to start communication to CU3. A communication end request command is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2 . This communication termination request command requests the P unit 2 to terminate communication.

A communication end response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. This communication end response is a response of communication end to CU3. A state information request command is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2 . This state information request command requests the state of the CU 3 from the P unit 2 . CU3 uses this command to check the status of P-unit 2 periodically. Further, the information information request command includes the number of added balls from the CU side to the P side shown in FIG.

A status information response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. This state information response notifies the CU3 of the information and state of the P unit 2 . The information response includes the current ball-related information and the number of game balls shown in FIG. A card insertion notification command is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2 . This card insertion notification command notifies the P unit 2 of card insertion.

A card insertion response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. This card insertion response is a card insertion response to CU3.

A card return notification command is transmitted from the CU3 to the P machine 2 . This card return notification command notifies the P unit 2 of card return.

A card return response is sent from the P machine 2 to the CU3. This card return response is a card return response to CU3.

A communication test request command is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2 . This communication test request command notifies the P unit 2 of test data. A response of a communication test response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. This card return response is a response of test data to CU3.

Next, based on FIGS. 8 to 29, status information request, status information response, card insertion notification, card insertion response, card return notification, card return response, recovery request, and recovery response of the command/response shown in FIG. , transmission start request, communication start response, communication start response, communication end request, communication end response, communication test request, and communication test response will be described in detail.

First, referring to FIG. 8, a command for requesting state information is transmitted from CU3 to P unit 2 . The transmitted state information request command notifies the P unit 2 of the state of the CU3. The CU 3 uses this command to periodically collect the information and status of the P units 2 .

As specific data for this status information request, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 8, there are serial number, command, CU status, number of added balls, and CU error status data. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). CU3 sets the initial value to "1", counts up (+1) the received serial number at the time of transmission, and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code for requesting status information, and is "0x06" in hexadecimal binary data.

The CU state is the state of the CU3 notified to the P machine 2. When Bit0 is "1", the card is being inserted, when Bit1 is "1", it is a game permission request, and when Bit2 is "1". When Bit3 is "1", it is a game ball addition request. When Bit4 is "1", it is completion of reception of counting balls. Bit5 to Bit7 are unused.

Further, the data of the number of added balls that is effective only when Bit3 of the CU status is "1" is transmitted from CU3 to P machine 2. This additional ball number data indicates a value to be added to the game ball number.

The CU error state is an error code occurring in the CU3. When it is "0x00", there is no error, and when it is "0x01"-"0xFF", an error is occurring.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating in more detail each Bit in the CU state. Bit 0 shown in FIG. 9 indicates that the data name is card insertion processing, and indicates that the card is being inserted when it is "1" and the card is not inserted when it is "0". That is, Bit0 indicates a state in which a card (general card/membership card) is inserted into CU3. It should be noted that the general card is being inserted when the stock card (general 0-yen 0 coin card) stocked in advance in the CU is charged.

Bit 1 has a data name of game permission request, and indicates a game permission request when it is "1" and no game permission request when it is "0". In other words, Bit1 requests a game permission to P machine 2 depending on the state of CU3. The timing of game permission is, for example, when the player leaves the seat.

Bit 2, whose data name is a game prohibition request, indicates a game prohibition request when "1" and indicates no game prohibition request when "0". That is, Bit2 requests the P machine 2 to prohibit the game depending on the state of CU3. The timing of game prohibition is, for example, when the player is away from his/her seat, or when an operation-impossible error occurs.

Bit 3 has a data name of game ball addition request, and indicates a game ball addition request when "1" and no game ball addition request when "0". That is, Bit 3 requests the addition of game balls (the number of added balls) at the time of ball lending, ball payout, and accumulated ball payout operations.

Bit 4 has a data name of "receipt of counting balls", "1" indicating completion of receipt of counting balls, and "0" indicating no reception of counting balls. That is, Bit 4 notifies that the number of balls to be counted at the time of counting game balls has been received from the P machine 2 . Bit 4 is used for confirming the delivery of the "number of balls counted" in the status information response, which will be described later.

Next, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, a state information response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. The transmitted status information response notifies the CU 3 of the information and status of the P unit 2 .

Specific data for this status information request include serial numbers, commands, ball number information, gaming machine status, fraud detection information, and game information data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). The P machine 2 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code for requesting status information, and is "0x16" in hexadecimal binary data.

The number of balls information refers to the number of balls on the P machine 2 (the number of game balls, the number of back balls, the number of shot balls, the number of outro passes, and the number of balls, and number of counted balls) and firing strength. The number of game balls is the current number of game balls (the number of game balls resulting from calculation of addition/subtraction). The number of back balls is the number of back balls at the time of shooting (if there are multiple back balls at the time of transmission, they are added up). The number of shot balls is the number of shots (totalize when there are multiple shot balls at the time of transmission). The number of balls that passed through the out exit is the number of balls that have passed through the out exit 145 (when there are a plurality of passing balls at the time of transmission, they are summed up). The counted number of balls is the number of game balls counted. The launch intensity is the intensity for launching the game ball.

FIG. 12 is a diagram explaining in more detail the meanings of various numbers of balls and fixed points. The number of game balls shown in FIG. 12 is calculated by CU3 using "number of prize balls×number of winning balls", "number of back balls" and "number of shot balls", which will be described later. After that, CU3 checks whether the calculated number of game balls of CU3 and the number of game balls of P machine 2 match.

The number of back balls (addition) is the number of foul balls, and is data to be added to the number of game balls held by the CU3. When receiving the data without holding the card, the CU3 does not add the number of game balls.

The number of shot balls (subtraction) is data to be subtracted from the number of game balls held by CU3. When receiving the data without holding the card, the CU3 does not subtract the number of game balls. Further, CU3 does not perform subtraction when the number of game balls held by CU3 itself is 0 balls.

The counted ball number (subtraction) is data to be subtracted from the game ball number held by the CU3 and added to the card holding ball number. The number of balls counted is not used for the data of the number of subtracted balls transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU3. Further, when receiving the data without holding the card, the CU3 does not subtract the number of game balls. Further, CU3 does not perform subtraction when the number of game balls held by CU3 itself is 0 balls.

Returning to FIG. 11, the game machine state indicates the state of the P machine 2 at the time when the command for requesting the status information is transmitted from the CU 3 to the P machine 2. The game machine state 1, the game machine state 2, and contains information on machine error conditions.

Bit 0 of the gaming table state 1 indicates that the game is permitted when it is "0" and that the game is prohibited when it is "1". Bit 1 of game table state 1 is in standby when "0", and in play when "1". Bit 2 of the gaming table state 1 is "1" when there are no game balls. Bit 3 of game table state 1 is game completion when it is "1". Bit 4 of game machine state 1 is counting when it is "1". Bit 5 of game table state 1 is the game ball addition result when it is "1", and Bit 6 to Bit 7 of game table state 1 are spare.

FIG. 13 is a diagram explaining in more detail each bit of the gaming machine state 1. As shown in FIG. Bit 0 shown in FIG. 13 has a name of game permitted/game prohibited, and indicates whether the game is permitted or prohibited. inside. Bit 1 has a name of waiting/playing, and indicates whether or not the fan (player) is playing (shooting balls). When the value is "1", the game is in progress (the fan is shooting balls).

Bit 2 has a name of no game ball, and indicates the presence or absence of game balls (detection of no game ball). When "0", the number of game balls is present, and when "1", the number of game balls is absent. Bit 3 indicates whether or not the destination of all the shot balls is determined in a state where the name is game completion and the shooting of balls is stopped. In other words, it indicates whether or not all floating balls in the game area 27 have been collected. When the value is "0", the game is incomplete (the whereabouts of all the balls are undetermined), and when the value is "1", the game is completed (the whereabouts of all the balls are determined). In addition, when the completion of the game cannot be confirmed for 15 seconds or more after stopping the shooting of the balls, the P table 2 times out and completes the game.

Bit 4 indicates that the name is counting and indicates whether or not the number of game balls is being counted (while the count button is being pressed). Bit 5 has a name of game ball addition result, and indicates the processing result of game ball addition. When "0", addition is OK, and when "1", addition is NG.

Returning to FIG. 11, Bit 0 in game machine state 2 is in the middle of a big hit when it is "1". Bit 1 of gaming table state 2 is in the special symbol probability variation function operating state when "1". Bit 2 of the gaming table state 2 is in the special symbol variation time shortening function operating state when it is "1". Bit 3 to Bit 7 of gaming table state 2 are reserved.

The game machine error state is an error code occurring in the P machine 2. When "0x00", there is no error, and when "0x01"-"0xFF", an error is occurring.

FIG. 14 is a diagram explaining in more detail each bit of the gaming machine state 2. As shown in FIG. Bit 0 shown in FIG. 14 has a name of "big win", indicates one piece of big win information, and is set to "1" during big win. Bit 1 indicates that the name is in probability variation, indicates one piece of big hit information, and is set to "1" during probability variation. Bit2 has a name of time saving, indicates one piece of big hit information, and is set to "1" during time saving.

Returning to FIG. 11, the fraud detection information is information detected by the P machine 2 at the time when the command for requesting status information is sent from the CU 3 to the P machine 2. 2. Contains fraud detection information 1 to fraud detection information 5.

Bit 0 of fraud detection state 1 is in the state of prize ball sensor goto detection when it is "1". Here, "goto" means a fraudulent act of obtaining balls in a pachinko or slot machine by an illegal method. When Bit 1 of fraud detection state 1 is "1", it indicates the state of return ball sensor goto detection. When Bit 2 of fraud detection state 1 is "1", it indicates the state of combined sensor detection. Bit 3 of fraud detection state 1 is in the state of detection of fraudulent addition when it is "1". Bit 4 of fraud detection state 1 is in the state of fraud detection when it is "1". Bit5 to Bit7 of fraud detection state 1 are reserved.

Bit 0 of fraud detection state 2 is in the state of opening the door when it is "1". When Bit 1 of fraud detection state 2 is "1", it is the state of game board radio wave sensor detection. When Bit 2 of fraud detection state 2 is "1", it is the state of disconnection detection of the game board radio wave sensor. Bit 3 of fraud detection state 2 is in the state of detection of fraudulent winning when "1". Bit 4 of fraud detection state 2 is in the state of magnetic sensor detection when it is "1". Bit 5 of fraud detection state 2 is the state of game slot radio wave sensor detection when it is "1". Bit 6 of fraud detection state 2 is a state of game frame radio wave sensor disconnection detection when "1". Bit 7 in fraud detection state 1 is reserved.

The fraud detection information 1 is data indicating information on prize ball sensor goto detection (the number of unmatched winning balls) (see S664 in FIG. 66). The fraud detection information 2 is data indicating information on the return ball sensor goto detection (the number of mismatched balls for the return prize). A return ball is a foul ball. The fraud detection information 3 is data indicating information on complex sensor goto detection (the number of unmatched balls fired/out). In other words, it is data indicating information when a mismatch between the number of shot balls and the number of out balls (the number of balls passing through the out port) is detected. The fraud detection information 4 is data indicating information on detection of fraudulent addition (number of fraudulent added balls). The fraud detection information 5 is data indicating information on fraud detection (the number of balls passed through the fraud outlet).

The game information is the information of the P machine 2 at the time when the command of the state information request is transmitted from the CU 3 to the P machine 2, and includes the number of game information, the type information 1 to n, and the prize ball information 1 to n. I'm in.

The number of game information is the number (n) of type information/prize ball information, and is 0 to 255 (variable length). The type information 1-n indicates the game type information 1-n, and the prize ball information 1-n indicates the game prize ball information 1-n.

FIG. 15 is a diagram explaining in more detail the type information of the game information. In the type information shown in FIG. 15, the names from Bit0 to Bit3 are the data types, and indicate the data types of the game information. , "2" is the big winning opening, "3" is the starting winning opening, and "4" is the number of pattern stoppages. The names of Bit4 to Bit7 are data numbers, and indicate data numbers for each data type of game information. When "0", there is no information, and when "1" to "15", they are data numbers.

FIG. 16 is a diagram explaining in more detail the winning ball information among the game information. In the prize ball information shown in FIG. 16, the names from Bit0 to Bit3 are the number of prize balls, and indicate the number of prize balls at the time of winning for each data type of the game information. Data of the number of prize balls is "1" to "15". The names of Bit 4 to Bit 7 are the number of winning prizes, and indicate the number of winning prizes (cumulative total) for each data type of game information. is.

By multiplying the number of prize balls by the number of prizes won, the number of additional balls to be added to the number of game balls can be determined by multiplying the number of prize balls by the number of prizes won. When the number of additional balls is received without holding a card, the CU3 does not add the number of game balls.

Next, referring to FIG. 17, a card insertion notification command is transmitted from CU 3 to P unit 2 . The transmitted card insertion notification command notifies the card ID of the inserted card and the insertion time to the P stand 2 when the card is inserted.

Specific data of this card insertion notification include serial number, command, card ID, and card insertion time data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). CU3 sets the initial value to "1", counts up (+1) the received serial number at the time of transmission, and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. The command is a command code for card insertion notification, and is "0x07" in hexadecimal binary data.

Card ID is ID information of the inserted card. The card insertion time is the time when the card is inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 309 (see FIG. 1), and includes year information of two digits YY, month information of two digits MM, day information of two digits DD, and time information of two digits. The data is represented by hh in digits, mm in two digits for minute information, and ss in two digits for second information.

Next, referring to FIG. 18, a card insertion response is transmitted from P unit 2 to CU3. The transmitted card insertion response notifies CU3 that the card insertion notification has been received normally.

Specific data of this card insertion response include serial number and command data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). The P machine 2 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a card insertion response, and is "0x17" in hexadecimal binary data.

Next, referring to FIG. 19, a card return notification command is transmitted from CU 3 to P 2 . The transmitted card return notification command notifies the P unit 2 of card return. Also, CU3 transmits the notification when the "card return" button is pressed.

Concrete data of this card return notification includes serial number and command data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). CU3 sets the initial value to "1", counts up (+1) the received serial number at the time of transmission, and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. The command is a command code for card return notification, and is "0x08" in hexadecimal binary data.

Next, referring to FIG. 20, a card return response is transmitted from P 2 to CU3. The card return response to be sent is for sending a card return notification response to the CU3.

Specific data of this card return response include serial number, command, card ID, and card insertion time, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). The P machine 2 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a card return response, and is "0x18" in hexadecimal binary data.

Card ID is the ID information of the card being inserted. The card insertion time is the time when the card is inserted into the card insertion/ejection port 309 (see FIG. 1), and includes year information of two digits YY, month information of two digits MM, day information of two digits DD, and time information of two digits. The data is represented by hh in digits, mm in two digits for minute information, and ss in two digits for second information. When returning the card, the CU3 does not return the card if the card ID included in the command does not match the ID of the card that is currently inserted, or if there is a problem with the card insertion time included in the command. , Prohibit writing to the card of the ball, etc.

Next, referring to FIG. 21, a recovery request command is transmitted from CU 3 to P machine 2 . The transmitted recovery request command notifies recovery information to the P unit 2 .

As specific data of this recovery request, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 21, there are serial number, command, previous final transmission serial number, previously inserted card ID, previous card insertion time, and additional ball count data. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). CU3 sets the initial value to "1", counts up (+1) the received serial number at the time of transmission, and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a recovery request, and is "0x03" in hexadecimal binary data.

The previous last transmission serial number is data of the serial number of the last command transmitted to the P unit 2 at the time of the previous connection, and when it is "0", there is no data. The card ID being inserted last time is data of the card ID of the card that was being inserted at the time of the previous connection, and when it is "0", there is no card being inserted.

The previous card insertion time is the data of the insertion time of the card that was being inserted at the time of the previous connection, and when it is "0", there is no card being inserted. This data is also represented by 2-digit YY for year information, 2-digit MM for month information, 2-digit DD for day information, 2-digit hh for hour information, 2-digit mm for minute information, and 2-digit ss for second information. is. The number of added balls is the data of the number of added balls of the game balls, and when it is "0", it means that there is no data of the number of added balls.

FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining in detail the recovery processing of the P machine 2. As shown in FIG. The recovery process of the P machine 2 shown in FIG. do Specifically, when the additional ball number data is "0" and there is no additional ball, the CU3 does not transmit the additional ball number data to the P machine 2, and the P machine 2 does not perform recovery processing. Conversely, when the data of the number of additional balls is "1" to "65535" and there are additional balls, the CU3 transmits the data of the number of additional balls by lending balls, paying out balls, and paying out accumulated balls to the P machines 2, and 2 performs a recovery process of adding the number of added balls to the current game balls.

Next, referring to FIG. 23, a recovery response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. The transmitted recovery response notifies the CU 3 of the recovery information held by the P unit 2 . This "recovery information" is backed up and stored so that the P unit 2 can transmit it to the CU3 as a recovery response when the CU3 transmits a recovery request command to the P unit 2 along with the execution of recovery processing. It's about data. As the recovery information returned from the P machine 2 to the CU 3, as shown in FIG. It contains the latest game machine information and the latest game information.

A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). The P machine 2 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a recovery response, and is "0x13" in hexadecimal binary data.

The previous last transmission serial number is the data of the serial number included in the response of the state information response last transmitted to the CU3 at the time of the previous connection. The card ID being inserted last time is data of the card ID of the card that was being inserted at the time of the previous connection, and when it is "0", there is no card being inserted.

The previous card insertion time is the data of the insertion time of the card that was being inserted at the time of the previous connection, and when it is "0", there is no card being inserted. This data is also represented by 2-digit YY for year information, 2-digit MM for month information, 2-digit DD for day information, 2-digit hh for hour information, 2-digit mm for minute information, and 2-digit ss for second information. is. The number of added balls is the data of the number of added balls of the game balls, and when it is "0", it means that there is no data of the number of added balls.

The previous game machine information is the game machine information notified to the CU 3 last time, and includes information on the number of game balls, the number of back balls, the number of shot balls, the number of balls passed through the outlet, and the number of counted balls. "Number of game balls" is the number of game balls notified to CU3 last time. "Number of back balls" is the number of back balls notified to CU3 last time. "Number of projectiles" is the number of projectiles previously notified to CU3. The “number of balls passed through the out exit” is the number of balls passed through the out exit notified to the CU3 last time. "Number of balls to be counted" is the number of balls to be counted which was previously notified to CU3.

The previous game information is the game information notified to the CU3 last time, and includes the number of game information, type information 1 to type information n, and prize ball information 1 to prize ball information n. The "number of game information" is the number (0 to n) of game information previously notified to the CU3. "Type information 1" is the game type information 1 notified to the CU3 last time. The “type information n” is the game type information n previously notified to the CU3. "Prize ball information 1" is game prize ball information 1 notified to CU3 last time. The "prize ball information n" is the game prize ball information n previously notified to the CU3.

The latest amusement machine information is the latest amusement machine information, and includes information on the number of game balls, the number of back balls, the number of shot balls, the number of balls passed through the outlet, and the number of counting balls. The latest game machine information is set to "0" when there is no information. The “number of game balls” is the number of game balls currently held by the P machines 2 . The “number of back balls” is the number of back balls (number of foul balls) currently held by the P platform 2 . The “number of projectiles” is the number of projectiles currently held by the P platform 2 . The “number of balls passed through the out exit” is the number of balls passed through the out exit held by the P table 2 at present. The “number of balls to be counted” is the number of balls to be counted currently held by the P machines 2 .

The latest game information is the game information currently held by the P machines 2, and includes the number of game information, type information 1 to type information n, and prize ball information 1 to prize ball information n. The “number of game information” is the number (0 to n) of game information currently held by the P machine 2 . “Type information 1” is the game type information 1 held by the current P machine 2 . “Type information n” is the game type information n held by the current P machine 2 . “Prize ball information 1” is the game prize ball information 1 held by the current P table 2. FIG. The “prize ball information n” is the game prize ball information n held by the current P machine 2 .

As shown in Note 1) in FIG. 23, the recovery information is set to ALL0 at the time of shipment from the factory or when the backup data is undefined. As shown in Note 2), if CU3 did not process the "previous final transmission sequence number" notified from P machine 2, recovery processing is performed using the previous gaming machine information and the latest gaming machine information. do In addition, when the processing of the "previous final transmission serial number" is being performed, the CU3 performs the recovery processing using only the latest gaming machine information.

Also, if the recovery process cannot be performed due to a mismatch of communication partners (for example, replacement of the CU or the P units), manual correction may be performed at the POS based on the display information of the P units 2 . For example, it is conceivable that the display information of the P table 2 is displayed using the liquid crystal display screen of the variable display device 278 . Alternatively, it is conceivable to further provide a display device controlled by the payout control unit 171 for the P table 2 and display information for manual correction on the display device.

Next, referring to FIG. 24, a command requesting the start of communication is transmitted from CU3 to P unit 2 . The transmitted communication start request command notifies the P unit 2 of the start of communication. Also, the P machine 2 clears the recovery information.

Concrete data of this communication start request includes serial number and command data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). CU3 sets the initial value to "1", counts up (+1) the received serial number at the time of transmission, and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a communication start request, and is "0x04" in hexadecimal binary data.

Next, referring to FIG. 25, a response of communication start response is transmitted from P unit 2 to CU3. The transmitted communication start response notifies CU3 that communication has started normally.

Specific data of this communication start response include serial number and command data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). The P machine 2 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a communication start response, and is "0x14" in hexadecimal binary data.

Next, referring to FIG. 26, a command for requesting communication end is transmitted from CU3 to P unit 2 . The transmitted communication termination request command notifies the P unit 2 of communication termination.

Concrete data of this communication end request includes serial number and command data as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and is a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). CU3 sets the initial value to "1", counts up (+1) the received serial number at the time of transmission, and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a communication end request, and is "0x05" in hexadecimal binary data.

Next, referring to FIG. 27, a response of a communication end response is transmitted from P unit 2 to CU3. The transmitted communication end response notifies CU3 that the communication has ended normally. After the notification, CU3 and P unit 2 stop communication and wait for restart.

Concrete data of this communication end response includes serial number and command data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). The P machine 2 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a communication end response, and is "0x15" in hexadecimal binary data.

Next, referring to FIG. 28, a communication test request command is transmitted from CU3 to P unit 2. FIG. The transmitted communication test request command notifies the P unit 2 of the test data. Note that the test data to be notified to the P unit 2 is not encrypted.

Specific data of this communication test request include serial number, command, and test data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). CU3 sets the initial value to "1", counts up (+1) the received serial number at the time of transmission, and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a communication test request, and is "0x0F" in hexadecimal binary data. The test data is test data to be notified to the P unit 2 and is arbitrary data.

Next, referring to FIG. 29, the response of the communication test response is transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU3. The transmitted communication test response notifies the CU3 of the test data. Note that the test data to be notified to CU3 is also not encrypted.

Specific data of this communication test response includes serial number, command, and test data, as shown in the lower part of FIG. A serial number is a sequence number of a command, and has a value from 1 to 255 (cyclic). The P machine 2 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits it. However, when retransmitting, the serial number is not counted up. A command is a command code of a communication test response, and is "0x1F" in hexadecimal binary data. The test data is data for testing to be notified to the CU3 and is arbitrary data.

<Main sequence in communication between CU and P unit>
Next, processing executed by the CPU in the CU control unit 323 and processing executed by the CPU mounted on the payout control board 17 will be described with reference to FIGS. 30 to 46. FIG.

First, with reference to FIG. 30, a mode of transmission and reception of commands and responses between the CU3 and the P unit 2 will be described. A command is transmitted from CU3 (primary station) to P unit 2 (secondary station), and P unit 2 responds to the command and returns a response to CU3. After receiving the response, the CU3 transmits the next command to the P unit 2, and the P unit 2 responds to the command and returns the response to the CU3. As shown in FIG. 30, the period from the transmission of the first command from CU3 to P unit 2 to the transmission of the next command is controlled to 200 ms, ie, 0.2 seconds. Also, the period from the transmission of the response from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 to the transmission of the next response is controlled to 200 ms, ie, 0.2 seconds.

Thus, both the command and the response are transmitted between the CU3 and the P unit 2 at intervals of 200ms. On the other hand, since 100 pachinko balls are hit into the game area 27 per minute by operating the ball hitting operation handle 25 of the P table 2, the ball shooting time interval is 0.6 seconds. As a result, multiple commands and responses are transmitted and received while one ball is fired.

Therefore, responses for notifying the amount of change in the number of game balls are transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU 3 one after another at intervals shorter than the ball shooting time interval. As a result, the P machine 2 can finely notify the CU 3 of the amount of change in the number of game balls.

Here, the command and response transmission interval is set to 200 ms, but the transmission interval may be set to a longer interval or a shorter interval. It is also conceivable to match with

Commands and responses are transmitted by a polling method with CU3 as the primary station. However, recovery request/response, communication start request/response, communication end request/response commands and responses are not included.

Next, with reference to FIG. 31, the processing when communication disconnection is detected on the CU3 side will be described. If the CU3 does not receive a response within 200 ms after transmitting the command to the P unit 2, it transmits the same command to the P unit 2 again. Furthermore, if the response cannot be received within 200 ms after that, the same command is transmitted to the P unit 2 for the second retransmission. If no response is received from the P unit 2 within 200 ms after the second retransmission, the CU 3 determines that communication is abnormal at this stage and sets "communication disconnection". This communication abnormality may be caused by disconnection of the connector of the CU 3 and the connector of the P unit 22 , disconnection of the connection wiring, or power supply interruption of the P unit 2 .

CU3 does not count up the serial number when retransmitting the command.

Next, with reference to FIG. 32, the processing when communication disconnection is detected on the side of the P unit 2 will be described. A command is transmitted from the CU3 to the P unit 2, and the P unit 2 responds to the command and returns a response to the CU3. After that, when the state in which the command from the CU 3 is not transmitted to the P machine 2 continues for one second, the P machine 2 judges that the communication is interrupted, stops the driving of the shooting motor 18, and stops the game. . Similar to the one explained with reference to FIG. 31, the disconnection of the communication may be caused by disconnection of the connector of the CU3 and the connector of the P stand 2, disconnection of the connection wiring, power failure of the CU3, or the like.

The commands and responses for detecting communication disconnection on the P unit 2 side do not include recovery request/response, communication start request/response, and communication end request/response commands and responses.

Next, with reference to FIG. 33, the processing of the connection sequence at power-on will be described. The processing of the connection sequence in FIG. 33 is executed when communication is restarted after the communication between the CU3 and the P unit 2 has been completed normally. Specifically, during standby when no card is inserted, it is executed when communication is resumed after powering off the CU3. A typical example is when the power is turned off at the end of the day's business at a game arcade, and the power is turned on at the start of business the next day.

First, turn on the power. When the power is turned on, the P machine 2 stops the shooting motor 18 to stop the game, and then starts communication. Thereafter, an authentication sequence is started, and information including a main chip ID and a payout chip ID is transmitted from the P machine 2 to the CU3. The CU3 transmits the authentication request data to the P machine 2 specified by the received main chip ID and payout chip ID. The P unit 2 that has received the authentication request returns an authentication response to the CU3.

After the authentication sequence, CU3 transmits a recovery request to P unit 2 . That is, the CU3 transmits recovery data to the P unit 2 . This recovery data includes the previous final transmission serial number, the card ID during the previous insertion, the previous card insertion time, and the number of additional balls. To be precise, it is the various data shown in FIG. 21, and in the following flow charts, the "recovery data" transmitted from the CU 3 to the P unit 2 is precisely the various data shown in FIG. .

Receiving this, the P unit 2 executes recovery processing based on the received recovery data,
The recovery data backed up inside the P table 2 (specifically, the payout control board 17) is returned as a response to the CU3 (recovery response).

The recovery data includes the previous last transmission serial number, the previous inserted card ID, the previous card insertion time, the previous game table information, the previous game table information, the latest game table information, and the latest game information. To be precise, it is the various data shown in FIG. 23, and in the following flow charts, "recovery data" transmitted from the P unit 2 to the CU 3 is precisely the various data shown in FIG. .

Upon receiving this recovery response, CU3 starts recovery processing from that point. This recovery process is a process for restoring mutual data consistency between the CU 3 and the P unit 2, and is executed not only when the power is turned on, but also when a trouble occurs and the system is restored. , is executed.

CU3 counts up the serial number each time it sends a command such as a recovery request. However, it does not count up when resending a command. When the P unit 2 receives a command with the same serial number as the one received last time, it determines that the CU 3 has resent the command due to a communication failure. CU3 backs up the serial number when sending a command. The P unit 2 counts up the serial number each time it transmits a response corresponding to the received command. However, it does not count up when retransmitting a response. When the CU3 receives a response with the same serial number as the previous one, it determines that a communication failure has occurred and the P unit 2 has retransmitted the response. The P machine 2 backs up the serial number when sending the response.

After completing the authentication sequence, the CU3 sends a recovery request command to the P unit 2 with the serial number set to "n". The P unit 2 counts up the serial number and sets it to "n+1" and returns a recovery response to the CU3.

After that, the CU 3 counts up the serial number to “n+2” and transmits a communication start request (recovery clear ON) command to the P unit 2 . The P machine 2 receives it and clears the recovery data. Then, the P machine 2 counts up the serial number to "n+3" and returns a communication start response to the CU3. CU3 receives it and clears the recovery data. Thereafter, a state information request command and a state information response response are transmitted and received between the CU 3 and the P unit 2 .

The CU3 transmits a status information request command with a serial number of n+4 to the P unit 2 . In response to this, the P machine 2 backs up the data of the number of game balls, the number of added balls, the number of subtracted balls, the number of counting balls, the number of symbol stops, the number of wins, and the state of the gaming machine. In addition, the P machine 2 clears the values of the counters of the number of game balls, the number of added balls, the number of subtracted balls, the number of counting balls, the number of symbol stops, and the number of wins. Then, the P machine 2 returns a status information response with serial number=n+5 to the CU3.

The CU3 that receives the response backs up the number of game balls, the number of added balls, the number of subtracted balls, the number of counting balls, the number of symbol stops, the number of winnings, and the state of the gaming machine based on the status information response. Incidentally, the breakdown of the number of added balls is "the number of prize balls x the number of winning balls" and "the number of back balls". The breakdown of the number of subtracted balls is the “number of shot balls”.

Thereafter, CU3 transmits a state information request command with serial number=n+6 to P unit 2, and P unit 2 returns a state information response response with serial number=n+7 to CU3. The P unit 2 backs up the data described above and clears the counter described above every time it transmits a status information response. In addition, CU3 backs up the aforementioned data each time it receives a status information response.

Referring to FIG. 34, processing of CU3 and P stand 2 when a card is inserted will be described. First, the CU 3 sends to the P unit 2 a state information request command including serial number=n and card insertion state=OFF before inserting the card. In response to this, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a status information response including a serial number=n+1 and game prohibition.

After that, when the card is inserted, the CU3 outputs a command signal to read the card to the card reader/writer, reads the information recorded on the read card, and receives the read information. Card insertion processing is executed.

CU3 is in the state of card information inquiry for a predetermined period after the card is inserted. This is done by inquiring, for example, the host server 801 (see FIG. 63) of the suitability of the inserted card, whether or not it is a membership card registered at the game arcade, or whether the card is owned or stored, or the balance of the card. It means that the process of displaying on the display 312 that it is in the process of being performed and displaying it on the display 54 on the side of the P stand 2 is being executed.

Since CU3 has not authenticated the inserted card while the display 312 is displaying that it is inquiring about the inserted card, the status information request including serial number=n+2 and card insertion status=OFF is displayed. Send command to P-table 2. In response to this, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including a serial number=n+3 and game prohibition. The display device 54 on the side of the P table 2 is controlled by the display control unit 350 of the CU3 to display that the card is being queried.

After that, when the inserted card is authenticated, CU 3 transmits a card insertion notification command including serial number=n+4, card ID, and card insertion time to P unit 2 . In response to this, the P unit 2 backs up the data of the received card ID and card insertion time, and returns a card insertion response including the serial number=n+5 to the CU3.

In response, CU3 notifies P unit 2 that the card is being inserted by transmitting a state information request command including serial number=n+6 and card insertion state=ON to P unit 2. The P machine 2 receives the notification that the card is being inserted, permits the game, and returns a status information response including the serial number=n+7 and the game permission to the CU3.

During card insertion, CU3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+8 and card insertion status=ON to P machine 2, and P machine 2 sends a status information response response including serial number=n+9 and game permission. Reply to CU3.

Next, referring to FIG. 35, the processing for depositing money into the inserted card will be described. The inserted card is a general 0-yen 0-ball card (a general card with a 0-yen balance and 0 balls) stocked in the CU in advance. In this embodiment, a card is shown as an example of a recording medium stocked in the CU in advance, but an IC coin may be used instead of the card.

First, the CU 3 sends a status information request command including serial number=n and card insertion status=OFF to the P machine 2 before the deposit operation. In response to this, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including a serial number=n+1 and game prohibition.

A player inserts bills into the bill insertion slot 302 and performs a deposit operation. When a deposit operation is performed, the CU3 writes the amount deposited by the card reader/writer into a card stocked in advance, and the card reader/writer reads the information recorded on the card on which the amount is written. Processing is performed.

When the CU3 is operated to deposit money, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a card insertion notification command including serial number=n+2, card ID, and card insertion time. In response to this, the P unit 2 backs up the data of the received card ID and card insertion time, and returns a card insertion response including the serial number=n+3 to the CU3.

In response, the CU3 notifies the P unit 2 that the card is being inserted by transmitting a state information request command including serial number=n+4 and card insertion state=ON to the P unit 2. The P machine 2 receives the notification that the card is being inserted, permits the game, and returns a status information response including the serial number=n+5 and the game permission to the CU3. As a result, a game is permitted. After that, by using the balance of the card to secure game balls, a burst game is enabled.

During card insertion, CU3 sends a status information request command including serial number=n+6 and card insertion status=ON to P machine 2, and P machine 2 sends a status information response response including serial number=n+7 and game permission. Reply to CU3.

Next, with reference to FIG. 36, the processing for lending game balls from the prepaid balance of the inserted card will be described. That is, the processing for consuming the prepaid balance recorded on the inserted card will be described. In the processing of FIG. 36, the current number of game balls is "50" balls. First, the CU3 transmits to the P machine 2 a state information request command including the serial number=n and the game ball addition request=OFF. In response, the P machine 2 returns a state information response including the serial number=n+1 and the number of game balls=50 to the CU3.

After that, when the player performs a lending operation (ball lending operation) by pressing the "rental" button once, CU3 lends 125 balls worth 500 yen. When the ball lending button (rental button) 321 is pressed, CU3 confirms prepaid consumption of 500 yen, and sets the number of game balls = 50 (number of game balls before update) + 125 (number of added balls) = 175. Back up your data. In this way, the balance consumption is determined solely by the CU3 side when the lending operation is performed. After that, CU3 is during addition display. During this addition display, the indicator 54 displays that 125 balls are being withdrawn from the balance and added to the game balls.

Next, the CU3 transmits to the P machine 2 a state information request command including the serial number=n+2, the game ball addition request=ON, and the number of added balls=125. In response, P machine 2 updates the number of game balls to 50 (current number of game balls) + 125 (number of additional balls) = 175, serial number = n + 3, number of additional balls = 175, game balls A status information response including the addition result=OK is returned to CU3.

After that, CU3 sends a status information request command including serial number = n+4 and game ball addition request = OFF to P machine 2, and P machine 2 sends a status information response command including serial number = n+5 and number of added balls = 175. Return the response to CU3.

Next, referring to FIG. 37, the process of paying out owned balls and accumulated balls and playing again will be described. In FIG. 37, the initial number of game balls is "50" balls. The replay processing in FIG. 37 is similar to the processing for consuming the balance shown in FIG. First, the CU3 transmits to the P machine 2 a state information request command including the serial number=n and the game ball addition request=OFF. In response, the P machine 2 returns a state information response including the serial number=n+1 and the number of game balls=50 to the CU3.

After that, when the player presses the replay button 319 while the player has balls or stored balls, CU3 confirms the consumption of 125 balls from the owned balls or stored balls, updates the number of game balls, and updates the number of game balls. Number=50 (number of game balls before update)+125 (number of added balls)=175 data are backed up. In this way, the consumption of the balls held or stored is determined by the CU3 side alone when the replay button 319 is pressed. When there are both balls and stored balls, consumption of balls is given priority.

Instead of the control of preferentially consuming the balls, a button for replaying the stored balls and a replay button for the held balls are provided so that the player can select and operate to consume either the stored balls or the consumed balls. can be In other words, the replay button is a replay button for obtaining game balls (game points) from stored balls (stored medals), and a replay button for obtaining game balls (game points) from owned balls (scored points). It may be configured with two of the ball (score) and the replay button.

After that, the CU3 sets the game ball addition display to the P machine 2 and transmits a command for requesting status information including serial number=n+2, game ball addition request=ON, and the number of addition balls=125. In response, P machine 2 updates the number of game balls to 50 (current number of game balls) + 125 (number of additional balls) = 175, serial number = n + 3, number of additional balls = 175, game balls A status information response including the addition result=OK is returned to CU3.

CU3 indicates that the addition display of the game balls is in progress by causing the display 54 to display that 125 balls are being withdrawn from the owned balls or stored balls and added to the game balls.

After that, CU3 sends a status information request command including serial number = n+4 and game ball addition request = OFF to P machine 2, and P machine 2 sends a status information response command including serial number = n+5 and number of added balls = 175. Return the response to CU3.

Next, referring to FIG. 38, the process of counting and subtracting part of the game balls will be described. In FIG. 38, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (member card or visitor card) is "0" and the initial number of game balls is "800". First, the CU3 transmits a state information request command including the serial number=n and counting ball reception=OFF to the P unit 2. FIG. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+1, number of game balls=800, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

After that, the player presses the count button 28 once to perform an operation to convert the game ball into a ball in possession. This one-time press means a short press for less than one second, and is different from a long press for one second or longer, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 39 . When the counting button 28 is pressed, the payout control unit 171 of the P table 2 measures the pressing time, and determines whether the pressing is short for less than 1 second or long for 1 second or more. FIG. 38, ““Count” button pressed once” indicates when the payout control unit 171 determines that the short press is for less than 1 second. counted as balls. When the initial number of game balls is "800", pressing the counting button 28 once causes the number of game balls to be "700" and the number of counting balls to be "100".

In the operation of short-pressing the counting button 28 once, the number of balls to be counted as counting balls may be changed according to the duration of the short-pressing of the counting button 28 . For example, if the count button 28 is short-pressed for less than 0.5 seconds, the number of balls counted as counting balls is 100 balls. If the count button 28 is pressed for a short time of 0.5 seconds or more, the number of balls counted as counting balls is 400 balls. Also, if the counting button 28 is pressed for a short time of 0.5 seconds or longer, all the remaining game balls may be counted as counting balls.

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, the CU 3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+2 and counting ball receipt=OFF to the P stand 2 .

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 700 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the number of counting balls (100 balls) to the number of possessed balls (0 balls) to update the number of possessed balls = 100, and the number of game balls = 800 (pre-update game ball number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 700 data are backed up.

Further, CU3 receives the status information response and starts the display of counting 100 game balls. That is, the CU control unit 323 transmits a count display command to the display control unit 350 . The display control unit 350 receives the command and controls the display of the display 54 on the P stand 2 side. As a result, the display device 54 displays an image in which the game balls are counted and the number decreases while the number of balls in the player's possession increases. In this case, it is conceivable to perform an effect display in which the game balls are guided one by one to be counted by the respective counters. Another example of this effect display may be a display in which data on the number of game balls is converted into data on the number of possessed balls over time. For example, the data of the number of game balls and the data of the number of owned balls are shown in a bar graph, and the bar graph of the number of game balls is decreased while the bar graph of the number of owned balls is increased. It is conceivable to repeat the display of moving to the bar graph of , or to display various effects.

Further, the player briefly presses the count button 28 once to perform an operation to convert the game ball into a ball in possession. By short-pressing the counting button 28 once, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls. When the current number of game balls is "700", pressing the count button 28 once will result in the number of game balls being "600" and the number of counting balls being "100".

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, the CU 3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+4 and counting ball receipt=ON to the P unit 2 . The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous state information response.

In response, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 600, the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. CU3 receives the status information response, adds the number of counted balls (100 balls) to the number of owned balls (100 balls), updates the number of owned balls = 200, and the number of game balls = 700 (game balls before update). number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 600 data are backed up.

Further, CU3 receives the status information response and starts the display of counting 100 game balls. In addition, if the state information response indicating the count of 100 more is received before the count display of the previous 100 game balls is completed, the count display of the previous 100 game balls is continued, and this time 100 count display is performed based on the state information response of the .

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including serial number=n+6 and counting ball receipt=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous state information response. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+7, number of game balls=600, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

Here, by pressing the counting button 28 once for a short time, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls. The number of counting balls used is not limited to 100 balls. For example, by short-pressing the counting button 28 once, 200 or 300 balls out of the number of game balls may be counted and counted as counting balls.

Next, referring to FIG. 39, the process of counting and subtracting all game balls will be described. In FIG. 39, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is "0" and the initial number of game balls is "200". First, the CU3 transmits a state information request command including the serial number=n and counting ball reception=OFF to the P unit 2. FIG. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+1, number of game balls=200, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

After that, the player long presses the count button 28 (an operation of keeping the button pressed for one second or more), and performs an operation to convert the game balls into possession balls. FIG. 39 ""Count" button long press" indicates when the payout control unit 171 determines that the long press is for 1 second or more. In that case, in one command/response period (200 ms) 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls. When the initial number of game balls is "200", the number of game balls is "100" and the number of counting balls is "100" during one command/response period.

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed for a long time, the CU 3 transmits a state information request command including serial number=n+2 and counting ball receipt=OFF to the P-unit 2 .

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 100 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. CU3 receives the response of the state information response, adds the number of counting balls (100 balls) to the number of balls held (0 balls), updates the number of balls = 100, and the number of game balls = 200 (game balls before update). number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 100 data are backed up.

Further, CU3 receives the status information response and starts the display of counting 100 game balls.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n+4 and counting ball receipt=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous state information response.

While the count button 28 is being pressed for a long time, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 0 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A status information response including counting=ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the counted number of balls (100 balls) to the number of owned balls (100 balls) to update the number of owned balls to 200, and the number of game balls = 100 (game balls before update). number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 0 data is backed up.

In addition, CU3 receives the status information response and, following the previous display of counting 100 game balls, displays a further 100 game balls to be counted.

Further, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including serial number=n+6 and counting ball reception=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous state information response.

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 0 and the number of balls to be counted = 0, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the number of counted balls (0 balls) to the number of owned balls (200 balls) to update the number of owned balls = 200, and the number of game balls = 0 (game balls before update) number) - 0 (number of counting balls) = 0 data is backed up.

As the count display progresses, the number of game balls displayed on the display 54 eventually becomes zero. The player releases the count button 28 after confirming that the number of balls in the game has become 0. By releasing the count button 28, the operation of converting the game ball into the ball in possession is completed.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command for requesting state information including serial number=n+8 and counting ball reception=OFF. The reason why counting balls received=OFF is that the number of counting balls received in the response to the previous status information response is 0, and there is no need to notify the P machine 2 of the receipt of the counting balls. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a status information response including serial number=n+9, number of game balls=0, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

Here, by long-pressing the count button 28, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls in one command/response period (200 ms). The number of counting balls counted during the command/response period (200 ms) is not limited to 100 balls. For example, by pressing the count button 28 for a long time, 200 balls, 300 balls, or the like may be counted during one command/response period (200 ms).

Further, regardless of the current number of game balls, all the game balls may be counted by long-pressing the count button 28 for about 5 seconds (25 command/response periods). It should be noted that the number of game balls to be counted may be changed according to the operation time of pressing the count button 28 for a long time. That is, when the current number of game balls is large, the number of counting balls counted in one command/response period (200 ms) is increased, and when the current number of game balls is small, one command/response period ( 200 ms) to reduce the number of balls counted. Specifically, when the current number of game balls is 10000 balls, the number of counting balls counted in one command/response period (200 ms) is set to 400 balls, and when the current number of game balls is 1000 balls, once 40 balls are counted during the command/response period (200 ms).

Next, referring to FIG. 40, return processing of a membership card, a general card with a balance, and a general card with a ball will be described. In FIG. 40, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is "0" and the initial number of game balls is "200". First, the CU3 transmits a state information request command including the serial number=n and counting ball reception=OFF to the P unit 2. FIG. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+1, number of game balls=200, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

After that, the player presses the count button 28 for a long time (an operation of pressing the button for one second or longer) to convert the game balls into possession balls. By pressing the count button 28 for a long time, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted during one command/response period (200 ms) and counted as counting balls. When the initial number of game balls is "200", the number of game balls is "100" and the number of counting balls is "100" during one command/response period.

However, in the counting display performed on the display 54, the number of game balls and the number of balls to be counted are not changed instantaneously, but the number of game balls is gradually counted and decreased, and the number of game balls is interlocked with this. An effect such that the number of balls gradually increases is performed. Therefore, the number of game balls and the number of points displayed on the display device 54 do not match the number of game balls and the number of points on the memory of the CU side and the P side until the count display ends.

However, instead of such control, the display score counting status (conversion status) and the actual data conversion processing may be synchronized. In this case, since the data counting process (conversion process) can be completed immediately, the counting display (conversion display) synchronized therewith is also finished immediately. In this case, it may not be possible to sufficiently notify the player that the data has been counted. Therefore, while counting is being displayed, the display may be switched to "counting is completed" in the middle of the display. Also, in that case, the operation of returning the card may be enabled from the stage when the display "counting finished" is started.

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed for a long time, the CU 3 transmits a state information request command including serial number=n+2 and counting ball receipt=OFF to the P-unit 2 .

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 100 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. CU3 receives the response of the state information response, adds the number of counting balls (100 balls) to the number of balls held (0 balls), updates the number of balls = 100, and the number of game balls = 200 (game balls before update). number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 100 data are backed up.

In addition, CU3 receives the status information response and, following the previous display of counting 100 game balls, displays a further 100 game balls to be counted.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n+4 and counting ball receipt=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous status information response.

While the count button 28 is being pressed for a long time, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 0 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A status information response including counting=ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the counted number of balls (100 balls) to the number of owned balls (100 balls) to update the number of owned balls to 200, and the number of game balls = 100 (game balls before update). number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 0 data is backed up.

In addition, CU3 receives the status information response and, following the previous display of counting 100 game balls, displays a further 100 game balls to be counted.

As the count display progresses, the number of game balls displayed on the display 54 eventually becomes zero. The player releases the count button 28 after confirming that the number of balls in the game has become 0. By releasing the count button 28, the operation of converting the game ball into the ball in possession is completed.

After that, the player performs an operation of pressing the return button 322 . When the player presses return button 322 , CU 3 transmits a card return notification command including serial number=n+6 to P machine 2 . In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU 3 a card return response including the serial number=n+7, the card ID held in the payout control board 17, and the card insertion time.

In response, the CU3 compares the returned card ID and card insertion time with the card ID and card insertion time backed up when the card was inserted, and determines whether or not they match. . On the condition that they match, the card inserted in the card insertion/ejection port 309 is returned to the player. If they do not match, an error is determined and error processing is executed. As this error processing, for example, control is performed to prohibit the card from being returned in response to the return operation, and the card is held inside the CU 3, or the writing process to the card in possession is prohibited. In addition, it notifies the host server 801 of the occurrence of an error, for example, by an error notification lamp.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including the serial number=n+8 and the card insertion state=OFF. When the P machine 2 receives the status information response including the card insertion status=OFF, it clears the data of the card ID and the card insertion time held in the payout control board 17 . In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a status information response including serial number=n+9, number of game balls=0, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

Next, with reference to FIG. 41, a process for prompting a counting operation when returning a membership card, a general card with a balance, or a general card with a ball will be described. In FIG. 41, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is "0" and the initial number of game balls is "200". First, the CU3 transmits a state information request command including the serial number=n and counting ball reception=OFF to the P unit 2. FIG. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+1, number of game balls=200, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

After that, the player performs an operation of pressing the return button 322 . However, since the number of game balls held is 200 and not 0, CU3 prohibits the card return operation and prompts the player to perform the counting operation by displaying the message "There are game balls left." Please perform the counting operation.” or other information is displayed. In this way, the display for prompting the counting operation makes it possible for the player to perceive the reason why the card cannot be returned. The CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n+2 and card insertion status=ON. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+3, number of game balls=200, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

After that, the player presses the count button 28 for a long time (an operation of pressing the button for one second or longer) to convert the game balls into possession balls. By pressing the count button 28 for a long time, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted during one command/response period (200 ms) and counted as counting balls. When the initial number of game balls is "200", the number of game balls is "100" and the number of counting balls is "100" during one command/response period.

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed for a long time, the CU 3 transmits a state information request command including serial number=n+4 and counting ball receipt=OFF to the P-unit 2 .

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 100 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. CU3 receives the response of the state information response, adds the number of counting balls (100 balls) to the number of balls held (0 balls), updates the number of balls = 100, and the number of game balls = 200 (game balls before update). number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 100 data are backed up.

Further, CU3 receives the status information response and starts the display of counting 100 game balls.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including serial number=n+6 and counting ball receipt=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous state information response.

While the count button 28 is being pressed for a long time, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 0 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A status information response including counting=ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the counted number of balls (100 balls) to the number of owned balls (100 balls) to update the number of owned balls to 200, and the number of game balls = 100 (game balls before update). number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 0 data is backed up.

In addition, CU3 receives the status information response and, following the previous display of counting 100 game balls, displays a further 100 game balls to be counted.

As the count display progresses, the number of game balls displayed on the display 54 eventually becomes zero. The player releases the count button 28 after confirming that the number of balls in the game has become 0. By releasing the count button 28, the operation of converting the game ball into the ball in possession is completed.

After that, the player performs an operation of pressing the return button 322 . When the player presses return button 322 , CU 3 transmits a card return notification command including serial number=n+8 to P machine 2 . In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU 3 a card return response including the serial number=n+9, the card ID held in the payout control board 17, and the card insertion time.

In response, the CU3 compares the returned card ID and card insertion time with the card ID and card insertion time backed up when the card was inserted, and determines whether or not they match. . On the condition that they match, the card inserted in the card insertion/ejection port 309 is returned to the player. If they do not match, an error is determined and error processing is executed. As this error processing, for example, control is performed to prohibit the card from being returned in response to the return operation, and the card is held inside the CU 3, or the writing process to the card in possession is prohibited. In addition, it notifies the host server 801 of the occurrence of an error, for example, by an error notification lamp.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including the serial number=n+10 and the card insertion state=OFF. When the P machine 2 receives the status information response including the card insertion status=OFF, it clears the data of the card ID and the card insertion time held in the payout control board 17 . In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a status information response including serial number=n+11, number of game balls=0, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is finally possible to return the card after the display of converting the game balls obtained by the game into possession balls by the operation of the player. For this reason, players who are accustomed to the conventional game system in which the balls obtained by the game are counted by each counter and the counting result can be specified by the card, are not confused. A new game system using data can be provided. Moreover, since the card return operation is not valid until all game balls have been converted and displayed, the system eliminates the possibility of accidentally leaving the gaming machine with game balls remaining. The player can be made to think about it, and the player can be given a sense of security.

In addition, since the game balls are being counted is displayed on the display device 54 on the gaming machine side, it is easy for the player sitting facing the gaming machine to see the counting. Furthermore, as described above, since the display control unit 350 that controls the display of the display device 54 on the gaming machine side is provided on the CU side, the display control burden on the gaming machine side can be reduced.

Next, with reference to FIG. 42, the process of automatically collecting general cards with a balance of 0 yen and 0 balls on hand will be described. In FIG. 42, the balance specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is "0", the number of balls held is "0", and the initial number of game balls is "50". It has become. First, the CU 3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n and card insertion status=ON. In response to this, the P machine 2 notifies the gaming machine information to the CU3. =30 is returned to CU3. The CU3 receives the notification from the P machine 2 and backs up the data of the number of game balls=20, the total number of added balls=+0, and the total number of subtracted balls=+30.

After that, the P machine 2 detects that the number of game balls has decreased to 0 as the player plays a game (the number of game balls=0).

The CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n+2 and card insertion status=ON. In response, the P machine 2 sends a status information response including serial number = n+3, no game balls = ON, game completion = OFF, number of game balls = 0, number of added balls = 0, number of subtracted balls = 20. Reply to CU3. The CU3 receives the notification from the P machine 2 and backs up the data of the number of game balls=0, the total number of added balls=+0, and the total number of subtracted balls=+20.

After that, the P machine 2 waits for the number of game balls to become 0 and the number of floating balls (the number of balls in play) in the game area 27 to disappear, and then detects that the game has been completed. When the state information response of "game completion ON" is transmitted from the P machine 2 due to the disappearance of the floating balls (the number of balls in play), the CU 3 causes the display unit 54 to display, for example, "Do you want to end the game?" is displayed, and the player can collect the general cards by touching the display of "YES".

The CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including serial number=n+4 and card insertion state=ON. In response to this, the P machine 2 sends a state information response including serial number = n+5, no game balls = ON, game completion = ON, number of game balls = 0, number of added balls = 0, number of subtracted balls = 0. Reply to CU3.

After that, CU3 transmits a card return notification command including serial number=n+6 to P machine 2 . In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU 3 a card return response including the serial number=n+7, the card ID held in the payout control board 17, and the card insertion time.

In response, the CU3 compares the returned card ID and card insertion time with the card ID and card insertion time backed up when the card was inserted, and determines whether or not they match. . On the condition that they match, the general cards that have been played are collected. If they do not match, an error is determined and error processing is executed. As this error processing, for example, control is performed to prohibit the card from being returned in response to the return operation, and the card is held inside the CU 3, or the writing process to the card in possession is prohibited. In addition, it notifies the host server 801 of the occurrence of an error, for example, by an error notification lamp.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including the serial number=n+8 and the card insertion state=OFF. When the P machine 2 receives the status information response including the card insertion status=OFF, it clears the data of the card ID and the card insertion time held in the payout control board 17 . In response to this, the P machine 2 sends a status information response including serial number = n+9, no game balls = ON, game completion = ON, number of game balls = 0, number of added balls = 0, number of subtracted balls = 0. Reply to CU3.

Next, with reference to FIG. 43, the processing of the big hit during the game will be described. In FIG. 43, the number of possessed balls "500" specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is all converted into game balls, and the initial number of game balls is "500". It is assumed that

First, the CU 3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n and card insertion status=ON. In response to this, the P machine 2 notifies the gaming machine information to the CU 3, so the status information includes serial number = n + 1, big winning = OFF, number of game balls = 490, number of added balls = 3, number of subtracted balls = 13 The response of the response is returned to CU3. The CU3 receives the notification from the P machine 2 and backs up the data of the number of game balls=490, the total number of added balls=+3, and the total number of subtracted balls=+13.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a state information request command including the serial number=n+2 and the card insertion state=ON. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a status information response including serial number=n+3, big winning=OFF, number of game balls=480, number of added balls=0, number of subtracted balls=10. Although not shown, the CU3 receives the notification from the P machine 2 and backs up the data of the number of game balls=480, the total number of added balls=+0, and the total number of subtracted balls=+10.

After that, a big hit occurs on the P platform 2. After the big win occurs, the CU3 transmits to the P machine 2 a state information request command including serial number=n+4 and card insertion state=ON. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+5, big win=ON, number of game balls=580, number of added balls=120, number of subtracted balls=20. The CU3 receives the notification from the P machine 2 and backs up the data of the number of game balls=580, the total number of added balls=+120, the total number of subtracted balls=+20, and the number of big hits=+1. In addition, the current total number of added balls is 123, and the current total number of subtracted balls is 43.

After that, the player briefly presses the count button 28 once to perform an operation to convert the game balls into holding balls. By short-pressing the counting button 28 once, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls. If the current number of game balls is "580", pressing the count button 28 once will result in the number of game balls being "480" and the number of counting balls being "100".

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, the CU 3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+6 and counting ball reception=OFF to the P stand 2 .

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 480 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the number of counting balls (100 balls) to the number of balls held (0 balls) to update the number of balls held = 100, and the number of game balls = 580 (game balls before update). Number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 480 data are backed up.

In addition, CU3 has 100 balls due to the counting operation, and the number of balls acquired in this game (= total number of added balls "123" balls - total number of subtracted balls "40" balls, or the current number of game balls "580" balls + current number of balls "0" - number of balls held at the start of the game "500" balls) = +80 balls are plus, so a dollar box is displayed on the display 312 (see Fig. 67). Start. In this way, the dollar box display is made so that the number of balls in the player's possession is 0 or more in accordance with the conventional behavior of the player transferring the balls acquired in the current game to the dollar box and stacking the dollar boxes. Moreover, it is executed when the number of balls obtained in the current game becomes positive. Specifically, the dollar box display expresses an image in which one dollar box shown in FIG. 67 contains 1,000 balls, and the dollar boxes are piled up with balls being filled in order from the lower dollar box. In addition, when the player converts his own balls into game balls, the dollar box display is displayed by reducing the number of balls from the dollar box by the number of balls converted into game balls.

It should be noted that the display of the dollar box is not limited to the condition to be displayed when the number of balls in possession is 0 or more and the number of balls obtained in the current game is positive. The condition may be changed, such as displaying when the number of played balls exceeds 1,000. Also, the dollar box display may be displayed when the number of balls obtained in the current game is positive regardless of the number of balls held. Furthermore, means for displaying the number of balls acquired in the current game, etc. is not limited to the dollar box display, and the number of balls may be displayed digitally on the display 312 . Further, instead of or in addition to the display 312, the display may be displayed by the display 54, or may be displayed by separately providing a dedicated display.

Next, referring to FIG. 44, the subtraction process from the game ball by the counting operation during the game (especially during ball shooting) will be described. In FIG. 44, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is "0" and the initial number of game balls is "400". First, the CU3 transmits a state information request command including the serial number=n and counting ball reception=OFF to the P unit 2. FIG. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+1, number of game balls=400, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF. Since the balls are being shot, the total number of subtracted balls must include information for subtracting the game balls due to the ball firing. Information is omitted from the illustration. Of course, when the number of game balls decreases to 250 or less, which will be described later, even if the counting button 28 is pressed, it goes without saying that the counting operation is not performed.

After that, the player briefly presses the count button 28 once to perform an operation to convert the game balls into holding balls. By short-pressing the counting button 28 once, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls. When the initial number of game balls is "400", pressing the counting button 28 once causes the number of game balls to be "300" and the number of counting balls to be "100".

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, the CU 3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+2 and counting ball receipt=OFF to the P stand 2 .

In response, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 300, the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the number of counting balls (100 balls) to the number of possessed balls (0 balls) to update the number of possessed balls = 100, and the number of game balls = 400 (pre-update game ball number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 300 data are backed up.

Further, CU3 receives the status information response and starts the display of counting 100 game balls.

Further, the player briefly presses the count button 28 once to perform an operation to convert the game ball into a ball in possession. When the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls. Therefore, if the current number of game balls is "300", the number of game balls should be "200" and the number of counting balls should be "100" by short-pressing the count button 28 once. be.

However, the P table 2 is in a state in which balls are being continuously shot (a state in which the game is being continued), and the number of game balls is being subtracted one after another. Therefore, depending on the timing of pressing the count button 28 for a short or long time and the timing of shooting balls, there is a possibility that the number of game balls may be counted in duplicate with the number of shooting balls and the counting balls. Therefore, in order to avoid the possibility of such a problem occurring, when the number of game balls is 250 or less, for example, when the number of game balls is 250 or less while balls are being shot, control is performed so that the subsequent counting operation is not performed. do. Note that the P platform 2 determines whether or not the ball is being continuously shot, based on the input status of the touch sensor, the status of the shot ball detection switch 903, and the like.

Therefore, if the current number of game balls is "300" while the ball is being shot during the game, 100 balls cannot be counted even if the count button 28 is pressed once for a short time, and 50 balls are counted. are counted, the number of game balls is "250" and the number of counting balls is "50". Similarly, when the current number of game balls is "300", even if the count button 28 is pressed long once, 100 balls cannot be counted and only 50 balls are counted, and the number of game balls is "250". , the counting ball becomes "50" ball. It should be noted that if the counting button 28 is pressed for a long time, it may be determined that there is an intention to end the game, and all counts may be made.

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, the CU 3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+4 and counting ball receipt=ON to the P unit 2 . The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous state information response.

In response, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 250, the number of balls to be counted = 50, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. Here, "the number of game balls = 250 and the number of balls to be counted = 50" is because, as explained above, the counting operation is such that the number of game balls is 250 or less because the balls are being continuously shot. This is because it is not executed.

Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the number of balls counted (50 balls) to the number of balls held (100 balls) to update the number of balls held = 150, and the number of game balls = 300 (game balls before update). Number) - 50 (number of counting balls) = 250 data are backed up.

In addition, CU3 receives the status information response, and displays the counting of 50 game balls in succession to the previous display of counting 100 game balls. In addition, CU3 confirms that part of the counting operation has been invalidated, that the number of balls counted in the state information response is normally 100, but the number of balls counted is 50, and that the number of balls counted is 50. = 250”. Therefore, CU3 displays on the display 54 that the counting operation has been invalidated in the middle (part of the counting operation has been invalidated).

The indication that the counting operation has been invalidated in the middle may be displayed at the moment when the response of "the number of balls to be counted = 50" is received as shown in the figure, or after all counting display is completed. may be displayed. Alternatively, it may be continuously displayed from the moment when the response of "the number of balls counted=50" is received until all the count display is completed. Also, specific data (bit ON/OFF) for the P unit 2 to notify the CU that the counting operation has been invalidated in the middle may be included in the state information response.

In this way, when a counting operation is performed during execution of a game using game balls and the game balls reach a predetermined number of points at which the game balls are no longer converted, the display 54 on the gaming machine side indicates that the counting operation has been invalidated in the middle. , so that the player can understand that no more game balls are counted.

FIG. 44 shows an example in which the player, who is shooting balls, briefly presses the count button 28 once to convert the game balls into holding balls. However, since the number of balls in the game is 250 while the balls are being shot during the game, the counting operation is invalidated even if the count button 28 is pressed for a short time for the same reason as described above.

The CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n+6 and counting ball reception=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous status information response. In response to this, the P machine 2 returns a state information response including serial number=n+7, number of game balls=250, number of counting balls=0, counting=ON, since the counting operation is invalid. . CU3 specifies that "the counting operation was detected but was invalidated" by the data "number of balls to be counted=0, counting=ON". Based on this data, CU3 displays on the display 54 that the counting operation has been invalidated. In addition, when the counting operation to be invalidated is detected, the data "number of balls to be counted = 0, counting = ON" is sent only once. ”. Further, specific data (bit ON/OFF) for the P unit 2 to notify the CU that the counting operation has been invalidated may be included in the status information response.

Here, when the ball is being shot during the game, the condition for the number of game balls to invalidate the counting operation is not limited to 250 or less. It should be determined appropriately in consideration of the speed at which the is fired.

As described above, when a game using game balls is being played, the counting operation is not effective unless game points equal to or greater than a predetermined number remain. The timing at which the remaining game balls are consumed by the continuation of the game overlaps with the timing at which the remaining game balls are consumed. situation can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to prevent the disadvantage of the player who is completely out of game balls and unable to hit any balls when a big win or the like occurs.

Next, with reference to FIG. 45, the ball-in-hand sharing process will be described. Possessive ball sharing means that a player divides and transfers his own balls to another person. In FIG. 45, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is "0" and the initial number of game balls is "1000". First, the CU3 transmits a state information request command including the serial number=n and counting ball reception=OFF to the P unit 2. FIG. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a status information response including serial number=n+1, number of game balls=1000, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

After that, when the player touches and selects shared balls from among a plurality of menus displayed on the display 54 (see FIGS. 49 to 55), CU3 performs shared ball processing. occurs. It should be noted that the number of balls to be used for shared balls is 100 balls.

However, since the number of balls held is "0" as described above, the display control section 350 of the CU3 controls the display of "Please press the count button due to lack of balls" on the display 54 . The display device 54 displays "Press the count button due to lack of balls" by the control. It should be noted that the displays shown in FIGS. 49 to 55, for example, are performed on the display 54 during the "displaying" period shown in FIG.

When the player sees the message ``Please press the counting button due to lack of balls'' on the display 54, the player briefly presses the counting button 28 once to perform an operation to convert the game balls into owned balls. By short-pressing the counting button 28 once, 100 balls out of the number of game balls are counted and counted as counting balls. When the initial number of game balls is "1000", pressing the count button 28 once causes the number of game balls to be "900" and the number of counting balls to be "100".

In this way, when the number of remaining balls is less than the desired number of points to be shared, a predetermined notification is made. can be encouraged to

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, the CU 3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+2 and counting ball receipt=OFF to the P stand 2 .

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 900 and the number of balls to be counted = 100, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. Upon receiving the state information response, CU3 adds the number of counting balls (100 balls) to the number of possessed balls (0 balls) to update the number of possessed balls to 100. number) - 100 (number of counting balls) = 900 data are backed up. Further, CU3 receives the status information response and starts the display of counting 100 game balls.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n+4 and counting ball receipt=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous status information response. In response to this, the P machine 2 responds to the status information including serial number=n+5, number of game balls=900, number of balls to be counted=0, counting=OFF, since the counting button 28 has not been pressed. to CU3.

As a result of the above-mentioned counting operation, the number of balls on hand becomes "100" balls, so CU3 can secure the number of balls on hand to be used for sharing the balls on hand. do. This liquidation of balls is specifically a process of subtracting the number of balls to be shared (divided and transferred) from the current number of balls (1000 balls), and is executed by the CU control unit 323 .

By executing this ball sharing process, a visitor card in which the number of balls (100 balls) to be shared (divided and transferred) is recorded is discharged from the CU 3, and the player hands the visitor card to the transferee. , the balls are shared (divided and transferred).

Next, referring to FIG. 46, processing of the wagon service will be described. The wagon service is a service in which goods such as drinks are provided to the player by consuming the ball. A player who desires the wagon service touches the display 54 (see FIGS. 56 to 62) to place a wagon order. Then, the contents of the order placed by the player are input from the IR photosensitive unit 320 of the CU3 as an infrared signal to the remote controller possessed by the store clerk of the game parlor. In place of or in addition to the order input by the remote control, the wagon service order operation by the player is collected using a LAN (Local Area Network) or the like, and the wagon service is performed according to the collected order contents. You may do so.

A store clerk at the game parlor performs wagon service in accordance with the contents of the order input to the remote controller. In FIG. 46, the number of possessed balls specified by the inserted recording medium (membership card, etc.) is "30" and the initial number of game balls is "60".

First, the CU3 transmits a state information request command including the serial number=n and counting ball reception=OFF to the P unit 2. FIG. In response, the P machine 2 sends back to the CU3 a state information response including serial number=n+1, number of game balls=60, number of balls to be counted=0, and counting=OFF.

After that, when the player places a wagon order by performing a touch operation as described above, a wagon order process occurs in the CU3. The number of balls used for the wagon order is 70 balls.

However, since the number of balls held is "30" as described above, the display control unit 350 of the CU3 controls the display of "Please press the count button due to lack of balls" on the display 54 . The display device 54 displays "Press the count button due to lack of balls" by the control. 56 to 62, for example, during the "displaying" period shown in FIG.

In this way, when the remaining balls are less than the desired wagon service product amount, a predetermined notification is made, prompting the player to count the game balls in order to receive the desired wagon service. can be done.

When the player sees the message ``Please press the counting button due to lack of balls'' on the display 54, the player briefly presses the counting button 28 once to perform an operation to convert the game balls into owned balls. When the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, 100 balls are counted and counted as counting balls if the number of game balls is 100 or more. For example, when the number of game balls is "160" balls, the number of counted balls is counted as "100" balls and the number of game balls is "60" balls by the counting operation. However, in this example, since the initial number of game balls is "60", only 60 balls are counted even if the counting button 28 is briefly pressed once, and the number of game balls is "0", and the number of counting balls is "0". It becomes "60" ball. In this example, since it is assumed that balls are not being continuously shot when the counting button 28 is operated, the counting operation will not be invalidated even if the number of game balls is less than 250.

Immediately after the counting button 28 is pressed once for a short time, the CU 3 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+2 and counting ball receipt=OFF to the P stand 2 .

In response to this, the P machine 2, in order to notify the CU3 that the number of game balls = 0 and the number of balls to be counted = 60, A state information response including ON is returned to CU3. CU3 receives the status information response, adds the number of counted balls (60 balls) to the number of owned balls (30 balls), updates the number of owned balls to 90, and the number of game balls = 60 (game balls before update). Number) - 60 (number of counting balls) = 0 data is backed up. Further, CU3 receives the status information response and starts the display of counting 60 game balls.

After that, the CU3 transmits to the P unit 2 a command requesting status information including serial number=n+4 and counting ball receipt=ON. The reason why the counting ball reception=ON is to notify the P machine 2 of the reception of the counting ball in response to the response of the previous status information response. In response to this, the P machine 2 does not operate to press the count button 28, so a state information response including serial number = n + 5, number of game balls = 0, number of balls counted = 0, counting = OFF to CU3.

As a result of the counting operation described above, the number of balls on hand becomes "90", so CU3 can secure "70" balls for use in the wagon order, and settles the number of balls on hand (for wagon order). After 70 balls have been subtracted), the processing of the wagon order ends. This settlement of balls in hand is specifically a process of subtracting the number of balls in hand (70 balls) used for the wagon service from the current number of balls in hand (90 balls), and is executed by the CU control unit 323 . The settlement when this wagon service is performed is, for example, similar to the above-mentioned ball sharing, writing the balls (70 balls) used for the wagon service on the visitor card, ejecting it, and handing over the visitor card to pay make the payment. Another method may be a method in which the terminal of the attendant who performs the wagon service communicates with the CU 3 and the balls (70 balls) used for the wagon service are moved to the terminal of the attendant. Furthermore, the clerk who performs the wagon service may perform some operation on the CU3 when the ordered product is delivered, and based on that operation, the number of balls (70 balls) used for the wagon service may be subtracted.

<Combination of gaming system configurations>
In the configuration of the game system described above, as shown in FIG. Display units 54 and 312 are provided on P unit 2 and CU3, display control unit 350 is provided only on CU3, and display control of displays 54 and 312 is performed on CU3 side. However, the gaming system according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, as a configuration of another game system, the counting button 28 is provided on the P table 2, the management of the game balls and the balls held is performed by the CU3 instead of the P table 2, and the display devices are provided on the P table 2 and the CU3, The display control section 350 may be provided only on the P stand 2 and the display control of the display device may be performed on the P stand 2 side. There are many other combinations of gaming system configurations. FIG. 47 is a diagram showing an example of combination of configurations of such a game system.

The configuration of the gaming system shown in FIG. 5 is the combination No. shown in FIG. 8, and the configuration of the above-described another gaming system is the combination No. 8 shown in FIG. 2. In addition, in FIG. 47, 63 combinations of the configuration of the gaming system are described. However, no. 23 to No. 41, no. 44 to No. Combinations up to 62 are No. 2 to No. Since the column of counting buttons for combinations up to 20 can be replaced with CU,·P units, the description is omitted.

It should be noted that the significance of which of the CU and P units is used for managing balls (management of owned balls and management of game balls) is, in part, the point of which one stores ball data. . For example, in the case of a gaming system in which owned balls are stored only in CU and game balls are stored only in P machines, owned balls are managed by CU and game balls are managed by P machines.

Alternatively, the significance of whether ball management (management of owned balls, management of game balls) is to be performed on the CU or the P machine is determined by whether the ball data is stored on both the CU and the P machines. , when there is a discrepancy between the two data, which data should be used to correct the data. For example, in the case of the gaming system shown in FIG. 6, the game balls are stored in both the CU and the P machines. fix the ball. In this case, the game balls are managed by P units.

<Example of Processing of Gaming System>
Next, FIG. 48 is a flowchart for explaining the processing of the gaming system when the number of game balls is equal to or greater than a predetermined number. With reference to FIG. 48, the processing of the payout control unit 171 when the number of game balls is equal to or more than the predetermined number and the processing of the CU control unit 323 when the number of game balls is equal to or more than the predetermined number will be described.

In the process when the number of game balls is equal to or greater than the predetermined number, first, the payout control unit 171 confirms the current number of game balls on the P machine 2 (step S481). Specifically, the payout control unit 171 reads out the current number of game balls stored in the RAM mounted on the payout control board 17 on the P side.

Next, the payout control unit 171 determines whether or not a big hit has occurred during the game (step S482). When a big win occurs during a game, the number of game balls tends to exceed a predetermined number, and the player may feel inconvenient if the counting operation is urged or the shooting of the game balls is stopped each time. Conceivable. Therefore, when the payout control unit 171 determines that a jackpot has occurred during the game (step S482: YES), the game ends without performing subsequent processing (return).

When the payout control unit 171 determines that a big win has not occurred during the game (step S482: NO), it determines whether or not the confirmed game balls are larger than 3000 balls, which is the reference value of the full state ( step S483). When the payout control unit 171 determines that the confirmed number of game balls is more than 3000 (step S483: YES), it transmits excess game ball information to the CU control unit 323 (step S484). When the payout control unit 171 determines that the confirmed number of game balls is 3000 or less (step S483: NO), the process ends without performing subsequent processing (return).

When the CU control unit 323 receives the game ball excess information from the payout control unit 171 (step S488), the indicator 54 displays "The game balls are full. Please perform a counting operation." is displayed (step S489).

In this way, when the number of game balls is equal to or greater than a predetermined number, a predetermined notification control is performed, thereby simulating a system similar to the conventional game system that notifies when the tray is full of balls. It is possible to provide a system that can be reproduced and is familiar to players accustomed to conventional game systems.

In addition, when data game balls are used instead of actual game balls as in this system, there is no inconvenience caused by a large amount of balls overflowing, so no upper limit is set for the number of game balls. You may do so. However, if the upper limit is not set, the player and the amusement arcade will have a problem when the P machine has trouble and the game ball data has been lost while the player has acquired an extremely large number of game balls. The problem between the Therefore, as in the present embodiment, an upper limit is set for the number of game balls in the form of a full tank. It is possible to prevent the amount of compensation of a game parlor from becoming too large when a trouble occurs in a game machine and the data of game balls are lost. In other words, by converting the number of game balls into points according to the counting operation and storing the points in the CU3, it is possible to store the converted points in the host server via the CU3. Even if trouble occurs, it becomes easier to secure compensation for the player based on the score stored in the host server.

The payout control unit 171 determines whether or not the player has pressed the counting button 28 within 10 seconds after displaying the display prompting the counting operation (step S485). If the payout control unit 171 determines that the player has pressed the counting button 28 within 10 seconds after displaying the display prompting the counting operation (step S485: YES), the process ends without performing subsequent processing. (return). It should be noted that the point at which the display prompting the counting operation such as "The game balls are full. Please perform the counting operation." When cleared, after a predetermined period of time, or a combination thereof may be used. When the counting button 28 is pushed down, the P-table 2 side judges when the full tank state is resolved, and the CU 3 side judges when a predetermined fixed period of time has passed. However, without being limited to this, either the CU 3 side or the P stand 2 side may make all the determinations.

When the payout control unit 171 determines that the player has not pressed the counting button 28 within 10 seconds after displaying the display prompting the counting operation (step S485: NO), it stops shooting the game balls. That is, the payout control unit 171 stops the shooting motor 18 via the shooting control board 31 to stop shooting the game balls because the player does not perform the counting operation even after 10 seconds have passed since the counting operation was urged. In this way, if the number of game balls is equal to or greater than a predetermined number and no counting operation is performed, the game is disabled, so that the player can be urged to perform the counting operation.

The payout control unit 171 transmits to the CU control unit 323 the information that the shooting of the game balls is stopped because the counting operation is not performed even after 10 seconds have elapsed since the prompting of the counting operation, as the shooting stop information when the game balls are exceeded (step S487). After that, the processing of the payout control unit 171 ends (return).

When the CU control unit 323 receives information to stop shooting when game balls are exceeded from the payout control unit 171 (step S490), the display unit 54 displays "Game balls are full. Stop shooting balls." .", it is executed that the shooting is stopped due to the excess number of game balls (step S491). After that, the processing of the payout control unit 171 ends (return).

As described above, the game system prompts the player to perform a counting operation when the number of game balls reaches or exceeds a predetermined number. It is possible to provide a system that can be reproduced and is familiar to players accustomed to conventional game systems.

49 to 62 are screen views displayed by the P displays 54. FIG.

First, based on FIGS. 49 to 55, the display screens displayed on the display 54 when the balls in possession shown in FIG. 45 are shared will be described.

Referring to FIG. 49, the player selects and designates shared balls from among a plurality of menus displayed when the player touches the display item (icon) of "Menu" displayed in the upper left half of the screen. The state shown in FIG. 49 is the shared ball display screen. Possessed ball sharing (divided transfer of game balls) can be either divided transfer from the player's owned balls or divided transfer from the stored balls. For this purpose, a message "Please select a ball sharer" is first displayed, and a display item (icon) representing the ball to be selected and a display item (icon) representing the stored ball are displayed.

The right half of the display screen in FIG. 49 displays the status of the card that is currently inserted. In FIG. 49, a membership card is inserted, and the membership card shows that the card balance is 0 yen, the number of balls on hand is 0, the number of accumulated balls is 500, and the current number of game balls is 1000.

Further, as the state of CU3, it is displayed that the lending unit amount when lending game balls from the card balance is 500 yen, and 125 balls corresponding to 500 yen are the number of payout balls. Further, it is shown that the player is in a "deposit allowed" state in which the player can insert banknotes into CU3 to reload the card balance of the inserted card.

The player selects and inputs a ball sharing source by touching either "balls in possession" or "balls in storage" on the left half of the screen. Here, the case of selecting the "ball" is shown.

When the player selects "balls in possession", the screen shown in FIG. 50 is displayed next. A message "Please select the number of balls to share" is displayed on the left half of the screen, and the selection targets for the number of shared balls are 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, Nine types of 400 balls and 500 balls are displayed. The player touches and selects one of these nine types. Here, the case of selecting and inputting "100 balls" will be described.

Normally, the number of shared balls is converted from the number of owned balls, but when the number of shared balls is larger than the number of owned balls, the screen shown in FIG. 51 is displayed. Specifically, the player has selected "100 balls" as the number of shared balls, but since the number of balls in hand is zero, the message "Not enough balls in hand. Please replenish." is displayed. As a result, the player presses the P number of counting buttons 28 to convert the game balls into possession balls corresponding to the number of shared balls.

50 and 51, the total number of balls (50 balls, 10
0 balls, 150 balls ... 500 balls) are displayed, but instead, only the number of balls within the range of the number of balls held when executing ball sharing is displayed, and the range of the number of balls held is displayed. You may control not to display the number of balls exceeding . Alternatively, the number of balls exceeding the range of the number of balls possessed may be displayed with an X mark. Also, the number of game balls may be counted and added to the number of possessed balls so that the number of balls that can be shared may be displayed. In that case, the number of balls that can be shared only by the number of balls held is surrounded by a solid line, while the number of balls that can be shared by counting the number of game balls and adding them to the number of balls held is surrounded by a broken line. may be controlled to be displayed separately.

When the player converts "100 balls" corresponding to the number of shared balls from game balls to possession balls, the screen shown in FIG. 52 is displayed next. On the screen shown in FIG. 52, a message "Possessed balls will be divided according to the above details. Are you sure?" is 100, and the number of balls of the shared card to be divided and transferred (shared balls) to others is displayed. A display item (icon) of "start ball sharing" and a display item (icon) of "cancel" are displayed. The player touches one of these display items to select and input. If you select "Cancel", the ball sharing will be cancelled. On the other hand, if "start ball sharing" is selected and input, the ball sharing processing as indicated in the details of the number of shared balls is started.

When the player selects and inputs "start ball sharing", the screen shown in FIG. 53 is displayed. On the screen shown in FIG. 53, a message "your card will be ejected" is displayed, and a ball sharing processing status image indicating the progress of the ball sharing processing is displayed. This ball sharing processing status image has three types of processing order 1, 2, and 3. In the first processing, one's (player's) card is ejected, in the second processing, the shared card is ejected, and in the third processing. Re-insertion of your own card ejected as is displayed. In the column of "status", "processing" and "waiting" are displayed from the top, indicating that the first process is currently being processed. An image in which one's own card is ejected is shown by a dashed line from the first process.

On the right half screen of FIG. 53, 900 balls, which are currently the game balls on the P machines, are displayed. In this example, when the card is ejected, the game balls are returned only after all the game balls have been counted, and there is no return button operation, so only the shared ball operation is an exception. It should be noted that the cards may be ejected only after all the game balls are counted including the time of the shared ball operation. In this case, the P machine 2 counts the cards before discharging the cards, and the number of balls counted is transmitted to the CU 3 side.

Also, in this example, the case where there is one card slot is explained, but one card slot is provided for inserting a member card and a visitor card, and if there are still game balls, the member Only the visitor card may be ejected without ejecting the card. As a result, it is possible to prevent the member card from being ejected when game balls remain.

Further, in this example, it is also possible to urge all the game balls to be counted first, convert them into possessed balls, and share and divide them.

The screen shown in FIG. 54 is displayed next at the stage where the player's own card has been ejected. In FIG. 54, the column of "Status" shows that the ejection of one's own card as the first process is "Completed" and that the ejection of the shared card as the second process is in progress. . An arrow indicates a state in which the shared card is ejected from the second process.

When the player reinserts his/her own card into CU3, the screen of FIG. 55 is displayed next. In FIG. 55, a message "ball sharing is completed" is displayed, and as the ball sharing processing status, it is indicated that all of the first, second and third processes have been completed. Since the shared balls for 100 balls have been completed, the current number of game balls on the P stand is 1000−100=900, which is 900 balls.

Next, FIGS. 56 to 62 are diagrams of display screens on the display 54 when the wagon service control process shown in FIG. 46 is executed.

First, referring to FIG. 56, the display screen of FIG. 56 shows a state in which the player touches the display item (icon) of "wagon service" displayed in the upper left half of the screen to select and input. First, a message "Please select the type of order" is displayed. In addition to displaying four kinds of menus of "items", an icon of "order status confirmation" is displayed.

On the right half screen of FIG. 56, 30 balls are displayed as the balls currently held by the P table, and 60 balls are displayed as the number of game balls. Wagon service orders can be purchased primarily within the range of the number of balls held, but by using the count button to convert the number of game balls into the number of balls held, the number of balls actually held It is possible up to the range where the number of game balls is added to.

Therefore, the player can select a wagon menu that allows ordering within the range of 90 balls while considering that the total number of balls currently possessed and the number of game balls is 90 balls.

For example, if the player selects "30 drinks", then the screen shown in FIG. 57 is displayed. In Fig. 57, the message "Please select the item to order" is displayed, and 6 types of menus included in the drinks are shown, and the number of balls required when ordering each menu. is displayed. The player touches and selects and inputs the item to be ordered from the displayed menu while considering that the total number of balls currently possessed and the number of game balls is 90 balls.

On the display screen, the PET bottle, which is a menu item that can be purchased within the range of the balls, is indicated by a solid line. A menu that can be purchased by adding is indicated by a dotted line. Menus that cannot be purchased even if game balls are converted into possession balls are displayed with "x".

For example, since the player has 30 balls and 60 game balls, only the PET bottle is displayed in a solid line and can be purchased with the balls. You can purchase canned coffee with 40 consumption balls, milk with 50 consumption balls, cafe au lait with 60 consumption balls, and coffee with 75 consumption balls. , displayed with a dotted line. Also, even if both 30 balls and 60 game balls are used, it is not enough for the ice float with 100 consumption balls, so "x" is shown on the screen displaying the ice float.

This display method is not limited to this, but there are menus that can be purchased with only balls, menus that can be purchased with the number of balls including the balls and game balls, and purchases with the number of balls including the balls and game balls. Any display that can distinguish between menus that cannot be displayed may be used. For example, menus that can be purchased with only the balls in your possession are displayed brightly with lamps, etc., and menus that can be purchased with the number of balls in your possession and game balls are displayed with flashing lamps, etc. A lamp or the like may not be turned on for a menu that cannot be purchased even with the number of balls added to the game balls so that selection cannot be made. Also, a menu that cannot be purchased even with the number of balls added to the balls in possession and the game balls may be controlled so as not to be displayed. Further, menu items that cannot be purchased with only the balls in possession but can be purchased in the case of the number of balls added to the balls in the possession are displayed in broken lines (see FIGS. 57 and 58). Such a menu may be displayed with an X mark attached, or control may be performed so that such a menu is not displayed.

An equilateral triangle icon and an inverted triangle icon are displayed on the right side of the left screen where various menus are displayed. When the player touches the equilateral triangle icon, the screen is scrolled downward and the upper part of the screen is displayed. On the other hand, when the player touches the inverted triangle icon shown in FIG. 57, the screen is scrolled upward and the lower portion of the screen is displayed.

In FIG. 57, the player selects the "plastic bottle" menu that requires 30 balls, and then touches the "add item" icon displayed in the title column of "details of ordered item" in FIG. Then, the screen returns to the display screen of the wagon menu in FIG.

Here, since the PET bottle with 30 balls to be consumed is already scheduled to be purchased, the player can only order 60 balls in total including the balls in his possession and the game balls. Therefore, in FIG. 58, the ice float with 100 consumption balls and the coffee with 75 consumption balls are displayed with "x" so that they cannot be purchased. In addition, at this point, since the balls in the possession have been hit by the PET bottle with 30 consumable balls, in future purchases, the game balls will be converted into balls in the possession by the counting button and purchased. Therefore, each menu other than the above is displayed with a dotted line.

When the player has finished selecting the menu items he/she wants to purchase, the screen shown in FIG. 59 is displayed, and the details of the order items that have been selected and input so far are displayed. The order details display the name of the ordered product, the number of balls consumed, and the quantity of the ordered product. In the case of FIG. 59, it is shown that one item of "plastic bottle" with 30 consumption balls and one item of "canned coffee" with 40 consumption balls are ordered.

It is displayed that the total number of consumed balls is 70 balls. In addition, an "addition" icon is displayed in the quantity column of the order product details, and when the player touches and inputs this additional icon, the quantity is incremented by "1" each time the player touches the additional icon. be. Also, a "delete" icon is displayed to the right of the quantity corresponding to each ordered prize. By touching this icon, the player can delete the order for the corresponding product. For example, if the top "delete" is touched, the order for "plastic bottle" is deleted, and if the second "delete" is touched, the order for "canned coffee" is deleted.

Further, an icon of "add item" is shown below the order item details, and when the player touches this icon, the screen returns to the wagon menu display screen of FIGS. 57 and 58 again as described above. , the player can select an order product and place an additional order.

In addition, a "cancel" icon is shown below the order item details in FIG. 59, and by touching this icon, the player can cancel all the order items that have been ordered so far.

Furthermore, an "order" icon is shown below the order product details, and when the player touches this icon, the wagon service order processing as shown in the order product details is executed. Become.

When the player touches the "delete" icon corresponding to the "canned coffee" order on the display screen of FIG. be

On the other hand, when the player touches the "Order" icon in FIG. 59, if the number of consumed balls is greater than the number of owned balls, a display is displayed on the display screen to convert game balls into owned balls. be. For example, a display such as "Insufficient balls. Please press the count button to replenish the balls." .

When the above operation is performed, the screen shown in FIG. 60 is displayed. On the display screen of FIG. 60, all the game balls for 60 balls are converted into possessed balls by pressing the count button once, and the total number of possessed balls becomes 90 balls. On the other hand, the number of game balls is reduced from 60 balls to 0 balls. Normally, 100 game balls are converted into possessed balls per one short depression of the count button, but in the above case, there are only 60 game balls, so all of them are converted. In addition, when starting the game again, for example, the ball lending button 321 is pressed to convert the owned balls into game balls and the game is started.

When the above operation is finished, the screen shown in FIG. 61 is displayed. On the display screen of FIG. 61, an image indicating that an inquiry about the ordered product is in progress is displayed. An arrow indicating that transmission and reception is being performed between 70 balls, which is the total number of consumed balls, and 90 balls, which is the number of balls currently held on the P stand, is displayed, indicating that communication is in progress. Specifically, referring to FIG. 61, the display of the arrow indicating that communication is in progress is performed by first displaying an arrow in the direction from the number of consumption balls "70" to the number of balls "90" of P units, and " Inquiry" is displayed.

After this display, an arrow is displayed in the direction from the "90" balls of the P units to the number of "70" balls consumed, and the characters "inquiring" are displayed. Both of these displays are repeated multiple times. After that display, the screen of FIG. 62 is displayed next. On the screen of FIG. 62, the message "The ordered product has been received. The above number of consumption balls has been deducted from the balls held." The details of the ordered product and the total number of consumed balls of "70" balls are displayed. On the right half of the screen, as a result of the consumption of 70 balls, the current number of possessed balls and game balls on the P stand are now "20" balls and "0" balls, respectively.

51 and 59, "Insufficient balls. Press the count button to replenish your balls." When the number of possessed balls cannot be updated to the required number of possessed balls, the display control unit 350 performs control to display a message "Since the number of game balls has decreased, the service cannot be selected."

Also, in this example, the case where there is one card insertion slot is explained, but one card insertion slot for inserting a member card and a visitor card is provided, and the number of game balls is compared with the number of consumption balls. When a visitor card is used to settle a payment that is larger than the total number of balls and the number of balls held, only the visitor card may be ejected without ejecting the member card after the payment is completed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the member card from being ejected when game balls remain. Further, in this example, it is also possible to urge all the game balls to be counted first, convert them to possessed balls, and start the wagon service process.

FIG. 63 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the P game board and the game frame (front frame) regarding fraud detection processing. Referring to FIG. 63, pachinko machine (P machines) 2 includes game board 26 and game frame (front frame) 6 .

The game board 26 includes a main control board 16 , and the game frame (front frame) 6 includes a payout control board 17 . The payout control board 17 requests information from the main control board 16 . On the other hand, the main control board 16 transmits to the payout control board 17 the prize-winning information, the number of rounds, and the main control chip ID, which will be explained later with reference to FIG. Card unit 3 (CU3) also includes a CU control unit 323 and a security board 325 .

The security board 325 makes a gaming machine chip information request, and in response to this request, the payout control board 17 transmits the main control chip ID, payout control chip ID, etc. to the security board 325 as a response. The security board 325 transmits the received main control chip ID and payout control chip ID to the CU control board 323 .

The CU control board 323 transmits the received main control chip ID and payout control chip ID to the host server 801, and inquires whether or not the main control chip ID and payout control chip ID are registered regular ones. have them do When the P machine 2 manufactured by the game machine maker is shipped to the game hall, the main control chip ID and the payout control chip ID of the P machine 2 are transmitted from the game machine maker to the host server 801 and registered. Therefore, when the main control chip and the payout control chip of the P table 2 brought into the game hall are genuine ones shipped from the game machine maker, the CU control board 323 sends the main control chip ID to the host server 801. , When the payout control chip ID is transmitted and inquired, a reply to the effect that it is registered is returned. However, if the main control chip or payout control chip has been tampered with, the host server 801 returns an answer to the effect that it is unregistered and inappropriate.

The CU control board 323 allows the game to be played on the P machine 2 on the condition that an answer to the effect that it is appropriate has been returned, but if an answer that is inappropriate has been returned, the P machine 2 is reset. It will be in the reset waiting state to wait for the reset.

FIG. 64 is a diagram for explaining information transmitted from the main control board 16 in response to the information request of the payout control board 17 in order to perform the fraud detection process. Referring to FIG. 64, information to be transmitted includes (a) winning slot information, (b) round number information, and (c) main control chip ID information.

First, for (a) winning hole information, information on the type of winning hole and the number of winning balls from that winning hole (the value of the number of game balls to be added when winning the winning hole) is transmitted. The reason why such information is transmitted is to prevent the number of prize balls from being changed and the number of prize balls more than the normal number of prize balls to be paid out due to a fraudulent act.

For example, starting winning holes 1 to 3 exist, and when one game ball wins in each starting winning hole, 3 balls are paid out as the number of prize balls.

In addition, as for the normal winning openings, there are normal winning openings 1 to 3 in the same manner as the start winning opening, and when one game ball wins in the normal winning opening, 5 balls are paid out as the number of prize balls.

Furthermore, there is only one big winning hole, and when one game ball wins in the big winning hole, 15 balls are paid out as the number of prize balls.

These prize-winning information are stored in a memory such as a ROM of the main control unit 161 provided on the main control board 16 .

Next, regarding (b) round number information, there is a limit to the number of times the big winning opening is opened at the time of a normal jackpot, and the maximum number of rounds is 15 times (15 rounds). When a big win occurs, the number of prize balls of 15 balls is frequently transmitted to the payout control board 17, but the purpose is to prevent fraud such as continuing such a state even after the maximum number of rounds is exceeded. , round number information is transmitted from the main control board 16 .

Next, for (c) the main control chip ID information, it is necessary to detect even if the main control board 16 itself has been changed, so the main control chip ID information "XXXXXX" is transmitted. It is sent to the payout control unit to determine whether the game board is proper.

Here, the control of fraud detection processing using the above information will be described using a flowchart.

FIG. 65 is a flowchart showing control of fraud detection processing at power-on. With reference to FIG. 65, when the activation of the P units is started by turning on the power of the P units, in step S651, the game board information from the main control board 16 (main control chip ID, winning hole information, number of rounds information) is obtained by the payout control board 17 of the game frame (front frame) 6 .

In step S652, the payout control board 17 is stored in a storage medium capable of storing and holding stored information until the power is turned on next time even when the power of the flash memory device, the hard disk device, and the backup RAM is turned off. The game board information (main control chip ID, winning opening information, round number information) is read into RAM or the like.

In step S653, the payout control board 17 transmits the main control chip ID and the payout control chip ID transmitted at power-on to the CU3 side. The CU3 side, for example, inquires of the host server 801 about the transmitted main control chip ID and payout control chip ID.

In step S654, the payout control board 17 determines whether or not the main control chip ID transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is the same as the main control chip ID already held in the payout control board 17.

If the payout control board 17 determines that the main control chip ID transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is the same as the main control chip ID already held in the payout control board 17, the process proceeds to step S655, and a winning opening is entered. Information identity is determined.

On the other hand, if the payout control board 17 determines that the main control chip ID transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is not the same as the main control chip ID already held in the payout control board 17, the process proceeds to step S659. move on.

Next, in step S655, the payout control board 17 determines whether or not the prize winning hole information transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is the same as the winning hole information already held in the payout control board 17.

If the payout control board 17 determines that the winning hole information transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is the same as the winning hole information already held in the payout control board 17, the process proceeds to step S656, and the round number information is obtained. Identity is determined.

On the other hand, if the payout control board 17 determines that the prize winning hole information transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is not the same as the prize winning hole information already held in the payout control board 17, the process proceeds to step S658. Fraud detection information is sent to the host server 801 . At this time, the error display may be controlled by an abnormality notification lamp or the like.

Next, in step S656, the payout control board 17 determines whether or not the round number information transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on and the round number information already held in the payout control board 17 are the same.

If the payout control board 17 determines that the round number information transmitted and obtained at power-on is the same as the round number information already held in the payout control board 17, the process proceeds to step S657.

On the other hand, if the payout control board 17 determines that the number of rounds information transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is not the same as the number of rounds information already held in the payout control board 17, the process proceeds to step S658. Fraud detection information is sent to the host server 801 . At this time, the error display may be controlled by an abnormality notification lamp or the like.

After the processing of steps S655 and S656, in step S658, fraud detection information is transmitted from the payout control unit 171, and the processing ends (return).

Further, after the processing of step S654, in step S659, although the main control chip ID transmitted and obtained when the power is turned on is not the same as the main control chip ID already held in the payout control board 17, the main control chip ID A query result is acquired as to whether or not the control chip ID has already been registered in the host server 801 .

The processes of steps S659 and S660 are provided for the following purposes. Normally, when installing a new P machine, only the game board may be replaced (board exchange) in order to reduce the cost. In this case, the main control chip ID held on the payout control board is different from the main control chip ID of the exchanged game board. It is necessary to prohibit transmission of fraud detection information when the main control chip ID is different due to such board replacement.

Therefore, when installing a new game board, since the main control chip ID and the like are first registered in the host server 801, is the main control chip ID transmitted from the main control board registered in the host server 801? The host server 801 is asked to determine whether or not, and the query result is sent to the payout control board 17 via the CU3. The process then proceeds to S660.

In step S660, if it is determined that the inquiry result is correct (the main control chip ID stored in the host server 801 and the main control chip ID transmitted from the main control unit 161 are the same), the process proceeds to step S657. Processing proceeds.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the inquiry result is not proper (the main control chip ID stored in the host server 801 and the main control chip ID transmitted from the main control unit 161 are the same), the process proceeds to step S670. Proceeding to step S670, abnormal processing is performed and the processing ends (return).

After the processing of steps S656 and S660, in step S657, the game board information (main control chip ID, winning opening information, round number information) transmitted from the main control board 16 is held in the payout control board 17, Processing ends (return). The payout control board 17 has a storage medium such as a flash memory device, a hard disk device, and a backup RAM that can store and retain stored information until the power is turned on next time even when the power is turned off. It stores board information (main control chip ID, winning slot information, round number information).

FIG. 66 is a flow chart showing fraud detection processing during a game. Referring to FIG. 66, at step S661, the payout control board 17 obtains the information of the addition number counter of the main control board. Next, in step S662, the payout control board 17 reads the winning opening information held in the payout control board 17. FIG.

In step S663, whether or not the amount of increase in the addition number counter at the polling interval (the number of increased game balls) can be generated based on the number of winning balls in the winning opening information held in the payout control board 17 shown in FIG. to judge whether

The relationship between the winning hole information shown in FIG. 64 and the game information shown in FIG. 11 will be described. The types of winning holes and the number of prize balls shown in FIG. 64 correspond to the type information and the prize ball information of FIG. 11, respectively.

Specifically, the start winning openings 1 to 3 indicate the game type information 1 to 3 of the type information 1 to 3 in FIG. The game prize ball information 1 to 3 are shown respectively.

Next, the normal winning holes 1 to 3 indicate the game type information 4 to 6 of the type information 4 to 6 in FIG. Ball information 4 to 6 are shown respectively.

Also, the big winning opening indicates the game type information 7 of the type information 7 of FIG. 11, and the number of prize balls, 15 balls, indicates the game prize ball information 7 of the prize ball information 7 of FIG.

In step S663, if it is determined that the amount of increase in the addition number counter at the polling interval (increased number of game balls) can be generated based on the number of winning balls in the winning opening information held in the payout control board 17, fraud is detected. No information is sent and processing ends (return). Specifically, when the number of increased game balls is 9, based on FIG. 64, it can be generated when 3 balls are won in the starting winning opening 1 or when 1 ball is winning at the starting winning openings 1 to 3 at the same time. becomes.

On the other hand, in step S663, if it is determined that the amount of increase in the addition number counter at the polling interval (increased number of game balls) cannot be generated based on the number of winning balls in the winning opening information held in the payout control board 17. , the process proceeds to step S664. Specifically, when the number of additional game balls is 7, based on FIG. 64, 7 balls cannot be generated by any combination.

In step S664, fraud detection information is sent to CU3 to notify that the gaming machine is being fraudulent, and the process ends (return). This "fraud detection information" is specifically "fraud detection information 1" in FIG. CU3, which has received this fraud detection information 1, informs the host server 801 of the occurrence of an abnormality by notifying the host server 801 of the abnormality by means of the abnormality reporting lamp.

In addition, in S663, it is determined whether or not the amount of increase in the addition number counter at the polling interval (increased number of game balls) can be generated based on the number of winning balls in the winning opening information held in the payout control board 17. In addition, the information of the addition number counter transmitted from the main control board 161 during the game may be compared with the stored round number information to determine whether or not they match. . That is, when the number of additions transmitted from the main control board 161 continues to increase beyond the number of rounds (15 times) of the jackpot, it is determined to be abnormal.

FIG. 67 is an example of a diagram displayed as a dollar box display on the display 312 of CU3. Referring to FIG. 67, as explained in FIG. 43, a cash box is displayed on the display 312 on the CU3 side according to the number of balls won in the current game due to a big win or the like.

Specifically, it is determined whether or not the number of balls acquired in the current game is positive as the total number of added balls minus the total number of subtracted balls. Alternatively, the number of balls obtained in the current game may be the current number of game balls + the current number of owned balls - the number of owned balls at the start of the game. Note that the dollar box display may be started when the number of balls acquired in the current game becomes positive, regardless of the counting operation.

In addition, the display of the dollar box is not limited to the condition to be displayed when the number of balls obtained in the current game is positive. For example, when the number of balls obtained in the current game exceeds 1000 You can change the conditions, such as displaying the

If the number of balls acquired in the current (current) game increases, the number of empty ball boxes 621 decreases and the number of ball boxes 622 filled with game balls increases. On the other hand, if there is no big hit and the number of game balls decreases, the number of ball boxes 622 decreases and the number of empty ball boxes 621 increases. Note that the dollar box display is not limited to the increase and decrease of the ball boxes 621 and 622, and although not shown, the color of the dollar box display may be changed according to the change in the number of game balls. Also, the ball box 622 may appear according to the change in the number of game balls.

In this dollar box display, calculation of the number of balls acquired in the current (current) game is started at the same time as the game is started on the CU3 side. Here, the calculation is performed on the CU3 side, but the calculation may be performed on the P unit 2 side and the result thereof may be notified to the CU3 side.

FIG. 68 is a flow chart for explaining operation processing of the replay button 319 in FIG. Referring to FIG. 68, in step S681, the player (user) presses the replay button 319 in FIG. 1, and the processing of the replay button 319 is started.

At step S682, it is determined whether or not the counting process from the game ball to the possessed ball is being executed. By step S682, the lending process by the replay button 319 for converting the balls to the game balls and the counting process, which is the opposite process to the lending process, are prevented from competing with each other.

If it is determined in step S682 that the counting process from game balls to possession balls is being executed, the process proceeds to step S684. Next, in step S684, since the operation of the replay button 319 and the counting operation conflict, the operation of pressing the replay button 319 is invalidated, and the process ends (return). When the operation of depressing the replay button 319 is invalidated, the display device 54, 312 or the like may display a message "The operation of the replay button is invalidated because the counting process is in progress." .

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S682 that the counting process from the game ball to the possessed ball is not being executed, the process proceeds to step S683. Next, in step S683, the replay button 319 is operated to execute the lending process from the possessed ball to the game ball, and the process ends (return).

FIG. 74 is a flow chart for explaining operation processing (an embodiment of transformation operation processing) of the replay button 319 in FIG. 1 explained in FIG. Although not shown, a suspension lamp (or a suspension indicator: a display means for displaying a status of suspension) is provided above the replay button 319 in FIG. When the operation of the replay button 319 is validly accepted, the hold lamp 319a lights up in red to indicate that the operation is in a hold state, and the replay button 319 is operated again in this hold state. , the hold state is canceled and the light is extinguished.

Referring to FIG. 74, in step S741, the player (user) presses the replay button 319 of FIG. 1, and the processing of the replay button 319 is started. At step S742, it is determined whether or not the counting process from the game ball to the possessed ball is being executed. By step S742, the lending process by the replay button 319 for converting the balls to the game balls and the counting process, which is the opposite process to the lending process, are prevented from competing with each other.

In step S742, if it is determined that the counting process from game balls to possession balls is being executed, the process proceeds to step S744. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S742 that the counting process from game balls to possession balls is not being executed, the process proceeds to step S743. Next, in step S743, by operating the replay button 319, the lending process from the possessed ball to the game ball is executed, and the process ends (return).

Next, in step S744, the operation of the replay button 319 and the counting operation are in conflict, but the operation of pressing the replay button 319 is effectively accepted and put into a pending state (latch). Next, in step S745, it is determined whether or not the replay button operation is in a pending state, and if not in a pending state (NO), the process proceeds to step S747. On the other hand, if the status is pending (YES), the process proceeds to step S746. In step S746, the pending state of the operation of the replay button 319 is canceled and the pending lamp 319a is turned off, and this process ends (return). As for the operation of the replay button 319, a short press (for example, operation for less than 1 second) and a long press (for example, continuous operation for 1 second or more) are distinguished, and the operation is put on hold. When the replay button 319 is pressed for a short time, the lending process of, for example, 100 balls from the possessed balls to the game balls is put on hold. On the other hand, when the replay button 319 is pressed for a long time, the lending process of, for example, 500 balls from the possessed balls to the game balls is put on hold. The suspension lamp 319a can distinguish between a short-press operation suspension state and a long-press operation suspension state. For example, it lights up in the short-press holding state, and blinks in the long-press holding state. Alternatively, it lights up in green if it is in the short-press pending state, and it lights in red if it is in the long-press pending state.

Next, in step S747, the operation of the replay button 319 is suspended, and the suspension lamp is lit. That is, every time the replay button 319 is operated, this operation is accepted, and the pending state and the non-holding state are switched for each operation. Next, in step S748, it is determined whether or not the counting process from the game ball to the held ball is completed. If not completed (NO), this process is completed (return). On the other hand, if completed (YES), the process proceeds to step S749. In step S749, the pressing operation of the replay button 319 is validated and the pending lamp is turned off. That is, after the counting process from the game ball to the game ball is completed, it is determined that the pressing operation of the replay button 319 has been effectively received, so the process proceeds (jumps) to the lending process from the game ball to the game ball.

(Continued from the description of FIG. 68 or FIG. 74) Next, FIG. 69 is a flow chart for explaining the operation processing of the count button. Referring to FIG. 69, in step S691, the player (user) presses the counting button 28 in FIG.

In step S692, it is determined whether or not the lending process (operation process of the replay button 319) from the possessed ball to the game ball is being executed. Similar to step S682 in FIG. 68, this prevents competition between the lending process by the replay button 319, which converts the ball to the game ball in step S692, and the counting process, which is the opposite process to this lending process. be done.

If it is determined in step S692 that the lending process from the possessed balls to the game balls is being executed, the process proceeds to step S698. Next, in step S697, since the operation of the replay button 319 and the counting operation conflict, the operation of pressing the counting button is invalidated.
Processing ends (return). When the operation of depressing the count button 28 is invalidated, the display 54, 312 or the like displays a message ``The operation of the count button is invalid because the processing of lending balls from the owned balls/stored balls is in progress''. You may do so.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S692 that the lending process from the possessed ball to the game ball is not being executed, the process proceeds to step S693. Next, in step S693, it is determined whether or not a game is being played when this process is being performed.

If it is determined in step S693 that the game is being played, the process proceeds to step S694, and it is further determined whether or not 250 balls or more, which is the minimum required number of game balls during play, is secured. Here, the minimum required number of game balls is explained as 250 balls, but it is not limited to this, and the minimum required number of game balls can be set arbitrarily.

If it is determined in step S694 that the current number of game balls is 250 or more, the process proceeds to step S695. On the other hand, if it is determined that the current number of game balls is less than 250, the process proceeds to step S698. The process of step S694 is provided because it is desirable for the system to secure the minimum required number of balls for managing the number of balls during a game.

Step S695 shows counting control in the case of a long press, but shows another example different from the control in FIG. 38 described above. In step S695, the number of game balls to be counted and processed in one second (the number of processed balls) is obtained from the current number of game balls. For example, if the current number of game balls is 10,000 or more, the number of processed balls is 2,500, and if the current number of game balls is 5,000 or more to less than 10,000, the number of processed balls is 2,000. If the number of game balls is 1000 or more to less than 5000 balls, the number of processed balls will be 1000 balls, if the current number of game balls is 200 or more to less than 1000 balls, the number of processed balls will be 200 balls, When the number of game balls is less than 200 balls, the current number of game balls is set as the number of processed balls, and the process proceeds to step S696.

In step S696, counting processing from game balls to possessed balls is executed according to the set number of processed balls. For example, if the current number of game balls is 15000, wait until 1 second has passed after counting 2500 balls, and when 1 second has passed, repeat the operation of counting 2500 balls again, and count 2500 balls. By repeating the operation six times, all balls are counted in five seconds. Then, the process proceeds to step S697.

In step S697, the control for displaying the counting operation over multiple times in step S696 on the display 54 as needed is executed, and the process ends (return). If the current number of game balls is 15,000, wait until 1 second has passed after counting 2,500 balls, and when 1 second has passed, count 2,500 balls again. The display 54 displays a state in which the counting of all balls is completed in seconds.

After the processing of steps S692 and S694, the operation of pressing the counting button is invalidated in step S698, and the processing ends (return). In step S698, the purpose is to invalidate the ball lending process, which is the process opposite to the counting process, and the counting process request for the number of game balls below the minimum required number of game balls, which is inappropriate for managing the number of balls during play. is provided in

According to the above configuration, the number of counting balls counted by one counting operation differs according to the number of game balls acquired by the player. The number of counting operations required to count all the game balls does not become extremely large, thereby improving the operability of the counting button.

FIG. 70 is a diagram showing a modification of the display of the counting operation. In the above embodiment, the number of game balls to be counted is determined by the number of times the count button 28 is pressed and the time. In this modified example, instead of the count button 28, a total count button 28a and a partial count button 28b are displayed on the liquid crystal screen of the display 54 as shown in FIG.

Referring to FIG. 70, a total count button 28a and a partial count button 28b are displayed on the left half of the screen. The total counting button 28a is a button for performing a total counting process of converting all the number of game balls into possessed balls. On the other hand, the partial counting button 28b is a button for partial counting processing of converting a part of the number of game balls into balls in possession. For example, the partial count button 28b is used when sharing balls or using a wagon service.

On the right half of the screen, a numeric keypad 28c is displayed, and the numeric keypad 28c includes numeric keys 0 to 9, a clear key (C), and an equal key (=). Here, there are three types of numeric keys, a clear key, and an equal key, but the keys are not limited to these and can be arranged to have various functions.

The player uses the numeric keypad 28c to enter the number of game balls to be counted, and then presses the equal key. As a result, the number of game balls to be counted is determined. After that, by pressing the partial count button 28b, the desired number of game balls can be converted into possessed balls. Here, the operation of pressing the partial counting button 28b after first inputting the game balls to be counted using the numeric keypad 28c and confirming them has been explained, but the operation is not limited to this, and after pressing the partial counting button 28b, After inputting the number of game balls to be counted, the count processing is started by inputting the equal key.

If the input of the number of game balls to be counted is erroneous, after inputting the clear key, the desired number of game balls to be converted can be input again.

The input number of game balls is displayed in the display portion above the numeric keypad 28c. By checking this display portion, the player can check whether or not the requested number of game balls has been input.

When such a modified example is adopted, it is possible to count all and some of the game balls. A new system using game ball data can be provided in a form similar to the game system of .

Since the display device 54 is controlled by the CU3 side (see FIG. 5), the touch operation signal of the touch panel of the display device 54 is input to the CU3 side without passing through the P table 2 . Therefore, when the modification shown in FIG. 70 is adopted, it is necessary to transmit the touch operation signal of the touch panel input to CU3 from CU3 to the payout control section 171 on the P side. Such a touch operation signal may be included in the state information request, for example. Also, the display as shown in FIG. 70 may be displayed on the display 312 on the CU side. In this case, similarly, it is necessary to transmit the touch operation signal of the touch panel input to the CU3 from the CU3 to the payout control section 171 on the side of the P table. In addition to the display device 54 and the display device 312, a dedicated counting display device with a dedicated touch panel is separately provided, and the P base 2 side controls the counting display device, so that the counting display device can be used to A display as shown in 70 may be provided and the touch operation signal may be directly input to the P platform 2 . Further, the screen as shown in FIG. 70 may be displayed on both the CU-side display 312 and the P-side display 54 by the player's selection. Furthermore, while leaving the count button 28 shown in FIG. 1, the count operation button may be displayed on the screen as described above. 28 may be deleted.

FIG. 71 is a flow chart for explaining the control of the payout control section 171 and the CU control section 323 by the radio wave sensor. Referring to FIG. 71, regarding the control of the payout control unit 171 by the radio wave sensor, in step S711, the payout control unit 171 receives a notification of detection of the radio wave sensor from the main control unit 161 or a notification of detection of the game frame radio wave sensor. determine whether it has been done.

In step S711, if it is determined that the payout control unit 171 has been notified of the detection of the game board radio wave sensor or the detection of the game frame radio wave sensor from the main control unit 161, the process proceeds to step S714.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the payout control unit 171 has not been notified of the detection of the game board radio wave sensor and the notification of the game frame radio wave sensor detection from the main control unit 161, the process proceeds to step S712, and the game board or the game frame The notification of the radio wave sensor disconnection detection possessed by is determined.

In step S712, as described above, it is determined whether or not the payout control unit 171 receives a notice of detection of disconnection of the radio wave sensor from the main control unit 161 or an input of detection of disconnection of the game frame radio wave sensor.

Here, as for the method of detecting disconnection of the radio wave sensor, the signal level of the radio wave sensor detection signal is detected. Specifically, three levels of H level, L1 level, and L0 level are used as the level of the radio wave sensor detection signal. The signal level of the radio wave sensor when the radio sensor detection is notified due to fraudulent activity is set to H level, the signal level of the radio wave sensor due to disconnection is set to L0 (ground potential level), and the signal level of the normal radio wave sensor is set to L1 (>L0 ), disconnection can be detected. Here, a method of notifying disconnection detection by signal level detection has been described, but the method is not limited to this. For example, the signal levels H and L1 may be the same level, thereby reducing the need for complex signal level detection and reducing costs.

Further, in the above example, detection is performed by measuring the voltage of each signal, but it is also possible to perform detection by measuring each current.

In step S712, if it is determined that the payout control unit 171 has received the notification of the disconnection detection of the game board radio wave sensor from the main control unit 161 or the input of the disconnection detection of the game frame radio wave sensor, the process proceeds to step S714.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the payout control unit 171 has not received the notification of the disconnection detection of the game board radio wave sensor and the input of the disconnection detection of the game frame radio wave sensor from the main control unit 161, the process proceeds to step S713.

In step S713, the payout control unit 171 determines that neither the game board radio wave sensor nor the game frame radio wave sensor has detected fraud, and the process ends (return).

After the processing of steps S711 and S721, in step S714, the payout control unit 171 determines that fraud has been detected in the game board radio wave sensor or the game frame radio wave sensor. In step S715, the CU3 side is notified of the detection of fraud (notice of fraud), and the process ends (return).

On the other hand, in step S716, the CU control unit 323 receives the fraudulent notification from the payout control unit 171 through the process of step S715, and the process proceeds to step S717.

In step S717, the CU control unit 323 notifies the hall management computer of the illegality, and the process proceeds to step S718.

In step S718, the CU control unit 323 activates the abnormality notification lamp, and the process ends (return). By activating the abnormality notification lamp, the hall manager can quickly check the operation status of the gaming machine that may be fraudulent, thereby preventing fraudulent activity. .

Next, a slot machine will be described as another example of gaming machines. FIG. 72 is a perspective view showing a state in which the front door of the slot machine is opened. Since the pachinko machine has been abbreviated as "P" in the above description, the slot machine will also be abbreviated as "S" below.

The above game system using game balls and holding balls is similarly applied to the S machine. However, since the game is played without using the balls in the S machines, the game balls are hereinafter referred to as game points and possessed balls.

Referring to FIG. 72, a slot machine 2S is provided with a main body frame 2aS and a front door 2bS which can be opened and closed with its left edge as the center of swing. Although not shown in FIG. 72, a CU is connected to the left side of the slot machine 2S in the same way as the P machines.

In the slot machine 2S, the number of bets is set by using game points, and the game points are added and updated according to winning. Therefore, when a game is played on the slot machine 2S, an operation of inserting medals is unnecessary. Therefore, the slot machine 2S is not provided with a medal slot and a medal payout slot.

Inside the housing of the slot machine 2S, reels 2L, 2C, and 2R (hereinafter also referred to as left reel, middle reel, and right reel) having a plurality of types of patterns arranged on the outer periphery are horizontally arranged. Of the symbols arranged on the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, three consecutive symbols are arranged so as to be visible through a see-through window 10 provided on the front door 2bS. A plurality of types of symbols are drawn in a predetermined order on the outer peripheral portions of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R.

A touch panel type display 510 is provided in a portion surrounding the reels 2L, 2C and 2R of the front door 2bS. This display 510 is a display corresponding to the P number of displays 54, and displays the same type of information as the display 54 (game points, score, etc.), as well as the number of bets set in the game. is displayed. The display 510 is connected to the display control section 350 of the CU in the same manner as the display 54 in FIG. 5, and is display-controlled on the CU side. Note that the indicator 510 is not provided in the portion surrounding each reel 2L, 2C, 2R, but in the lower panel portion (located below the start switch 7 shown in FIG. 72) like the P stand. It may be provided in the panel portion where the conventional S medal payout openings are provided).

In addition, on the front door 2bS, a single BET switch 5S that is operated when setting the number of bets using "game point = 1" corresponding to one medal, and a maximum When setting the number of bets (for example, "game point = 3" in RT (Replay Time) where the probability of winning in the normal game state and replay is high before BB occurs, "game point = 2" in bonus) A MAXBET switch 6S that is operated to start the game, a start switch 7 that is operated to start the game, and stop switches 8L, 8C, and 8R that are operated to stop the rotation of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R, respectively. there is

When a game is played on the slot machine 2S, first, similarly to the P machines, adjacent CUs are used to secure game points, and then the game points are used to set the number of bets. The game points are obtained by withdrawing the balance of the prepaid card inserted in the CU, the points, or the accumulated medals (corresponding to the P number of accumulated balls) deposited in the game hall. In order to use the game points, the single BET switch 5 or the MAXBET switch 6 should be operated. In the present embodiment, for example, when the number of bets is set to 1, the game point is deducted by 1, and the display of the game point on the display 510 is updated by subtraction. When the number of bets is set, the winning line determined according to the number of bets and the game state becomes effective, and the operation of the start switch 7 becomes effective, that is, the game can be started.

When the start switch 7 is operated in a state where the game can be started, the reels 2L, 2C and 2R rotate and the symbols on the reels 2L, 2C and 2R continuously change. When one of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R is operated in this state, the rotation of the corresponding reels 2L, 2C, 2R is stopped, and the display result is derived and displayed on the see-through window 10. FIG.

One game ends when all the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R are stopped, and a predetermined combination of symbols (hereinafter also referred to as a combination) is displayed on each of the reels 2L, 2C, and 2C on the activated pay lines. When the game stops as a result of the display of 2R, a prize is awarded, game points determined according to the prize are given to the player, and the display of the game points on the display 510 is updated.

Also in the case of S machines, it is possible to count game points in the same manner as in the case of P machines. As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 2S is provided with a counting button 28S for counting game points and converting them into points. Note that the ball lending button, return button, and replay button are provided on the CU side (see FIG. 5). The player executes the counting operation at an arbitrary timing or based on the display prompting the counting operation on the display 510 as in the case of the P units. Then, the display device 510 displays how the game points are counted and the game points decrease while the score increases. Note that the ball lending button may be provided on the P side and the S side instead of the CU side. In that case, the operation signal of the ball lending button may be directly input to CU2, or may be transmitted to CU3 as a status information response via P table 2 or S table 2S. .

The types of wins are determined according to the game state, but they can be broadly classified into big bonuses (BB), special wins accompanied by transitions to regular bonuses (RB), and small wins accompanied by payout of medals. and replay, which allows the next game to be started without the need to set the bet amount.

Which one of a plurality of types of winning combinations is to be won, or which of the winning combinations is not to be won is decided, for example, when a start operation is detected, the main control unit (S (corresponding to the main control unit 161 of the stand). This determination is made, for example, by lottery of random numbers generated by a predetermined random number generator or generated by software.

After that, the main control unit waits for the player to stop the reels, and if there is a pattern corresponding to the winning combination within a predetermined frame number range based on the time of the stop operation, it draws it in, and if not, it draws in another pattern. are pulled in, the three symbols are stopped, and the presence or absence of winning is determined. When the main control base determines that a prize has been won, the main control base gives the player game points according to the type of the prize (adds the game points).

In other words, the S level allows the game to be started by setting a predetermined number of bets for one game using the gaming value, and also allows a plurality of types of identification information that can be individually identified to be variably displayed. A slot machine in which one game is completed by deriving a display result to a variable display device, and a prize can be awarded according to the display result derived to the variable display device, wherein the display is displayed on the variable display device. Pre-determining means for determining, before the result is derived, whether or not to allow the occurrence of a plurality of types of prizes, and causing the variable display device to derive the display result according to the determination result of the pre-determining means. A slot machine includes derivation control means for performing control and granting means for granting game value when the winning occurs.

FIG. 73 is an explanatory diagram for explaining various data stored in the card unit and the slot machine, respectively, and their transmission/reception modes. This FIG. 73 is obtained by replacing the terminology of FIG. 6 explained for the configuration of the P stand with the term for the S stand. is omitted.

<Modifications, feature points, etc.>
Next, modifications and features of the embodiment described above will be listed.

(1) When a slot machine (S units), which is an example of a game machine, is applied to the above-described gaming system, for example, a game with P units including reels, various sensor parts attached to the reels, and a main control board for controlling the reels. It corresponds to the board, and other configurations correspond to P game frames. However, the S stand does not require the various detection switches 41a, 701, 33, the launch control board 31, and the launch motor 18 of the game frames shown in FIG.

The conventional S machines are provided with a credit function, and when this function is activated, the credit is subtracted when the number of bets is set, and the credit is added when the prize is won. However, the number of credits has an upper limit, and if a prize is won while the number of credits reaches the upper limit, medals are dispensed from the hopper.

On the other hand, in the S machines according to the present embodiment, game points are subtracted when the number of bets is set, and game points are added when a prize is won. Further, when the game points reach a predetermined number, a display prompting a counting operation is made, and the game points are converted into points by performing the counting operation. Therefore, unlike the conventional S machines, there is no need to pay out medals when credits reach the upper limit. As a result, there is no need to provide a hopper in the S platform according to this embodiment.

As a result, the game hall does not need to secure a large number of medals, and the economic burden is reduced. In addition, the game hall is freed from work such as replenishment and collection of medals and maintenance work for dealing with jammed medals. Players are freed from the troublesomeness of inserting medals for each betting operation after their credits are full, and can easily concentrate on the game.

On the other hand, if the S machines become medalless, players who have won a large number of medals will not be able to display their skills by stacking boxes containing medals on the side of their seats. cause inconvenience. However, in this embodiment, since the function of displaying the dollar box is provided as described above, it is possible to prevent such inconvenience from occurring. In addition, it is desirable that the cash box display in the case of the S machines should have a large number of medals instead of the large number of balls shown in FIG.

When the S machine is applied as a gaming machine, each data is calculated as follows using two types of data, "points" and "game points", and two types of data, "credits" and "exceeding credit points". It is also possible to construct a game system that is converted. These four types of data are displayed on the S displays 510 .

First, when a conversion operation from the balance of the prepaid card, accumulated medals, or points (lending operation, accumulated medals payout operation, earned points payout operation) is detected, each is withdrawn and converted into game points. be.

A game point is data corresponding to medals in a conventional slot machine. For this reason, for example, it is desirable to display the number of game points on the display device 510 and also display medal images corresponding to the number of game points. For example, when the player touches this medal image and detects a pseudo-inserted medal operation (for example, an operation of pushing in a medal), the medal image disappears and the game points are subtracted. Instead, one bet is set. The number of bets is set to 3, which is the maximum value, by performing such a pseudo medal insertion operation three times.

After that, when a pseudo medal insertion operation is detected, credits are added according to the detection. An upper limit value (for example, 50) is set for the credits, and when the credits exceed the upper limit value, credit excess points are added.

The number of bets can be set using game points as described above, and can also be set using credits. That is, when the one-piece BET switch 5S is operated, the bet number set value is increased by one and the credit is subtracted by one. Also, if the MAXBET switch 6 is operated, the bet amount is set to 3, and the credit is subtracted according to the bet amount setting.

When a prize is won as a result of the game, the number of points corresponding to the prize is added to the credits. When a prize exceeding the upper limit value of credit occurs, the points corresponding to the excess are stored as credit excess points. This credit excess point corresponds to medals that are paid out when winning occurs in excess of the credit upper limit in a conventional slot machine. For this reason, for example, it is desirable to display the credit excess points on the display 510 and display medal images corresponding to the credit excess points. Moreover, it is desirable to change the color of the medal image so that it can be distinguished from the medal images corresponding to the game points.

Also, it is desirable that the credit excess points be converted into game points by the operation of the player. For example, when the player touches the medal image corresponding to the credit excess point and detects a pseudo medal conversion operation (for example, an operation such as pushing in a medal) that converts it into a game point, the medal image disappears and the credit is exceeded. Points are subtracted and game points are added.

Alternatively, if the credits become less than the upper limit, the points exceeding the credits may be automatically converted into credits.

When the player performs a counting operation, each of the game points, credits, and excess credit points are counted and converted into points. As a result, the player's points are posted as "the number of cards held + game points + credits + excess credit points". The "number of balls on card" is the number of points (the number of balls owned by the player at present) before conversion into game points.

In the above description, the four types of data, ie points, game points, credits, and points exceeding credits, may be stored by exchanging data between the CU and S units, or the points may be The information may be stored only on the CU side, and the others may be stored only on the S side. Also, the credit excess point may be displayed as a dollar box in FIG. 67 .

Moreover, although the above description demonstrated the example which uses a credit excess point, it is not necessary to use a credit excess point. In this case, if the upper limit of credits is exceeded, the game points may be added.

(2) In the present embodiment, game points are added by consuming card points. Alternatively, game points are added by consuming stored balls (stored medals). That is, the card frequency or accumulated balls are converted into game points. On the other hand, card frequency and stored balls are not converted into points (counting balls, counting medals). However, the card frequency and accumulated balls may be once converted into points.

(3) In the present embodiment, the game points are converted into points by the counting operation. The conversion ratio in this case is 1:1. However, the conversion ratio when converted may be other than 1:1. For example, when 100 game points are converted, 97 points obtained by subtracting 3 points from the 100 game points may be converted into points. Alternatively, the score may be converted into the number of game balls obtained by multiplying the score by a predetermined ratio of less than 100%.

(4) A portable terminal such as a smart phone may be used as a recording medium for identifiably recording points. In this case, the CU is provided with a communication unit for communicating with the mobile terminal, and by holding the mobile terminal over the communication unit, the CU recognizes the ID stored in the mobile terminal. The game is enabled by the procedure as described. On the other hand, at the end of the game, by holding the mobile terminal over the communication unit again, the points at the end of the game are added to the player's points through the ID.

(5) The operating means for counting game points may be provided on the CU side. The operating means in that case may be displayed on a touch panel, or may be composed of physical switches.

(6) In the present embodiment, when a card return operation is performed and uncounted game points remain, a message prompting the player to count is displayed on the display on the P stand or the CU side. However, instead of such a configuration, when a card return operation is performed and uncounted game points remain, count display is automatically started, and the display on the P stand or the CU side, It may be notified that automatic counting has been started due to remaining uncounted game points, or that cards will be returned after automatic counting is completed.

Alternatively, if there are uncounted game points remaining when the card is returned, it is determined that there is a possibility that the player will temporarily leave the seat, and the display (CU side or P table side) indicates, A message may be displayed to confirm whether the user is temporarily away from the seat. Furthermore, the display may be configured with a touch panel so that the player can respond to the message. Furthermore, if the response input is to end the game, a message prompting a counting operation is displayed. On the other hand, if the response input is to leave the seat temporarily, the card may be temporarily ejected while the ID of the card is stored on the CU side, the P side, or both. After that, when a card with the same ID is inserted, the game is restarted from the original state.

(7) The counting time from the start of the counting operation to the completion of the count display is the difference between when the game points are less than the first reference value and when the game points exceed the first reference value. The rate of increase in counting time may be made smaller. As a result, it is possible to prevent the completion of the counting from taking too much time due to an increase in the number of game points, even though the effect of the counting display as if the actual balls were counted can be achieved. Also, when the game points exceed a certain reference value, the counting time may be the same. Alternatively, the same counting time may be uniformly adopted regardless of the number of game points without providing a reference value.

(8) During the jackpot, the judgment reference value for judging that the number of game balls is full may be increased.
In other words, the judgment reference value for judging the full tank may be different between when the jackpot is in progress and when it is not. As a result, it is possible to prevent the number of game balls from suddenly increasing during the big win, and the shooting being stopped due to the determination that the tank is full immediately.

(9) The number of game balls at the time of the big win is stored, and even if the number of game balls exceeds the full tank judgment standard value during the big win, the number of game balls increased after the big win is allowed. If it is within a value (for example, 1000 balls), it may not be determined that the tank is full.

(10) As the counting operation means for counting the number of game balls, one that exhibits a counting function when the operation is performed a predetermined number of times equal to or more than two times may be employed. This can prevent erroneous operations. Also, in this case, the one-time operation may exhibit another function different from the counting function. For example, if there is no operation for a predetermined period of time (for example, within one second) after one operation, the function of turning on a lamp for calling a clerk is exhibited, and two operations are performed within one second from one operation. It is conceivable that the counting function is activated when the second operation is detected.

(11) In the present embodiment, when the counting operation button is operated for less than a predetermined time (short-time operation), for example, the first number of balls is counted. A second number of balls, which is larger than the first number of balls, is counted according to time. For example, while 100 balls are counted in a short-time operation, a predetermined number exceeding 100 balls, such as 200 or 400 balls, may be counted in a long-time operation. Further, control may be performed so that the game score to be counted differs depending on the length of time the counting operation button is pressed. For example, it is conceivable to start counting 100 balls by long pressing for 1 second, and to count all the remaining balls if the long pressing is continued for 5 seconds. Alternatively, control may be performed so that a predetermined number of balls are counted in one operation, and all the remaining balls are counted in the fifth operation.

(12) The "predetermined processing" of the "recording medium processing means for performing predetermined processing with the game points as the points when a predetermined recording medium processing operation is detected" is, for example, , CU processing when a card ejected from a CU is used by inserting it into another CU connected to another gaming machine (processing to withdraw the balls recorded in a identifiable manner on the card and convert them to game balls) , ball sharing processing, or wagon service processing, etc.). Alternatively, the "predetermined process" may be a process of accepting a card at a prize exchange machine for prize exchange and consuming the points specified by the card to enable the exchange of prizes.

In addition, "processing to enable ..." is, for example, a process of recording the score on the card inserted in the CU so as to be identifiable and returning the card when an operation to return the card is detected. is. Here, "recording in an identifiable manner" means recording points directly on the card, or recording the ID and points of the card to a server connected to the CU without recording points on the card. It includes a method of transmitting and storing IDs and points in association with each other in the server.

(13) In the present embodiment, if (A) "predetermined points" or more are not stored, game points are not counted even if a counting operation is performed, and a notification to that effect is provided. is performed. In addition, in the present embodiment, (B) when the game points are counted until the stored game points reach the "predetermined number", further counting cannot be performed, and a notification to that effect is provided. is done. The predetermined points, that is, the reference values for these two cases (A) and (B) may be the same or may be different.

(14) In the present embodiment, if a counting operation is performed while shooting balls, the counting operation is invalidated if the number of game balls at that time is equal to or less than the reference value. However, even if the number of game balls exceeds the reference value when the counting operation is detected during ball shooting, the number of balls counted by one counting operation is set to a predetermined number. In this case, if the value obtained by subtracting the predetermined number from the number of game balls when the counting operation is detected is less than the reference value, the counting operation may be invalidated.

In addition, in the present embodiment, in order to invalidate the counting operation during the game, it is determined whether or not the game is being played by whether or not the ball shooting motion is detected. , In addition to this, whether or not the number of balls in play (floating balls floating in the game area 27) is 0 (not in play), and whether or not the game is in progress may be determined. In addition, it is conceivable to determine whether a game is in progress by determining whether the variable display device is fluctuating, whether a jackpot is in progress, whether the attacker is open, and the like.

Further, when the S machine is applied as the gaming machine and the counting operation during the game is invalidated, "during the game" is, for example, the period from when the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R start rotating until they stop. . Alternatively, it is a period from when the start operation is detected until the reels 2L, 2C, and 2R stop.

(15) In FIG. 48, the process proceeds to S483 under the condition that no big hit has occurred (NO in S482), but the step of S482 may be deleted and the process may proceed from S481 to S483. That is, regardless of whether or not the game is in the midst of a big win, when the number of game balls is greater than a predetermined number, a display prompting the counting operation may be performed.

Also, steps S486 and S487 may be deleted. That is, in FIG. 48, when the counting operation is not detected even after a predetermined time has passed since the display prompting the counting operation is performed, the shooting of the game balls is forcibly stopped. You can choose not to do it.

(16) Referring to FIG. 6, the P units are equipped with a counting ball number counter that temporarily stores the counted counting balls (balls possessed), but does not have a counter that stores the cumulative value of the counting balls. . However, the P table side may be provided with a counting ball cumulative storage counter for storing the cumulative value of the counting balls. In addition, the CU is provided with an area for storing the balls held by the card (counting balls). The current number of balls held by the player, including balls, is stored. Therefore, the number of counting balls counted by the player in the current game cannot be specified only with this area. Therefore, an area for storing the number of counting balls counted by the player in the current game may be further provided on the CU side. In this case, the CU adds balls to the area based on information on the number of balls to be counted sent from the P machine after the game starts, and when the balls are converted into game balls, the area Subtract the ball.

(17) The display prompting the counting operation in FIG. 41 may be a text message saying "Since there are game balls left, please count them before returning", or a count button on the screen. 28 may be displayed and blinked.

(18) In the present embodiment, when the number of game balls is a predetermined number or more (3000 balls or more), "predetermined notification control" is executed as "control for displaying a display prompting a counting operation on the display device". be done. Here, ``prompt for counting operation'' means, for example, displaying ``The number of game balls has reached the upper limit, please perform counting operation'' or simply displaying ``Counting operation is required''. There may be. Further, the "predetermined notification control" may be control for outputting a notification sound from a speaker to prompt a counting operation. Further, the "notification" may be simply notifying that "the number of game balls has reached the upper limit" instead of "notifying that the counting operation is urged" (not even urging the counting operation). .

Also, when the game points are equal to or higher than a predetermined first reference value (3000 balls or more), "predetermined notification control" is performed, and then the game points reach a second reference value higher than the first reference value. Control may be performed so that the game is disabled when the game point reaches the first reference value and the game is permitted (not prohibited from firing) until the game point reaches the second reference value from the first reference value. If the gaming machine is a slot machine, the unplayable state can be realized by operating the start lever so that the reels do not start rotating, or the setting of the number of bets is invalidated.

(19) In the present embodiment, when a game using game points is being played (during ball shooting), if the game points are less than a predetermined number (for example, 250 points), the counting operation is performed. Not activated. Here, the predetermined number of points is not limited to 250 points, and may be any number of points as long as it is 1 point or more. However, if a score that is too small, such as 1 point, is set, problems will occur when the timing of firing and the timing of counting occur at approximately the same time. Alternatively, if the counting operation is detected when the score is less than a predetermined number (for example, 10 points or less) and the firing continues, 5 points are left for firing and the remaining points are counted. can be controlled to

In addition, when it is detected that the player has stopped the ball shooting operation by noticing that the counting operation has been invalidated because the number of game points does not exceed a predetermined number, the invalidation is performed first. The counting operation may be activated so that the counting operation is automatically initiated. In other words, in this case, the player who notices that the counting operation has been invalidated only needs to stop the shooting operation, and does not need to redo the counting operation.

(20) In order to change the number of game points converted by one operation according to the time the count button is pressed, for example, when the button is pressed for a long time (for example, continuous operation for one second or more), the number of game points is changed. While all are counted, only 200 balls may be counted during short presses (eg, continuous operation of less than 1 second). However, in this case, if the remaining number of game balls is small, for example, less than 200 balls, it is desirable to count all the game balls by operating the counting button.

(21) In a case where the number of points counted by one short-press operation of the count button is made to differ according to the remaining number of game points, for example, the following can be considered. For example, when the game points are less than 200 points, all the game points are counted by one short pressing operation of the counting button. When the game points are 200 or more and less than 1000, 200 points are counted by one short pressing operation. When the game points are 1000 or more and less than 5000, 1000 points are counted by one short pressing operation. When the game points are 5000 or more and less than 10000, 2000 points are counted by one short pressing operation. When the game points are 10000 or more, 2500 points are counted by one short pressing operation. Note that the above numerical values are specific examples, and can be set as appropriate.

(22) When game balls (game points) are counted and points are converted, not only the count display but also the count sound may be output from the speaker. Further, when counting the game points, it is conceivable to display an image in which the balls drop one by one from the ball storage tray to the counter.

(23) Timing for converting game points into points based on the counting operation (display showing how the game balls are counted and the number of owned balls increases), and subtraction of game points from the data. However, the timing of performing the calculation for adding the points can be varied. The calculation may be performed after conversion display is completed. Also, for this purpose, the counting data may be transmitted from the gaming machine to the CU after the conversion display is completed. It should be noted that such a modified example can be similarly applied to the case where the points are converted into game points.

(24) In the present embodiment, the communication between the CU and the game machine employs a command-response system in which the CU is the primary station and the game machine is the secondary station. You can reverse the relationship with Alternatively, instead of adopting a communication system having such a master-slave relationship, a system may be adopted in which both parties transmit data to each other when a request to communicate occurs.

(25) In FIG. 6 or 73, the game balls (game points) are stored on both the gaming machine side and the CU side, but the game balls (game points) are stored only on the gaming machine side and the CU It may not be stored on the side. On the other hand, the number of balls held on the card (scores) is stored only on the CU side, but may be stored on the gaming machine side as well. In particular, the game balls (game points) are stored only on the gaming machine side, while the card holding balls (scores) are stored only on the CU side. good.

(26) The display of counts and various notifications performed by the display 54 may be similarly performed by the display 312 .

(27) CU3 updates the stored number of game balls based on the value of the added ball number counter (number of added balls) and the value of the subtracted ball number counter (number of subtracted balls) transmitted from the P side. However, when the number of game balls stored is subtracted based on the value of the count ball number counter transmitted from the P side, if the value of the number of game balls becomes negative, an error (abnormal) judgment is made. and error processing may be performed. As a specific example of error processing, an error notification is performed by an abnormality notification lamp or the like, or an error notification signal indicating that an error has occurred is transmitted to the hall management computer or the host server 801 (in this case, the hall management Error notification may be performed by the computer or the host server 801).

(28) In the above embodiment, a high level signal is input to the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17 when the radio wave sensors 163 and 173 detect radio waves, but the radio wave sensors 163 and 173 An inverting amplifier (inverter) for inverting the signal may be provided in the radio wave sensors 163 and 173 so that the signal is input to the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17 via the inverting amplifier. By doing so, when the radio wave sensors 163 and 173 are not detected, a high level signal is input to the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17, while a low level signal is input when the radio wave is detected and the main control board 16 When the radio wave sensors 163 and 173 are illegally pulled out, a low level signal is input to the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17, which is the same as when the radio waves are detected. Then, the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17 can determine the occurrence of an abnormality.

(29) In the above-described embodiment, the payout control unit 171 has storage means for storing and holding the winning slot information and round number information transmitted from the main control board 161 when the power is turned on. The information of the addition number counter transmitted from the control board 161 is compared with the winning opening information and round number information stored to determine whether or not they match (see FIGS. 65 and 66). This is called "total prize ball number match determination". However, instead of storing and holding the winning opening information and the round number information, the main control board 161 transmits the winning opening information and the round number information together with the information of the addition number counter each time, and the payout control that receives it is performed. The unit 171 may be controlled to determine whether or not the received information of the addition number counter matches the received prize winning opening information and round number information. This is called "every time transmission method of winning slot information and round number information".

(30) The payout control board 17 may be disabled when the game board radio wave sensor disconnection detection or the game frame radio wave sensor disconnection detection is input to the payout control board 17 . Specific examples of deactivation include stopping the transmission of the number of added balls to CU3 and stopping the counting operation of the added ball counter.

(31) When a lending operation or an operation for converting points (balls) to game points (game balls) (renting operation) is detected, the game points may be counted up one by one. In order to shorten the waiting time of the player, it may be displayed so as to count up by a plurality of points (for example, 25 points equivalent to 100 yen). Also, conversely, when the counting operation of the game points is executed, the points may be displayed so as to be counted up by a plurality of points. Furthermore, the number of units for counting up the game points or the score may be set from a plurality of types. At the time of setting, it is conceivable to use touch panels of P or S displays.

(32) When the counting operation is executed, the points may be counted up at an accelerated rate after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the counting of the points started. Alternatively, a speed up button for accelerating the count display may be displayed on the display device of the touch panel on the CU side or the gaming machine side, and the acceleration count display may be performed when the operation is detected. By displaying the accumulated points in an accelerated counting manner in this way, it is possible to shorten the waiting time of the player when counting a large number of game points.

(33) A touch sensor may be provided on the ball hitting operation handle, and the counting operation may be disabled while the touch sensor detects that the player is gripping the ball hitting operation handle. Disabling the coefficient operation means detecting the counting operation, but not executing the counting operation based on the detection output, or not detecting the counting operation itself. Alternatively, if the player does not invalidate the counting operation just by touching the ball-hitting operation handle, and if the player rotates the ball-hitting operation handle to the extent that the drive pulse for ball shooting is output, the counting operation is invalidated. good.

In these cases, when the counting operation is detected, a message "please release the handle" may be displayed on the display of the gaming machine or CU. Alternatively, when the counting operation button is displayed as an icon on the screen of the touch panel, the counting operation button may be grayed out to inform the player that it is inoperable.

(34) At least one or all of the ball lending button, return button, replay button, and counting button may be provided on the gaming machine side or may be provided on the CU side. Further, it is conceivable that the button is displayed on the display on the game machine side or the CU side described as a touch panel type display.

(35) At S663 in FIG. 66, whether or not there is an abnormality is determined by whether or not the increment (game ball) of the addition number counter at the polling interval is a proper value. Then, the information on which winning slot has been won and the information on the number of prize balls added by the winning (number of added balls) are associated with each other and transmitted from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17, and in the payout control board 17, The presence or absence of an abnormality may be determined by whether or not the number of prize balls that should be added according to the winning prize opening matches the received number of prize balls information (number of added balls). This is called an "individual determination method for each winning opening".

Specifically, the payout control board 17 stores the winning hole information transmitted from the main control board 16 . The content is prize ball number information (additional ball number) associated with each winning hole (see FIG. 64(a)). When a prize is won during a game, the information on which prize-winning slot was won and the information on the number of prize balls added by the prize (additional number of balls) are associated with each other, and transferred from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17. sent. For example, information such as ``the number of prize balls (the number of added balls) that have won in the starting prize-winning port 1 is 5'' is sent. The payout control board 17 having received it refers to the stored prize winning hole information (FIG. 64(a)), and the number of prize balls information (additional ball number) Read "3". The read prize ball number information (additional ball number) "3" is compared with the received prize ball number information (additional ball number) "5", and if they do not match, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred.

In other words, the gaming machine (P units, S units) that gives a predetermined game point due to the occurrence of winning,
for controlling the progress of a game in a gaming machine and specifying an addition update amount for adding points corresponding to the type of winning to the game points based on the occurrence of winning one of a plurality of types of winning; Game parts (game board 26, reels and various sensor parts attached to the reels) provided with game control means (P main control boards 16, S main control boards) for generating addition update information;
A game frame configured to be able to attach the game parts (configuration other than the front frame 6 of the P stand, the reels in the S stand, various sensor parts attached to the reels, and the main control board that controls the reels);
Receive the addition update information (the number of added balls, the number of additions) provided in the game frame and generated by the game control means, add and update the game points based on the addition update information, and update the game points A game point processing means (payout control board 17) for subtracting and updating the game points based on use in the game,
The amount of game points to be added and updated in accordance with the occurrence of the winning is predetermined according to the type of winning (FIG. 64(a)),
The game control means stores a predetermined addition update amount as a prescribed addition update amount (the winning opening information is stored in a memory such as a ROM of the main control unit 161 provided on the main control board 16). ), and perform processing for transmitting the prescribed addition update amount to the game point processing means (FIG. 63: Winning hole information is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17),
The game point processing means receives from the game control means the addition update information, the type of winning that causes the generation of the addition update information, and the number of the winning, and updates the specified addition corresponding to the type of the winning. Appropriateness determination means for determining whether or not the addition update amount is an appropriate size by determining whether or not the value of the product of the number of winning prizes and the amount matches the addition update amount specified by the addition update information. including.

Such an "individual determination method for each winning opening" includes the "total number of winning ball matching determination" described in the main embodiment, and the "each time transmission of winning opening information and round number information" described in (29) above. method" may be applied.

(36) The gaming system according to the present embodiment includes score use operation means for executing a predetermined score use process using score. Here, the predetermined point use process includes a process for executing the wagon service, or a process of dividing and sharing the points (balls) (processing of dividing and transferring the points to others). It is a concept. Also, the score use operation means is, for example, a touch panel. Alternatively, the points use operation means may be a remote control given to a game parlor staff to command the CU or the gaming machine to execute the points use process.

<Various configurations included in the embodiment>
(1-1) The present invention is a game system for enabling a game to be played by a game machine (P machines, S machines) that provides predetermined game points (game balls, game points) upon occurrence of a prize, and ,
game point storage means for storing the game points (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game score counter in FIG. 73);
conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
When a predetermined recording medium processing operation (card return operation (operation of the return button 322)) is detected, the game points are used as the points, and predetermined processing (accepting the card at the prize exchange machine and specifying the card Processing of consuming points to enable prize exchange, processing of CU when cards ejected from a CU are inserted into another CU connected to another game machine and used. A recording medium processing means (CU control unit 323) that performs processing (a process that makes it possible to identify the ball by the ID of the card, for example, records the ball on the card or manages the ID of the ball by a computer);
validating means (FIG. 41) for validating the recording medium processing operation when the conversion display for all the game points stored in the game point storage means is completed.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to perform a recording medium processing operation after the game points obtained by the game are once displayed to be converted into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide

(1-2) The present invention is a game point processing device (CU, P units, S units) for enabling a game in which predetermined game points (game balls, game points) are awarded upon occurrence of a prize, ,
Conversion of the game points to the points based on detection of a conversion operation (operation of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points to the predetermined points (balls, points) display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for displaying;
When a predetermined recording medium processing operation (card return operation (operation of the return button 322)) is detected, the game points are used as the points, and predetermined processing (accepting the card at the prize exchange machine and specifying the card Processing of consuming points to enable prize exchange, processing of CU when cards ejected from a CU are inserted into another CU connected to another game machine and used. A recording medium processing means (CU control unit 323) that performs processing (a process that makes it possible to identify the ball by the ID of the card, for example, records the ball on the card or manages the ID of the ball by a computer);
validating means (FIG. 41) for validating the recording medium processing operation when conversion display for all game points is completed.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to perform a recording medium processing operation after the game points obtained by the game are once displayed to be converted into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide

(1-3) The gaming system according to (1-1),
conversion processing means ( FIG. 41 , payout control section 171, CU control section 323) for converting the game points into the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
It also includes score storage means (“card holding ball (counting ball)” on the CU side in FIG. 6) for storing the score.

According to the above configuration, since the game points are actually converted into points and stored as points not only on the display, a new system using game points in a form closer to the conventional system. can provide

(1-4) The gaming system according to (1-1) and (1-3),
a gaming device (CU) including the recording medium processing means;
A game machine (P units, S units) including the display means,
The gaming device includes display control means (display control section 350) for controlling display of the display means.

According to the above configuration, by providing the display means on the game side, a player facing the game machine can easily see the state of the conversion display, and by providing the display control means on the game device side, the display control on the game machine side can be performed. You can reduce the burden.

(1-5) The gaming system according to (1-4),
The game machine includes the conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S).

According to the above configuration, by providing the conversion operation means on the game side, the operability of the player facing the gaming machine can be improved.

(1-6) The gaming system according to (1-1), (1-3), (1-4), and (1-5),
When the recording medium processing operation is detected when the conversion display for all game points is not performed by the display means, the display means displays a display prompting the operation of the conversion operation means (FIG. 41).

According to the above configuration, the player can perceive the reason why the recording medium processing operation has not been validated by displaying the display prompting the operation of the conversion operation means.

(1-7) The gaming system according to (1-4) and (1-5),
The game machine includes the game point storage means (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game point counter in FIG. 73),
The gaming device includes score storage means for storing the score (area of card holding balls (counting balls) in FIG. 6).

According to the above configuration, it is possible to divide the management of game points and points between the game machine and the game device, thereby reducing the management burden of each.

(1-8) The gaming system according to (1-1) (1-3) to (1-7),
The recording medium processing means is a score processing means (the CU control unit 323 is stored in the card) that performs score processing for making the scores stored in the score storage means identifiable by the information recorded on the recording medium. record the score, or send the card ID and score to the server for storage);
return processing means (the CU control unit 323 discharges the card) for returning the recording medium to the player after the score processing is performed.

According to the above configuration, the score processing and the recording medium return processing are performed together by the recording medium processing operation, so that the player can easily finish the game.

(2-1) The present invention is a gaming system for enabling a game to be played by a gaming machine (P machines, S machines) that gives predetermined game points (game balls, game points) when a prize is won. ,
game point storage means for storing the game points (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game score counter in FIG. 73);
conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
When the game points stored in the game point storage means are equal to or greater than a predetermined number (3000 balls or more), a predetermined notification control (control for displaying a display prompting a counting operation on the display) is performed. means (S489 in FIG. 48).

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. Moreover, when the game points are equal to or greater than a predetermined number, a predetermined notification control is performed, whereby a system similar to the conventional system that notifies when the game medium is full can be reproduced in a pseudo manner. It is possible to provide a familiar system to a player accustomed to the system.

(2-2) The present invention is a game point processing device (CU, P units, S units) for enabling a game in which predetermined game points (game balls, game points) are awarded upon occurrence of a prize, ,
Conversion of the game points to the points based on detection of a conversion operation (operation of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points to the predetermined points (balls, points) display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for displaying;
notification control means (S489 in FIG. 48) for performing predetermined notification control (control for displaying a display prompting a counting operation on a display device) when the game points are equal to or greater than a predetermined number (3000 balls or more); include.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. Moreover, when the game points are equal to or greater than a predetermined number, a predetermined notification control is performed, whereby a system similar to the conventional system that notifies when the game medium is full can be reproduced in a pseudo manner. It is possible to provide a familiar system to a player accustomed to the system.

(2-3) The gaming system according to (2-1),
The notification control means is means (display control section 350) for controlling the display means, and when the game points stored in the game point storage means are equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the conversion operation means is operated. is displayed on the display means (FIG. 48).

According to the above configuration, since the display prompting the conversion operation is performed, it is easy for the player to understand the meaning of the notification.

(2-4) The gaming system according to (2-1) and (2-3),
Disabling means (S486 in FIG. 48; firing stop) is included for controlling the gaming machine to a game-disabled state when the game points stored in the game point storage means are equal to or greater than the predetermined number.

According to the above configuration, if the game points are equal to or greater than the predetermined number, the game is disabled, so that the conversion operation can be urged.

(3-1) The present invention is a gaming system for enabling a game to be played by a gaming machine (P machines, S machines) that gives predetermined game points (game balls, game points) when a prize is won. ,
game point storage means for storing the game points (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game score counter in FIG. 73);
conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
When a game using the game points is being played by the game machine (during ball shooting is continued), game points of a predetermined number or more (for example, 250 points or more) are stored in the game point storage means. validation means (FIG. 44) for validating the operation of the conversion operation means on condition that

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. Moreover, when a game using game points is being played, the conversion operation by the conversion operation means is not effective unless a predetermined number of game points or more remain. The timing of conversion display and the timing of consuming a few remaining game points due to the continuation of the game overlap, and the game is continued despite the conversion display of the game points required for the game to the winning points. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation where

(3-2) The present invention is a game point processing device (CU, P units, S units) for enabling a game in which predetermined game points (game balls, game points) are awarded upon occurrence of winning, ,
Conversion of the game points to the points based on detection of a conversion operation (operation of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points to the predetermined points (balls, points) display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for displaying;
When a game is being played by the gaming machine using the game points (during ball shooting), the above-mentioned Validation means (Fig. 44) for validating the conversion operation.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. Moreover, when a game using game points is being played, the conversion operation by the conversion operation means is not effective unless a predetermined number of game points or more remain. The timing of conversion display and the timing of consuming a few remaining game points due to the continuation of the game overlap, and the game is continued despite the conversion display of the game points required for the game to the winning points. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of a situation where

(3-3) The gaming system according to (3-1),
When the operation of the conversion operation means is detected in a state in which game points equal to or greater than the predetermined number are not stored in the game point storage means while the game is being played by the gaming machine using the game points. , a notification control means for performing a first notification control (control for displaying on the display that the counting operation is invalidated because the game is in progress and the number of game balls is 250 or less).

According to the above configuration, if the conversion operation is performed in a state where the predetermined number of game points does not remain during the execution of the game using the game points, the first notification control is performed, so that the conversion operation is not effective for the player. can be understood.

(3-4) The gaming system according to (3-1) and (3-3),
Conversion processing means ( FIG. 41 , payout control section 171 , CU control unit 323),
including a score storage means ("card holding ball (counting ball)" on the CU side in FIG. 6) that stores the score,
The conversion processing means converts the game points stored in the game point storage means when an operation of the conversion operation means is detected while a game is being played by the gaming machine using the game points. The conversion process is performed until the predetermined number of points is reached (FIG. 44),
The notification control means performs a second notification control (invalidating the counting operation halfway through) when the conversion processing is performed until the game points stored in the game point storage means reach the predetermined number of points. control).

According to the above configuration, when a conversion operation is performed during the execution of a game using game points and the game points reach a predetermined number at which conversion processing is not performed any more, the second notification control is performed. The player can be made to understand that the game points are not converted.

(4-1) The present invention is a game system for enabling a game to be played by a game machine (P machines, S machines) that gives predetermined game points (game balls, game points) when a prize is won. ,
game point storage means for storing the game points (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game score counter in FIG. 73);
conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
conversion processing means ( FIG. 41 , payout control section 171, CU control section 323) for converting the game points into the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
a score storage means for storing the score (“card holding ball (counting ball)” on the CU side in FIG. 6);
a point use operation means (touch panel; FIG. 49, etc.) for executing a predetermined point use process (wagon service, point sharing) using the points;
Points reduction means (Fig. 45, Figure 46) and
When the score stored in the score storage means is less than the score required for the score use processing, predetermined notification control (Fig. 45, Fig. 46; "Please press the count button due to insufficient balls ” on the display) and notification control means (display control unit 350).

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. In addition, it is possible to execute the process of using points in exchange for the converted points, and when the remaining points are less than the number of points required for the process of using points, predetermined notification control is performed. The player can be urged to perform an operation to convert game points into points in order to execute the process of using points.

(4-2) The present invention is a game point processing device (CU, P units, S units) for enabling a game in which predetermined game points (game balls, game points) are awarded upon occurrence of a prize, ,
The game points are converted into the points based on the detection of the conversion operation (operation of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the predetermined points (balls, points). conversion processing means ( FIG. 41 , payout control unit 171, CU control unit 323);
a score storage means for storing the score (“card holding ball (counting ball)” on the CU side in FIG. 6);
a point use operation means (touch panel; FIG. 49, etc.) for executing a predetermined point use process (wagon service, point sharing) using the points;
Points reduction means (Fig. 45, Figure 46) and
When the score stored in the score storage means is less than the score required for the score use processing, predetermined notification control (Fig. 45, Fig. 46; "Please press the count button due to insufficient balls ” on the display) and notification control means (display control unit 350).

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. Moreover, the process of using the points after conversion can be executed in exchange for the points after conversion, and when the remaining points are less than the number of points required for the process of using the points, predetermined notification control is performed. The player can be urged to perform an operation to convert game points into points in order to execute a desired point use process.

(4-3) The gaming system according to (4-1),
When a predetermined recording medium processing operation (card return operation (operation of the return button 322)) is detected, the game points are used as the points, and predetermined processing (accepting the card at the prize exchange machine and specifying the card Processing of consuming points to enable prize exchange, processing of CU when cards ejected from a CU are inserted into another CU connected to another game machine and used. It includes a recording medium processing means (CU control unit 323) that performs processing (processing to enable identification of balls by card ID, for example, recording balls on cards or ID management of balls by computer).

According to the above configuration, it is possible to perform a recording medium processing operation after the game points obtained by the game are once displayed to be converted into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide

(4-4) The gaming system according to (4-3),
a gaming device (CU) including the recording medium processing means;
a gaming machine (P machines, S machines) comprising display means (displays 54, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on detection of the operation of the conversion operation means; including
The gaming device includes display control means (display control section 350) for controlling display of the display means.

According to the above configuration, by providing the display means on the game side, a player facing the game machine can easily see the state of the conversion display, and by providing the display control means on the game device side, the display control on the game machine side can be performed. You can reduce the burden.

(4-5) The gaming system according to (4-4),
The game machine includes the conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S).

According to the above configuration, by providing the conversion operation means on the game side, the operability of the player facing the gaming machine can be improved.

(4-6) The gaming system according to (4-4) and (4-5),
The game machine includes the game point storage means (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game point counter in FIG. 73),
The game device includes the score storage means (the area of the card holding balls (counting balls) in FIG. 6).

According to the above configuration, it is possible to divide the management of game points and points between the game machine and the game device, thereby reducing the management burden of each.

(4-7) The gaming system according to (4-3) to (4-6),
The recording medium processing means is
Points processing means for performing point processing for making the game points stored in the game point storage means as the points to be specified by the recorded information of the recording medium or transmit the card ID and points to the server for storage);
return processing means (the CU control unit 323 discharges the card) for returning the recording medium to the player after the score processing is performed.

According to the above configuration, the score processing and the recording medium return processing are performed together by the recording medium processing operation, so that the player can easily finish the game.

(5-1) The present invention is a game system for enabling a game to be played by a game machine (P machines, S machines) that provides predetermined game points (game balls, game points) upon occurrence of a winning. ,
game point storage means for storing the game points (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game score counter in FIG. 73);
conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
A total conversion operation ("count all" in FIG. 70) for converting and displaying all the game points stored in the game point storage means into the points according to the operation on the conversion operation means, and the game points A partial conversion operation ("partial counting" in FIG. 70) for converting and displaying a part of the game points stored in the storage means into the above-mentioned points can be executed.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. In addition, since the game points can be fully converted or partially converted, the game points can be converted in a form that is closer to that of the conventional game system in which a part of the game media obtained by the game can be counted. We can provide a new system using

(5-2) The present invention is a game point processing device (CU, P units, S units) for enabling a game in which predetermined game points (game balls, game points) are awarded upon occurrence of a prize, ,
conversion operation means for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
All conversion operation (“count all” in FIG. 70) for converting and displaying all game points into the points according to the operation on the conversion operation means, and a part of the game points to the points A partial conversion operation (“partial counting” in FIG. 70) for conversion display can be executed.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. In addition, since the game points can be fully converted or partially converted, the game points can be converted in a form that is closer to that of the conventional game system in which a part of the game media obtained by the game can be counted. We can provide a new system using

(5-3) The gaming system according to (5-1),
According to the continuous operation time for which the conversion operation means is continuously operated, the display means changes the number of game points to be converted and displayed as the points by one operation of the conversion operation means (100 balls for short press). , 400 balls or more with a long press).

According to the above configuration, since the number of game points to be converted and displayed as points by one operation of the conversion operation means differs depending on the continuous operation time for which the conversion operation means is operated, the game that operates the conversion operation means Convenience for users can be improved.

(5-4) The gaming system according to (5-1),
The display means changes the number of game points to be converted and displayed by one operation of the conversion operation means according to the number of game points stored in the game point storage means (FIG. 69). S694-S696).

According to the above configuration, since the number of game points converted and displayed by one operation of the conversion operation means differs according to the number of game points stored in the game point storage means, the game points can be compared. Even if there are many targets, the number of operations of the conversion operation means necessary for converting and displaying all the game points does not become extremely large, thereby improving the operability.

(5-5) The gaming system according to (5-1),
The display means converts and displays a predetermined number of game points into the points by one operation of the conversion operation means (100 balls for short press (Fig. 41), a predetermined number of 100 or more balls for long press, For example, 200 or 400 can be considered.).

According to the above configuration, a predetermined number of game points are converted and displayed into points by one operation of the conversion operation means, so that the player can easily understand the relationship between the conversion operation and the game points to be converted and displayed. .

(5-6) The gaming system according to (5-1),
The conversion operation means includes first conversion operation means operable to convert and display the game points of the first magnitude into the points, and the game points of the second magnitude. a second conversion operation means operable to convert and display the points (FIG. 70).

According to the above configuration, by selectively operating the first and second conversion operating means, the player can select the game score to be converted and displayed with one operation.

(6-1) The present invention is a game system for enabling a game to be played by a game machine (P machines, S machines) that provides predetermined game points (game balls, game points) upon occurrence of a prize, and ,
game point storage means for storing the game points (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game score counter in FIG. 73);
conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
conversion processing means ( FIG. 41 , payout control section 171, CU control section 323) for converting the game points into the points based on the detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
a score storage means for storing the score (“card holding ball (counting ball)” on the CU side in FIG. 6);
a point use operation means (replay button 319) for receiving a predetermined service using the points;
notification control means (display control unit 350, FIGS. 45, 46, 49 to 62) for controlling notification of services that the player can receive using the points;
Based on the detection of the operation of the points use operating means, the point deduction means ("Points are reduced" in FIG. 45) is subtracted from the points stored in the point storage means by the points required for the service. After settlement, possession ball sharing processing ends”, FIG. 46 “After settlement of points, end of wagon service”)
When the score stored in the score storage means is less than the number of points required for a predetermined service, the notification control means even if game points are stored in the game point storage means. , the predetermined service is controlled so as not to be notified as a service that the player can receive (the service that the player can receive is displayed by displaying an x mark as shown in FIGS. 57 and 58). (Alternatively, it may be controlled not to display a menu that cannot be purchased even with the number of balls added to the number of balls in hand and game balls).

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. Further, when the player receives a predetermined service using the points stored in the point storage means, the service that the player can receive using the points is notified, and the player can receive the service. Recognize the services available. Further, when the score stored in the score storage means is less than the number of points required for a predetermined service, even if game points are stored in the game score storage means, the player may receive the points. To prevent the player from misunderstanding that the service can be received within the range of the points stored in the point storage means because the control for notifying the predetermined service as the service that can be performed is not performed. can be prevented.

(6-2) In the gaming system of (6-1) above, the notification control means is capable of performing control to notify a plurality of types of services with different points required (FIGS. 50, 57 and 58). ), a service within the required score stored in the score storage means (menus surrounded by solid lines in FIGS. 57 and 58), and the required score stored in the score storage means. By converting the game points that exceed the existing points but can be converted by the operation of the conversion operation means into the points and updating the points, the required points are within the points after the update. Control is performed to distinguish and notify services that can be used (menus enclosed by dashed lines in FIGS. 57 and 58).

According to such a configuration, the player can receive a service within the score stored in the score storage means and the score stored in the score storage means, among a plurality of types of services. However, it can be distinguished from the service that can be received by converting game points into points and updating the points by addition. The convenience of the player when receiving the service is improved.

(6-3) In the gaming system of (6-1) or (6-2) above, the notification control means is capable of controlling to notify a plurality of types of services with different points required (FIG. 50 , FIG. 57, FIG. 58), a service in which even if all the game points that can be converted by the operation of the conversion operation means are converted into the points and updated, the required points exceed the points after the update. is controlled not to be notified (a menu that cannot be purchased even with the number of balls added to the number of balls and game balls may be controlled so as not to be displayed).

According to the above configuration, even if all game points are converted into points and updated by addition, control is not performed to notify a service in which the necessary points exceed the points after updating, so that such services are not performed. It is possible to prevent the player from misunderstanding that he/she can receive the reward.

(6-4) In the gaming system of (6-1) or (6-2) above, the notification control means is capable of controlling to notify a plurality of types of services with different points required (FIG. 50 , FIG. 57, FIG. 58), a service in which even if all the game points that can be converted by the operation of the conversion operation means are converted into the points and updated, the required points exceed the points after the update. performs control to notify that the service is not available to the player (the service is not available to the player by displaying an x mark as shown in FIGS. 57 and 58).

According to the above configuration, even if all the game points are converted into points and updated by addition, control is performed to notify the service that the required points exceed the updated points as a service that the player cannot receive. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the player from misunderstanding that he/she can receive such services.

(6-5) In the gaming system according to any one of (6-1) to (6-4) above, the notification control means stores required points stored in the point storage means. A service is selected in which the necessary points can be within the updated points by converting the game points that exceed but can be converted by the operation of the conversion operation means into the points and adding and updating the points. When this is done, a notification control is performed to prompt the operation of the conversion processing means ("Insufficient balls. Press the count button to replenish the balls." in FIGS. 51 and 59).

According to the above configuration, although the selected service exceeds the score stored in the score storage means, the game points are converted into score and updated by addition, so that the score is within the range of score after update. When the service can be provided, information control is performed to prompt the operation of the conversion processing means, so that the player can perform the conversion operation according to the notification and receive the service, which is convenient for the player. improve sexuality.

(6-6) In the gaming system of (6-5) above, the notification control means reduces the game points while the notification control prompting the operation of the conversion operation means is being performed, and stores the points. When the score stored in the means cannot be updated to the required score, control is performed to notify that the service cannot be selected (“Insufficient balls. Please press to replenish your balls." is being displayed, and if the number of game balls decreases and the number of owned balls cannot be updated to the required number of owned balls, the display control unit 350 outputs "Game The service cannot be selected because the number of balls has decreased." is displayed).

According to the above configuration, the player can recognize that the service cannot be selected despite the notification prompting the operation of the conversion operation means.

(6-7) In the game system of (6-1) to (6-6) above, when a game is being played by the gaming machine using the game points, a predetermined number of points is stored in the game point storage means. It further includes validation means (S691 to S698 in FIG. 69) for validating the operation of the conversion operation means on condition that the above game points are stored.

According to the above configuration, when a game using game points is being played, the conversion operation by the conversion operation means is not effective unless the game points of a predetermined number or more remain, so that only a few points remain due to the conversion operation. The timing when the unused game points are converted and displayed overlaps with the timing when the few remaining game points are consumed by continuing the game, and the game points required for the game are converted into points. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the game is continued unintentionally.

(6-8) Another aspect of the present invention is to communicably connect to gaming machines (P machines, S machines) having game point storage means for storing predetermined game points awarded upon occurrence of winning. A gaming device (CU) for enabling a game on the gaming machine, comprising a connection part (connector) of
Conversion processing means for performing a service of converting the game points into the points based on detection of a conversion operation (pressing operation of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the predetermined points. (FIG. 41, payout control unit 171, CU control unit 323);
a score storage means for storing the score (“card holding ball (counting ball)” on the CU side in FIG. 6);
notification control means (display control unit 350, FIGS. 45, 46, 49 to 62) for controlling notification of services that the player can receive using the points;
Points required for the service are subtracted from the points stored in the points storage means based on detection of a points use operation for receiving a predetermined service using the points. Including point deduction means (Figure 45 "After the points are settled, the ball sharing process ends", Figure 46 "After the points are settled, the wagon service ends")
When the score stored in the score storage means is less than the number of points required for a predetermined service, the notification control means even if game points are stored in the game point storage means. , the predetermined service is controlled so as not to be notified as a service that the player can receive (the service that the player can receive is displayed by displaying an x mark as shown in FIGS. 57 and 58). (Alternatively, it may be controlled not to display a menu that cannot be purchased even with the number of balls added to the number of balls in hand and game balls).

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. Therefore, it is possible to provide a new system using game points without confusing players accustomed to the conventional game system that counts the game media obtained through the game. Further, when the player receives a predetermined service using the points stored in the point storage means, the service that the player can receive using the points is notified, and the player can receive the service. Recognize the services available. Further, when the score stored in the score storage means is less than the number of points required for a predetermined service, even if game points are stored in the game score storage means, the player may receive the points. To prevent the player from misunderstanding that the service can be received within the range of the points stored in the point storage means because the control for notifying the predetermined service as the service that can be performed is not performed. can be prevented.

(6-9) In the gaming device of (6-8) above, the notification control means is capable of performing control to notify a plurality of types of services with different points required (FIGS. 50, 57, 58). ), a service within the required score stored in the score storage means (menus surrounded by solid lines in FIGS. 57 and 58), and the required score stored in the score storage means. By converting the game points that exceed the existing points but can be converted by the conversion operation into the points and updating the points, the necessary points can be within the points after the update. Control is performed to distinguish and notify available services (menus enclosed by broken lines in FIGS. 57 and 58).

According to the above configuration, the player can receive a service within the score stored in the score storage means and the score stored in the score storage means, among a plurality of types of services. A service that can be received by converting the game points to the score and adding and updating the score, which exceeds the score, can be distinguished and recognized, and the convenience of the player when receiving the service is improved.

(6-10) In the game device of (6-8) or (6-9) above, the notification control means is capable of performing control to notify a plurality of types of services with different points required (see FIG. 50). , FIG. 57, FIG. 58), even if all the game points that can be converted by the conversion operation are converted into the points and updated by addition, the required points do not notify the service that exceeds the points after the update. (A menu that cannot be purchased even with the number of balls added to the number of balls and game balls may be controlled so as not to be displayed).

According to the above configuration, even if all game points are converted into points and updated by addition, control is not performed to notify a service in which the necessary points exceed the points after updating, so that such services are not performed. It is possible to prevent the player from misunderstanding that he/she can receive the reward.

(6-11) In the game device of (6-8) or (6-9) above, the notification control means is capable of performing control to notify a plurality of types of services with different points required (FIG. 50). , FIG. 57, FIG. 58), even if all the game points that can be converted by the conversion operation are converted into the points and updated by addition, the required points exceed the points after the update. 57 and 58, it is displayed that the service is not available to the player by displaying an x mark.

According to the above configuration, even if all the game points are converted into points and updated by addition, control is performed to notify the service that the required points exceed the updated points as a service that the player cannot receive. Therefore, it is possible to prevent players from misunderstanding that they can receive such services.

(6-12) In the game device according to any one of (6-8) to (6-11) above, the notification control means stores required points stored in the score storage means. A service is selected in which the required points can be within the updated points by converting all the game points that exceed but can be converted by the conversion operation into the points and adding and updating them. In some cases, notification control is performed to prompt the operation of the conversion processing means (FIGS. 51 and 59, "Insufficient balls. Press the count button to replenish the balls.").

According to the above configuration, although the selected service exceeds the score stored in the score storage means, the game points are converted into score and updated by addition, so that the score is within the range of score after update. When the service can be provided, information control is performed to prompt the operation of the conversion processing means, so that the player can perform the conversion operation according to the notification and receive the service, which is convenient for the player. improve sexuality.

(6-13) In the gaming device of (6-12) above, the notification control means stores the reduced game points in the score storage means while the notification control for prompting the conversion operation is being performed. If the current score cannot be updated to the required score, control is performed to notify that the service cannot be selected (“Not enough balls in possession. Please replenish the balls." is being displayed. When the number of game balls decreases and the number of possessed balls cannot be updated to the required number of possessed balls, the display control unit 350 outputs "The number of game balls is You can no longer select the service because it has decreased." message is displayed).

According to the above configuration, the player can recognize that the service cannot be selected despite the notification prompting the operation of the conversion operation means.

(6-14) In the game device according to any one of (6-8) to (6-13) above, the conversion processing means, when a game is being played by the gaming machine using the game points, On the condition that game points of a predetermined number or more are stored in the game point storage means, conversion processing is performed when the conversion operation is detected (S691 to S698 in FIG. 69).

According to the above configuration, when a game using game points is being played, the conversion operation by the conversion operation means is not effective unless the game points of a predetermined number or more remain, so that only a few points remain due to the conversion operation. The timing when the unused game points are converted and displayed overlaps with the timing when the few remaining game points are consumed by continuing the game, and the game points required for the game are converted into points. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the game is continued unintentionally.

(7-1) The present invention is a gaming machine (P machines, S machines) that gives a predetermined game point when a prize is won,
Game parts (game board 26, reels and various sensor parts attached to the reels) provided with game control means (main control board 16 for P units, main control board for S units) for controlling the progress of the game of the game machine; ,
A game frame configured so that different types of game parts can be selectively attached (configuration other than the front frame 6 of the P stand, the reels on the S stand, various sensor parts attached to the reels, and the main control board that controls the reels) and,
Receive addition update information (additional ball number, addition number) provided on the game frame side and output from the game control means upon occurrence of a prize, and add and update the game points based on the addition update information. game point processing means (payout control board 17) for subtracting and updating the game points based on the use of the game points in the game;
A sensor (radio wave sensor 173) for detecting electromagnetic waves is provided on the game frame side.

According to the above configuration, since the sensor for detecting the radio wave sensor is provided on the game frame side where the game point processing means is provided, it is possible to deal with cheating by electromagnetic waves on the game machine frame side. becomes.

(7-2) In the game machine of (7-1) above, the game point processing means is disabled by removing the sensor (disconnection detection of the game frame radio wave sensor is detected by the payout control board 17). When the input is made, the payout control board 17 may be disabled (for example, the transmission of the number of additional balls to the CU3 may be stopped, or the counting operation of the additional ball counter may be stopped).

According to the above configuration, since the game point processing means is disabled by removing the sensor, it is possible to cope with the fraudulent act of removing the sensor.

(7-3) In the gaming machine of (7-1) or (7-2) above, an input section for inputting the detection signal of the electromagnetic wave sensor (input port of the radio wave sensor 173 in FIG. 5 to the payout control board 17) and further comprising abnormal control means (S714, S715) for performing abnormal control when the detection signal is input,
When the sensor is removed, the input state becomes the same as the detection signal of the sensor (an inverting amplifier (inverter) for inverting the signal of the radio wave sensor 173 is provided in the radio wave sensor 173, and the signal is output via the inverting amplifier). is inputted to the payout control board 17, a high level signal is inputted to the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17 when the radio wave sensor 173 is not detected, while a low level signal is inputted to the payout control board 17 when the radio wave is detected. When the radio wave sensor 173 is illegally pulled out, a low level signal is input to the payout control board 17 and the payout control board 17 receives the signal in the same manner as when the radio wave is detected. judges the occurrence of an abnormality).

According to the above configuration, when the sensor is removed, the input state becomes the same as the detection signal of the sensor, and the abnormal control is executed by the abnormal control means. Therefore, the sensor is removed. It is also possible to deal with fraudulent acts.

(7-4) Another aspect of the present invention is provided with game control means (main control board 16 for P machines, main control board for S machines) for controlling the progress of a game by the gaming machines (P machines, S machines). The game frame (the front frame 6 of the P stand, the reel on the S stand and the various sensor parts attached to the reel and the reel A configuration other than the main control board that controls the),
Addition update information (number of added balls, number of additions) output from the game control means based on the winning is received, game points are added and updated based on the received addition update information, and the game points are added to the game. Game point processing means (payout control board 17
)and,
and a sensor (radio wave sensor 173) for detecting electromagnetic waves.

According to the above configuration, since the sensor for detecting the radio wave sensor is provided on the game frame side where the game point processing means is provided, it is possible to deal with cheating by electromagnetic waves on the game machine frame side. becomes.

(7-5) In the game frame of (7-4) above, the game point processing means is disabled by removing the sensor (disconnection detection of the game frame radio wave sensor is detected by the payout control board 17 When the input is made, the payout control board 17 may be disabled (for example, the transmission of the number of additional balls to the CU3 may be stopped, or the counting operation of the additional ball counter may be stopped).

According to the above configuration, since the game point processing means is disabled by removing the sensor, it is possible to cope with the fraudulent act of removing the sensor.

(7-6) In the game frame of (7-4) or (7-5) above, an input section for inputting the detection signal of the electromagnetic wave sensor (input port of the radio wave sensor 173 in FIG. 5 to the payout control board 17) and further comprising an abnormality control means for performing an abnormality control when the detection signal is input,
When the sensor is removed, the input state is the same as the detection signal of the sensor.

According to the above configuration, when the sensor is removed, the input state becomes the same as the detection signal of the sensor, and the abnormal control is executed by the abnormal control means. Therefore, the sensor is removed. It is possible to deal with fraudulent acts (an inverting amplifier (inverter) that inverts the signal of the radio wave sensor 173 is provided in the radio wave sensor 173, and the signal is input to the payout control board 17 via the inverting amplifier By configuring as above, a high level signal is inputted to the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17 when the radio wave sensor 173 is not detected, and a low level signal is inputted to the payout control board 17 when the radio wave is detected. A low level signal is input to the payout control board 17 and the payout control board 17 judges the occurrence of an abnormality in the same manner as when the radio waves are detected.) .

According to the above configuration, when the sensor is removed, the input state becomes the same as the detection signal of the sensor, and the abnormal control is executed by the abnormal control means. Therefore, the sensor is removed. It is also possible to deal with fraudulent acts.

(7-7) Still another aspect of the present invention is a game part (game board 26, reels and various sensor parts attached to the reels) attached to the game frame,
A game control means ( P main control boards 16, S main control boards),
Transmission means (Fig. 6 transmission of the number of addition balls, transmission of the number of addition of FIG. 73, FIG. 43).

According to the above configuration, by attaching the game component to the game frame, since the sensor for detecting the radio wave sensor is provided on the game frame side, it is possible to prevent cheating by electromagnetic waves on the game machine frame side. can also be dealt with.

(8-1) The present invention is a gaming machine (P machines, S machines) that gives a predetermined game point when a prize is won,
Game control means (P main control boards 16, S A game part (game board 26, reels and various sensor parts attached to the reels) provided with a main control board of the table),
A game frame configured to be able to attach the game parts (configuration other than the front frame 6 of the P stand, the reels in the S stand, various sensor parts attached to the reels, and the main control board that controls the reels);
Receive the addition update information (the number of added balls, the number of additions) provided in the game frame and generated by the game control means, add and update the game points based on the addition update information, and update the game points A game point processing means (payout control board 17) for subtracting and updating the game points based on use in the game,
The amount of game points to be added and updated in accordance with the occurrence of the winning is predetermined according to the type of winning (FIG. 64(a)),
The game control means stores a predetermined addition update amount as a prescribed addition update amount (the winning opening information is stored in a memory such as a ROM of the main control unit 161 provided on the main control board 16). ), and perform processing for transmitting the prescribed addition update amount to the game point processing means (FIG. 63: Winning hole information is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17),
The game point processing means determines whether or not the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means has an appropriate size based on the prescribed addition update amount. including means (S663).

According to the above configuration, the update amount of the game points to be added and updated in response to the occurrence of the winning is predetermined according to the type of the winning, and the game control means controls the predetermined addition. The update amount is stored as a specified addition update amount, and processing is performed to transmit the specified addition update amount to the game point processing means, and the game point processing means receiving it transmits the addition update information transmitted from the game control means. It is determined based on the defined addition update amount whether or not the addition update amount specified by is an appropriate size. Originally, the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means based on the occurrence of winning and the specified addition update amount are consistent, but the addition transmitted from the game control means If the update information itself is tampered with, the consistency between the two cannot be obtained, and the propriety judging means judges that the size is not appropriate, making it possible to deal with the tampering.

(8-2) In the gaming machine of (8-1) above, the game control means transmits the specified addition update amount when the power of the gaming machine is turned on (S651),
The game point processing means stores the specified addition update amount transmitted from the game control means (at S657, the game board information (main control chip ID, winning opening information, round number information) is stored and held). storage media),
The propriety determination means determines whether or not the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means is an appropriate size, based on the specified addition update amount stored in the storage means. (S663).

According to the above configuration, the specified addition update amount transmitted when the power is turned on is stored on the game point processing means side, and the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means thereafter is appropriate. In order to determine whether or not the size is large based on the stored specified addition update amount, the game control means does not need to transmit the specified addition update amount each time the addition update amount is transmitted, It is possible to reduce the control load of the game control means.

(8-3) In the game machine of (8-2) above, the game control means also transmits game control means identification information for identifying the game control means to the game point processing means when the power of the game machine is turned on. (S651),
The storage means also stores the game control means identification information transmitted from the game control means (and stores and holds the main control chip ID at S657),
The propriety determination means collates the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount transmitted from the game control means with the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount stored in the storage means. Then, when the game control means identification information matches but the specified addition update amount does not match, abnormality determination is performed (when YES in S654 and NO in S655, fraud detection information is transmitted in S658).

According to the above configuration, the storage means stores the game control means identification information transmitted from the game control means. Then, the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount transmitted from the game control means are collated with the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount stored in the storage means, and the game control means identification information is If they match but the specified addition update amounts do not match, it is determined to be abnormal. As a result, when the game parts are exchanged together with the game control means and the new game parts are attached to the game frames, it is determined that the game control means identification information does not match, but when the game control means identification information matches If such an exchange has not been carried out and the stipulated addition update amount transmitted from the same game control means does not match the stipulated addition update amount that has already been stored, the stipulation that is sent to the game point processing means Since it is assumed that the addition update amount itself has been tampered with, and in such a case, an abnormality determination is made, it is possible to cope with the tampering with respect to the prescribed addition update amount itself.

(8-4) In the gaming machine of (8-2) or (8-3) above, the game control means continues a high winning state in which the probability of winning a prize is improved a plurality of times when a predetermined game condition is established. control to a specific game state (opening and closing the variable winning ball device 271 for 15 rounds due to the occurrence of a jackpot),
The number of continuations of the high winning state in the specific game state is predetermined (15 times in FIG. 64(b)),
The game control means stores the number of continuations of the predetermined high winning state as a specified number of continuations (the winning opening information is stored in a memory such as a ROM of the main control unit 161 provided on the main control board 16). stored), and when the game machine is powered on, the specified number of continuations is also transmitted to the game point processing means (S651),
The storage means stores the prescribed number of continuations transmitted from the game control means (stores and holds round number information in S657), and the propriety determination means stores the increase state of the received addition update amount It is determined whether or not it matches the prescribed number of continuations stored in the means (comparing the information of the addition number counter transmitted from the main control board 161 during the game with the stored round number information). If the number of additions transmitted from the main control board 161 continues to increase beyond the number of rounds of the jackpot (15 times), it is determined to be abnormal. do).

According to the above configuration, the storage means also stores the prescribed number of continuations transmitted from the game control means. Then, the high prize winning state is continued over the prescribed number of times, and it is general that the additional update amount increases during that time. Then, the propriety judging means determines whether or not the increase state of the received addition update amount matches the prescribed continuation number of times stored in the storage means. It is possible to determine an inconsistent state, such as a state, as an abnormality.

(8-5) Another aspect of the present invention is addition update information (the number of added balls, the number of added balls, It is possible to install game parts (game board 26, reels and various sensor parts attached to reels) equipped with game control means (P main control boards 16, S main control boards) that generate additional numbers). The configured game frame (the front frame 6 of the P units, the configuration of the reels in the S units, various sensor parts attached to the reels, and the main control board that controls the reels),
Receive the addition update information (the number of added balls, the number of additions) generated by the game control means, add and update the game points based on the addition update information, and based on the use of the game points in the game A game point processing means (payout control board 17) for subtracting and updating the game points,
The amount of game points to be added and updated in accordance with the occurrence of the winning is predetermined according to the type of winning (FIG. 64(a)),
The game point processing means determines whether or not the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means has an appropriate size based on the prescribed addition update amount. including means (S663).

According to the above configuration, the amount of game points to be added and updated in accordance with the occurrence of winning is predetermined according to the type of winning, and the predetermined amount of addition and update is specified addition. The game point processing means having received the specified addition update information transmitted from the game control means stored as the update amount determines that the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means is an appropriate size. It is determined based on the specified addition update amount whether or not. Originally, the addition update information transmitted from the game control means based on the occurrence of a prize and the prescribed addition update amount are consistent, but the addition update information itself transmitted from the game control means is fraudulent. If the size is changed, the consistency between the two cannot be obtained, and the propriety judging means judges that the size is not appropriate.

(8-6) In the game frame of (8-5) above, the game point processing means receives the specified addition update amount transmitted from the game control means when the power of the gaming machine is turned on (S651),
Said game point processing means stores said predetermined addition update amount as a prescribed addition update amount, storage means for storing said prescribed addition update amount transmitted from said game control means (game board information (at S657) main control chip ID, winning mouth information, round number information) including a storage medium),
The propriety determination means determines whether or not the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means is an appropriate size, based on the specified addition update amount stored in the storage means. (S663).

According to the above configuration, the specified addition update amount transmitted when the power is turned on is stored on the game point processing means side, and the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means thereafter is appropriate. In order to determine whether or not the size is large based on the stored specified addition update amount, the game control means does not need to transmit the specified addition update amount each time the addition update amount is transmitted, It is possible to reduce the control load of the game control means.

(8-7) In the game frame of (8-6) above, the game point processing means receives game control means identification information for identifying the game control means from the game control means when the game machine is powered on. receive (S651),
The storage means also stores the game control means identification information transmitted from the game control means (and stores and holds the main control chip ID at S657),
The propriety determination means collates the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount transmitted from the game control means with the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount stored in the storage means. Then, when the game control means identification information matches but the specified addition update amount does not match, abnormality determination is performed (when YES in S654 and NO in S655, fraud detection information is transmitted in S658).

According to the above configuration, the storage means stores the game control means identification information transmitted from the game control means. Then, the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount transmitted from the game control means are collated with the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount stored in the storage means, and the game control means identification information is If they match but the specified addition update amounts do not match, it is determined to be abnormal. As a result, when the game parts are exchanged together with the game control means and the new game parts are attached to the game frames, it is determined that the game control means identification information does not match, but when the game control means identification information matches If such an exchange has not been carried out and the stipulated addition update amount transmitted from the same game control means does not match the stipulated addition update amount that has already been stored, the stipulation that is sent to the game point processing means Since it is assumed that the addition update amount itself has been tampered with, and in such a case, an abnormality determination is made, it is possible to cope with the tampering with respect to the prescribed addition update amount itself.

(8-8) In the game frame of (8-6) or (8-7) above, in the specific game state in which a high winning state in which the probability of winning is improved by satisfying a predetermined game condition is continued multiple times The number of continuations of the high winning state is predetermined (15 times in FIG. 64(b)),
When the game machine is powered on, the storage means stores the prescribed number of continuations transmitted from the game control means storing the number of continuations of the predetermined high winning state as the prescribed number of continuations (S657). to store the round number information),
The propriety judging means judges whether or not the received increase state of the added update amount matches the prescribed number of continuations stored in the storage means. The information of the addition number counter is compared with the stored round number information to determine whether or not they are consistent. If it continues beyond (15 times), it is judged to be abnormal).

According to the above configuration, the storage means also stores the prescribed number of continuations transmitted from the game control means. Then, the high prize winning state is continued over the prescribed number of times, and it is general that the additional update amount increases during that time. Then, the propriety judging means determines whether or not the increase state of the received addition update amount matches the prescribed continuation number of times stored in the storage means. It is possible to determine an inconsistent state, such as a state, as an abnormality.

(8-9) Still another aspect of the present invention is a game part (game board 26, reels and various sensor parts attached to the reels) attached to the game frame,
Game control means (P main control boards 16, Equipped with S main control board),
The amount of game points to be added and updated in accordance with the occurrence of the winning is predetermined according to the type of winning (FIG. 64(a)),
The game control means stores the predetermined addition update amount as a specified addition update amount (the winning opening information is stored in a memory such as a ROM of the main control unit 161 provided on the main control board 16). ), and performs the process of transmitting the prescribed addition update amount to the game point processing means (FIG. 63: Winning hole information is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17).

According to the above configuration, the update amount of the game points to be added and updated in response to the occurrence of the winning is predetermined according to the type of the winning, and the game control means controls the predetermined addition. The update amount is stored as a prescribed addition update amount, and the prescribed addition update amount is transmitted to the game point processing means on the game frame side. Therefore, the game point processing means that receives it determines whether or not the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means is an appropriate size based on the specified addition update amount. becomes possible. Originally, the addition update amount specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means based on the occurrence of winning and the specified addition update amount are consistent, but the addition transmitted from the game control means If the update information itself is tampered with, the consistency between the two cannot be obtained, and the propriety judging means judges that the size is not appropriate, making it possible to deal with the tampering.

(8-10) In the game component of (8-9) above, the game control means transmits the specified addition update amount when the game machine is powered on (S651).

According to the above configuration, the specified addition update amount transmitted when the power is turned on is stored on the game point processing means side on the game frame side, and the addition specified by the addition update information transmitted from the game control means thereafter. Since it is possible to determine whether or not the update amount is appropriate based on the stored stipulated addition update amount, the game control means, every time the addition update amount is transmitted, also updates the stipulation addition update amount. It becomes unnecessary to transmit, and the control load of the game control means can be reduced.

(8-11) The game component of (8-9) or (8-10) above, wherein the game control means includes game control means identification information for identifying the game control means and the game point processing means (S651).

According to the above configuration, the game control means identification information transmitted from the game control means can be stored in the storage means on the game frame side. Then, the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount transmitted from the game control means are collated with the game control means identification information and the specified addition update amount stored in the storage means, and the game control means identification information is Abnormality can be determined when they match but the specified addition update amounts do not match. As a result, when the game parts are exchanged together with the game control means and the new game parts are attached to the game frames, it is determined that the game control means identification information does not match, but when the game control means identification information matches If such an exchange has not been carried out and the stipulated addition update amount transmitted from the same game control means does not match the stipulated addition update amount that has already been stored, the stipulation that is sent to the game point processing means Since it is assumed that the addition update amount itself has been tampered with, and in such a case, an abnormality determination is made, it is possible to cope with the tampering with respect to the prescribed addition update amount itself.

(8-12) A game component of any one of the above (8-9) to (8-11), in which a high prize winning state in which the probability of winning a prize is improved by satisfying a predetermined game condition is continued multiple times. The number of continuations of the high winning state in the specific game state is predetermined (15 times in FIG. 64(b)),
The game control means stores the number of continuations of the predetermined high winning state as a specified number of continuations (the winning opening information is stored in a memory such as a ROM of the main control unit 161 provided on the main control board 16). stored), and the specified number of continuations is also transmitted to the game point processing means (S651).

According to the above configuration, the storage means on the game frame side can also store the prescribed number of continuations transmitted from the game control means. Then, the high prize winning state is continued over the prescribed number of times, and it is general that the additional update amount increases during that time. Then, on the game slot side, in order to determine whether or not the increase state of the received addition update amount matches the specified continuation number of times stored in the storage means, the addition update amount is increased beyond the specified continuation number of times. It is possible to determine an inconsistent state, such as a state, as an abnormality.

(9-1) The present invention is a gaming system for enabling a game to be played by gaming machines (P machines, S machines) that award predetermined game points when a prize is won,
game point storage means for storing the game points (game ball number counter in FIG. 6, game score counter in FIG. 73);
conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into predetermined points (balls, points);
conversion display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on detection of the operation of the conversion operation means;
display means (dollar box display in FIG. 43, FIG. 67) for displaying based on the game points given by the player up to the present time after the player starts playing the game with the game machine.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the display is performed based on the game points given to the player up to the present time from the start of the game with the gaming machine, the profit obtained from the start of the game to the present time by the player can be visually recognized. The convenience of the player is improved.

(9-2) In the gaming system of (9-1) above, conversion processing means (FIG. 41, payout further includes a control unit 171 and a CU control unit 323),
The display means is calculated by subtracting the points owned by the player before the start of the game by the gaming machine from the sum of the points converted by the conversion processing means and the game points. Profit (total number of added balls - total number of subtracted balls) is displayed (Fig. 43).

According to the above configuration, by subtracting the points owned by the player before the start of the game by the gaming machine from the sum of the points converted by the conversion processing means and the game points, the game is completed. It is possible to accurately calculate the profit obtained from the start to the present time and to display the accurate profit.

(9-3) Another aspect of the present invention is provided with game point storage means (the game ball number counter in FIG. 6 and the game score counter in FIG. 73) for storing predetermined game points given when a prize is won. A gaming device CU) that includes a connection portion (connector) for communicably connecting to a gaming machine (P machines, S machines) and enables a game to be played on the gaming machine,
conversion display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting and displaying the game points to the points based on detection of a conversion operation for converting the game points to the points; ,
display means (dollar box display in FIG. 43, FIG. 67) for displaying based on the game points given by the player up to the present time after the player starts playing the game with the game machine.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the display is performed based on the game points given to the player up to the present time from the start of the game with the gaming machine, the profit obtained from the start of the game to the present time by the player can be visually recognized. The convenience of the player is improved.

(9-4) In the game device of (9-3) above, conversion processing means (FIG. 41, payout further includes a control unit 171 and a CU control unit 323),
The display means is calculated by subtracting the points owned by the player before the start of the game by the gaming machine from the sum of the points converted by the conversion processing means and the game points. Profit (total number of added balls - total number of subtracted balls) is displayed (Fig. 43).

According to the above configuration, by subtracting the points owned by the player before the start of the game by the gaming machine from the sum of the points converted by the conversion processing means and the game points, the game is completed. It is possible to accurately calculate the profit obtained from the start to the present time and to display the accurate profit.

(10-1) The present invention is a gaming system for enabling a game to be played by gaming machines (P machines, S machines) that award predetermined game points when a prize is won,
a first conversion operation means (replay button 319) for converting points owned by the player into the game points;
First conversion processing means ( FIG. 37 , payout control section 171, CU control section 323) for converting the points into the game points based on the detection of the operation of the first conversion operation means; ,
Second conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the points,
second conversion processing means (payout control unit 171, CU control unit 323 in FIG. 41) for converting the game points into the points based on the detection of the operation of the second conversion operation means; ,
and a first conversion operation invalidation means (S684) for invalidating the operation of the first conversion operation means during execution of the conversion processing by the second conversion processing means.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the first conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the second conversion processing means, the points are converted into the game points during the process of converting the game points into the points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(10-2) Another aspect of the present invention enables games to be played by gaming machines (P machines, S machines) that subtract and update predetermined game points by using games and add and update points when winning occurs. A gaming system for
a first conversion operation means (replay button 319) for converting the points owned by the player into the game points;
First conversion processing means ( FIG. 37 , payout control section 171, CU control section 323) for converting the points into the game points based on the detection of the operation of the first conversion operation means; ,
Second conversion operation means (counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the points,
second conversion processing means (payout control unit 171, CU control unit 323 in FIG. 41) for converting the game points into the points based on the detection of the operation of the second conversion operation means; ,
and second conversion operation invalidation means (S698) for invalidating the operation of the second conversion operation means during execution of the process by the first conversion processing means.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the second conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the first conversion processing means, the game points are converted into the points during the process of converting the points into the game points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(10-3) In the gaming system of (10-1) above, first invalidation processing notification means (replay button 319 pressed) for notifying that invalidation processing by the first conversion operation invalidation means has been executed When the operation is invalidated, the display 54, 312 or the like may display a message "The operation of the replay button is invalidated because the counting process is in progress.").

According to the above configuration, since the execution of the invalidation process by the first conversion operation invalidation means is notified, the player can recognize that the operation of the first conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(10-4) In the gaming system of (10-2) above, second invalidation processing informing means for informing that the invalidation process by the second conversion operation invalidation means has been executed (an operation of pressing the counting button 28 is invalidated, the display device 54, 312 or the like may display a message ``The operation of the counting button is invalid due to the processing of lending balls from the owned balls/stored balls''). include.

According to the above configuration, the execution of the invalidation process by the second conversion operation invalidation means is reported, so that the player can recognize that the operation of the second conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(10-5) In the gaming system according to any one of (10-1) to (10-4) above, the game point is determined based on detection of the operation of the second conversion operation means. It further includes display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for converting display to .

According to the above configuration, when the player operates the second conversion operation means, the game points are converted and displayed, so that the game media obtained by the game are counted. It is closer to the conventional game system that can be visually recognized, and the confusion of the players accustomed to the conventional game system can be prevented more reliably.

(10-6) Another aspect of the present invention is provided with a connection unit for communicatively connecting with a gaming machine (P units, S units) that provides predetermined game points upon occurrence of a prize, wherein the gaming machine based on detection of a first conversion operation (pressing of the replay button 319) for converting the points owned by the player into the game points a first conversion processing means (CU control unit 323 in FIG. 37) for converting the points into the game points;
Second conversion processing means for converting the game points into the possessed points based on detection of a second conversion operation (pressing of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the possessed points. (FIG. 41, CU control unit 323);
and a first conversion operation invalidation means (S684) for invalidating the first conversion operation while the conversion processing is being executed by the second conversion processing means.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the first conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the second conversion processing means, the points are converted into the game points during the process of converting the game points into the points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(10-7) Another aspect of the present invention is provided with a connecting portion (connector) for communicatively connecting to gaming machines (P machines, S machines) that award predetermined game points when a prize is generated, A gaming device (CU) for enabling a game on a gaming machine,
A first conversion for converting the points owned by the player into the game points based on detection of a first conversion operation (pressing of the replay button 319) for converting the points owned by the player into the game points. processing means (FIG. 37, CU control unit 323);
Second conversion processing means for converting the game points into the possessed points based on detection of a second conversion operation (pressing of the counting buttons 28, 28S) for converting the game points into the possessed points. (FIG. 41, CU control unit 323);
and second conversion operation invalidation means (S698) for invalidating the second conversion operation while the conversion processing is being executed by the first conversion processing means.

According to the above configuration, there is a step of temporarily converting the game points obtained through the game into points by the player's operation. For this reason, a new system using game points does not confuse players accustomed to the conventional game system in which the game media obtained by the game are counted and the counting result can be specified by the recording medium. can provide Furthermore, since the operation of the second conversion operation means is invalidated during the execution of the conversion process by the first conversion processing means, the game points are converted into the points during the process of converting the points into the game points. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience that processing is not performed and points are difficult to understand.

(10-8) In the gaming device of (10-6) above, first invalidation processing informing means (replay button 319 pressed) for informing that invalidation processing by the first conversion operation invalidation means has been executed When the operation is invalidated, the display 54, 312 or the like may display a message "The operation of the replay button is invalidated because the counting process is in progress.").

According to the above configuration, since the execution of the invalidation process by the first conversion operation invalidation means is notified, the player can recognize that the operation of the first conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(10-9) In the gaming device of (10-7) above, second invalidation processing informing means for informing that the invalidation process by the second conversion operation invalidation means has been executed (by pressing the count button 28 is invalidated, the display device 54, 312 or the like may display a message ``The operation of the counting button is invalid due to the processing of lending balls from the owned balls/stored balls''). include.

According to the above configuration, the execution of the invalidation process by the second conversion operation invalidation means is reported, so that the player can recognize that the operation of the second conversion operation invalidation means has been invalidated. .

(10-10) In the game device according to any one of (10-6) to (10-9) above, converting the game points into the points based on detection of the second conversion operation. Display means (displays 54, 312, 510) for displaying is further included.

According to the above configuration, when the player operates the second conversion operation means, the game points are converted and displayed, so that the game media obtained by the game are counted. It is closer to the conventional game system that can be visually recognized, and the confusion of the players accustomed to the conventional game system can be prevented more reliably.

It should be considered that the embodiments disclosed this time are illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning of equivalents of the scope of the claims.

2 pachinko machine 2S slot machine 3 card unit 16 main control board 17 payout control board 26 game board 54, 312 display device 309 card insertion/ejection port 319 replay button 320 IR light receiving unit 321 lending button 322 return button 323 main control section 325 Display control part

Claims (1)

A gaming machine for awarding predetermined game points when a prize is won, the gaming machine being connectable to a gaming device,
The game device is
first conversion processing means for converting the points into the game points based on detection of an operation of the first conversion operation means for converting the points into the game points;
second conversion processing means for converting the game points into the points based on detection of an operation of the second conversion operation means for converting the game points into the points;
receiving means for effectively receiving the operation of the first conversion operation means during the conversion processing performed by the second conversion processing means;
a suspending means for suspending the operation when the accepting means effectively accepts the operation of the first conversion operation means;
display means for displaying that it is in the pending state;
and
The holding means can distinguish between a short-pressing operation and a long-pressing operation with a longer pressing time than the short-pressing operation as the operation of the first conversion operation means, and put the operation on hold,
said display means displaying that it is in a non-holding state when said holding state is canceled;
A game machine characterized by

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