JPH10137428A - Game center system and game medium-counter in game center system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow non-member ordinary customers to understand easily the advantage of being a member ship by starting a prize program on the basis of data read by a card reading means, and displaying the process and the result of the prize program when it is being operating. SOLUTION: When a customer has finished a pinball game, and put balls he has won into a ball counter's hopper 362, the counter begins counting and displays the result of counting on a letter display section 364. On such occasion, if the customer is a non-member, a receipt is issued from a receipt outlet 365 after the result of counting is displayed. However, if the customer is a member, and a member card has been inserted into an insertion slot 370, the prize program is started, an image on an image display 369 is switched from advertisement to the prize, an announcement to that effect is given audibly by a speaker 371, the lot is set by the operation of a prize button 367, and the result is added to the result of ball count.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game arcade system such as a pachinko parlor and a game medium counting device for counting game media such as pachinko balls in a game arcade system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a game hall such as a pachinko parlor, after a player finishes a game, acquired game media (pachinko balls, medals, etc.) are put into a game media counter, and the counted values are displayed. At the same time, a barcode is printed and issued as a receipt.

[0003] Recently, an application for an address, a name, and the like is applied to a game arcade, the member is made a member of the game arcade, an ID card including registration information is issued, and various services are provided to the member who owns the ID card. A so-called membership card system has been developed. For example, JP-A-7-51464 (Japanese Patent Application No.
-225208, filed on August 18, 1993, “Game Media Lending System”), only the player who owns the ID card can store the acquired game media in his or her account. A system is disclosed in which only specific members can add game media to their accounts for free.

[0004]

However, it is difficult for ordinary customers to recognize the merits of becoming a member, and the membership card system is not very popular. In other words, assuming that only the player who owns the member card can play the game, it will eliminate those who are willing to play casually with their own thoughts, and it will be difficult to manage the playground. Even if it is an amusement arcade that has been introduced, non-members must be able to play. As a result, even if you do not become a member, you will be able to play games for the time being. Therefore, there has been a problem that the number of member subscriptions does not increase, and the member card system that has been introduced does not function effectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object the purpose of providing a game arcade system and a game arcade in a game arcade system capable of easily informing ordinary members who are not members of the merits of becoming a member. It is to provide a medium counting device.

[0006]

According to the present invention (claim 1), a member card is issued to each customer, and the member card is used in a game arcade system for performing various services. Card reading means for reading data of a membership card set for each customer; storage means for storing a prize program; display means for displaying various information; and said card reading means. Activate the prize program stored in the storage means based on the data read by, and when the prize program is not activated, such as advertisement of a game hall, etc., when the prize program is activated, the process and the result. A game medium counting device, comprising: control means for displaying on a display means.

When the lottery result of the prize program is a prize, the control means adds the value of the game medium as a prize to the count value of the game medium in the counting means, and displays the addition result on the display means. It is good to have it

Preferably, the control means includes a transmission means for transmitting the addition result to another control means, and a reception means for receiving data transmitted from the other control means.

Further, according to the present invention (claim 3), in a game arcade system in which a membership card is issued for each customer and various services are provided by the membership card, the first secured for each customer who is a member is provided. Storage means having a storage area and a second storage area in which a prize program is stored; counting means for counting game media; card reading means for reading data of a membership card set for each customer; Transmitting means for transmitting member card data read by the means; display means for displaying various information; data in the first storage area extracted based on the data transmitted by the transmitting means are preset. When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the prize program stored in the second storage area is activated, and when the prize program is not activated, A game medium counting device provided with a first control means for displaying an advertisement or the like on the display means when the prize program is activated, and a process and a result thereof on the display means. Is done.

[0010] When the lottery result of the prize program is a prize, the control means adds the value of the game medium as a prize to the count value of the game medium in the counting means, and displays the addition result on the display means. It is better to let

In addition, there is provided second control means for further adding the result of the addition to the numerical value stored in the first storage area, and rewriting the numerical value stored in the first storage area to the addition result. be able to.

[0012] Further, the display means is provided with a character display device for mainly displaying a message to a customer who counts game media, and is provided so as to protrude from the counting device main body, and the prize process, the prize result, and the advertisement for the customer in the game hall. And the like, and an image display device for displaying such information.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Some embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the case of pachinko will be mainly described.

FIG. 1 is a system block diagram schematically showing an embodiment of a game arcade system in which a game medium counting device according to the present invention is used. A terminal controller 10 and a counter section 30 are provided in common, and a plurality of these are provided. Islands are connected. Each island comprises an island end 20, an island controller 40, and a plurality of gaming units 50 connected to the island controller. Each component is connected by a LAN (local area network) and can exchange data with each other. It has become.

Although the game medium counting device according to the present invention is installed at the counter section here, it may be installed at another place, for example, at the end of an island. Also, it may be between pachinko machines.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the terminal controller 10, the island end 20, and the counter 30.

The terminal controller 10 includes a workstation 11, a personal computer 12, a printer 13, and a card issuing machine 14.

The workstation 11 includes a control unit 11A for controlling the entire system, a memory 11B, a display unit 11C such as a display, and an input / output unit 11D such as a keyboard and a printer.

As shown in FIG. 3, the memory 11B has a prize program storage area 111 and a member-specific storage area 112.

Next, the personal computer 12 is connected to the above-described workstation 11 via a LAN, and is used to register a new account in the workstation 11 or to perform statistical processing of data stored in the workstation 11. The clerk operates when making corrections. When registering a new account, a new membership card is issued by the card issuing machine 14 based on the control by the personal computer.

The personal computer 12
Is also connected to the printer 13. This printer 1
According to 3, for example, a direct mail can be issued based on the ledger data stored in the workstation 11 described above.

Each part 1 in the terminal controller 10
The power supplies 1, 12, 13, and 14 are supplied by an uninterruptible power supply (not shown). As a result, it is possible to prevent the system from going down when the commercial power supply is cut off.

The workstation 11 is connected to an external management computer (not shown) by a dedicated communication line. Thus, data in the workstation 11 can be managed using the management computer. Further, the workstation 11
It is also connected to a ball number management computer (not shown) that manages the flow of pachinko balls and medals in the store, so that the pachinko balls and medals in the store can be comprehensively managed and grasped.

The island end 20 is provided with a pachinko ball withdrawing machine 27.

The pachinko ball withdrawing machine 27 is an integrated card processing machine and pachinko ball lending machine. When a member card is inserted and a personal identification number is entered with a numeric keypad, the number of possible withdrawals (deposited in the account concerned). Number of pachinko balls)
Is displayed, and pachinko balls for the number of withdrawals entered by the numeric keypad by the player are received.

The counter section 30 includes a pachinko ball counter 3
6, a card reader 31, a premium exchange management machine 32, a scanner 33, a printer 34, and a premium automatic payout machine 35.

The card reader 31 is a prize exchange manager 32
When a pachinko ball or medal deposited in a player's account is exchanged for a prize, the player reads the account to identify the account.

The scanner 33 reads the bar code of the recording paper output by the pachinko ball counter 36 installed at the island end, the counter section, or the like, and reads the read information (the counting result in the pachinko ball counter 36). Send it to the prize exchange management machine 32.

The prize exchange management device 32 receives the number of stored coins read by the card reader 31 or the scanner 33 and the counting result of the pachinko ball counter 36,
The player exchanges prizes based on the value. When a player exchanges game media deposited in his or her account for a prize, the number of game media corresponding to the exchanged prize is subtracted from the account. Further, when the player desires to exchange for a special prize (a prize that can be exchanged for cash), a predetermined number of special prizes are paid out by the prize automatic dispensing machine 35. In addition, the input of the counting result of the pachinko ball counter 36 is
The numeric keypad provided in the premium exchange management machine 32 may be used.

The printer 34 is connected to the premium exchange management machine 32, and can print out the management data of the premium exchange management machine 32. When a plurality of prize exchange management machines 32 are used, one prize exchange management machine 32 may be used as a master machine and the printer 34 may be connected only to the master machine.

The prize automatic payout machine 35 pays out the prize instructed by the prize exchange management machine 32 as described above.
In addition, a card reader may be incorporated in the automatic prize automatic dispensing machine 35 so that a player can directly operate the game medium to exchange a game medium deposited in his / her account with a special prize.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a specific example of the pachinko ball counter 36. A hopper 362 for inserting pachinko balls is provided on the upper surface of the main body 361, and counting is performed by a counting mechanism (not shown) provided therebelow. Return port 3 for returning extra balls on the front of the main body 361
63 are provided. A character display portion 364 is provided on a panel surface provided on an inclined surface behind the main body 361,
This displays the total number of balls counted, the number of premiums, the number of surplus balls, and the like. On the right side of the upper surface of the main body 361, a receipt issue button 365,
A card insertion slot 370, a ball storage button 368, and a prize button 367 are provided. The receipt issue button 365 is a button for printing the total count on the receipt. The issued receipt is a receipt outlet 366 provided on the front surface of the main body 361.
Is discharged from The card insertion slot 370 is a member card insertion slot, and a card reader as card reading means is built in the back thereof (not shown). The prize button 367 is an operation button that is pressed by a target member to select a winning after a prize program to be described later is started. The ball storage button 368 is a button operated when the member stores the number of balls put in the pachinko ball counter 36 in his or her account (including the case where the number of balls obtained by winning a prize is added). Body 36
An image display 36 such as a liquid crystal display is located at the right rear of the upper surface of 1.
9 is protruded from the main body so as to be easily seen from the surroundings, and is installed large, and displays a still image or a moving image having contents to be described later. Further, a speaker 371 is built in the side surface of the main body 361, and outputs audio having contents described later.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the pachinko ball counter 36. The card reading section 380 reads information of the member card inserted into the member card insertion slot 370. Each component and each button are connected to the CPU by bus wiring.
The terminal transmits and receives information to and from the terminal controller 10 through.

Next, the operation of such a pachinko ball counter will be described. The operation of this pachinko ball counter is completely different between non-members and members.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing a procedure for counting pachinko balls using the game medium counting apparatus of the present embodiment.

When the pachinko player finishes the pachinko game, the player puts the acquired pachinko balls into the hopper 362 of the pachinko ball counter, at which time the counting operation is started (S100), and the character display unit 364 displays the counting result. (S101).

If the player is not a member, the membership card is not inserted (S102).
The receipt issue button 365 is pressed by the player (S10
3) The receipt is discharged from the receipt outlet 366 (S104). During this time, the image display 369 displays an advertisement or the like of the hall or another advertiser. afterwards,
The player hands the receipt to the pachinko clerk, inputs the number of pachinko balls recorded on the receipt by the scanner 33 (see FIG. 2), and receives the prize exchange management machine 32 (see FIG. 2) and the automatic prize dispensing machine 35 (see FIG. 2). 2), the prize is given to the player.

Instead of issuing a receipt, a recycling card issuing machine 37 (see FIG. 2) may be connected to the pachinko ball counting machine 36 to issue a recycling card and exchange prizes based on this. .

If the player is a member, a member card is inserted into the member card insertion slot 370 (S102).
The card reader installed inside the main body reads the store number and the member number (S105), and stores the data in the CPU (FIG. 5).
(See FIG. 2) to the workstation 11 (see FIG. 2) of the terminal controller 10 (see FIG. 2). The workstation 11 (see FIG. 2) retrieves the member data from the dedicated storage area 112 of the memory 11B, and
In A, a predetermined condition inquiry, which will be described later, to be a prize target is performed (S110).

If the conditions are met, the prize program stored in the storage area of the memory 111 is started (S12).
0), the image of the image display 369 is displayed on the screen of the advertisement, etc., and a prize screen, for example, "We will start a special prize for members. The prize is 400 pachinko balls. Please press the prize button in front of the screen." And the like, sound is output at a volume that can be sufficiently heard by other general players through the speaker 371, the prize button 367 is blinked (S122), and the prize button 367 is prompted to be pressed by an image and a voice (S124). .

Such image display and sound output not only attracts more interest to the result of the prize to the member, but also enables the surrounding players other than the member who put the pachinko ball to pay attention to the result of the prize. This has the effect that fraudulent acts in counting pachinko balls can be suppressed.

When the member presses the prize button 367 (S12
3), the instruction is the CPU of the pachinko ball counter 36 (FIG. 5).
(See FIG. 2) to the control unit 11A of the workstation 11 (see FIG. 2) to specify the selected lottery (S
125).

When the member wins the prize, the number of pachinko balls as a prize is added to the number of pachinko balls as the counting result (S127), and the fact of the prize, the contents of the prize and the total number of pachinko balls after the addition are displayed on the image display. 369, speaker 3
The sound is output at 71 (S128). As for the contents of the image display and audio output, for example, if the total number of pachinko balls entered is 4100, "Congratulations. Your customer has won the special prize for members.
400 pachinko balls will be presented as prizes, so the number of balls will be 4500. And so on.

As described above, the sweepstakes process and the sweepstakes result are displayed on the image display which is installed so as to be easily seen from the surroundings, and furthermore, the sound is output by the speaker having a volume enough to be heard in the surroundings. Can be impressed to general customers other than members. In this embodiment, the prize is a pachinko ball, but other prizes, such as cigarettes and confectionery, may be used. In addition, even when the pachinko balls are awarded as prizes, in addition to the predetermined number, for example, 400 pieces, a predetermined multiplication ratio for the number of pachinko balls, for example, 4100 pieces, for example, 10% (4100 pieces * 1.1 = 4510 in total)
Number).

As described above, since the pachinko ball counting machine 36 according to the present invention is used in the game arcade system, the member can select whether to exchange the total number of pachinko balls for prizes or to store the balls. .

If the member wishes to exchange prizes, the receipt issue button 365 is pressed (S140), and the receipt is discharged from the receipt outlet 366 (S141). At this time, when there is an end ball, that is, when there is a difference between the total number of pachinko balls and the number of balls corresponding to the prize (S142), the member stores the end ball in his / her account by pressing the ball storage button (S143). (S160), and the result is displayed on the image display 36.
9 is displayed (S161). Thereafter, the member card is ejected (S162), and when the card is removed by the member (S162).
163), the operation of the pachinko ball counter 36 ends, and the member exchanges prizes by receipt.

If the member does not wish to exchange a prize and presses the ball storage button (S150), the instruction is transmitted to the control unit 11A of the workstation 11 (see FIG. 2), and is stored in the member-specific storage area 112. The total number of pachinko balls is added to the number of stored balls stored in the member's account area (S160), a new account balance is displayed on the image display 369 (S161), and the membership card is discharged (S162). ,
With the extraction (S163), the operation of the pachinko ball counter 36 ends. If the member is out of the prize, the fact and the image display and sound output with expectation in the future, for example, "Unfortunately, this time is out of place. Enjoy the next prize!" Display and speaker 3
After outputting the voice at 71 (S129), the process returns to the normal member transaction.

By displaying images and outputting sounds as described above, it is possible to inform non-member customers of the merits of becoming a member, and it can be expected that the number of member subscribers will increase.

If the winning condition is not met, the workstation 11 (see FIG. 2) transmits the result to the CPU (see FIG. 5) of the pachinko ball counter 36, and returns to the normal member transaction (S140 to S163). .

The prize operation as described above is performed by software that operates by inserting a membership card. This software is designed so that the conditions for the prize, the prize mechanism, the probability of winning, etc. can be arbitrarily set and changed in accordance with the policy of the hall.

The conditions for making the prize subject in step S110 include, for example, the number of remaining coins, the number of uses in the past 30 days, the current count value, and the like. The setting conditions may be added or changed according to an event such as Ladies Day.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing one specific example of determining the prize object condition. First of all, if the member has 50
00 or more (S1101), then the last 30
The number of use times per day is 5 or more (S1102),
In addition, it is inquired that the current count value is 4000 or more (S1103). Further, this specific example corresponds to Ladies Day, and the condition of being a woman (S1104) is added to give priority to a female member.

[0053] These conditions should be informed to the member in advance by direct mail or the like in order to stimulate the willingness to participate in the prize. Also, a poster or the like may be posted in the hall. Further, although not shown in FIG. 6, even if the prize does not correspond to the target of the prize, the condition for reaching the prize condition at the time of counting the pachinko balls is displayed on the image display 369. To increase the number of balls and visits to stores.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing one specific example of the prize mechanism. At the start of the prize, a random number is generated (S200), and the prize button is pressed by the member (S21).
0), the random number stops (S220). The numerical value determined by the stop is compared with a preset numerical value (S2).
30) If it matches, it wins, and if it does not match, it loses.

Regarding the probability of winning the prize, the location conditions of the shop,
It is desirable to be able to set and change according to the policy of the hall side according to the competition situation with other stores, customer demographics, and the like. For example, if the current month is the birth month of the target member, the winning rate will be increased, while if there is already a winning result within the past three months, the winning rate may be reduced and more members may have more chances to win. it can. In addition, it is possible to increase the winning rate of members residing in the vicinity of other stores of competitors, and to recognize the merits of becoming a member of their own store.

In the above embodiment, the case of pachinko has been described, but the present invention is also applied to a system using medals used for pachislot. Further, the present invention is applied to a system using both pachinko balls and medals.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the prize program is provided on the workstation is shown, but it may be provided on the counter. In this case, the member's data read from the memory 11B of the workstation may be used, or the store number and the member number are read by the counting device alone, and the prize program is started based on the number of balls inserted. May be. In addition, the activation of the sweepstakes program may be randomized.

Also, in the above embodiment, only two types of prize winning and losing have been described.
Needless to say, a plurality of types such as 3 may be set.

[0059]

According to the present invention, the prize service is provided only to the member. Therefore, the service for the member is improved, and the process and the result of the prize are provided by the image display provided so as to be easily seen from the surroundings. Since it is displayed, the merits of the card member can be strongly impressed to the non-member, and thereby the number of members can be increased. Also, in order to increase the number of coins, number of visits, game time, etc. in order for members to enjoy the benefits of sweepstakes,
As the number of exchanges for special prizes decreases, the sales per installed unit increase, and the sales at the game hall can be increased. Furthermore, a prize service is performed when counting the number of game media, thereby attracting the attention of surrounding players, thereby contributing to the prevention of fraud.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of a membership card system using a game medium counting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing details of a terminal controller, a counter, and an island end in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing details of a memory 11B in a workstation 11 shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a game medium counting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a game medium counting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the game medium counting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a specific example of setting conditions for starting a prize program.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing one specific example of a prize mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 terminal controller 11 workstation 11A control unit 11B memory 11C display unit 11D input / output unit 12 personal computer 13 printer 14 card issuing machine 20 island end 27 pachinko ball withdrawal machine 30 counter unit 31 card reader 32 prize exchange management machine 33 scanner 34 Printer 35 Automatic prize dispensing machine 36 Pachinko ball counter 37 Recycling card issuing machine 40 Island controller 50 Amusement unit 60 Amusement machine 111 Sweepstakes program storage area 112 Member exclusive storage area 361 Pachinko ball counter main body 362 Hopper 363 Ball return port 364 Character display section 365 Receipt issue button 366 Receipt take-out port 367 Prize prize button 368 Saving button 369 Image display 370 Card slot 371 Speaker 380 Card reading section 390 Communication interface 400 CPU

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A game medium counting apparatus which is used for a game arcade system which issues a membership card for each customer and performs various services using the membership card, and which includes a counting means for counting game media. Card reading means for reading data of the membership card, storage means for storing a prize program, display means for displaying various kinds of information, and data stored in the storage means based on the data read by the card reading means. And a control means for activating the prize program, displaying an advertisement of a game arcade or the like when the prize program is not operated, and displaying a process and a result on the display means when the prize program is operated. Game media counting device. 2. When the lottery result obtained by the prize-winning program is a winning, the control means adds the value of the game medium which is a prize to the count value of the game medium in the counting means, and adds this addition result to the display means. The game medium counting device according to claim 1, wherein the game medium counting device displays the game media. 3. A game arcade system in which a membership card is issued for each customer and various services are performed using the membership card, wherein a first storage area and a prize program stored for each member customer are stored. Storage means having a storage area of: a counting means for counting game media; card reading means for reading data of a membership card set for each customer; and transmitting data of a membership card read by the card reading means. Transmitting means for displaying, various kinds of information, and when the data in the first storage area extracted based on the data transmitted by the transmitting means satisfies a predetermined condition, The prize program stored in the second storage area is activated, and when the prize program is not activated, advertisements of a game arcade or the like are displayed. It unperturbed the game arcade system characterized by comprising a game medium counter that includes a first control means for displaying on the display means the process and results. 4. The control means adds a numerical value of a game medium as a prize to a count value of a game medium in the counting means when the lottery result by the prize program is a winning, and displays the addition result on the display means. 4. The game arcade system according to claim 3, wherein the information is displayed. 5. A second control means for further adding the result of addition to a numerical value stored in the first storage area, and rewriting the numerical value stored in the first storage area to the addition result. The game arcade system according to claim 4, wherein: