JPH10201927A - Management system of game parlor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively prevent the accumulated data from becoming inaccurate in a game parlor management system in which renting of media, pachinko balls etc., is made by the use of a record carrier issued to each player and the play data to exhibit the playing situation of each player is accumulated on the basis of the media rental data etc. SOLUTION: In the condition that a proper membership card is inserted in a card reader 34, the lease function of a ball lease machine 9 and the counting function of a ball counting machine 28 using the membership card are made valid. A management device 35 calculates the total of the number of pachinko balls rent by the ball lease machine 9 and the number of balls discharged as prize from a pachinko game machine concerned 3, and subtracts therefrom the total of the number of balls consumed through the play with the machine 3 and the number of balls counted by the ball counting machine 28, and the obtained value is stored as the residual ball data in correspondence to the membership card. In case the membership card is going to be used in other machine 3, the management device 35 makes invalid the ball lease function of the corresponding ball lease machine 9 if his residual ball data for the previous machine 3 exhibits a value exceeding the preset limitation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine in which a plurality of gaming machines for releasing game media in accordance with a prize of the game media are installed. The present invention relates to a management system for a game arcade that can store game data indicating a game situation for each customer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a pachinko hall, a ball counter that performs a counting operation of pachinko balls obtained by a player at a position corresponding to a pachinko game machine on a one-to-one basis and stores the counting data in a storage means. By installing a ball lending machine capable of lending pachinko balls based on the above counting data, it is not necessary to carry the acquired pachinko balls, and the pachinko balls once counted by the ball counting machine are used. (A so-called stand-by-count replay system) has been proposed in which the game can be played back in a state that is the same as when there is actually a pachinko ball at hand.

[0003] In addition, in the above system, when a player finishes playing a game with a gaming machine, the pachinko balls (acquired pachinko balls) once counted by a ball counting machine corresponding to the gaming machine are replaced by: It is also considered to add a so-called ball-storing function in which the pachinko balls are once deposited in the pachinko hall without being exchanged for prizes, and the pachinko balls can be used for a game on the day or the next day.

In order to realize such a ball saving function,
For example, a system as described below has been constructed. That is, a membership card in which data including an ID code assigned to the player is recorded is issued to the player who has been registered as a member in advance. In addition, a card reader is installed in correspondence with pachinko machines,
The counting operation function of the ball counter is operated only when the card reader reads the ID code stored in the member card, and the counting data by the ball counter is associated with the read ID code. It is configured to be stored as data (ball storage data) indicating the number of stored balls in the state. Further, the ball lending machine, only when the card reader has read the ID code from the membership card,
The ball storage data corresponding to the ID code is read from the storage means, and the pachinko balls within the range of the ball storage number indicated by the ball storage data are configured to be able to be released, and the ball storage number is reduced by the amount of the release. I do.

When the above-described system is constructed, game data for each patron (eg, the type of pachinko game machine played, the amount of pachinko balls consumed in the game, the amount of pachinko balls obtained in the game, the number of balls stored, etc.) , Etc.) can be individually tabulated, and accumulating such data has the advantage of being extremely useful in the business strategy of pachinko halls.

[0006]

Since the above-described ball storage function is very convenient for the player, there are many cases where one member card is reused by a plurality of players. Specifically, for example, when a player who does not have the remaining amount of coins corresponding to his / her own membership card (or a player who has not been issued a membership card) plays a game with a pachinko gaming machine, a ball rental machine It is necessary to borrow pachinko balls by paying a new fee through. However, when a player who needs to pay a new price as described above visits a store with another player (a friend, a family member, or the like), when playing the game, the player card corresponding to the other player's membership card is used. There are many cases where pachinko balls are borrowed using stored ball data, and when such a membership card is reused, when the game data for each player is accumulated, Inaccurate data prevents the intended purpose from being achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to count the number of game media using a record carrier issued to a player, and to use the record data based on the rental data and the like. In the case of realizing a configuration for accumulating game data indicating a game situation for each player, a management system for a game arcade that can effectively prevent a situation where the accumulated data becomes inaccurate is provided. is there.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a record carrier on which data including an ID code issued to a player and assigned to the player is recorded, and a prize for a game medium. Data reading means provided so as to be able to mount the record carrier at a position corresponding to a gaming machine configured to discharge a game medium in accordance with, and provided to read recorded data of the record carrier in the mounted state, Counting means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine, and switching to a state in which game media can be counted only when the record carrier is mounted on data reading means corresponding to the gaming machine; and counting results by the counting means. Storage means for storing the number of game media data based on the ID in association with the ID code of the record carrier, and an equivalent value corresponding to the insertion of money at a position corresponding to the gaming machine. In the state where the record carrier is mounted on the data reading means corresponding to the gaming machine, the ID code of the record carrier is included in the game medium number data stored in the storage means. Lending means for releasing game media based on data corresponding to the above, subtraction means for reducing the number of game media data in the storage means when the lending means releases the game medium, and reading the data Game data indicating the game status of each player receiving the record carrier based on the ID code read by the means, the number of game media by the counting means, and the number of game media released by the lending means. A game data management means for storing game data, the number of game media released through the lending means, and The value obtained by subtracting the total of the number of game media consumed in the game at the gaming machine and the total of the number of game media counted by the counting means from the total number of game media released in the gaming machine is the ID of the record carrier. Calculating means for calculating the remaining game medium number data associated with the code; and the remaining game medium number data calculated by the calculating means in a state where the mounting of the record carrier to the data reading means is released. If it is equal to or greater than the limit value, the I
Prohibiting means for invalidating the lending function of the lending means based on the record carrier on which the D code is recorded (claim 1).

[0009] According to such a configuration, a player who has been issued a record carrier that records data including an ID code assigned to himself / herself can play a game medium obtained by playing a game at a gaming machine. It can be counted by the counting means corresponding to the gaming machine. In this case, the record carrier is mounted on data reading means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine. Then, when the counting means switches to a state in which the game media can be counted, and when the counting of the game media is performed, the storage means stores the game medium number data based on the counting result in the ID code of the record carrier. Is stored in a state of being associated with.

The lending means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine is provided with the game stored in the storage means as described above when the record carrier is mounted on the data reading means corresponding to the gaming machine. Of the medium number data, a number of game media within the range of the game medium number data corresponding to the ID code of the mounted record carrier can be released, and the subtracting means releases the game medium at the time of release. Since the number of game medium data stored in the storage unit is reduced by the amount, the player can play a game using the game medium released through the lending unit.

That is, when using the counting means, it is necessary to mount the record carrier on the data reading means. Further, in a state where the record carrier is mounted on the data reading means, the game media within the range of the game medium number data stored in the storage means can be released through the lending means. As a result, it is premised that the player receives the record carrier in order to enjoy the convenience of the counting means and the lending means provided at the position corresponding to the gaming machine. This is useful for increasing the number, that is, for increasing the number of fixed customers in the game arcade.

On the other hand, in the state where the counting or discharging of the game media as described above is performed, the game data storage means stores the ID code read by the data reading means, the game medium number data by the counting means, and the rental medium by the lending means. Game data indicating the game status of each player who has been issued the record carrier based on the number-of-released-medium data is accumulated.

The calculating means calculates the number of game media consumed in the game at the gaming machine and the count based on the total number of game media released through the lending means and the total number of game media released at the gaming machine. A value obtained by subtracting the total number of game media counted by the means is calculated as remaining game medium number data associated with the ID code of the record carrier. In this case, the remaining game medium number data calculated as described above is equivalent to the number of game media currently possessed by the player, and the state in which the number is equal to or larger than the preset limit value indicates that the player Indicates that there is no need to borrow new game media using the record carrier.

In such a situation, that is, when the remaining game medium number data calculated by the calculation means is equal to or larger than a preset limit value, the state in which the recording medium is not mounted on the data reading means is released. The prohibition means invalidates the lending function of the lending means based on the record carrier on which the ID code associated with the remaining game medium number data is recorded (that is, the record carrier issued to the player). I will be.

As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the record carrier is reused by a plurality of players (a situation in which a player other than the owner of the record carrier uses the record carrier to borrow the game medium). become. Therefore, as described above, the game data for each player accumulated by the game data accumulation means can be made accurate, which is extremely useful in the business strategy of the game arcade.

In this case, as in the second aspect of the present invention,
In the state where the remaining game medium number data is less than a preset auxiliary limit value, the prohibiting means disables the counting function of the counting means based on the record carrier on which the ID code associated with the data is recorded. It is good also as a structure which makes it.

According to such a configuration, when the remaining game medium number data becomes smaller than the auxiliary limit value,
It becomes impossible to count the number of game media using the record carrier corresponding to the data. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a player other than the owner of the record carrier performs the counting operation by the counting means in such a situation. As a result, the game data (especially the counting means) , That is, data indicating the number of game media obtained on the player side).

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a record carrier in which data including an ID code which is issued to a player and is assigned to the player is recorded, and the record carrier is provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine. Data reading means provided so as to be mountable and reading the recording data of the record carrier in the mounted state, a counting means for counting game media, and a game medium based on the counting result by the counting means A storage means for storing numerical data in a state of being associated with the ID code of the record carrier; and a game medium provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine so as to discharge a game medium of an equivalent value according to insertion of money, In a state in which the record carrier is mounted on the data reading means corresponding to the machine, the ID code of the record carrier in the game medium number data stored in the storage means Lending means for releasing game media based on the corresponding data; subtraction means for reducing the number of game media in the storage means when the lending means releases the game medium; and the data reading means Based on the ID code read by the game device, the number of game media data by the counting means, the number of game media released by the lending means, and the like, game data indicating the game status of each player who has been issued the record carrier. In the management system for a game arcade provided with a game data storing means for storing, when the lending means performs a discharging operation of the game medium based on the game medium number data stored in the storage means, the game released. After setting the minimum consumption time when the medium is used for a game in a gaming machine, the period until the minimum consumption time elapses The record carrier has been mounted in the data reading means upon release of the body, may be configured with the prohibition means prohibits the use to release the game medium by other lending means (claim 3).

According to such a configuration, the player who has been issued the record carrier that records the data including the ID code assigned to himself / herself can count the game media obtained by the game at the game machine. By counting by the means, the counting result can be stored in the storage means in a state of being associated with the ID code of the record carrier.

Further, the lending means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine, when the record carrier is attached to the data reading means corresponding to the gaming machine, stores the game stored in the storage means as described above. Of the medium number data, a number of game media within the range of the game medium number data corresponding to the ID code of the mounted record carrier can be released, and the subtracting means releases the game medium at the time of release. Since the number of game medium data stored in the storage unit is reduced by the amount, the player can play a game using the game medium released through the lending unit.

On the other hand, in the state in which the game medium is counted or released as described above, the game data storage means stores the ID code read by the data reading means, the counting result by the counting means, and the game medium by the lending means. Game data indicating the game status of each player who has been issued the record carrier based on the release number data or the like.

Further, when the lending means performs an operation of releasing the game medium based on the game medium number data stored in the storage means, the shortest consumption when the released game medium is used for the game in the gaming machine is minimized. The time will be set.
In this case, the period until the shortest consumption time elapses is
There is a situation where a player carrying the record carrier does not need to rent a new game medium using the record carrier.

During the period until the shortest consumption time set in this way elapses, the prohibition means sets the record carrier attached to the data reading means at the time of the release of the game medium to the other rental means. The use of game media for release will be prohibited.

As a result, it is possible to prevent a situation where the record carrier is reused by a plurality of players. Therefore,
Also in the invention according to claim 3, it is possible to make the game data for each player accumulated by the game data accumulation means accurate, which is extremely useful in the business strategy of the game hall. According to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide the counting means in correspondence with each of the plurality of gaming machines, so that the overall configuration can be simplified.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIG.
A front view of a membership card 1 (corresponding to a record carrier in the present invention) used in the system of the present embodiment is shown. The membership card 1 is issued to a player who has become a gaming member of a pachinko hall, for example, and a tape-shaped magnetic recording unit 2 is provided on the surface thereof.
A member store name 1a, a number string 1b corresponding to data unique to the member store and the member, a character string 1c indicating the name of the member, and a number string 1d indicating the card validity date are formed by embossing.

In this case, the magnetic recording unit 2 indicates, for example, a member store code for specifying a pachinko hall, a member number, which is an ID code assigned to the member (player), and a card validity date. Expiration date data and the like are recorded.

In FIG. 2, the pachinko gaming machine 3 fires the pachinko balls (game media) in the upper plate 4 to the board surface 6 through an electric ball firing mechanism (only the operation dial is indicated by reference numeral 5). It has a configuration. In this case, although not specifically illustrated, the board 6 is provided with a start winning hole for a special prize operation, a movable winning hole, and an electric accessory associated therewith, in addition to a normal winning hole. The prize state in which the winning rate in the pachinko gaming machine 3 is greatly increased is selectively displayed.

In the pachinko gaming machine 3, pachinko balls serving as prize balls are released to the upper plate 4. When the upper plate 4 is full, the overflowed pachinko balls flow into the lower plate 7. It is supposed to. still,
The pachinko balls in the upper plate 4 can be dropped into the lower plate 7 by sliding the knob 4a.

On the other hand, a knob 7a is also provided on the lower plate 7, and when the knob 7a is slid, a drop port (not shown) formed at the bottom of the lower plate 7 is opened to open the inside. The pachinko ball is configured to flow into a guide tube 8 described later. However, the knob 7a is provided with a lock mechanism 7b having an electric drive unit, and the knob 7a is operated by the lock mechanism 7b (then, the operation of counting pachinko balls by a ball counter described later). Can be banned. The lock mechanism 7b is normally kept in a locked state.

A ball lending machine 9 as a lending means is installed on the left side of the pachinko gaming machine 3 in an adjacent state corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 3 on a one-to-one basis.
The ball lending machine 9 will be described.

That is, the ball lending machine 9 is formed in a vertically long rectangular box shape, and displays, on a front surface thereof, a call lamp 10a and respective states in which a special prize and a hit have occurred in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3. Prize indicator lamp 10b and hit indicator lamp 10c, panel unit 11, pachinko ball ejection nozzle 12, coin return slot 13, card insertion slot 14 for inserting member card 1, and eject switch for card ejection 15. A counter unit 16 to which the base of the guide tube 8 is connected is provided.

In this case, the nozzle 12 is provided with a discharge mechanism (shown by reference numeral 17 in FIG. 1) provided in the ball lending machine 9.
The tip is provided so as to be able to reciprocate between a normal position where the tip faces the upper plate 4 of the pachinko gaming machine 3 from above and a retracted position that is rotated forward. It is normally urged to a normal position by a spring means (not shown).

The panel unit 11 has a coin slot 18 and a coin return button 1 as shown in FIG.
9. Call switch 20, flat display capable of displaying images (for example, dot display type liquid crystal display)
A data screen selection switch 22 for selecting a state of displaying various types of management data (such as data on the number of special prizes relating to the pachinko gaming machine 3) provided from the pachinko hall side to the display unit 21; A total of two data screen changeover switches 23 for switching the contents of the display screen, a TV screen selection switch 24 for selecting a state of displaying a television broadcast screen on the display unit 21, and a player side through an earphone (not shown) or the like. A total of two volume switches 25 for adjusting the volume of the supplied audio output, a channel switch 26 for the TV screen, and a switch panel 27 are provided.

In particular, on the switch panel 27, a ten-key switch 27a for inputting a password and the like, a correction switch 27b for correcting the input contents by the ten-key switch 27a, a return switch for returning (discharging) pachinko balls. 27c is provided.

Referring back to FIG. 2, a ball counter 28 (corresponding to a counting means in the present invention) for counting pachinko balls flowing through the guide tube 8 is provided in the counter unit 16. A digital display 29 for displaying the count value of the pachinko ball, a count start switch 30 operated when starting counting of pachinko balls, and a count end switch 31 operated when finishing the counting. still,
The digital display 29 displays the number of special prizes for cash exchangeable with the number of pachinko balls corresponding to the count value, in addition to the count value of the ball counter 28.

Here, the guide tube 8 reciprocates between a normal position in which a tip faces a falling port (not shown) formed in the lower plate 7 of the pachinko gaming machine 3 and a retracted position rotated forward. It is rotatably provided, and is normally urged to a normal position by spring means (not shown). Note that a support leg 8a is provided on the distal end side of the guide tube 8.

The check mechanism 32 provided in the ball lending machine 9 so as to communicate with the coin slot 18 is provided with the coin slot 1.
This is a well-known configuration having a function of judging the authenticity of coins inserted from No. 8 so that a judgment signal indicating the judgment result is sent to a control unit (shown by reference numeral 33 in FIG. 1) described later. Has become.

A card reader 34 (corresponding to data reading means in the present invention) provided in the ball lending machine 9 so as to correspond to the card insertion slot 14 is provided with the card insertion slot 14.
The card inserted from the device is taken in, and the operation of reading data recorded on the card is performed. The ejection operation of the card taken in is performed by a command from the control unit 33. It has a configuration.

FIG. 1 shows the electrical configuration of the ball lending machine 9 and the parts related thereto by combining functional blocks. In FIG. 1, the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 has a function of a prohibiting unit according to the present invention, and includes a data memory 33a in addition to a CPU (not shown).

The control unit 33 controls the panel unit 1
1 (the call switch 20 shown in FIG. 2;
Data screen selection switch 22, data screen changeover switch 23, TV screen selection switch 24, volume switch 25, ten-key switch 27a, correction switch 27b,
An operation signal from the return switch 27c), an operation signal from the eject switch 15, a group of switches in the counter unit 16 (a count start switch 30, a count end switch 31 shown in FIG. 2), an operation signal from the ball counter 28 and Numerical signal, judgment signal from check mechanism 32, card reader 34
Based on read data, transmission data from the management device 35 described later, and a program stored in advance.
Display unit 21 in panel unit 11, call lamp 1
0a, a special display lamp 10b, a stop display lamp 10c,
It controls the release mechanism 17, the card reader 34, and the stopper mechanism 6b on the side of the pachinko gaming machine 3, and controls the management device 35.
And a control for transmission / reception processing between them.

In this case, the pachinko gaming machine 3 has an out-ball count signal indicating the number of driven pachinko balls associated with the game, a safe ball count signal indicating the number of pachinko balls released as prize balls associated with the game, and the special prize state described above. The configuration is such that a special prize signal that is continuously raised during the period of occurrence and a start signal indicating that a pachinko ball has won a start winning hole (not shown) are provided to the central management computer 36.

The central management computer 36, based on a signal from each of the pachinko gaming machines 3, transmits the pachinko gaming machines 3
Management data (number of out balls, number of safe balls, number of difference balls,
It has a well-known configuration having a calculation function of a payout rate and a hitting control function based on the calculation result, and transmits the management data as described above to the management device 35 every time a predetermined time elapses. Configuration. In addition, the central management computer 36 outputs a stop signal relating to the pachinko gaming machine 3,
An opening signal indicating the release of the hit state, the special prize signal, a start signal, and the like are also transmitted as management data to the management device 35 in real time. Note that the management data is transmitted in a state where the management data is combined with the machine number data of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3.

The management device 35 is a storage means according to the present invention,
It is provided with each function of a subtraction means, a game data accumulation means, and a calculation means. This management device 35 includes a C (not shown)
In addition to the PU, it is configured to include, for example, a data display 35a composed of a CRT display and the like, and manages the control related to the operation of releasing the pachinko balls by the ball lending machine 9 and transmits the transmission data from the central management computer 36 as described above. In addition, it is configured to execute based on transmission data from the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9.

The management device 35 has a group of individual data files for management as shown in FIGS.
When there is a request from the control unit 33 side of the ball lending machine 9, each signal described below created based on the individual data file group is answer backed.

The individual data file group includes a member data file, a game history file (the game history data stored therein corresponds to the game data referred to in the present invention), a gaming machine data file, an interruption file, It consists of a remaining ball count data file, and each file has the following configuration. However, FIGS.
In the table, “χ” means an arbitrary decimal number, “○” means an arbitrary kana character, “-” means no data, and “HHMM” means time “hour / minute”. It is shown.

The member data file shown in FIG.
Data indicating, for example, a four-digit password registered in advance for each member, the name, gender and age of the member, the number of balls saved, and the number of balls held in correspondence with the member numbers recorded on all issued member cards 1 Is stored in the format.

The game history file shown in FIG. 12 shows game history data for each player who has been issued the member card 1 and is created for each member number of each member card 1. The game history file is associated with the game start time and the machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 3 and the number of out-balls, the number of safe balls, and the number of starts (winning in the start winning hole) in the pachinko gaming machine 3. This is a format that stores the number of pachinko balls released by the insertion of money in the ball lending machine 9 adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 3, the number of special prizes, the number of balls sold, and the game end time.

The gaming machine data file shown in FIG. 13 corresponds to the number of the pachinko gaming machine 3 and the number of out balls, the number of safe balls, and the number of coins in the adjacent ball lending machine 9 of the pachinko gaming machine 3. The number of sales balls indicating the number of pachinko balls released by insertion, the number of returned balls indicating the number of pachinko balls released based on the stored ball data in the ball lending machine 9, and the number of pachinko balls counted by the corresponding ball counter 28. , The number of balls, the number of starts, and the number of special prizes are stored.

The interruption file shown in FIG. 14 is for specifying the pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the game is interrupted halfway, and the member card 1 is associated with the pachinko gaming machine 3 number. Is stored in a format in which the member number and the number of possessed balls are stored.

The remaining ball count data file shown in FIG. 15 is associated with the number of the pachinko gaming machine 3 and the number of remaining balls ΔX obtained by the following calculation, the member number of the member card 1 and the count prohibition. Flag F (“1” in set state,
This is a format in which “0” is stored in the reset state.

FIGS. 4 to 6 show the control unit 3 of the ball lending machine 9.
3 shows the control contents, which will be described below together with the related operation. However, in FIGS. 4 to 6, the contents related to the control of the release of pachinko balls according to the insertion of money are omitted, but the ball lending machine 9 releases the number of pachinko balls according to the insertion of money. Is done,
An operation of transmitting the sales ball number signal indicating the number of released pachinko balls (to which the number data of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is combined) to the management device 35 is performed.

4 and 5, in an initial state, the control unit 33 waits until an operation of inserting a card into the card insertion slot 14 is performed (step A1). When a card is inserted from this state, a card reader is read. It is determined whether or not the inserted card is the member card 1 of the own shop based on the data read by 34 (step A2).
In this case, if the inserted card is not the member card 1 of the own shop, the step A for discharging the inserted card
After executing step 3, the process returns to the determination step A1.

If "YES" is determined in the step A2, that is, if the member card 1 of the own shop is inserted into the card insertion slot 14, an interruption confirmation signal is transmitted to the management device 35 (step A4). Thereafter, the control unit 35 waits until one of the game permission signal, the interruption release signal, the interruption continuation signal, and the rejection signal is answered back (steps A5 to A8).

In this case, the interruption confirmation signal includes the membership number read from the membership card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14 through the card reader 34 and the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 number. It has become.

In the management device 35 which has received the above-mentioned interruption confirmation signal, the game history file (see FIG. 12), the interruption file (see FIG. 14), the number of remaining balls, as will be apparent from the following description. Based on the data file (see FIG. 15), any one of the game permission signal, the interruption release signal, the interruption continuation signal and the rejection signal is created and the answer back is performed.

If "YES" is determined in step A7, that is, if the interruption continuation signal is answered back (as will be understood from the description below, the pachinko gaming machine in which the game is temporarily interrupted) 3 corresponds to the case where a prize ball card 2 of a player different from the player before the interruption is inserted into the card insertion slot 14 corresponding to 3), the inserted card is different from that before the interruption of the game. Step A9a of displaying a message to the effect on the display unit 21 and step A10 of ejecting the inserted card are sequentially executed, and then the process returns to step A1.

If "YES" is determined in the step A8, that is, if the rejection signal is answered back (as will be understood from the following description, the pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the game is not temporarily interrupted) The member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14 corresponding to is already used for a game in another pachinko gaming machine 3 and the remaining number of balls in the other pachinko gaming machine 3 (this Is also described later), the step A9b of displaying on the display unit 21 a message prompting the end of the game in another pachinko gaming machine 3 and the card discharging step A10 are sequentially performed. Step A after executing
Return to 1.

If "YES" is determined in the step A6, that is, if the interruption release signal is answered back (as will be understood from the following description, the pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the game is temporarily interrupted is When the member card 1 owned by the player who has interrupted the game is inserted into the corresponding card insertion slot 14 (corresponding to the case where the membership card 1 is inserted), the message displayed on the display unit 21 (which can be understood by the description below) As described above, the step A11 of deleting the interruption message indicating that the game in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is interrupted in the middle) is executed, and thereafter, the control after the step A12 shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

Further, if "YES" is determined in step A5, that is, if the game permission signal is answered back (as will be understood from the following description, the pachinko gaming machine in which the game is not temporarily interrupted) When the member card 1 inserted in the card insertion slot 14 corresponding to the third pachinko gaming machine 3 has already been used for a game in another pachinko gaming machine 3, the remaining number of balls in the other pachinko gaming machine 3 Is less than a predetermined value, or when the member card 1 is used in another pachinko gaming machine 3 and the game in the other pachinko gaming machine 3 has already been completed. ), The control after step A12 shown in FIG. 5 is executed.

In FIG. 5, steps A12 to A19 for making each judgment as described later are executed, and in each of these steps A12 to A19, "N
If it is determined to be "O", the counting process routine A20,
After sequentially executing the data display processing routine A21 and the TV display processing routine A22, a loop is formed for re-executing the control after step A12.

In the counting process routine A20, the operation of displaying the count value on the digital display 29 while updating and storing the count value in the data memory 33a is performed only when the ball counter 28 is performing the counting operation of the pachinko balls. When the counting operation of the pachinko balls is completed, the count value of the ball counter 28 is initialized (the stored count value of the data memory 33a remains as it is), and a message to the effect that the counting is completed is displayed on the display unit 21. indicate.

In the data display processing routine A21, when the data screen selection switch 22 is turned on, various management data provided from the pachinko hall side are selectively displayed on the display unit 21. Further, in the TV display processing routine A22, a TV image is displayed on the display unit 21 when the TV screen selection switch 24 is turned on. The TV screen switching operation can be performed by the channel switch 24.

In step A12, it is determined whether or not a four-digit password has been entered through the ten-key switch 27a. If “NO” is determined here, the process directly proceeds to step A13, but if “YES” is determined, the process proceeds to step A13 after executing the number-of-storage display routine A23.

In the above-described number-of-storage display routine A23,
The ball storage data request signal is transmitted to the management device 35, and when the ball storage data request signal is answered back from the management device 35 in response thereto, the ball storage number indicated by the ball storage data signal is stored in the data memory 33a and , On the display unit 21, thereby enabling the lending function of the ball lending machine 9 using the member card 1. When the mismatch signal is answered back from the management device 35, a message is displayed on the display unit 21 to instruct the user to input the password again.

The ball storage data request signal includes the member number read from the member card 1 through the card reader 34, the corresponding pachinko machine 3 machine number, and the password input through the numeric key switch 27a. It has a form.

Further, in the management device 35 which has received the ball storage data request signal, as will be apparent from the following description, based on the member data file (see FIG. 11).
It is determined whether or not the password included in the ballpark data request signal is appropriate. If the password is correct, the number of balls (data in the member data file) corresponding to the member number in the ballpark data request signal is determined. In this configuration, the stored coin data signal is answered back, and if the password is incorrect, the mismatch signal is answered back.

In step A13, the ON state of the count start switch 30 is determined. If “NO” is determined here, the process directly proceeds to step A14.
If "YES" is determined, the process proceeds to step A24.

In this step A24, it is determined whether or not the ball counter 28 is in a count prohibition state described later. If the determination is "YES", the process proceeds to the determination step A14. If the determination is "NO", the locking mechanism 7 is determined.
Step A25 of switching b to the unlocked state to allow operation of the knob 7a, Step A2 of starting the timer operation (for example, about 10 to 15 seconds) of the shutter timer
6 are sequentially executed, and the process proceeds to the determination step A14.

Therefore, when the count start switch 30 is turned on with the proper member card 1 inserted in the card insertion slot 14, the operation of the knob 7a is prohibited, that is, the pachinko machine by the ball counter 28. The state in which the ball counting operation is prohibited is released. This allows
The pachinko balls in the lower plate 7 can be caused to flow into the guide tube 8 in response to the operation of the knob 7a, so that the pachinko balls in the lower plate 7 can be counted by the ball counter 28.

The shutter timer is realized by, for example, a program of the control unit 33, and has a retrigger function in which the timer operation time is returned to the initial state when the ball counter 28 is performing the counting operation. It is provided with a configuration.

In step A14, the ON state of the count end switch 31 is determined. If “NO” is determined here, the process directly proceeds to step A15.
If "YES" is determined, the process proceeds to step A15 after executing the data transfer process routine A26.

In the data transfer processing routine A26,
When the counting by the ball counting machine 28 is completed, the counting result is displayed in either a so-called storage ball (pachinko ball once deposited in the pachinko hall side) or a holding ball (pachinko ball in a form that can be returned at the same ratio). This data is stored in the data memory 33a as data indicating one of the numbers, and the distribution to the stored or held balls is performed based on the ball return mode set in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3.

That is, in the pachinko gaming machine 3, for example,
One-time exchange mode (mode for shifting the number of pachinko balls by the ball counter 28 to the savings ball), non-quantitative mode (mode for shifting the counting pachinko balls to the holding ball unconditionally), lucky chance mode (the so-called pachinko gaming machine 3 is used). A mode in which the counting pachinko ball is shifted to the holding ball only during the period of the lucky chance state, and is shifted to a savings ball in the other periods), a hitting mode (when the pachinko gaming machine 3 is in the hitting state, the counting pachinko ball is played). A ball return mode such as a mode for shifting to ball storage is set, and the result of counting by the ball counter 28 is based on the ball storage number and ball number data in accordance with the setting state of such a ball return mode. It will be shifted selectively to either. Note that the above-described data on the number of stored balls or the number of held balls is added to the data on the number of stored balls and the number of held balls when the data memory 33a already has the data.

In step A15, the on state of the eject switch 15 is determined. If "NO" is determined here, the process directly proceeds to step A16.
If "YES" is determined, the process returns to the initial step A1 after executing the card ejection processing routine A27.

FIG. 6 shows the specific contents of the card ejection processing routine A27. That is, in the card ejection processing routine A27 shown in FIG. 6, first, it is determined whether or not the count value of the ball counter 28 is zero (step a1).

If "NO" is determined in the step a1, that is, if the processing of the count value by the ball counter 28 is not completed, the process returns as it is. If "YES" is determined, the data memory is returned. It is determined whether or not the number of possessed balls stored in 33a is zero (step a2).

If "YES" is determined in the step a2, the process proceeds to a step a11 described later.
If it is determined to be "O", a discharge message is displayed on the display unit 21 (step a3). Specifically, the discharge message prompts the operation of the “1” key of the ten-key switch 27a when temporarily interrupting the game, and the operation of the “9” key of the ten-key switch 27a when ending the game. It is what prompts you.

After the execution of the display step a3 as described above, the process stands by until either the "1" key or the "9" key of the ten-key switch 27a is operated (steps a4 and a5).

When the "1" key of the ten-key switch 27a is operated, an interruption message indicating that the game in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is interrupted on the display unit 21 is interrupted. Step a6 of displaying a message, and step a of transmitting an interruption signal to the management device 35
7. Returning after sequentially executing step a16 of discharging the membership card 1 inserted in the card insertion slot 14, Note that the interruption signal includes a member number read from the member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14 through the card reader 34, the corresponding machine number data of the pachinko gaming machine 3, and the immediately before transmission of the interruption signal. Display part 2 at the time
The data includes the data indicating the number of possessed balls displayed in 1.

On the other hand, when the "9" key of the ten-key switch 27a is operated, the ball return mode set in the pachinko gaming machine 3 is set to the carry-in ball mode (the pachinko balls counted by the ball counter 28 are displayed). It is determined whether or not the mode is one in which the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the ball counting machine 28 is only allowed to be brought into another pachinko gaming machine 3 of the same model (step a8).

If "YES" is determined here, after the step a9 of transmitting the ball-holding signal to the management device 35, the step a15 of initializing the display on the display unit 21 and the card discharging step a16 are sequentially executed, Returning, if the ball return mode other than the carry-in ball mode has been set ("NO" in step a8), the data memory 3
Step a10 of adding the number of balls held in 3a to the number of stored balls to change the number of held balls to zero, step a11 of transmitting a ball storage signal to the management device 35, and step a12 of transmitting an end signal to the management device 35 are sequentially performed. Run. The control after the transmission step a11 is “YES” in the step a2.
It is also executed when it is determined that

Here, the ball diving signal is obtained by reading the member number read from the member card 1 through the card reader 34 on the ball lending machine 9 side, the corresponding machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 3, and immediately before transmitting the ball diving signal. At the time of the data memory 33
The data includes the data indicating the number of balls held in a. In addition, the ball saving signal is obtained by reading the member number read from the member card 1 through the card reader 34 on the ball lending machine 9 side, the corresponding pachinko game machine 3 number, and the data memory 33 at the time immediately before the transmission of the ball saving signal.
and data indicating the number of stored coins stored in a. Further, the end signal has a form including the member number read through the card reader 34 and the machine number data of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3.

After the execution of the transmission step a12, it is determined whether or not the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is in a lucky chance state (step a13). If the player is in the lucky chance state, the step a14 for canceling the lucky chance state is executed, and the display initializing step a15 and the card discharging step a
16 are sequentially executed, and the process returns. On the contrary,
If the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is not in the lucky chance state, the display initialization step a15 and the card discharge step a
16 and then returns.

Returning to FIG. 5, in step A16, the on state of the return switch 27c is determined. Here "NO"
If determined to be, the process directly proceeds to step A17, but if determined to be “YES”, the process returns to step A17 after executing the ball return processing routine A28.

In the ball return processing routine A28, when the corresponding pachinko game machine 3 is in the hitting state and when the ball counting machine 28 is in the counting prohibited state described later, the routine returns as it is. Even when the ball counter 28 is not in the hitting state or the counting prohibited state, if the counting operation by the ball counter 28 is not completed, the process returns. Then, if neither the hitting state nor the counting prohibited state and the counting operation by the ball counter 28 has been completed, the ball return mode set in the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is changed to the one-time exchange mode. , A pachinko ball release (return) operation is performed based on the ball storage data stored in the data memory 33a. When the ball return mode is other than the one-time exchange mode, the pachinko ball is stored in the data memory 33a. A pachinko ball discharging operation is performed based on the held ball number data. When the ball number data becomes zero due to such release, or when it is zero from the beginning, a pachinko ball release operation based on the ball storage data in the data memory 33a is performed.

Here, the above-mentioned pachinko ball is released in a predetermined unit number (for example, 25). (If the data indicating the number of stored balls or the number of held balls is less than the unit number, That is, the number of pachinko balls is released), and for each release, the corresponding one of the stored ball number and retained ball number data in the data memory 33a is reduced by a value corresponding to the number of released pachinko balls. However, the release of pachinko balls based on the data indicating the number of balls held is performed at the same ratio, but when the pachinko balls are released based on the data indicating the number of stored balls, a predetermined discount rate (for example, 20 (Appropriate value in the range of .about.80%). That is, for example, when the discount rate is set to W, when n pachinko balls are released based on the data indicating the number of stored balls, the data memory 33
The data indicating the number of stored balls in “a” is reduced by a numerical value corresponding to “100 n / W” (however, fractions are rounded down, for example).

In step A17, the shutter timer (the timer operation is started in step a17)
It is determined whether or not the time is up. Here "NO"
If the determination is "YES", the process directly proceeds to step A18, but if the determination is "YES", the locking mechanism 7b
Is returned to the locked state, and the process proceeds to step A16 after executing step a29 in which the operation of the knob 7a is prohibited.

In step A18, it is determined whether or not a count prohibition signal transmitted from the management device 35 as described later has been received. If “NO” is determined here, the process directly proceeds to step A19, but “YES”
When the determination is made, the process proceeds to step A19 after executing the count prohibition process routine A30.

In the counting prohibition processing routine A30, the operation of the knob 7a (that is, the counting operation by the ball counter 28) is prohibited by returning the lock mechanism 7b to the locked state, and the ball counter 28 is displayed on the display unit 21. Displays a usage prohibition message indicating that it cannot be used.

In step A19, it is determined whether or not a count prohibition cancel signal transmitted from the management device 35 as described later has been received. If the determination is "NO", the process proceeds to the counting process routine A20 as described above. If the determination is "YES", the counting prohibition releasing process routine A31 is executed, and then the counting process routine A20 is executed.
Move to 20. Above count prohibition release processing routine A31
Then, while canceling the count prohibition state of the ball counter 28,
The control is performed to end the display state of the use prohibition message on the display unit 21.

The management device 35 controls the operation related to the pachinko ball lending operation by the ball lending machine 9 and the management of the counting result by the ball counter 28, transmission data from the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9, and It is configured to be executed based on management data (including an out ball number signal, a safe ball number signal, and the like for each pachinko gaming machine 3) transmitted from the central management computer 36 every time a predetermined time elapses. The transmission data from the control unit 33 includes an interruption confirmation signal,
In addition to the ball storage data request signal, the interruption signal, the end signal, and the ball holding signal, based on the ball sales data indicating the number of pachinko balls released according to the insertion of money in the ball lending machine 9 and the ball storage data in the ball lending machine 9 And a ball return number signal indicating the number of pachinko balls released.

FIG. 7 shows only the part related to the gist of the present invention out of the control contents of the management device 35, and this will be described below together with the related operation. In FIG. 7, the management device 35 includes steps B1, B2, B3, B
By forming a standby loop for sequentially executing steps 4, B5 and B6, an interruption confirmation signal from the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 and file rewriting data from the central management computer 36 and the control unit 33 (central management computer 36 , Management ball data from the control unit 33, a sales number signal, and a ball return number signal from the control unit 33), a ball storage data request signal from the control unit 33,
The presence / absence of an interruption signal, an end signal, a ball holding signal or a ball storage signal is determined.

When the file rewriting data is received ("YES" in step B2), a data update processing routine B7 and a remaining ball number calculation storage processing routine B8 are sequentially executed. It should be noted that the management data, the number of balls sold, and the number of balls returned, which constitute the file rewriting data, are combined with the machine number data of the pachinko gaming machine 3 as described above. , B8 uses this machine number data.

In the data update processing routine B7, each data (the number of outgoing balls, the number of safe balls, the number of sold balls, the number of returned balls, the number of counted balls, the number of start balls, the number of special prizes) in the gaming machine data file (see FIG. 13). Is rewritten based on the received file rewriting data, and the data (out of the portion of the game history file (see FIG. 12) in which the registration of the game start time and the unit number as described later is performed. The processing of rewriting the number of balls, the number of safe balls, the number of starts, the number of special prizes, and the number of sales balls) is performed based on the received file rewriting data.

In the remaining ball number calculation storage processing routine B8,
For each pachinko gaming machine 3, the number of pachinko balls released through the corresponding ball rental machine 9 and the total number of pachinko balls released as prize balls in the pachinko gaming machine 3 (corresponding to the number of safe balls) indicate that pachinko game. The value obtained by subtracting the sum of the number of pachinko balls consumed in the game at the machine 3 (corresponding to the number of out balls) and the number of pachinko balls counted by the corresponding ball counter 28 is associated with the member number of the member card 1. The remaining number of balls ΔX is calculated, and the calculation result is written to a remaining ball number data file (see FIG. 15). When the member card 1 is inserted into the card slot 14 corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 3, the member number of the member card 1 is stored in the area corresponding to the unit number data in the remaining ball number data file. The writing process is also performed at the same time.

The above-described calculation processing of the number of remaining balls ΔX can be specifically performed using, for example, data stored in a game machine data file.
(The number of sold balls + the number of returned balls + the number of safe balls)-(the number of out balls + the number of counted balls).

After the execution of the remaining ball number calculation storage processing routine B8, the pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the remaining ball number ΔX has become less than the preset limit value N1 (for example, “25”) in the remaining ball number data file. Is determined (step B9).

If "YES" is determined in the step B9, it is determined whether or not the member number is stored in the area corresponding to the unit number data of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 in the remaining ball number data file. (Step B1
0), if "YES", the process proceeds to the step B12 after executing the step B11 for deleting the member number, and if "NO", the process jumps the step B11 and proceeds to the step B12.

At step B12, it is determined whether or not there is a pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the number of remaining balls ΔX is smaller than a preset auxiliary limit value N2 (for example, “1”) in the remaining ball number data file. The decision is "YE
If "S" is determined, it is determined whether or not the count prohibition flag F is set in an area corresponding to the unit number data of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 in the remaining ball number data file (step B13).

If "YES" is determined in this step B13 (F = "1"), the process returns to the standby loop as it is, but if "NO" is determined (F = "0") Sets the count prohibition flag F in step B
14. Step B1 of answering back the count prohibition signal to the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 3
After executing step 5, the process returns to the standby loop.

As a result, the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 that has received the count prohibition signal executes the control after the count prohibition processing routine A30 in FIG. As a result, when the number of remaining balls ΔX is smaller than the auxiliary limit value N2 in a state where the pachinko gaming machine 3 is playing a game using the membership card 1, the membership card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 14. Ball counting machine 29
Will be prohibited.

If the result of the determination in step B9 is "NO" (when there is a pachinko gaming machine 3 whose remaining ball number ΔX is equal to or larger than the limit value N1 in the remaining ball number data file),
If the determination is "NO" in the step B12 (the pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the number of remaining balls ΔX is less than the limit value N1 and equal to or more than the auxiliary limit value N2 in the remaining ball number data file)
If there is any), it is determined whether or not the count prohibition flag F is set in an area corresponding to the unit number data of the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 in the remaining ball number data file (step B16).

If "NO" is determined in this step B16 (if F = "0"), the process returns to the standby loop as it is, but if "YES" is determined (if F = "1") After executing step B17 of resetting the count prohibition flag F and step B18 of answering back the count prohibition release signal to the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 3, the process returns to the standby loop.

As a result, the control unit 33 of the ball rental machine 9 that has received the count prohibition release signal executes the control after the count prohibition release processing routine A31 in FIG. As a result, in a state where the game with the pachinko gaming machine 3 is performed using the membership card 1, when the remaining ball number ΔX is equal to or more than the auxiliary limit value N2,
When the member card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 14, the counting operation prohibited state in the ball counter 29 is released.

Here, if "NO" is determined in the step B9, the step B11 for deleting the member number from the remaining ball number data file is not executed. Therefore, with respect to the pachinko gaming machine 3 having the remaining ball number ΔX equal to or more than the limit value N1, once the member number is written in the remaining ball number data file, the member number remains without being deleted. . The member number left in the remaining ball number data file is used for disabling control of the lending function of the ball lending machine 9 as described later.

When a ball storage data request signal is received (“YES” in step B3), that is, the control unit 3 of the ball lending machine 9
In 3, when the above-described stored ball count display processing routine A23 (see FIG. 5) is performed according to the input of the personal identification number, the stored-ball data output processing routine B19 is executed. In this processing routine B19, based on the member data file (see FIG. 11), whether the password included in the received coin storage data request signal is appropriate (the combination of the member number and the password in the coin storage data request signal is determined by the member data file) Is determined to match with the combination of the member number and the password in).

[0107] If the password in the coin storage data request signal is correct,
The number of stored coins corresponding to the member number in the stored ball data request signal is read out, and the stored ball data signal including the number of stored balls is answered back to the ball lending machine 9 that has transmitted the stored ball data request signal. If the password is incorrect, the mismatch signal is answered back. Accordingly, the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 that has received the ball storage data signal or the discrepancy signal executes the storage control and the display control in the ball storage number display processing routine A23 based on the received signal. Will do.

When the interruption signal is received (“YES” in step B4), that is, when the interruption signal output step a7 as shown in FIG. 6 is performed on the ball lending machine 9 side (“1” is stored in the data memory 33a). After the eject switch 15 is turned on after the number of balls held is stored, the "1" key of the numeric key switch 27a is operated (corresponding to the operation of the "1" key). Access (step B20), and in the interruption file, the member number and the pachinko gaming machine 3 included in the received interruption signal.
Register the number data and the number of balls held (step B
21). Therefore, the presence of the machine number data in the suspension file means that the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the machine number is in the game suspended state.

When the end signal is received (“YES” in step B5), that is, when the end signal output step a12 as shown in FIG. 6 is performed on the ball lending machine 9 side (stored in the data memory 33a). When the eject switch 15 is turned on in a state where the number of balls held is zero, or after the eject switch 15 is turned on in a state where the number of balls held is "1" or more in the data memory 33a, the numeric keypad is pressed. When the "9" key of the switch 27a is operated, the ball return mode set in the pachinko gaming machine 3 is other than the carry-in ball mode, and the remaining ball number data file (FIG. 15) (See step B22).

Next, it is determined whether or not there is a pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the number of remaining balls ΔX is equal to or larger than the preset limit value N1 in the remaining ball number data file (step B23). “YES” in this step B23
If it is determined that the number of remaining balls is not included in the received ball number data file, the process returns to the standby loop after executing step B24 of registering the unit number data and the member number included in the received end signal together with the number of remaining balls ΔX. Therefore, the presence of the member number and the vehicle number data in the remaining ball number data file means that the number of remaining balls ΔX in the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the vehicle number is equal to or more than the limit value N1. Become.

If "NO" is determined in the step B23, the game history file (see FIG. 12) is accessed (step B25), and the end signal received from the storage area in the game history file is received. After executing the step B26 of registering the data indicating the game end time in the storage area corresponding to the member number included in the (holding ball signal described later), the process returns to the standby loop.

When a ball holding signal or a ball storage signal is received ("YES" in step B6). In other words, when the ball lending machine 9 performs the ball-ball signal transmission step a10 or the ball-storage signal transmission step a11 as shown in FIG. 6, the member data file (see FIG. 11) is accessed (step B27).

Then, of the data indicating the number of balls and the number of balls held in the member data file, the data corresponding to the member number in the received ball signal or the ball holding signal is replaced with the number of balls stored in the ball signal. B to be updated to a value corresponding to the data indicating the number of balls in the ball holding signal or the ball holding signal
After executing step 28, the process returns to the standby loop.

When the interruption confirmation signal is received ("YES" in step B1), that is, when the appropriate member card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 14 on the ball lending machine 9, the interruption file ( (See FIG. 14) (step B29), and it is determined whether or not data corresponding to the machine number included in the interruption confirmation signal exists in the interruption file (step B30). The presence of the machine number data in the suspend file means that the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the machine number is in the game suspended state, as described above.

Then, "YES" in step B30.
Is determined, that is, if the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is in the game interrupted state, it is determined whether the member number corresponding to the above-mentioned machine number in the interrupt file matches the member number included in the interrupt confirmation signal. Is determined (step B31).

[0116] The state determined as "YES" in step B31 is a state where the card inserted into the card insertion slot 14 is inserted when the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is in the game interrupted state. In this case, the process returns to the standby loop after executing step B32 of answering back the suspension release signal to the ball rental machine 9 that has been the transmission source of the suspension confirmation signal in this case. . As a result, in the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 that has received the interruption release signal, the control unit 33 in step A1 in FIG.
The control after 1 is executed.

On the other hand, "NO" in step B31.
In other words, when the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the ball lending machine 9 that has transmitted the interruption confirmation signal is in a game interruption state, the card inserted into the card insertion slot 14 is inserted before interruption. If it is different from the membership card 1 that has been executed, the process returns to the standby loop after executing step B33 of answering back the interruption continuation signal to the ball lending machine 9 that has been the transmission source of the interruption confirmation signal.

As a result, the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 which has received the interruption continuation signal sequentially executes the steps A9a and A10 in FIG. 4 and discharges the inserted card. .

On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in the step B30 (corresponding to the case where the corresponding pachinko gaming machine 3 is not in the game interruption state), the interruption file contains the interruption confirmation signal received. It is determined whether or not the same member number as the member number exists (step B34).

[0120] Here, when it is determined to be "YES" (this state is a state in which the player holding the corresponding member card 1 temporarily suspends the game of the other pachinko game machine 3 and a different pachinko game) In this case, the game proceeds to a state in which a game is to be started in the game machine 3).

In the above-described ball-move transfer processing routine B35, control is performed to add the number-of-balls data corresponding to the relevant member number in the interruption file to the number of stored balls corresponding to the relevant member number in the member data file (see FIG. 11). As a result, when the player occupies two or more pachinko gaming machines 3, the pachinko balls that have been held by the player are changed to ball storage.

After the execution of the above-mentioned game play transfer routine B35, the game history file (see FIG. 12) is accessed (step B36), and the game start time is indicated in the storage area corresponding to the member number in the game history file. The data and the corresponding pachinko machine 3 are registered (step B37). And this step B37
After executing step B38, the process returns to the standby loop after executing step B38 of answering back the game permission signal to the ball rental machine 9 which has been the transmission source of the interruption confirmation signal.

As a result, the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 that has received the game permission signal executes the control from step A12 in FIG. Therefore, from this state, when an appropriate password is input through the numeric key switch 27a on the control unit 33 side,
In response to execution of the stored ball number display processing routine A23 (see FIG. 5), the stored ball number indicated by the stored ball data signal answered back from the management device 35 is stored in the data memory 33a and displayed on the display unit 21. Thus, the lending function of the ball lending machine 9 (lending function using the member card 1) is activated.

On the other hand, if the determination in step B34 is "NO" (corresponding to the case where the player who inserted the membership card 1 is not in a state where the other pachinko gaming machines 3 are temporarily interrupted in the game), Remaining ball count data file (see Fig. 15)
Is accessed (step B39), and it is determined whether or not there is a member corresponding to the member number included in the received interruption confirmation signal in the remaining ball number data file (step B40). As described above, the state where the member number exists in the remaining ball number data file is that the remaining ball number ΔX in the pachinko gaming machine 3 corresponding to the machine number data corresponding to the member number is equal to or more than the limit value N1. It corresponds to a state.

If the determination in step B40 is "NO", the control from step B36 is executed.
Therefore, the membership card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14
Is used for a game in another pachinko game machine 3, and when the number of remaining balls ΔX accompanying the game in the pachinko game machine 3 is less than the limit value N1, the card insertion port 14
The lending function using the member card 1 of the ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the above is enabled, and the game in the pachinko gaming machine 3 using the member card 1 is allowed.

On the other hand, "YES" in step B40.
If it is determined that the vehicle number data in the remaining ball number data file matches the vehicle number data in the received interruption confirmation signal, it is determined whether or not the vehicle number data in the received interruption confirmation signal matches (step B41).

[0127] If "YES" is determined in this step B41, that is, when the member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14 is used for the game in the pachinko gaming machine 3, the membership card 1 in the pachinko gaming machine 3 is used. Even if the remaining ball count ΔX accompanying the game is equal to or greater than the limit value N1, the member card 1
Is used for a game on the same pachinko gaming machine 3, the step B38 for transmitting the game permission signal
Move to. Therefore, also in such a case, the lending function using the membership card 1 of the ball lending machine 9 is activated, and the game in the pachinko gaming machine 3 is allowed.

On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in the step B41, a step B42 for answering back the rejection signal to the ball lending machine 9 which is the transmission source of the interruption confirmation signal is executed. Thereby, in the control unit 33 of the ball lending machine 9 which has received the rejection signal, the steps A9b, A9b in FIG.
Step 10 is sequentially executed to eject the inserted card. Therefore, when the member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14 is used for a game in another pachinko game machine 3, the remaining ball number ΔX associated with the game in the pachinko game machine 3
Is greater than or equal to the limit value N1, the lending function using the membership card 1 of the ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the card insertion slot 14 is invalidated, and the pachinko gaming machine 3 using the member card 1 is invalidated. Games will be prohibited.

After execution of step B42,
After executing the alarm processing routine B43, the process returns to the standby loop. In the alarm processing routine B43, the data display 3
An alarm generation operation as described below is performed by using 5a.

That is, the operation display screen as shown in FIG. 8 is always displayed on the data display 35a. In this operation confirmation screen, a stand number area G displaying the stand numbers of all the pachinko gaming machines 3 in the pachinko hall.
1. A member data display area G2 and a game history data display area G3 are set.

In the stand number display area G1, the display state of each stand number is set to a different display pattern that can be visually identified, so that the gaming state (non-operating state, membership card) of the pachinko gaming machine 3 of the stand number is concerned. 1 and a game state without the use of the membership card 1).

In the member data display area G2, if the pachinko gaming machine 3 at the machine number designated by the external operation is in a gaming state involving the use of the membership card 1, the membership card 1 is displayed. Corresponding member data (this is created based on the member data file (see FIG. 11))
Is displayed.

[0133] In the game history data display area G3, the pachinko gaming machine 3 of the unit number designated as described above.
Game history data (this is created based on the game history file (see FIG. 12)).

In the alarm processing routine B43, an operation confirmation screen at the time of illegal occurrence as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the data display 35a. The operation confirmation screen at the time of occurrence of fraud includes a fraudulent content display area G instead of the member data display area G2 and the game history data display area G3.
4 is set. In this case, the illegal content display area G
4 displays a message indicating that the member card 1 has been reused, a machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 3 in which the member card 1 has been reused, and member data about the reused member card 1. At the same time, the corresponding unit number display portion in the unit number display area G1 blinks, for example.

In short, according to the above-described embodiment, the member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14 is used for a game at another pachinko gaming machine 3, and the pachinko gaming machine The number of remaining balls associated with the game at 3 ΔX
If the value of the pachinko ball (equivalent to the number of pachinko balls currently held by the player) is equal to or greater than the limit value N1 (for example, “25”), that is, the player uses the membership card 1 to lend a new pachinko ball. In a situation where there is no need to receive the card, the lending function using the membership card 1 in the ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the card insertion slot 14 is invalidated, and the pachinko gaming machine using the member card 1 is invalidated. 3 is prohibited.

As a result, when a player plays a game, the member card 1 is reused such that pachinko balls are lent from the ball lending machine 9 using the ball storage data corresponding to the member card 1 of another player. As a result, it is possible to effectively prevent a situation in which the game history data for each player who has been issued the member card 1 becomes inaccurate.

When the number of remaining balls ΔX is smaller than the auxiliary limit value N 2 (for example, “1”), the counting by the ball counter 29 even if the member card 1 is inserted into the card insertion slot 14. Since the operation is prohibited, in such a situation, it is possible to prevent a situation in which a player other than the owner of the member card 1 performs the counting operation by the ball counter 28, and as a result, Further, from this aspect, the game history data can be made more accurate.

FIGS. 16 to 18 show a second embodiment of the present invention. Only the portions different from the first embodiment will be described below. FIG. 16 shows only the part related to the present embodiment in the control contents performed by the control unit 33 of the ball rental machine 9. In FIG. 16, in step C1, the ON state of the return switch 27c is determined. If "YES" is determined here, after executing a processing routine C2 similar to the ball return processing routine A28 (see FIG. 5) in the first embodiment, it is determined whether the determination processing timer is operating. A judgment is made (step C3).

If the determination processing timer is not operating, after performing step C4 for starting the timer operation of the timer from the initial state, control for other processing is performed. Also, if the timer for the determination process was running,
A predetermined timer time Δ is added to the remaining timer operation time of the timer.
After executing Step C5 for adding t, control for other processing is performed.

In this case, the timer operation time in the initial state of the determination processing timer is slightly shorter than the shortest consumption time when the pachinko ball released by one operation of the ball return switch 27c is used for the game. The time is set so as to add a margin, and the addition timer time is set to the same time. Therefore, the state in which the timer for the determination processing is performing the timer operation means that the player holding the member card 1 does not need to use the member card 1 to borrow a new pachinko ball. Show.

If "NO" is determined in the step C1, it is determined whether or not the determination processing timer is operating (step C6). If the determination processing timer is operating, the timer ON signal is sent to the management device 35. After executing Step C7 of transmitting to the management device 35, if the operation is suspended, the process proceeds to Step C8 of transmitting the timer-off signal to the management device 35, and then proceeds to another process. The timer-on signal and the timer-off signal include a member number read from the member card 1 through the card reader 34 and the corresponding pachinko machine 3 unit number data.

On the other hand, instead of the game history file in the first embodiment (see FIG. 12),
A game history file having a configuration in which a storage area for a timer flag TF is added to the file is provided as shown in FIG. Then, in the management measure 35, when a timer-on signal is received from the ball lending machine 9, the timer flag TF corresponding to the machine number data included in the timer-on signal is set to "1", and the timer is turned off. When the signal is received, the timer flag TF corresponding to the machine number data included in the timer-off signal is reset to “0”.

FIG. 17 shows the contents of a judgment processing routine periodically executed on the management device 35 side. This determination processing routine is performed when an interruption confirmation signal is received from the ball lending machine 9 (when the member card 1 is inserted into the corresponding card insertion slot 14 on the ball lending machine 9). First, the game history file (see FIG. 18) is accessed (step D1), and it is determined whether or not the timer flag TF is "1" in the game history file (step D2).

If the determination is "NO", the data indicating the game start time and the machine number of the pachinko gaming machine 3 are registered in the storage area corresponding to the member number of the member card 1 in the game history file. (Step D
3). Then, after execution of step D3, the process returns to step D4 in which the game permission signal is answered back to the ball rental machine 9 which has been the transmission source of the interruption confirmation signal, and then the process returns.

On the other hand, if "YES" is determined in the step D2, the latest vehicle number data (last registered) in the game history file matches the vehicle number data in the received interruption confirmation signal. It is determined whether or not to perform (step D5).

[0146] If "YES" is determined in the step D5, the control after the step D3 is executed.
If the determination is "NO", the process returns after executing step D6 for answering back the rejection signal to the ball lending machine 9 which has been the transmission source of the interruption confirmation signal and an alarm processing routine D7.

Therefore, when the member card 1 inserted into the card insertion slot 14 is used for a game with another pachinko gaming machine 3, the control unit in the ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the pachinko gaming machine 3 If the timer operation of the determination processing timer has been performed at 33 (when there is no need for the player holding the member card 1 to use the member card 1 to borrow a new pachinko ball) ) Means that the lending function using the membership card 1 of the ball lending machine 9 corresponding to the card insertion slot 14 is invalidated, and the game in the pachinko gaming machine 3 using the member card 1 is prohibited. become.

As a result, also in the present embodiment, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the member card 1 is reused by a plurality of players, and the game history data for each player who is issued the member card 1 can be prevented. Can be realized. In particular, according to the present embodiment, a configuration in which the ball counter 29 is provided for each of the plurality of pachinko gaming machines 3 is not necessarily required, so that the overall configuration can be simplified.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the following modifications or extensions are possible. Although the system using member card 1 was assumed,
The present invention is not limited to this. For example, a system using a so-called premium ball card issued to a player for counting pachinko balls, or a system using both the membership card 1 and the premium ball card is assumed. Can also.

The data transfer processing routine A26 (see FIG. 5) is executed by turning on the count end switch 31 in response to the end of counting by the ball counter 28, but the end of counting is automatically detected. If a means is provided and the data transfer processing routine A26 is executed when the detection means is in the detection state, the counting end switch 31 can be dispensed with. Also, the count start switch 30 can be made unnecessary if, for example, its function is replaced by the operation knob 7a.

The management device 35 determines that the game interruption state in the pachinko gaming machine 3 is interrupted based on the interruption confirmation signal from the control unit 33 in the corresponding ball lending machine 9. It is also possible to adopt a configuration for making a judgment.

As the data reading means for reading data from the member card 1, the card reader 34 of a format for taking in an inserted card is used, but a slide type card reader for reading data in accordance with a slide operation of the card may be used. Further, an IC card can be used as a record carrier. Although the pachinko gaming machine 3 that uses a pachinko ball as a game medium is managed, a gaming machine (slot machine) that uses a game metal as a game medium may be managed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a pachinko game machine and a ball rental machine.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a main part of the ball rental machine.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing control contents of a control unit of the ball lending machine,

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing control contents of a control unit of the ball lending machine, part 2

FIG. 6 is a flowchart 3 showing the control contents of the control unit of the ball lending machine.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the contents of control by the management device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of display by a data display included in the management device.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a data display included in the management device, part 2

FIG. 10 is a front view of a member card.

FIG. 11 shows a format example of a member data file.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a format example of a game history file.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a format example of a gaming machine data file.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a format example of a suspension file

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a format example of a remaining ball count data file.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a control content according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart 2 showing control contents in the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a format example of a game history file in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a membership card (record carrier), 3 is a pachinko machine, 9
Is a ball lending machine (lending means), 11 is a panel unit, 14 is a card slot, 15 is an eject switch, 16 is a counter unit, 17 is a release mechanism, 21 is a display unit, 27 is a switch panel, and 27a is a numeric key switch. , 27c is a return switch, 28 is a ball counter (counting means), 30 is a counting start switch, 31 is a counting end switch, 33 is a control unit (prohibiting means), 33a is a data memory, and 34 is a card reader (data reading means). ), 35 are management devices (storage means, subtraction means, game data storage means, calculation means), 35
a indicates a data display, and 36 indicates a central control computer.

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claims: 1. An ID provided to a game arcade in which a plurality of gaming machines for releasing game media in accordance with a prize of game media are provided, the ID being issued to a player and assigned to the player. A record carrier on which data including a code is recorded, and a data reading means provided so as to be able to mount the record carrier at a position corresponding to the gaming machine, and to read the record data of the record carrier in the mounted state. Counting means provided at a position corresponding to the gaming machine, and switching to a state in which game media can be counted only when the record carrier is mounted on data reading means corresponding to the gaming machine; Storage means for storing the number of game media data based on the counting result according to the ID code of the record carrier, in accordance with the insertion of money at a position corresponding to the gaming machine When the record carrier is mounted on the data reading means corresponding to the gaming machine, the record carrier is included in the game medium number data stored in the storage means. Lending means for releasing the game medium based on the data corresponding to the ID code of; a subtraction means for decreasing the number data of the game media in the storage means when the lending means releases the game medium; Based on the ID code read by the data reading means, the number of game media by the counting means, the number of game mediums released by the renting means, and the like, the game status of each player who has been issued the record carrier is determined. And a game data storage means for storing game data to be displayed, wherein the game medium released through the lending means is provided. From the total number of game media that are released in the number and the gaming machine, the value obtained by subtracting the sum of the game medium count counted by the game medium count and said counting means being consumed in a game in the gaming machine,
Calculating means for calculating as remaining game medium number data associated with the ID code of the record carrier; and remaining game medium number data calculated by the calculating means in a state where the mounting of the record carrier on the data reading means is released. When the value is equal to or more than a preset limit value, a prohibiting means for invalidating a lending function of the lending means based on a record carrier on which an ID code associated with the data is recorded. Place management system. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the prohibition unit is configured to determine whether the remaining game medium number data is less than a preset auxiliary limit value.
The management system for a game arcade according to claim 1, wherein the counting function of said counting means based on a record carrier on which an ID code associated with the data is recorded is invalidated. 3. An ID provided to a game arcade in which a plurality of gaming machines for releasing game media in accordance with a prize of the game media are provided, wherein the ID is issued to the player and assigned to the player. A record carrier on which data including a code is recorded, and a data reading means provided so as to be able to mount the record carrier at a position corresponding to the gaming machine, and to read the record data of the record carrier in the mounted state. Counting means for counting game media; storage means for storing game medium number data based on the result of counting by the counting means in a state of being associated with the ID code of the record carrier; In the state where the recording medium is mounted on the data reading means corresponding to the gaming machine, the game medium is provided so as to release the game medium of an equivalent value in accordance with the insertion of money at the position where the money is inserted. A lending unit for releasing the game medium based on the data corresponding to the ID code of the record carrier out of the game medium number data stored in the storage unit, and a lending unit for releasing the game medium by the lending unit. Subtraction means for reducing the number of game media data in the storage means; ID code read by the data reading means, game medium number data by the counting means, game medium release number data by the lending means, and the like. A management system for a game arcade, comprising: game data storage means for storing game data indicating a game situation for each player who has been issued a record carrier, wherein the lending means is a game medium stored in the storage means. The shortest consumption when the released game media is used for the game on the gaming machine when the operation of releasing the game media based on the numerical data is performed. With the configuration for setting the interval, the period until the shortest consumption time elapses, the record carrier attached to the data reading means at the time of the release of the game medium, the release of the game medium by other lending means A management system for a game arcade, comprising a prohibition means for prohibiting use.