JPH11114194A - Game machine management device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine management device capable of reducing trouble with the replacement of game machines and easily changing a lot probability value according to operating conditions, etc. SOLUTION: A personal computer 33, for determining by lot whether or not the continuation of a game is permitted in response to a request from a management computer 30 if a jackpot has occurred in either of Pachinko (Japanese pinball game) machines 10 and a jackpot occurrence signal is transmitted to the management computer 30 from a game machine information device 12 connected to the Pachinko machine 10, is connected to the management computer 30. The result determined by the personal computer 33 is fed to the management computer 30, from which the result is returned via a communications cable 50 to the game machine information device 12 which has transmitted the jackpot occurrence signal. A lot probability value used in the determination made by the personal computer 33 is set according to the number of Pachinko balls played by a player and gained already within the day on the Pachinko machine 10 connected to the game machine information device 12 which transmitted the jackpot occurrence signal.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for managing a game machine such as a pachinko machine, and more particularly, to a special prize in which the probability of winning a prize is higher than usual when a predetermined condition is satisfied during the game. In the device, after the end of the special prize, a lottery is performed to determine whether or not to allow the player to continue the game without exchanging the acquired game media for a prize or the like. Further, it is possible to further reduce the trouble when replacing the gaming machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, when a game medium is inserted into a predetermined winning opening of the gaming machine, a plurality of sets of numbers and a row of symbols begin to patrol, and the patrol is started. If a specific number or symbol is completed at the time of stopping, a special prize will be won, and a predetermined time from the occurrence of the special prize to the end of the special prize (for example,
For several tens of seconds, the normally closed special winning opening is opened, and the customer can acquire many game media.

When the above-mentioned special prize occurs, the game is temporarily terminated at the end of the special prize, the acquired game medium is exchanged for a prize or the like, and when the customer plays the game again, Many game arcades adopt a business form in which they have to rent new game media for various reasons.

[0004] However, from the viewpoint that if such a sales form is always thoroughly implemented, the customer's willingness to play the game may be reduced and the sales of the game arcade may be reduced. When the symbol is a specific number or symbol, a business form is often adopted in which the game can be continued even at the end of the special prize.

[0005] As described above, as a specific method of adopting the business mode of accepting a continuous game in a predetermined case and stopping the game otherwise to have the game medium replaced, there are two methods. Can be considered.

[0006] One of them is that when a special prize is generated in any of the gaming machines in the game hall, a staff member of the game hall goes close to the gaming machine in which the special prize has been generated and checks the type of the special prize. If the special prize allows continuous gaming, for example, insert a tag stating that continuous gaming is permitted at a predetermined position on the gaming machine, and inform the player or other staff that continuous gaming is possible. On the other hand, if the prize does not allow the continuous game, the attendant verbally informs the player that the game medium needs to be exchanged after the prize ends.

This method has the advantage that it can be executed without providing new equipment or the like, but has the disadvantage of requiring human labor. In addition, when the gaming machine is replaced with a new model, the type of the symbols to go around in the new gaming machine, the occurrence probability of the special prize for each symbol, and the like are grasped. It is necessary to reset one or more special prizes in which the probability or the sum of the probabilities of occurrence is as close as possible to the ideal probability for recognizing the continuous game. In order to select a game that matches or substantially matches the ideal probability, skill is required, and this may not be possible depending on the model of the gaming machine.

On the other hand, another method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-220352 previously proposed by the present applicant. That is, in the prior art disclosed in this publication, a prize paid out mainly at the time of a special prize from a gaming machine is provided on a display device for the gaming machine which is arranged around the gaming machine and to which information is input from the gaming machine. "Exchange" in which balls cannot be used for gaming machines, "Continuous" in which prize balls can be used for gaming machines until the exchange is drawn again, and prize balls for gaming machines until closing. It is provided with control means for selecting one of "unlimited" available. With this configuration, it is possible to perform a lottery irrespective of the circling symbols, so that the trouble of exchanging the gaming machine is simplified, and the staff in operation needs to check the symbols etc. when the special prize occurs. Because there is no, the trouble is simplified.

[0009]

Indeed, according to the prior art disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, it is possible to significantly reduce the time and effort as compared with the above-described technique requiring lottery work by the attendant.

[0010] However, if the gaming machine display device provided for each gaming machine is provided with a lottery means, at the time of replacement of gaming machines, wiring is performed after connecting each gaming machine and each gaming machine display device. And performance checks must be performed the same number of times as the number of gaming machines in accordance with each gaming machine.

If each of the gaming machine display devices has a lottery function, in order to change the probability value of the lottery, the probability values of all the gaming machine display devices must be reset. Therefore, the probability value could not be easily changed. For this reason, for example, it was actually impossible to change the probability value based on the sales situation of the day during business hours, or to change the probability value based on the winning or losing of the player.

The present invention has been made in view of such unresolved problems of the conventional technology, and further reduces the trouble when replacing a gaming machine, and also responds to business conditions and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine management device that can easily change the lottery probability value.

[0013]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for managing a gaming machine having a function of generating a prize when a predetermined condition is satisfied during a game. A management computer capable of receiving a notification from the plurality of gaming machines that the prize has occurred, and a management computer provided on the management computer, wherein the management computer has generated the prize at any of the gaming machines. When receiving the notification that the special prize has occurred, the handling of the player playing with the gaming machine after the special prize is completed, a lottery means for performing a lottery according to a lottery probability value, and a lottery means for each of the plurality of gaming machines. A display unit that is provided and is capable of displaying a result of the lottery performed by the lottery unit performed on the gaming machine; and a display control unit that controls display of the display unit in accordance with the result of the lottery. The gaming machine management device according to claim.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine management apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the management computer is a game arcade management computer for managing a game arcade.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine management apparatus according to the first aspect, the management computer is provided for each gaming machine island to which the plurality of gaming machines are fixed. The island was managed as an island management computer.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine management device according to the first to third aspects of the present invention, the lottery means handles a game that cannot be continued after the end of the special prize. After the end of the special prize, the next special prize is generated and the game is allowed to continue until the end of the special prize.After the special prize is completed, a plurality of special prizes are generated and the continuous game is enabled until the end of the special prize. According to the lottery probability value, one of the at least two types of handling that enables unlimited continuous games is selected as a lottery result.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine management apparatus according to the first to fourth aspects, the lottery probability value of the lottery means is automatically set based on business information. It was to so.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine management apparatus according to the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the gaming machine can play a game by inserting a game medium, and when a prize is won, the game medium is changed to a game medium. It is paid out to players,
It is provided with an acquired game medium number detecting means for detecting the number of the acquired game media, and the lottery means sets the lottery probability value based on a detection result of the acquired game medium number detecting means. Things.

Further, the invention according to claim 7 is the gaming machine management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a special prize number counting means for counting the number of occurrences of the special prize,
The lottery means is configured to set the lottery probability value based on the counting result of the special prize number counting means.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine management apparatus according to the first to seventh aspects, the lottery means selects a treatment that makes it impossible to continue the game after the end of the special prize. Further, a forced stopping means for forcibly stopping the game of the gaming machine after the end of the special prize is provided.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine management apparatus according to the first to eighth aspects, a lottery condition setting means capable of setting a lottery condition in the lottery means is provided.

Here, in the invention according to claim 1,
When a special prize occurs in any of the plurality of gaming machines, information that the special prize has occurred is transmitted to the management computer. Then, the lottery means provided on the management computer performs lottery according to the lottery probability value on the handling of the player playing with the gaming machine in which the special prize has occurred after the special prize has ended.

Then, the display control means controls the display means provided for each gaming machine, and the lottery result is displayed on the display means. Thereby, the player can recognize the lottery result.

The lottery means need not be provided for each gaming machine in a one-to-one correspondence, but may be provided on the management computer side. Therefore, the lottery means may be realized as software in the management computer, or may be an individual device connected to the management computer via an interface circuit or the like.

Further, since the lottery means is provided on the management computer side, when replacing the gaming machines, it is sufficient to check the connection state and performance between each gaming machine and the management computer. Therefore, when a lottery device is provided for each gaming machine, it is necessary to go to the installation location of the gaming machine and check wiring and performance. Wiring and performance can be checked while staying in the office, reducing labor.

Further, the lottery probability value set in the lottery means can be easily changed by operating the management computer, for example, and if the lottery probability value is changed, the plurality of gaming machines managed by the management computer will continue. This means that the probability of the lottery relating to the game has been changed.

The management computer provided with the lottery means may be a game center management computer as in the second aspect of the invention, or an island management computer as in the third aspect of the invention. In the former case, one lottery means controls the entire game arcade, so that, for example, simultaneous change of the lottery probability value in the entire game arcade can be easily performed. In the latter case, each lottery means has jurisdiction over each gaming machine island, so that, for example, a special feature can be easily assigned to each gaming machine island.

The specific contents of the lottery in the lottery means can be set, for example, as in the invention according to claim 4. In other words, two to four of the four treatments of handling that does not allow continuous play, handling that allows continuous play only once, handling that allows continuous play a plurality of times, and handling that allows unlimited continuous play, A population is formed in combination, and one treatment is selected as a lottery result from the population according to the lottery probability value. What is necessary is just to determine the composition of the population based on the business form of the game arcade where the gaming machine management device is installed.

The lottery probability value set in the lottery means may be changed by operating the management computer as described above. It may be variable based on information.

That is, in the case of the invention according to claim 5, since the lottery probability value is automatically set based on the business information, the probability of rejection of the continuous game is set to a desired value corresponding to various business strategies. Can be changed automatically. As a setting method of the lottery probability value based on the business information, for example,
Increase the probability that a continuous game will be recognized on a specific day of the week or time period, but use the normal probability for other days and time periods, or increase the probability when the number of players is small but decrease it when the number is large And so on.

In the invention according to claim 6, the number of acquired game media is obtained by the acquired game media number detecting means. In addition, the number of acquired game media obtained here may be obtained for each gaming machine, may be obtained for each gaming machine island, may be obtained for the entire game arcade, and further, the member system In such a case, it may be required for each player (member).

In the member system, a member card or the like in which a member number is recorded in advance is issued to a customer registered as a member, and when a member plays a game with a gaming machine, the member system is attached to the gaming machine. The card reader inserts its own membership card into the card reader, the card reader reads the member number from the inserted member card, transmits it to the gaming machine information device attached to each gaming machine, The gaming machine information device transmits the member number to the management computer via a communication cable, and also transmits game information (for a pachinko machine, the number of lending balls, the number of outgoing balls, the number of replenishment balls, etc.) to the management computer via a communication cable. The management computer stores the received information in a member database constructed for each member or a gaming machine database constructed for each gaming machine. For example, after the store is closed, the information stored in each database is analyzed so that it can be used for sales strategies.Furthermore, at the end of the game, members can use their card readers to read their membership cards. The game machine information device recognizes that the member has finished the game at that time, and the information that the game has been finished is also transmitted to the management computer. .

That is, in a game arcade in which such a member system is introduced, the number of game media acquired by each member can be obtained daily, weekly, monthly, etc. by referring to the member database. is there.

When the number of game media obtained for each game arcade or each member is obtained, the lottery means sets a lottery probability value to be used for the lottery based on the obtained number. In addition, the setting of the lottery probability value may be obtained by substituting the obtained number into a predetermined mathematical expression stored in advance, or a plurality of types of lottery probability values may be set in advance, and from among them, One lottery probability value may be selected based on the detection result of the number of acquired game media, and the lottery probability value used for the lottery may be determined.

As described above, if the lottery probability value is determined based on the number of game media acquired, for example, the probability that a continuous game is permitted on a good business day and a good time zone is increased,
Decrease the probability of accepting continuous games on days or hours when business performance is not good, or reduce the probability of accepting continuous games for players who have acquired a large number of game media, and conversely acquire game media It is possible to increase the probability of a player having a negative number.

In the invention according to claim 7, the special award occurrence number counting means counts the number of occurrences of the special award. The number of occurrences of the special prize counted here may also be obtained for each gaming machine, may be obtained for each gaming machine island, may be obtained for the entire game arcade, and further, the above member system In such a case, it may be required for each player (member).

When the number of occurrences of the special prize for each game hall or each member is obtained, the lottery means sets a lottery probability value to be used for the lottery based on the number of occurrences of the special prize. In addition, the setting of the lottery probability value may be obtained by substituting the number of occurrences of the special prize into a predetermined mathematical formula stored in advance, or a plurality of types of lottery probability values may be set in advance, and Alternatively, one lottery probability value may be selected based on the counted number of occurrences of the special prize, and the lottery probability value used for the lottery may be determined.

If the lottery probability value is determined on the basis of the number of occurrences of the special prize in this manner, for example, it is useful to control the number of special prizes occurring in one day. It is relatively easy to set the number of times that the player does not feel as much as possible and that is allowed for the sound management of the game arcade.

Further, in the invention according to claim 8,
Because the forced stop means is provided, if the player cannot continue the game after the end of the special prize as a result of the lottery, even if the player ignores the display on the display means and tries to continue the game, Is not possible, so that the staff of the game arcade can be less troublesome in paying attention to a player who ignores such a situation.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention,
Since the lottery condition setting means capable of setting the lottery conditions is provided, the content of the lottery performed by the lottery means realized as software in the management computer or as a device connected to the management computer can be set even during business hours. It can be changed in detail. In addition, the lottery conditions are, in addition to the lottery probability value, details of the handling of the lottery, the relationship between the number of game media acquired and the lottery probability value in the case of the invention according to claim 6, and the invention according to claim 7. If it exists, it includes the relationship between the number of floors of occurrence of the special prize and the lottery probability value, etc., and any condition that affects the lottery in the lottery means is applicable.

[0041]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a gaming machine management apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko parlor as a game arcade.

First, the structure will be described. This pachinko parlor introduces a membership system, and the member system introduced by this pachinko parlor is provided in the hall 1 and the monitoring room 3 in the pachinko parlor. In the system realized by each device, each device disposed in each of the hall 1 and the monitoring room 3 is connected so as to be able to communicate information through a communication cable 50.

In the hall 1, a gaming machine island 2 in which a plurality of pachinko machines 10 as gaming machines are arranged to form an island,
A plurality of (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1) pachinko machines 10 provided on each gaming machine island 2 are provided, and each of the pachinko machines 10 lends a pachinko ball as a game medium. 11, a gaming machine information device 12 for communicating necessary information through a communication cable 50, and a card reader 13 for reading a membership number stored in a membership card such as a magnetic card. ing.

The gaming machine information device 12 is a simple computer including a microprocessor, an interface circuit, and a storage device such as a ROM and a RAM, and includes a liquid crystal display, a sound generator, and the like. Thus, it is possible to transmit information to a customer playing a game. In addition, each gaming machine information device 1
2, a pachinko machine ID for identifying each pachinko machine 10 is assigned. In the example of FIG. 1, “0001” and “0002” are assigned as pachinko machine IDs.

The gaming machine information device 12 is connected to the communication cable 50 via a built-in interface circuit, and is also connected to the pachinko machine 10, the ball lending machine 11 and the card reader 13, whereby The various game information output from the pachinko machine 10 and the ball lending machine 11 are transmitted to the communication cable 50 at a predetermined timing together with the pachinko machine ID assigned to the pachinko machine and the member identification information read by the card reader 13, The data can be transmitted to a management computer 30 as a game hall management computer provided in the monitoring room 3.

The game information transmitted by the gaming machine information device 12 includes, for example, the number of outgoing balls counted by a counter (not shown) built in the pachinko machine 10 (pachinko balls and fouls which are thrown into the pachinko machine 10 by the customer and fired). Difference from the ball) and replenishment ball (hit ball issued from the pachinko machine 10)
, The information indicating the usage status of the ball lending machine 11 (the number of lending balls for each customer, the number of times the prepaid card is used, etc.), the information that the pachinko machine 10 has been stopped, and the like.

Here, when the pachinko machine 10 has a pachinko ball in a predetermined winning opening, the three sets of symbols installed at the center of the game board (not shown) start to patrol at different speeds or directions. If the same symbols are completed when each patrol stops at a predetermined timing, as a special prize,
A large winning opening wider than a normal winning opening is opened for a certain period of time. In addition, when the special prize has occurred, the pachinko machine 10 transmits a special prize occurrence signal for notifying the occurrence of the special prize to the gaming machine information device 12.

When the gaming machine information device 12 receives the special prize occurrence signal from the pachinko machine 10 connected to itself, the gaming machine information device 12 includes the pachinko machine ID as the game information.
The occurrence of the special prize is transmitted to the management computer 30 via the communication cable 50.

Further, on the side of the management computer 30 notified of the occurrence of the special prize, the player playing on the pachinko machine 10 in which the special prize has occurred, as described later,
After the end of the special prize, a lottery is performed as to whether or not to allow the game to be continued, and the lottery result is transmitted to the gaming machine information device 12.

The gaming machine information device 12 to which the lottery result has been transmitted notifies the player of the game by displaying the lottery result on the screen and by sound. When the transmitted lottery result does not permit the continuous game, the gaming machine information device 12 outputs a command signal to the handle lock device of the pachinko machine 10 to activate the handle lock device. Accordingly, the handle of the pachinko machine 10 is fixed so that the pachinko balls cannot be fired, and the process of notifying the member of the end of the game and requesting a prize exchange by screen display and sound is performed. It is supposed to run. In the present embodiment, the pachinko balls are not fired by holding the handle in a fixed state. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the pachinko balls inserted into the pachinko machine 10 can be fired by a firing device (not shown). It may be configured to stop the sending operation.

On the other hand, a counter 20 for counting the number of pachinko balls carried by the customer after the game is over is installed in the hall 1, for example, near a prize exchange counter. A card reader 21 capable of reading a member number stored in a card, and a counter 20
And a counter information device 22 for transmitting the member number read by the card reader 21 to the management computer 30 through the communication cable 50.

Further, in the hall 1, for example, near the entrance, an information disclosing device 5 is provided, and this information disclosing device 5 is also connected to the management computer 3 via a communication cable 50.
Connected to 0. The information disclosure device 5 is also basically a computer, and integrally includes a device capable of transmitting information to a customer, such as a liquid crystal display device and a sound generation device, and a device capable of inputting information such as a touch panel and numeric keys. ing. Then, for example, when a customer visits a store, the customer operates a touch-panel type screen, so that business information sent from the management computer 30 through the communication cable 50 is disclosed by video or audio. For example, if the customer wants to recognize the state of occurrence of today's special prize of a particular kind of pachinko machine, he / she inputs that such information is requested in accordance with the instruction on the screen of the information disclosure device 5, and inputs the request. Is transmitted to the management computer 30, the management computer 30 refers to the pachinko machine database 32B set in the personal computer 32 in accordance with the request, and extracts necessary information.
The information is returned to the information disclosure device 5 through the communication cable 50, and the returned information is displayed on the screen of the information disclosure device 5 so that the customer can know.

The information disclosing device 5 is integrally provided with a card insertion portion having the same functions as the card readers 13 and 21. After inserting a membership card into the card insertion portion, the information disclosing device 5 is turned on. In the case where the service 5 is used, unlike services for non-members, services for members can be provided. Examples of services for members include a service that provides more detailed business information that is not disclosed to non-members, and a game information analysis service that analyzes game information of members and displays or prints the results.

The management computer 30 installed in the monitoring room 3 performs various processes substantially in parallel by, for example, a time-sharing method in order to manage the game arcade. , Two personal computers 32 and 33 are connected.

One personal computer 32 is
It has a member management database 32A and a pachinko machine database 32B. The management computer 30 gives the information transmitted through the communication cable 50 to the personal computer 32 and controls the personal computer 32 as appropriate, whereby the member management database 32A and the pachinko machine database 3
The information is stored in 2B.

The management computer 30 controls the personal computer 32 as needed to search the member management database 32A and the pachinko machine database 32B in response to a request sent from the information disclosure device 5 or the like via the communication cable 50. , The information which is a response to the request is read, and the read information is transmitted to the communication cable 50.
Reply to the request originator through.

The member management database 32A is a database for storing information for each customer registered as a member, and stores information corresponding to a member number assigned to each member. ing. When a member who visits the pachinko machine plays a game with a certain pachinko machine 10, first insert his / her own membership card into a card reader 13 attached to the pachinko machine 10, and the member number stored in the member card is displayed. The card is read by the card reader 13 and transmitted to the gaming machine information device 12, from which it is transmitted to the management computer 30 via the communication cable 50. During the game, the number of supply balls, out balls, lending balls, etc. The presence or absence of a special prize is transmitted as game information. Further, at the end of the game, the member pulls out the member card from the card reader 13 and at the end of the special prize, the member card is ejected from the card reader 13. The end of the game in the pachinko machine 10 is recognized by the gaming machine information device 12, and information indicating the end of the game is transmitted. Management through a cable 50 computer 30
Is sent to

Therefore, the personal computer 32 controlled by the management computer 30 refers to the calendar and clock incorporated therein, and
The "date" at which the member played the game, the "start time" at which the game was started with the pachinko machine 10, the "end time" at which the game at the pachinko machine 10 was finished, and the pachinko machine during the game. "Supply ball", "Out ball", "Lending ball" at 10
And the game information “Pachinko machine ID” of the pachinko machine 10 is stored.

Further, the member management database 32A contains
The number of coins saved by each member is stored in association with the member number. The savings ball is a pachinko ball that each member keeps in this pachinko parlor. In other words, when the member counts the pachinko balls with the counter 20 at the end of the game, if there is no intention to exchange prizes on that day, or if the member goes to the prize exchange counter even if he / she intends to exchange prizes at the time of counting. If you lose your intention to exchange pachinko balls because you do not have your favorite prize, you will be allowed to store pachinko balls until your favorite prizes appear later. The member management database 32A
Is memorized. The number of remaining coins of each member is added by the number of pachinko balls when counting pachinko balls or by requesting prize exchange at the prize exchange counter, and later when using the prize exchange counter to exchange prizes using coins. It is reduced by the amount required for the exchange.

The member management database 32A stores the password of each member in association with the member number. The reason for registering the PIN is to confirm that the customer using the membership card is really the member who is the owner of the membership card. This is to prevent the service from being received using the member card.

In the pachinko machine database 32B, “date”, “number of refill balls”, “number of out balls”, “number of special prizes”,
Game information such as "start", "number of lending balls"
For example, the data is stored every five minutes. In addition,
“Start” is game information indicating that an operation in a specific mode has started.

On the other hand, the personal computer 3
3, a special prize is generated in any of the pachinko machines 10 and the gaming machine information device 1 connected to the pachinko machine 10.
When the special prize occurrence signal is transmitted from the management computer 30 to the management computer 30, it is a computer for performing a lottery on the acceptance or rejection of the continuous game in response to a request from the management computer 30.

In this embodiment, the personal computer
When the management computer 30 requests that the lottery be performed, the computer 33 treats that the continuous game cannot be performed after the end of the special prize. Based on the lottery probability value, one of the three types of handling, that is, the handling that can be performed and the handling that allows the game to be continued indefinitely after the end of the special prize, is selected as the lottery result. In the lottery, for example, the personal computer 33
The random number can be generated within the range, and the random number can be determined based on whether or not the random number is within a predetermined range according to the lottery probability value. The selected lottery result is sent to the management computer 30 and returned to the gaming machine information device 12 which has transmitted the special prize occurrence signal via the communication cable 50 therefrom.

Further, in this embodiment, the personal
The lottery probability value used for the lottery in the computer 33 is determined by the number of pachinko balls already acquired by the player playing on the pachinko machine 10 connected to the gaming machine information device 12 that has transmitted the prize occurrence signal. Is set in accordance with.

More specifically, when the management computer 30 receives the special prize occurrence signal, the management computer 30 firstly plays the game on the pachinko machine 10 to which the gaming machine information device 12 that has transmitted the special prize occurrence signal is connected. Of the member management database 3 to the personal computer 32.
Referring to 2A, the member corresponding to the member number obtains the number of pachinko balls already acquired on that day. The obtained number of pachinko balls is obtained by subtracting the number of out-balls and the number of lending balls from the number of replenishment balls.

When the number of acquired pachinko balls is obtained, the management computer 30 transmits the acquired number of pachinko balls to the personal computer 33, and the personal computer 33
The computer 33 selects one lottery probability value based on the number of acquired pachinko balls transmitted from among a plurality of types of lottery probability value candidates set in advance, and uses the selected lottery probability value. Lottery will be held. However, when the number of acquired pachinko balls is small (for example, when the number of borrowed pachinko balls is minus), the personal computer 33 sets the probability that the continuous game is permitted and the probability that the unlimited continuous game is permitted, Set the lottery probability value so that it becomes higher than the standard value at that time, and conversely, if the number of acquired pachinko balls is large, the probability value of continuing game is lower than the standard value at that time. It has become.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. That is, when the member starts the game with the pachinko machine 10,
First, the user inserts his / her own membership card into the card reader 13.
The card reader 13 reads the member number from the inserted member card, transmits the member number to the gaming machine information device 12, and upon receiving this, the gaming machine information device 12 transmits the member number to the management computer 30 through the communication cable 50. I do. The management computer 30 transmits the received member number to the personal computer 32. Then, personal
The computer 32 searches the member management database 32A, and stores the current time in an area for storing the game start in the storage area of the member corresponding to the member number, so that the member starts the game. Record that.

Then, the member borrows a pachinko ball from the ball rental machine 11 and starts a game. The number of balls to be lent by the ball rental machine 11 or the number of times the prepaid card is used is determined by the gaming machine information device 12.
The pachinko machine 10 counts the number of out-balls and replenishment balls during the game, and transmits the counted value to the gaming-machine information device 12. The gaming machine information device 12 transmits information transmitted from the ball lending machine 11 or the pachinko machine 10 to the management computer 30 through the communication cable 50, and the management computer 30 transmits the received information to the personal computer 32. The personal computer 32 stores the received information in the member's storage area of the member management database 32A.

Here, it is assumed that a special prize has occurred during the game in the pachinko machine 10, and a process when a special prize has occurred will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. Note that FIG.
The flowchart of the processing in the gaming machine information device 12,
The flowchart of FIG. 3 shows the processing in the management computer 30 and the personal computers 32 and 33, respectively.

That is, if it is determined that a special prize has occurred in the pachinko machine 10 based on the special prize generation signal transmitted from the pachinko machine 10, the gaming machine information device 12 executes the processing shown in FIG. First, in step 101, the occurrence of the special prize is transmitted to the management computer 30 through the communication cable 50 together with the ID of the pachinko machine 10 and the member number of the member playing the game. Next, the process proceeds to step 102, where it is checked whether or not there is a reply from the management computer 30, and the process waits until a reply is received.

When there is a reply from the management computer 30, the process proceeds from step 102 to step 103, and it is determined whether or not the lottery result, which is the content of the reply, enables or disables the continuous game. Here, if the lottery result indicates that the continuous game is impossible, step 11
8 and a screen display and a voice notification that a continuation game is impossible after the end of the special prize and a prize ball prize exchange is requested.
After waiting for the current prize to end,
Move to step 105. The determination in step 104 can be made based on, for example, whether or not the special prize generation signal transmitted from the pachinko machine 10 has stopped.

In step 105, a control signal is output to a handle lock device (not shown) provided in the pachinko machine 10 to fix the handle of the pachinko machine 10 so that the pachinko balls cannot be fired. In other words, the driving of the pachinko machine 10 is forcibly stopped, and the continuous game becomes impossible.

Next, the process proceeds to step 106, in which the game is ended by the screen display and the sound, and it is urged to exchange the acquired pachinko balls for prizes.
07, and notifies the management computer 30 of that fact, and then ends the process of FIG. 2 this time.

Then, the member playing the game pulls out the membership card from the card reader 13 and then carries the acquired pachinko ball to the position of the counter 20 and the card reader 21.
After inserting the membership card into the pachinko ball counting machine 2
Move to 0 and count. Note that, when the coin storage is selected at the time of counting, the counter information device 22 reads the card reader 21.
The member number and the counting result of the counter 20 are transmitted to the management computer 30, and the management computer 30
Transmits the received member number and the counting result to the personal computer 32. The personal computer 32 searches the member management database 32A, and stores the portion of the storage area corresponding to the received member number relating to the coins to be stored in the counting result. Increase by minutes. If no coins are selected at the time of counting, a ticket printed with the counting result is issued, the member number and the counting result are transmitted to the management computer 30, and the member information is stored in the member management database 32A as counting information. You may.

On the other hand, the determination at step 103 in FIG.
In the case of “ES”, since the continuous game is possible at least once, the process proceeds to step 108. In step 108, it is determined whether or not the possible number of continuous games is one based on the lottery result. This judgment is "YE
In the case of "S", the process proceeds to step 109, where the player is notified by screen display and sound that after the end of the special prize, the game can be continued only until the next special prize is generated and ended. Then, the process proceeds to step 110, where the pachinko machine 1
After waiting until the currently generated special prize ends at 0, the process proceeds to step 111.

In step 111, for example, based on whether the member card has been pulled out or whether a predetermined time (for example, one minute) has elapsed since the pachinko ball was not fired, It is determined whether or not the game has been completed according to the intention of the player. If this determination is "YES", the flow proceeds to step 107.

On the other hand, the determination in step 111 is “N
In the case of "O", the flow shifts to step 112 to determine whether or not the next special prize has occurred. If the determination is “NO”, the process returns to step 111 and returns to step 111 or 112.
And waits until one of the determinations becomes "YES". Then, if a special prize occurs again in this state, step 112
Is determined to be "YES", but in such a case, since the continuous game is permitted only once, the continuous game becomes impossible when the generated special prize ends. Therefore,
The process proceeds from step 112 to step 113 to notify the management computer 30 that a special prize has been generated. In this case, since a lottery is unnecessary, a signal indicating that the lottery is unnecessary is also transmitted to the management computer 30. Alternatively, even if the lottery result is returned, it may be ignored. After the processing of step 113 is completed, the process proceeds to step 104, and after waiting for the currently occurring special prize to end, the processing of steps 105 to 107 described above is executed.

Then, the determination in step 108 is "NO".
In the case of, since the continuous game is permitted without limitation, the process proceeds to step 114, and the player is notified by screen display and sound that the continuous game is possible without limitation.

Next, the routine proceeds to step 115, where it is determined whether or not the game has been completed by the intention of the player. If the determination is "NO", the routine proceeds to step 116 to determine whether the next special prize has occurred. Determine whether or not. If the determination in step 116 is “YES”, the flow proceeds to step 117,
The management computer 30 is notified that a special prize has been generated. In this case, as in the case of step 113, no particular lottery is required. When the determination in step 116 is “NO” and when the processing in step 117 is completed, the process returns to step 115. Then, the determination in step 115 is “Y
If "ES" has been reached, the routine proceeds to step 107, where the processing described above is executed.

The above is the contents of the processing on the gaming machine information device 12 side when the special prize occurs. On the other hand, the processing on the management computer 30 side when a special prize is generated is as shown in FIG. 3. First, in step 201, a special prize generation signal is transmitted to the personal computer 32 together with the member ID and the pachinko machine ID. The fact that the special prize has occurred is recorded in the portion related to the occurrence of the special prize in the storage area corresponding to the received member number in the member management database 32A, and the received pachinko machine in the pachinko machine database 32B is recorded. The occurrence of a special prize is recorded in a portion related to the occurrence of a special prize in a storage area corresponding to the machine ID in association with the date and time.

Next, the routine proceeds to step 202, where it is determined whether or not it is necessary to perform a lottery for the continuous game. The case where the lottery is not necessary is a case where the special prize occurrence signal is transmitted by the processing of steps 113 and 117 in FIG. If the determination in step 202 is “NO”,
The process of FIG. 3 ends this time without executing the process after step 203.

Then, the determination in step 202 is "YE
In the case of "S", the process proceeds to step 203, where the member management database 32
A search for A is requested, and the number of acquired pachinko balls already acquired by the member corresponding to the member ID on that day is obtained.

Then, the process proceeds to a step 204, wherein the special prize occurrence signal and the number of the acquired pachinko balls are transmitted to the personal computer 33. Then, the process proceeds to step 205,
The personal computer 33 sets a lottery probability value based on the received number of acquired pachinko balls, and performs a lottery in step 206 using the set lottery probability value.

Next, the process proceeds to step 207, in which the lottery result is transmitted via the management computer 30 and the communication cable 50 to the gaming machine information apparatus 12 which has transmitted the special prize generation signal.
Send to As a result, the determination in step 102 in FIG. 2 is “YES”, and the processing in step 103 and subsequent steps is executed.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a special prize occurs in any of the pachinko machines 10, the handling of the player after the completion of the special prize is managed by the personal computer 33 provided on the management computer 30 side. In the case where the pachinko machine 10 is replaced, each of the gaming machine management devices 12 and the management computer 1
It is sufficient to check the connection status and performance between the monitoring room 3 and 0, and it is possible to check the wiring and performance while staying in the monitoring room 3, so that there is an advantage that the labor of the staff is reduced. If the labor of the staff is simplified, labor costs can be reduced accordingly.

Further, if the continuous game is not possible at the end of the special prize, the game is forcibly stopped by executing the processing of step 105 in FIG. 2, so that the continuous game is not possible. Can be prevented from ignoring the display and continuing the game. Therefore, it is not necessary for the attendant to pay attention to the customer who continues the game ignoring the display, which can also reduce the trouble.

Further, the number of pachinko balls acquired by the player to be drawn is determined, and the personal computer 33 is operated by the personal computer 33 so that the player with a smaller number of acquired pachinko balls has a higher probability of being a continuous game. Since the lottery probability value used for the lottery is set according to the number of the acquired pachinko balls, it is possible to conduct business without losing the fairness of the player. In other words, the player who wins (the number of acquired pachinko balls is larger than the number of borrowed pachinko balls) is unlikely to be a continuous game even if a special prize occurs, and loses (the number of acquired pachinko balls is small or minus). The player is likely to be a continuous game when a special prize is generated, which can contribute to alleviating unfairness among customers.

Further, various lottery conditions such as the lottery probability value set by the personal computer 33 and the correspondence between the number of acquired pachinko balls and the lottery probability value are easily set by operating the personal computer 33. Therefore, it is possible to immediately change the lottery conditions for all the pachinko machines 10 according to various situations. Therefore, even if the preset lottery conditions do not match the actual situation, the lottery conditions can be easily changed during business hours to conform to the actual situation.

Here, in the present embodiment, the personal
The computer 33 and the processing of steps 205 and 206 in FIG.
The display means is constituted by a liquid crystal display provided in the game machine information device 12 and step 106 in FIG.
The display control means is constituted by the processing of 109 and 114, the forcible stop means is constituted by the handle lock device provided in the pachinko machine 10 and the processing of step 105 in FIG. Is configured.

In the above embodiment, the personal computer 33 as the lottery means is connected to the management computer 30 for managing the entire hall 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Is higher, the lottery means may be implemented in the management computer 30 by software. When an island management computer is provided for each gaming machine island 2, a personal computer 33 as a lottery means is connected to the island management computer, or a lottery means is provided in the island management computer by software. You may make it implement | achieve.

Further, in the above embodiment, the lottery probability value is automatically set based on the number of pachinko balls already acquired by the player who is the target of the lottery. The condition for setting the probability value is not limited to this, and may be the number of pachinko balls obtained for each pachinko machine 10 or the number of pachinko balls obtained for each gaming machine island 2. Alternatively, the number of pachinko balls acquired for the entire game hall may be used. Also, the condition is not limited to the number of acquired pachinko balls, but may be applied to the number of occurrences of special prizes for each player, each pachinko machine 10, each gaming machine island 2, each amusement arcade, or , A day of the week, a time slot, the number of players, or the like may be applied. In particular, when the number of occurrences of the special prize is applied, the number of occurrences of the special prize can also be managed. Useful.

In the above embodiment, the personal computer
Although the above three are set as the lottery handling by the computer 33, the set handling is not limited to this, and for example, a handling that allows a continuous game a plurality of times such as two or three times is a candidate. You may put in. Alternatively, the handling that makes the continuous game impossible and the continuous game
The lottery result may be selected from two treatments, that is, a treatment that is accepted only once.

In the above embodiment, the case where the apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko parlor has been described. However, the gaming machines to which the present invention can be applied are not limited to pachinko machines. It may be a slot machine or other gaming machines that play games using medals.

[0094]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the lottery means is provided on the management computer side, it is possible to greatly reduce the labor of the staff at the time of replacing the gaming machine, and it is possible to easily change the lottery probability value even during business hours.

In particular, in the case of the invention according to claims 5 to 7,
There is an effect that it is possible to make detailed adjustments such as alleviating unfairness among players, preventing disadvantages from occurring in the game hall, and the like.

Further, according to the invention of claim 8, there is an effect that the labor of the staff can be further reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing of the gaming machine information device when a special prize occurs.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a process performed by a management computer or the like when a special prize occurs.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 hall 2 gaming machine island 3 monitoring room 10 pachinko machine (game machine) 11 ball rental machine 12 gaming machine information device 13 card reader 30 management computer 32 personal computer 33 personal computer (lottery means)

Claims (9)

[Claims] An apparatus for managing a gaming machine having a function of generating a prize when a predetermined condition is satisfied during a game, and receiving a notification that the prize has occurred from a plurality of the gaming machines. A possible management computer, provided on the management computer side, when the management computer receives a notification that the special prize has occurred in any of the gaming machines, plays the game with the gaming machine in which the special prize has occurred The handling of that player after the end of the special prize,
Lottery means for performing a lottery in accordance with a lottery probability value; display means provided for each of the plurality of gaming machines; and display means capable of displaying a lottery result by the lottery means performed on the gaming machine; And a display control means for controlling the display of the game machine. 2. The gaming machine management device according to claim 1, wherein the management computer is a game arcade management computer that manages a game arcade. 3. The gaming machine management device according to claim 1, wherein the management computer is an island management computer provided for each of the gaming machine islands on which the plurality of gaming machines are fixed and managing the gaming machine islands. 4. The lottery means handles the game so that a continuous game is not possible after the end of the special prize, handles the game after the end of the special prize until the next special prize is generated and ends, and handles the game after the end of the special prize. From at least two of the handling that enables continuous play until the end of the special prize and the end of the special prize and the unlimited continuous play after the end of the special prize, one The gaming machine management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the handling is selected as a lottery result. 5. The gaming machine management device according to claim 1, wherein said lottery probability value of said lottery means is automatically set based on business information. 6. The game machine is capable of playing a game by inserting a game medium, and when a prize is won, the game medium is paid out to a player, and an acquisition for detecting the number of the acquired game media. 5. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a game medium number detecting unit, wherein the lottery unit sets the lottery probability value based on a detection result of the acquired game medium number detecting unit. 6. Game machine management device. 7. A special prize number counting means for counting the number of occurrences of the special prize, wherein the lottery means sets the lottery probability value based on the counting result of the special prize number counting means. A gaming machine management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 8. A forced stop means for forcibly stopping the game of the gaming machine after the end of the special prize, when the lottery means selects the handling of making the continuous game impossible after the end of the special prize. A gaming machine management device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. 9. The gaming machine management device according to claim 1, further comprising: a lottery condition setting unit capable of setting a lottery condition in said lottery unit.