HK1146004B - Game system, and game device and mission notification device constitute the same - Google Patents

Description

Game system, game device constituting the same, and problem notification device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a game system including a plurality of game devices that execute games having different game contents, and a game device and a problem notification device that constitute the game system.

Background

A plurality of game devices that execute games having different game contents are installed in a game place such as a game arcade. Further, the customer who is present at the gaming place selects a game device from among them to play the game. Therefore, developers of game devices have developed various functions for respective game devices in order to allow more customers to use their own game devices.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a game system using a horse racing game machine that is installed in a game place and executes a training type horse racing simulation game, and a mobile phone that a player holds. In this game system, when a player who plays a game using the horse racing game machine trains a horse owned by the player to become a three-crown horse, the player has a right to play a three-crown horse bonus game in which only the three-crown horse is permitted to play, but in order to play the three-crown horse bonus game, it is necessary to satisfy a condition for accurately completing a predetermined problem in the game using a mobile phone. Therefore, in this game system, even a player holding a three-crown horse cannot leave the three-crown horse in a three-crown horse race if a predetermined problem is not solved in a game using his/her mobile phone. By thus providing the player with the above-described conditions, the game play performance of the horse racing game machine can be improved.

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2002-325960

However, many customers who are in the vicinity of a game location generally tend to select a game device that has been perceived as good by playing a game in the past, or a game device of the same type as a game device that has been perceived as good by playing a game in the past. Even in a game device that executes a game that is interesting, it is difficult for a client to enjoy the game if the client is not used. Therefore, how to allow the customer to play a game using a game machine other than the game machine which has been good in the past by playing the game or the game machine of the same type as the game machine which has been good in the past by playing the game is a key issue in how to allow many customers to understand the interest of the other game machine.

In addition, not only game machines installed in a game field (arcade game machines), but also many game machines including home game machines (including portable game machines) and the like, many users play games by collectively using only some of the game machines. Therefore, how to allow such users to play games using other game apparatuses is a key issue in providing more customers with an interest in the other game apparatuses.

Conventionally, in order to solve such a problem, a method has been generally adopted in which a user is made to learn about the game contents by performing a luxurious show in each game device or advertising activities for each game device, thereby attracting the user's interest in the game device and allowing the user to play a game using the game device. However, this conventional method is not very motivated to a player who does not often play a game using the game device, and is not effective in making more users aware of the interest of the game device.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention aims to provide a game system which can enhance the chance of playing games by using unused game devices and make more users know the interest of the game devices; and a game device and a problem notification device constituting the game system.

A game system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of game devices having different game contents, each of the plurality of game devices including a game progress control unit that controls a progress of a game, the game system including: an identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of a user; a 1 st problem notification unit that notifies a user of a 1 st problem that should be completed when a 1 st game progress result is obtained by playing a game using a 1 st game device of the plurality of game devices; a 1 st completion information output unit that outputs 1 st completion information when a progress result of a game in which the progress control is performed by the game progress control unit of the 1 st game device becomes a 1 st game progress result related to the 1 st problem notified by the 1 st problem notification unit; a 2 nd problem notification unit that notifies a user of a 2 nd problem that should be completed when a 2 nd game progress result is obtained by playing a game using a 2 nd game device of the plurality of game devices; a 2 nd completion information output unit that outputs 2 nd completion information when a result of progress of the game in which the progress control is performed by the game progress control unit of the 2 nd game device becomes a 2 nd game progress result related to the 2 nd problem notified by the 2 nd problem notification unit; a storage unit that stores the 1 st completion information output by the 1 st completion information output unit and the 2 nd completion information output by the 2 nd completion information output unit in association with the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit; and a processing unit that receives the identification information via the identification information receiving unit, determines whether or not a predetermined processing condition including a condition that the 1 st completion information and the 2 nd completion information are stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information is satisfied, and performs a predetermined process if the predetermined processing condition is satisfied, the predetermined process being a predetermined process that is not performed if the predetermined processing condition is not satisfied.

In this game system, by notifying the user of the 1 st problem, the user can be provided with the action of completing the 1 st problem. This prompts the user to play a game using the 1 st game device that must be used to complete the 1 st object. In the present game system, the user can be prompted to play a game using a 2 nd game device having a different game content from the 1 st game device in the same manner. Therefore, according to the present game system, it is possible to provide the user with an event such as a stamp collection match in which the given problem is successively completed using the 1 st game device and the 2 nd game device, respectively. The task that is provided to the game user is generally a powerful action goal. Thus, even a user who does not use the 1 st game device, the 2 nd game device, or the same kind of game device as these game devices can be encouraged to play a game by using these game devices, because of the strong motivation to play the game.

In the game system, the 2 nd problem notification unit may notify the 2 nd problem to the user after the 1 st completion information output unit outputs the 1 st completion information.

According to this game system, if the user does not know the 2 nd problem after the 1 st problem is completed, the user cannot know the 2 nd problem. Therefore, the user who has completed the 1 st topic can be made interested in what the next topic is, and the user's interest in the 2 nd topic can be increased.

Further, the game system includes a problem notification device configured independently of the plurality of game devices, and the problem notification device includes at least the identification information receiving unit, the 1 st problem notification unit, and the 2 nd problem notification unit.

In the game system, the problem notification device configured independently of the game device notifies the user of the 1 st problem and the 2 nd problem. Thus, the user first goes to the installation location of the problem notification device, receives notification of the problem therefrom, and then goes to the installation location of the game device that must be used to complete the problem, and plays the game using the game device to complete the problem. An event that takes such action is a completely new experience that the user has not experienced before, and may be of interest to the user, thereby prompting the user to attend the event.

In the game system, the problem notification device may include the processing unit.

In this game system, the user who has completed the 1 st and 2 nd problems needs to go to the installation location of the problem notification device in order for the processing unit to perform a predetermined process that cannot be performed if these problems are not completed. That is, the user takes the following actions: first, the installation location of the problem notification device receives notification of the problem, then, the game device arrives at the installation location of the game device to complete the 1 st and 2 nd problems, and finally, the game device returns to the installation location of the problem notification device again. Events that take such actions may further interest the user, strongly prompting the user to attend the event.

In the game system, the identification information receiving unit may be an identification information reading unit configured to read the identification information from a storage medium storing the identification information of the user.

As the identification information receiving unit, for example, there is a receiving unit that receives identification information input by a character input operation or the like for causing a user to perform identification information, but this is not preferable because it forces the user to perform such a complicated operation. In the game system, the user may be allowed to hold the storage medium and acquire the identification information read from the storage medium. This does not force the user to perform troublesome operations.

In the game system, the 1 st completion information output unit outputs the 1 st completion information in association with the identification information when the progress result of the game under progress control by the game progress control unit of the 1 st game device is the 1 st game progress result, the 2 nd completion information output unit outputs the 2 nd completion information in association with the identification information when the progress result of the game under progress control by the game progress control unit of the 2 nd game device is the 2 nd game progress result, and the storage unit stores the 1 st completion information and the 2 nd completion information in association with the identification information associated therewith, on condition that the identification information receiving unit receives the identification information.

In the game system, the identification information stored in association with the completion information stored in the storage unit and the identification information of the user who actually played the game to obtain the completion information can be surely matched.

The game system further includes an operation receiving unit that receives an operation by a user, wherein the 1 st problem notification unit introduces the user with a plurality of 1 st problems having different contents that can be selected by the user and notifies the user with the 1 st problem selected according to the selection operation received by the operation receiving unit, and the 2 nd problem notification unit introduces the user with a plurality of 2 nd problems having different contents that can be selected by the user and notifies the user with the 2 nd problem selected according to the selection operation received by the operation receiving unit.

In the game system, users can select the favorite subjects, and different subjects can be proposed for each user. Thus, more users can participate in events that can be provided by the game system, in which the given problem is successively completed using a plurality of game devices.

Further, the game system may include a problem changing unit that changes at least one of the 1 st problem notified to the user by the 1 st problem notification unit and the 2 nd problem notified to the user by the 2 nd problem notification unit.

In this game system, the problem to be notified to the user can be appropriately changed according to the operator policy of the system and the like.

In the game system, at least 1 of the plurality of game devices may be a slot machine, and the predetermined process performed by the processing unit may include a process for paying out a game chip.

In this game system, when the user completes the 1 st and 2 nd problems and satisfies a predetermined processing condition, a special treatment for paying out medals can be given to the user. Thus, more users can participate in events that can be provided by the game system, in which the given problem is successively completed using a plurality of game devices.

Further, the game system may include a rendering unit that performs a visual or auditory rendering to the player, and the predetermined processing performed by the processing unit may include rendering control processing for causing the rendering unit to perform a predetermined rendering.

In this game system, when the user completes the 1 st and 2 nd problems and satisfies the predetermined processing conditions, a special treatment for allowing the user to enjoy a predetermined performance can be given. Thus, more users can participate in events that can be provided by the game system, in which the given problem is successively completed using a plurality of game devices.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention provides a game device including: a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of the game; an identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of a user; a subject information receiving unit that receives subject information corresponding to the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit; and a completion information output unit that outputs predetermined completion information when a result of progress of the game in which the progress control unit performs the progress control becomes a predetermined game progress result related to the problem information received by the problem information receiving unit.

By using a plurality of the game devices, it is possible to provide an event that can be provided by the present game system, in which a given problem is completed successively using the plurality of game devices.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention provides a problem notification device including: an identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of a user; a 1 st problem notification unit that notifies a user of a 1 st problem that should be completed when a game is played using a 1 st game device among a plurality of game devices each having a game progress control unit that controls a progress of a game of different game contents, thereby obtaining a 1 st game progress result; and a 2 nd problem notification unit that notifies the user of a 2 nd problem that should be completed when the 2 nd game is played by using the 2 nd game device among the plurality of game devices to obtain a 2 nd game play result.

In the problem notification device, by cooperating with the 1 st game device and the 2 nd game device, it is possible to provide events that can be provided by the present game system, in which the given problem is successively completed using a plurality of game devices, respectively.

According to the present invention, since it is possible to provide a user with an unprecedented new event of successively completing a given problem using a plurality of game devices, it is possible to increase the chance of the user playing a game using a game device that has not been used before, and to make more users understand the enjoyment of the game device.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire game system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an external view showing an example of a horse racing game machine constituting the game system.

Fig. 3 is a control block diagram showing a main control unit for collectively controlling the overall operation of the horse racing game machine.

Fig. 4 is a control block diagram showing a game board control unit provided for each game board of the horse racing game machine.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of a table portion in the pusher game machine constituting the game system.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a game control system of the pusher game machine.

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a game screen for a color game displayed on the display unit of the pusher game machine.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a bingo game screen displayed on the display unit of the pusher game machine.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an automatic lottery machine constituting the game system.

Fig. 10 is a front view showing a part of the front panel of the automatic lottery machine in detail.

Fig. 11 is a control block diagram relating to the main structure of the automatic lottery machine.

Fig. 12 is a control block diagram of the management server.

Fig. 13 is an external view of the store terminal unit.

Fig. 14 is a control block diagram of the store terminal unit.

Fig. 15 is a sequence flowchart showing the flow of the overall jackpot drawing.

Fig. 16 is a sequence flowchart for explaining the overall jackpot performance time determination process.

Fig. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a jackpot game start screen displayed on a display unit of each game station or the like to be a drawing target.

Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a lottery screen displayed on a display unit of each game station or the like to be a lottery target.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a process flow of a token race event.

In the figure: 1000-horse racing game machine (slot machine); 1010-a game table; 1015. 3013a, 5007-card read side; 1101-a master control device; 1108. 2625, 3107, 4003, 5003-external communication device; 1201-a game station control device; 1204. 2605, 3013, 5007-card reader; 2000-pusher game machine (slot machine); 2500-game pool; 2601. 2611, 2621-control device; 3000-automatic lottery machines (slot machines); 3101-a control device; 4000-a management server; 4001-a control device; 5000-store terminal units; 5001-control means; 5002-storage; 5005-display device; 5008-token payout device.

Detailed Description

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in which the present invention is applied to a game system including 3 types of slot machines, which are arcade type game machines (commercial game machines) as a plurality of game machines having different game contents, and a arcade terminal unit and a management server, which are connected to the slot machines and are communicable with each other as a problem notification device.

(outline of System)

First, the overall configuration of the game system according to the present embodiment will be described.

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of the entire game system according to the present embodiment.

The 3 types of slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 constituting the game system are different types of game machines having different hardware. In the present embodiment, the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are installed in a gaming place such as the same arcade, and are connected to the store terminal units 5000 of the stores via a lan (local Area network) as a high-speed communication network. The management server 4000 is connected to the store terminal units of the respective stores via a wan (wide Area network) as a low-speed communication network. The management server 4000 performs data communication with the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 to perform system management of the entire store, and thereby performs management of the entire game system. In addition, although the description is given of the game system that spans a plurality of shops in the present embodiment, the same applies to a game system in a single shop.

Next, the structure and operation of each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 will be described.

[ horse racing Game machine 1000]

The slot machine 1000 is a horse racing machine.

In the horse racing game machine 1000, 1 or 2 or more players predict the arrival order of the horse racing game performed in the present horse racing game machine, and in the case of prediction guessing, the payout of medals corresponding to the probability of the arrival order can be obtained.

Fig. 2 is an external view showing an example of the horse racing game machine 1000.

The horse racing game machine 1000 includes a game pool portion 1002 provided at a central portion thereof, and a plurality of game tables 1010 provided so as to surround the game pool portion 1002. The pool portion 1002 is provided with a pool surface 1004 which is a moving surface imitating a horse course of a horse race, a gate 1003 is provided in the horse race, and a horse race game is performed by moving a plurality of model horses, not shown, in the pool surface 1004. A plurality of speakers 1005 for playing a live horse race, a cheer, and the like are arranged around the game pool portion 1002. Above the game pool unit 1002, a display unit 1006 for displaying the total accumulated token count or the like indicating the number of payout of the total jackpot drawing described later, an illumination device 1007 for illuminating the game pool 1002, and an image pickup unit, i.e., a camera 1009, functioning as image pickup means for picking up an image of the game pool unit 1002 are arranged. These display portion 1006, illumination device 1007, and camera 1009 are supported by a support column 1008. The speaker 1005 and the lighting device 1007 serving as a rendering unit function as rendering means of the horse racing game machine 1000.

The game table 1010 is provided with a display 1011 which displays a game screen corresponding to the progress of the game, and a touch panel 1012 which is superimposed on the display surface of the display 1011. When the player touches a predetermined position on the game screen displayed on the display 1011 in accordance with the instruction of the game screen, the position is detected by the touch panel 1012, and the operation content of the player is recognized in the horse racing game machine 1000. The game board 1010 is provided with a medal insertion unit 1013 through which a player inserts medals, a medal payout port 1014 through which medals are paid out to the player, and a card reading surface 1015 of a card reader as an identification information receiving unit that functions as an identification information receiving means for reading out a card ID from a user card.

In the horse racing game machine 1000, horse racing with the same name as that of the actual center horse is sequentially performed at a predetermined cycle. As a horse racing game for 1 year, about 60 races are prepared in advance, and for each race, a time for betting a medal, that is, a time for purchasing a ticket, a time for performing a race by a model horse, and a time for displaying a race result are secured. The player can freely purchase the ticket by predicting the arrival order for each match. If the purchase of the ticket is performed by betting the medals and the purchased ticket matches the result of the race, the medals of the number corresponding to the number of bets and the odds of the medals are paid out as the award.

In addition, the player trains his or her own horse racing character (holding horse) by using the user card and can participate in the race. Specifically, the player selects a favorite horse-racing character from a plurality of previously prepared horse-racing characters, pays out a predetermined number of tokens, and acquires the horse-racing character. Then, the player teaches (trains) the acquired horse-racing character to improve the ability of the horse-racing character, and trains the horse-racing character. In addition, the dispatched horse racing character can be made to appear in the game desired by the horse racing character.

In the horse racing game machine 1000 of the present embodiment, the pool portion 1002 forms a pool surface 1004, a model imitating an artificial lawn of an actual horse race, a house 1003, or the like is provided on the pool surface 1004, and a model horse as a moving body moves on the pool surface 1004.

Fig. 3 is a control block diagram showing a main control unit for collectively controlling the overall operation of the horse racing game machine 1000.

Fig. 4 is a control block diagram showing a game table control unit provided for each game table 1010.

As shown in fig. 3, the main control unit 1100 disposed on the side of the game pool includes: a main control device 1101, a movement control device 1102 for controlling movement of a model horse in the game pool portion 1002, an illumination control device 1103 for controlling the illumination device 1007, an audio control device 1104 for controlling cheering and live action played by the speaker 1005, an SRAM1105 and a flash memory 1106 for temporarily recording data processed by the main control device 1101, a ROM1107 which stores programs and various databases necessary for a game, and an external communication device 1108 for performing data communication with an external device such as a shop terminal unit 5000 via a LAN. The main control device 1101 is connected to a mobile control device 1102, a lighting control device 1103, an audio control device 1104, an SRAM1105, a flash memory 1106, a ROM1107, an external communication device 1108, and a camera 1009, respectively. The ROM1107 stores: a movement control program as movement control information of each model horse, and a database of various data and a competition schedule related to each horse used in a competition.

As shown in fig. 4, the table control unit 1200 provided in each table 1010 includes: the game station control device 1201, the medal management device 1202 that manages payout of medals, etc., the RAM1203 that temporarily records various data of the player, and the card reader 1204 that functions as an identification information receiving unit that reads a card ID from a user card appearing in front of the card reading surface 1015. The station control device 1201 is connected to the medal management device 1202, the RAM1203, and the card reader 1204. The table control device 1201 is also connected to the display 1011 and the touch panel 1012 shown in fig. 2 provided on the table 1010, and to various parts such as a medal insertion sensor, not shown, for detecting medals inserted through the medal insertion part 1013.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, a table control device 1201 of each table 1010 is connected to a main control device 1101 on the game machine main body side, and necessary data communication can be performed between them.

The main control device 1101 of the main control unit 1100 changes the movement control content of each model horse for each race based on various data such as parameters of each horse in order to reproduce an actual race for horses in real time when the race is held. The movement control content is determined before the start of the race, and the model horse is controlled to move according to the movement control content. Specifically, the main control device 1101 of the main control unit 1100 reads out various parameters of the horse present in the race, the state of the horse field, and the like from the ROM1107 before the race starts, and determines the arrival order of the race. Since only the 1 st and 2 nd arrival are the arrival orders for paying out medals to the player, it is not necessary to determine the arrival order of all outgoing horses, and it is only necessary to determine at least the 1 st and 2 nd arrival horses. In this case, movement control is performed on the other horses so that the 1 st bit arrival and the 2 nd bit arrival are not achieved, based on various parameters. The arrival order data determined by the main control device 1101, the parameters of each horse, and the like are sent to the movement control device 1102.

The movement control device 1102, which has received the data from the main control device 1101, executes a movement control program recorded in a ROM, not shown, and performs movement control for each horse. The movement control device 1102 executing the movement control program calculates the movement pattern of each of the horses based on the parameters of each of the horses, and transmits a control command to each of the control chips 1022 so that each of the model horses 1060 moves in accordance with the movement pattern. Specifically, in order to generate a magnetic field for moving each model horse 1060 in accordance with the moving pattern of each horse, a control command is transmitted to the control chip of each magnetic field generation substrate. The respective control chips 1022, which have received the control command, control the currents flowing through the respective coils to sequentially generate magnetic forces that attract the south poles of the permanent magnets of the respective model motors 1060 along the predetermined paths of movement of the respective model motors 1060. This enables each model horse 1060 to move along the predetermined movement path. As a result, each model horse 1060, which is movement-controlled by the movement control device 1102, develops a race in the game pool.

When a player plays a game using a user card, the player presents his or her user card on the card reading surface 1015 before playing the game. Thus, the card reader 1204 reads out a card ID from the user card, and saves the card ID in the SRAM1105 or the flash memory 1106. In the SRAM1105 or the flash memory 1106, data (horse name data, parameter data, actual result information such as a winning GI race, and the like) relating to the horse racing character that the player has trained by playing the game is stored in a state associated with the card ID.

In the present horse racing game machine 1000, when a player who plays a game using a user card ends the game, game state data for restoring the game state at the end at the next resumption of the game is saved in the arcade terminal unit in a state associated with the card ID of the player. The game state data includes data related to a horse racing character trained by the player. When the player resumes the game from the previous game, the player can download the game state data corresponding to the card ID in the user card from the store terminal unit by presenting the user card on the card reading surface 1015 before playing the game, store the data in the SRAM1105 or the flash memory 1106, and resume the game.

[ coin pushing Game machine 2000]

Next, the slot machine 2000 will be explained.

The slot machine 2000 is a pusher game machine.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a configuration of the table section ST in the present pusher game machine 2000.

The slot pusher game machine 2000 is provided with 4 satellite units SA so as to surround a center drawing device not shown. Each satellite unit SA has 4 station units ST, and each player plays a game using each station unit ST. Each satellite unit SA has 1 satellite lottery device 2001, and each of the station units ST is arranged around the satellite lottery device 2001.

The station unit ST mainly includes: a medal insertion mechanism (insertion unit) 2100, a game pool 2500, a not-shown table control unit, and a display unit 2700. In the station unit ST, a medal insertion mechanism 2100 is disposed on the upper front side, a display unit 2700 serving as a display unit functioning as display means is disposed on the upper rear side, and a play field 2500 is disposed at the upper center. Here, "front side" refers to a side on which a player plays a game, "rear side" refers to a side opposite to the side on which the player plays a game, "center" refers to a region between the aforementioned "front side" and "rear side".

The medal insertion mechanism 2100 is a mechanism for allowing a player to insert medals M into the pusher game machine 2000 during a game. The medal M inserted into the medal insertion mechanism 2100 is conveyed to the elevator bucket through a medal conveyance path, not shown, inside the housing of the table section ST, and temporarily stays in the elevator bucket. The lift bucket has: the medal ejecting device includes a medal storage section for storing medals M, a lifting section for lifting the medals M to a predetermined height, and a medal ejecting section for ejecting the lifted medals M at a predetermined timing. A medal discharge path 2400 for guiding the discharged medals M to the play field 2500 is provided in the discharge port of the medal discharge portion so as to be swingable in the left and right directions. The upper end of the lift portion is disposed higher than the game pool 2500. Thus, the medal discharge unit provided at the upper end of the lift unit is also disposed higher than the play field 2500. Therefore, the medals M temporarily accumulated in the medal accumulating portion provided below the game pool 2500 are lifted above the game pool 2500 by the lifted portion, and then ejected from the medal discharging portion to the game pool 2500 through the medal discharging path 2400.

The game pool 2500 is mainly provided with: a main table 2501 as a medal placing table for storing medals M, and a pusher 2510 as a medal pusher placed on the main table 2501. The pusher 2501 includes: an upper surface on which the medal M is stored (referred to as a sub-table), an inclined table on which the medal M dropped from the sub-table slides, and a pushing wall for pushing the medal M stored on the main table 2510. The pusher 2510 is slidably provided on the main table 2501 in the game pool 2500, and slides back and forth at a constant cycle or an arbitrary cycle. A part (rear side) of the pusher 2510 is stored in a storage section described later provided below the display section 2700. The pusher 2510 reciprocates back and forth by sliding in and out of the storage.

The frame member of the display portion 2700 slidably abuts the sub-mount. Therefore, when the pusher 2510 moves in the direction of being stored in the storage, the medal M on the sub-table is pushed by the frame member. By this pushing, a part of the medal M on the sub-table falls down to the inclined table. A part of the medal M dropped from the sub-table enters an opening (referred to as a "leak") provided in the inclined table as a medal passing opening. The remaining medals M directly drop on the main table 2501 and are stored in the main table 2501.

The medal M on the main table 2501 is pushed forward by the sliding movement of the pusher 2510, similarly to the medal M on the sub table. That is, since the pusher 2510 is placed on the main table 2501 without a gap, when the pusher 2510 moves in the direction of being carried out from the storage, the pusher M on the main table 2501 is pushed by the pushing wall on the front surface of the pusher 2510. By this advance, a part of the medal M on the main table 2501 falls. Among the dropped medals M, the medal M dropped from one end (referred to as "tip end") on the player side toward the medal dropping groove is paid out to the player, and the other medals M, for example, the medals M dropped from both sides (referred to as "side ends") of the main table 2501 are stored in a predetermined storage portion in the table portion ST.

As shown in fig. 5, the table unit ST includes a ball drop mechanism 2800 on at least one side. The ball drop mechanism 2800 is a mechanism for dropping spherical object balls B1 and B2, which are different shapes described later, into the game pool 2500, and includes a ball drop ramp 2801 and a ball drop position drawing mechanism 2810. The balls B1 and B2 are drawing objects for performing a bingo game described later.

The ball drop ramp 2801 is configured to guide balls B1, B2 dropped from a ball holder 2520 described later to a ball drop position drawing mechanism 2810 by gravity. Thus, it is a descending ramp. The ball drop position lottery mechanism 2810 is a mechanism for lottery positions on the play field 2500 where balls B1 and B2 are dropped. Thus, the balls B1, B2 thrown from the ball holder 2520 to be described later on the table unit ST are thrown into the game pool 2500 via the ball throwing ramp 2801 and the ball throwing position drawing mechanism 2810.

As shown in fig. 5, the table unit ST includes a ball conveyance mechanism 2900 on at least one side. The ball transfer mechanism 2900 is configured to transfer balls B1 and B2 to the satellite lottery device 2001 when the balls B1 and B2 are dropped from the main table 2501 in the game pool 2500 to the medal dropping grooves provided on the near side thereof, and includes a ball transfer path, a ball transfer unit 2910, and a ball transfer unit travel ramp 2901, which are not shown. The ball conveying path is provided below the front end of the main table 2501, and guides the balls B1 and B2 dropped from the front end to the ball conveying unit 2910. The ball carrying unit 2910 is configured to carry the balls B1 and B2 received through the ball carrying path to the satellite lottery device 2001, and travels on the ball carrying unit travel slope 2901 under the control of the control unit of the game console unit ST. The balls B1 and B2 conveyed to the satellite lottery device 2001 are transferred to the ball tray 2520.

The station unit ST includes a medal paying-out mechanism 2030, and by driving the medal paying-out mechanism, the same number of medals M as the number of medals M dropped from the front end of the main table 2501 into the medal dropping groove are discharged to the storage unit 2101 of the medal inserting mechanism 2100.

Next, a control system of the pusher game machine 2000 will be explained.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a main configuration of a game control system of the pusher game machine 2000. For convenience of explanation, the block diagram omits illustration of a drive control system for driving each unit in accordance with the progress of the game.

The control system in the pusher game machine 2000 is mainly configured by the control unit 2600 of the station unit ST, the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001, and the control unit 2620 of the center lottery device 2002. The control unit 2600 of the station unit ST mainly controls the overall operation of the game of chance and the bingo game, which will be described later, the control unit 2610 of the satellite drawing device 2001 mainly controls the physical drawing of the bingo game and the conveyance of the balls B1 and B2, and the control unit 2620 of the center drawing device 2002 mainly controls the single jackpot drawing, which will be described later, and the overall control of the present pusher game machine 2000.

The control unit 2600 of the console unit ST is mainly composed of a control device 2601, a ROM2602, a RAM2603, a communication device 2604, and a card reader 2605 serving as an identification information receiving unit that functions as identification information receiving means. The control device 2601 executes various programs stored in the ROM2602 to perform various controls. The ROM2602 stores execution programs of various controls to be performed by the control unit 2600 of the station unit ST. The RAM1603 is used to temporarily store various data or information. The communication device 2604 is used for data communication with the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001. The card reader 2605 is used to read a card ID from a user card held by a user. Although not shown, the station unit ST is provided with rendering units such as speakers and lighting devices for various kinds of rendering, and the control device 2601 controls these rendering units to perform various kinds of rendering.

The control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001 mainly includes a control device 2611, a ROM2612, a RAM2613, a game station-side communication device 2614, and a center-side communication device 2615. The control device 2611 executes various programs stored in the ROM2612 to perform various kinds of control. The ROM2612 stores programs for executing various controls to be performed by the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001. The RAM2613 is used for temporarily storing various data or information. The station-side communication device 2614 is used for data communication with the control unit 2600 of each station unit ST belonging to the satellite unit SA. The center-side communication device 2615 is used for data communication with the control unit 2620 of the center drawing device 2002. Although not shown, the satellite unit SA is provided with rendering units such as speakers and lighting devices for various kinds of rendering, and the control device 2611 controls these rendering units to perform various kinds of rendering.

The control unit 2620 of the center drawing device 2002 is mainly configured by a control device 2621, a ROM2622, a RAM2623, a communication device 2624, and an external communication device 2625. The control device 2621 executes various programs stored in the ROM2622 to perform various controls. The ROM2622 stores programs and the like for executing various controls to be performed by the control unit 2620 of the center drawing device 2002. The RAM2623 is used for temporarily storing various data and information. The communication device 2624 is used for data communication with the control unit 2610 of each satellite unit SA. The external communication device 2625 performs data communication with an external device such as the store terminal unit 5000 via a LAN. Although not shown, the center drawing device 2002 is provided with rendering units as rendering means such as speakers and lighting devices for various renderings, and the control device 2621 controls these rendering units to perform various renderings.

In the above-described configuration, in the token-operated game machine 2000, in addition to the token-operated game, the color-operated game screen shown in fig. 7 is displayed on the display unit 2700, and the bingo game screen shown in fig. 8 is displayed on the display unit 2700, and the bingo game is executed. In the pusher game machine 2000, a single jackpot drawing using the center drawing device 2002 is also performed. The display unit 2700 also displays the individual cumulative token number indicating the payout number in the individual jackpot drawing described later and the total cumulative token number indicating the payout number in the total jackpot drawing described later.

The sub game is mainly a digital lottery game in which the control unit 2600 in the station unit ST performs lottery in a digital manner. The starting condition of this color sub game is that the medal M enters any leak hole provided in the inclined table of the pusher 2510. While the bingo game described later is not being played, the display unit 2700 displays a game screen for color sub as shown in fig. 7, and when the medal M enters any leak and the color sub drawing start condition is satisfied, the control unit 2600 performs display control for rotating the 3 color sub-shaped blocks DS. In the number lottery of the color sub game, the control section executes a predetermined lottery program, compares the generated random number with a predetermined winning table, and determines whether or not any prize is won. Then, when the winning prize is determined, the control unit 2600 performs display control for stopping the rotation of the 3 color sub-shaped blocks DS, and the display unit 2700 displays the combination of the patterns corresponding to the winning prize in a stationary manner.

In the present embodiment, as the awards of the digital lottery, there are provided a jackpot prize a in which 3 coins are supplied to the game pool 2500, a jackpot prize B in which 8 coins are supplied to the game pool 2500, a ball supply prize in which a ball B1 is supplied to the game pool 2500, a normal bonus prize in which 30 coins are supplied to the game pool 2500, a change probability prize in which 30 coins are supplied to the game pool 2500 and a winning table in which a winning probability is set high is used in the subsequent digital lottery, a direct satellite prize in which a ball B1 is directly supplied to the satellite lottery device 2001, a direct center prize in which a ball B1 is directly supplied to the center lottery device 2002, and the like. The winning probability of each prize is set to decrease stepwise in the above order. In addition, any prize may be set, and any winning probability may be set for each prize. For example, the player may be directly paid with the medal M or the like to give various benefits to the player. When these awards are won, the control device 2601 of the table unit ST controls speakers, lighting devices, and the like to perform a special performance for setting off the winning atmosphere.

The bingo game is a physical lottery game performed by a physical lottery using the 2 balls B1, B2 and the satellite lottery device 2001, and is performed under the control of the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001 and the control unit 2600 of the station unit ST. In the bingo game, the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001 mainly controls the drawing for determining the winning bingo number of the bingo game, and the control unit 2600 belonging to each station unit ST including the satellite unit SA of the satellite lottery device 2001 mainly performs control such as the performance of the bingo game and the determination of the establishment of bingo. In the present embodiment, a physical lottery for selecting 1 winning bingo number (winning object) from a plurality of different bingo numbers (winning objects) is performed by moving the balls B1, B2 in the satellite lottery device 2001. In the physical lottery of the present embodiment, 1 winning bingo number is selected from bingo numbers of "1" to "9". Then, for example, the controller 2600, which is an arrangement information generating unit functioning as arrangement information generating means in the station unit ST, generates arrangement information of the bingo cards in which the bingo numbers of "1" to "9" are arranged in a matrix for each station unit ST. Subsequently, as shown in fig. 8, a bingo card image BC in which images of bingo numbers "1" to "9" (images to be lottery) are arranged in accordance with the arrangement information is displayed on the display portion 2700 of each station portion ST. When bingo is established, the control device 2601 of the station unit ST and the control device 2611 of the satellite unit SA control the speakers, the lighting devices, and the like to perform special performances for creating an atmosphere in which bingo is established.

In the single jackpot drawing, when the physical drawing by the satellite drawing machine 2001 in the bingo game described above is satisfied, the balls B1, B2 enter the winning hole to which the right to start the single jackpot drawing by the center drawing machine 2002 is assigned; alternatively, when the conditions for starting any one of the single jackpot drawings of the direct jackpot game are satisfied in the above-described game, the control device 2621 of the control unit 2620 in the jackpot game apparatus 2002 executes the single jackpot execution program stored in the ROM2622 to start the single jackpot drawing. Then, in the center drawing device 2002, a physical drawing is performed to determine whether or not the single jackpot award is won (including a case where a prize other than the single jackpot award is won) by moving the ball B1. When the single jackpot award is won, the control device 2621 of the center drawing device 2002 controls the speaker, the lighting device, and the like to perform special performance for raising the single jackpot award.

When the jackpot award is won, the control device 2621 reads out the data of the number of reserve JP singles as payout amount data from the RAM2623, and performs a process of supplying the tokens M of the number indicated by the count value of the data to the play pool 2500 of the station unit ST satisfying the start condition of the jackpot drawing. At this time, a medal supply command may be output from the control device 2621 to the control device 2601 of the control unit 2600 in the station unit ST, and the medal M may be supplied to the pool 2500 by the control of the control device 2601 in the same manner as in the normal medal supply process. However, the number of tokens to be supplied when the single jackpot award is won is a large number because the number of tokens (for example, 0.03 tokens) corresponding to a part of the number of tokens thrown into all the station portions ST is added in an accumulated manner from the time when the single JP stored number data is reset to the initial value (for example, 500 tokens). Therefore, a process of using a separate medal supply mechanism may be used as a process different from the normal medal supply process. In this case, it is preferable to perform a performance in winning a single jackpot award. When the individual jackpot award is won, the control device 2621 resets the individual JP storage count data stored in the RAM2623 to an initial value.

When a player plays a game using the pusher game machine 2000, the player presents a user card to a card reading surface, not shown, before playing the game. Thus, the card reader 2605 reads the card ID from the user card, and stores the card ID in the RAM 2603. The RAM2603 stores therein game information (the accumulated token-inserted number, the number of awards in the slot game, the number of times bingo is established in the bingo game, the number of winning prizes of the single jackpot award, and the like) of the player in the pusher game machine 2000 in a state associated with the card ID. When the player who plays the game using the user card ends the game, the game information stored in the RAM2603 is saved in the store terminal unit in a state associated with the card ID. When the player presents his or her own user card to the card reading surface before the next game is played, game information corresponding to the card ID in the user card is downloaded from the store terminal unit, the data is stored in the RAM2603, and the game result of the game is added to the game information.

[ automatic lottery machine 3000]

Next, the slot machine 3000 will be described.

The slot machine 3000 is an automatic gaming machine.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the automatic lottery machine 3000 according to the present embodiment.

The automatic lottery machine 3000 includes: a box-shaped housing 3002, and a front panel 3003 openably and closably attached to the front side of the housing 3002. On the front panel 3003, there are provided: a display window 3004 for displaying a part of a fluctuation display means described later, a medal insertion slot 3005, a start button 3006 as a start operation device, a color sub display window 3007, a reserve settlement button 3008, a speaker 3009, a medal tray 3010 having a medal payout port 3010a, a performance panel 3011, a count display unit 3014, a BET operation unit 3015, and the like. The speaker 3009 and the rendering panel 3011 as rendering units function as rendering units of the automatic lottery machine 3000. In addition, various information such as the total accumulated token count indicating the number of payout pieces in the total jackpot drawing described later is displayed on the play panel 3011.

Inside the housing 3002, 3 wheels (reel) as a variation display unit having a plurality of patterns printed on the outer peripheral surface thereof are assembled. The 3 rotation wheels (hereinafter referred to as "left wheel", "middle wheel", and "right wheel" in this order) are each rotationally driven by a not-shown wheel drive motor constituted by a stepping motor. On these reels, various patterns such as "white 7", "blue 7", "green 7", "red 7", "cherry", "blank" and the like are printed in a predetermined order. In the present embodiment, the "blank" pattern is a pattern that does not constitute any prize. In addition, a main control circuit board having an electronic circuit formed of various electronic components such as a CPU and a ROM, a token payout device having a token basket capable of storing a plurality of tokens, an internal speaker, and the like are incorporated.

Fig. 10 is a detailed front view showing a part of the front panel 3003.

The player can view a pattern of about 3 frames at a predetermined rotation position of each rotation wheel through the display window 3004. On the display window 3004, 5 winning lines IL are drawn across all the reels. When all the combinations of the patterns associated with the awards corresponding to the predetermined award groups are superimposed on these paylines IL (hereinafter, referred to as "award superimposition"), the player is given a play value of paying out the medals to the medal tray 3010 or shifting to a special game period in which a special game can be played. Further, the automatic lottery machine 3000 according to the present embodiment is provided with 5 paylines IL, but more or fewer paylines may be provided. The winning line may be a line that cannot be seen by the player and can be recognized by the CPU17a described later that controls the stop of the automatic lottery machine.

The count display unit 3014 includes a reserve display 3014a, a bonus count display unit 3014b, a token payout number display unit 3014c, and the like.

The BET operation unit 3015 includes 2 BET buttons, i.e., a 1BET button 3015a and a maximum BET button 3015 b.

Fig. 11 is a control block diagram relating to the main structure of the automatic lottery machine 3000.

The main control section 3100 of the automatic lottery machine 3000 includes: a control device 3101, a rotor control device 3102 that controls the driving of 3 rotors, a storage device 3103 that stores various programs and various databases necessary for a game, a display control device 3104 that controls the display of the count display unit 3014, an illumination control device 3105 that controls the illumination of the entertainment panel 3011 and the like, an audio control device 3106 that controls the audio output from the speaker 3009, and an external communication device 3107 that performs data communication with an external device such as the shop terminal unit 5000 via a LAN. The main control device 1101 is connected to these devices, and is also connected to a medal insertion sensor 3022, a BET operation unit 3015, a medal payout device 3018, and the like.

Next, the game flow of the automatic lottery machine 3000 will be described.

Before playing a game, first, as a preparation for the game, a player is required to insert medals into the medal insertion slot 3005. When the player inserts medals into the medal insertion port 3005, the medals fall into the medal basket through a path not shown. In the passage are provided: a drop port for dropping a medal smaller than a predetermined value and returning it to the medal payout port 3010 a; a medal blocking solenoid valve for blocking passage of medals back to the medal paying-out port 3010a, or the medals may pass; and a medal insertion sensor 3022 configured by a photoelectric sensor or the like for detecting medals passing one by one. The medal detection signal output from the medal insertion sensor 3022 that has detected the medals is sent to the control device 3101 of the main control unit 3100. Upon receiving the signal, the control device 3101 performs control for the reserve display 3104a to increment the display count value by 1, and also increments the reserve count data stored in the storage device 3103 by 1, by the display control device 3104. Generally, a plurality of tokens are inserted at a time, and the number of reserved tokens is set to a certain number. When the player operates the BET operation unit 3015 to perform a betting operation, the control device 3101 performs control of subtracting the number of betting pieces from the reserve number data stored in the storage device 3103, and subtracting the number of betting pieces from the display count value of the reserve display 3014 a. Then, the control device 3101 recognizes the winning line IL that is valid according to the number of bet. In addition, if the prize is not superimposed on the valid winning line IL, the prize is not formed even if the prize is stopped on the invalid winning line IL.

When the player operates the start key 3006, the control device 3101, which is a start instruction receiving unit, functions as start instruction receiving means by executing the start instruction receiving program stored in the storage device 3103, and receives a variation display start instruction from the start key 3006. The control device 3101 that has received the fluctuation display start command first starts the rotational driving of all the rotors by the rotor control device 3102. Then, the control device 3101, which has received the fluctuation display start command, executes the prize group drawing program stored in the storage device 3103, and functions as means for performing an internal drawing, thereby performing an internal drawing for determining a winning or losing of a selected prize group or a non-selected prize group from among a plurality of prize groups. The internal lottery is performed by comparing the random number data sent from the random number generation circuit with the prize group lottery table stored in the storage device 3103. The prize group drawing table is a table indicating that each random number is associated with an arbitrary prize group or a prize miss. By establishing the association in this way, an arbitrary prize group wins with a predetermined probability or a prize wins with a predetermined probability, respectively.

The rotational position of the rotor at which the rotational driving is started is detected by a rotor position sensor, not shown. The rotor control device 3102 calculates the rotation speed of the rotor based on the output signals from the rotor position sensors. After the rotational speed of the rotor is stabilized, the rotor control apparatus 3102 can recognize the positions of the patterns on the respective rotors based on the output signals from the respective rotor position sensors. Then, the control device 3101 executes a stop control program stored in the storage device 3103, and based on the result of the drawing of the internal lottery, the rotor wheel control device 3102 controls the stop of the rotor wheel so that the combination of the predetermined pattern is displayed on the winning line in a stationary state. Specifically, when an arbitrary prize group is selected by the internal lottery, stop control is performed to stop the display of the combination of the patterns associated with the prize corresponding to the prize group on the winning line IL. On the other hand, when any prize group is not selected by the internal lottery and a prize is won, stop control is performed to stop and display a combination of patterns not corresponding to any prize group on the winning line IL.

In a normal game, an internal drawing is performed using a prize-group drawing table corresponding to the normal game. Among the prize groups that can be won by the internal lottery of the normal game, there are a cherry prize corresponding to the cherry prize formed by "cherry-ANY (arbitrary pattern)", an ANY7 prize corresponding to the ANY7 prize formed by "ANY 7 (" color of 7 ") -ANY" ANY "ANY" ANY7 ("color of 7") -ANY7 ("color of 7" ANY "), and a white 7 prize corresponding to the white 7 prize formed by" white 7-white 7 ", a token payout prize such as a blue 7 prize corresponding to the blue 7 prize formed of "blue 7-blue 7", a green 7 prize corresponding to the green 7 prize formed of "green 7-green 7", and a red 7 prize corresponding to the red 7 prize formed of "red 7-red 7". When an arbitrary token payout award is selected by internal lottery and the corresponding award is stopped on the winning line IL, the control device 3101 causes the token payout number display 3014c of the count display unit 3014 to display the token payout number corresponding to the winning award. Then, the control device 3101 performs token payout processing for the number of tokens corresponding to the winning award. Specifically, the control device 3101 performs control to increase the reserved number of tokens stored in the storage device 3103 by the number of token payout amounts, and to increase the reserved number of tokens in the reserved display 3014a by the number of token payout amounts. When the upper limit value of the medal stock is exceeded, the medal is paid out to the medal tray 3010 from the medal paying-out port 3010a by the medal paying-out device 3018 for the exceeded portion. The number of paid-out tokens is gradually increased in accordance with the order of description of the prize group.

When a player plays a game using the automatic lottery machine 3000, a user card is presented to a card reading surface, not shown, before the game is played. Thus, the card reader 3013 reads the card ID from the user card, and the card ID is stored in the storage device 3103. The storage device 3103 stores game information (the number of accumulated medals inserted, the number of wins for the bonus 7 prize, etc.) of the player in the automatic lottery machine 3000 in a state associated with the card ID. When the player who plays the game using the user card finishes the game, the game information stored in the storage device 3103 is stored in the arcade terminal unit in a state associated with the card ID. When the player presents his or her own user card to the card reading surface before the next game is played, game information corresponding to the card ID in the user card is downloaded from the arcade terminal unit, the data is stored in the storage device 3103, and the game result of the game is added to the game information.

[ jackpot system ]

Next, the overall jackpot drawing performed in the entire system will be described.

Fig. 12 is a control block diagram of a management server 4000 that performs process control of the whole jackpot drawing together with each of the store terminal units 5000.

The management server 4000 is mainly composed of a control device 4001, a storage device 4002, and an external communication device 4003. The memory device 4002 stores various control programs and also stores total accumulated token count data, which is payout amount data of the entire system. The external communication device 4003 is used for data communication with external devices such as the store terminal units 5000 of the stores via the WAN.

Fig. 13 is an external view of a store terminal unit 5000 for managing the system in each store and performing data communication with the management server 4000 and each slot machine in the store.

Fig. 14 is a control block diagram of the store terminal unit 5000.

The store terminal unit 5000 is mainly composed of a control device 5001, a storage device 5002 as a storage section functioning as storage means, an external communication device 5003, an in-store communication device 5004, a display device 5005 as a problem-solving notification section 1 and a problem-solving notification section 2 functioning as problem-solving notification means 1 and problem-solving notification means 2, a touch panel 5006 as an operation reception section functioning as operation reception means, a card reader 5007, and a medal payment device 5008. The storage device 5002 stores various control programs. The storage device 5002 also stores the number of in-store accumulated tokens, which are a part of the tokens consumed by the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 in the local store constituting the local game system, and also stores the total accumulated token count data transmitted from the management server 4000. The external communication device 5003 is used for data communication with an external device such as the management server 4000 via a WAN. The external communication device 5003 is used for data communication with each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, 3000 and the like through the LAN. The display device 5005 is used to display various information such as the problem of the token game event described later. The touch panel 5006 is used to receive user operations. The card reader 5007 is used to read a card ID from a user card held by a user. The medal paying-out device 5008 is used to pay out medals from the medal paying-out slot 5008.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing the flow of the overall jackpot drawing according to the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, fig. 15 shows 1 slot machine and a store terminal unit, respectively.

In the present game system, when a player consumes a medal in each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, data indicating the consumption amount is transmitted to the store terminal unit 5000 of the store. The control device 5001 of the gaming arcade terminal unit 5000 accumulatively stores a part (for example, 0.01 medal) of the medals consumed by the player in the gaming arcade gaming machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the gaming arcade terminal unit 5000 as the number of in-arcade accumulated medals in the storage device 5002 based on the data transmitted from the respective gaming arcade gaming machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Then, the control device 5001 transmits the in-store accumulated token count data in the storage device 5002 to the management server 4000 at a predetermined timing. The intra-store cumulative token count data transmitted here is an amount cumulatively stored from the last transmission time to the present transmission time.

Each time the in-store accumulated token count data transmitted from each of the store terminal units 5000 is received, the management server 4000 accumulatively adds the total accumulated token count data in the storage device 4002 to the number of tokens of the amount indicated by the data. Thus, a part (for example, 0.01 tokens) of the number of tokens consumed in all the token-operated game machines constituting the present game system is counted as the total accumulated token count data. In the present embodiment, the initial value of the total accumulated token count data is set to 1000 tokens, for example, and a part of the number of tokens consumed by the player is accumulated for the initial value.

In the present embodiment, even if the single jackpot drawing is performed in the pusher game machine 2000 described above, the accumulated token count data of the single jackpot drawing can be calculated from only the number of tokens consumed in the pusher game machine 2000. On the other hand, the management server 4000 manages the accumulated token count data of the operated total jackpot drawing, and can calculate the accumulated token count data from the number of tokens consumed in all the token-operated game machines constituting the present game system. Thus, when a prize is won by a jackpot drawing, the number of tokens paid out to the winner can be increased.

To explain a specific process flow, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 receives the intra-store cumulative token count data transmitted from each of the store terminal units 5000 at a predetermined timing (for example, every 10 minutes), and first performs a cumulative process of accumulating the total cumulative token count data in the storage device 4002 as shown in fig. 14. Then, the total accumulated token count data stored in the time storage 4002 is transmitted to the arcade terminal unit 5000 that has been received before as the sender of the in-arcade accumulated token count data. The store terminal unit 5000 that has received the data transmits the total accumulated token count data to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Then, the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that have received the data update the respective pieces of total accumulated token count data based on the received pieces of total accumulated token count data. In the present embodiment, the total accumulated token count data is displayed on each token-operated game machine, but a configuration may be adopted in which a display device for displaying the total accumulated token count data is provided in the arcade, and independent display is not performed on each token-operated game machine.

The conditions for starting the total jackpot drawing in the present embodiment are that the management server 4000 receives the in-store accumulated token count data from the store terminal unit 5000. Thus, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 executes the jackpot drawing program upon receiving the in-store accumulated token count data from each of the store terminal units 5000, and performs a jackpot drawing in which the generated random number is compared with a predetermined winning table to determine a winning or losing prize. When winning is determined by the total jackpot drawing, the control device 4001 transmits winning data indicating winning in the total jackpot drawing to the arcade terminal unit 5000 that has transmitted the intra-arcade cumulative token count data that becomes the starting condition of the drawing.

The gaming arcade terminal unit 5000 that has received the winning data performs processing for deciding which player to play with the slot machine 1000, 2000, 3000 in the connected gaming arcade as the winner of the overall jackpot prize. In this process, a notification is given of the appearance of the winner of the total jackpot drawing from the inside of the store, and a total performance (hereinafter referred to as "total jackpot performance") for attracting attention of the player, the audience, and the like in the entire store is performed, thereby inducing a sense of expectation that the player may be the winner of the store and an interest in who the winner is. The total jackpot performance must be performed simultaneously in all the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 in the store, but the timing of performing the performance (total jackpot performance timing) needs to be adjusted in accordance with the progress of the game in each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. This is because each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 plays the game independently, and depending on the progress status thereof, the overall jackpot performance may hinder the play of the game, which may result in an undesirable situation in which the enjoyment of the player is greatly reduced.

For example, in the horse racing game machine 1000, if the whole jackpot performance is suddenly started during the race reproduction using the pool portion 1002, the game climax inherent in the horse racing game machine is significantly lowered, which is not preferable. Further, for example, in the pusher game machine 2000, if the whole jackpot performance is suddenly started in a drawing in which payment of a large number of medals can be expected such as a physical drawing of a bingo game and a single jackpot drawing, the surprise of the game originally provided by the pusher game machine is remarkably reduced, which is not desirable. Further, for example, in the automatic lottery machine 3000, if the entire jackpot performance is suddenly started in the winning performance when a large number of medals such as the green 7 prize and the red 7 prize are determined, the pleasure of the player is significantly lowered, which is not desirable.

On the other hand, in each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, even if the progress of the respective game is hindered by the overall jackpot performance, there is a time period in which the adverse effect of reducing the original enjoyment of the token-operated game machine is small. For example, in the horse racing game machine 1000, if the player is in a time for betting a medal, that is, in a time for purchasing a horse ticket, the adverse effect is small, and it is suitable for starting the whole jackpot performance. Further, for example, in the pusher game machine 2000, if a drawing which can expect a large amount of medals to be paid out is being performed and a timing other than the time when the winning performance is being performed, the adverse effect is small, and it is suitable for starting the whole jackpot performance. In the automatic lottery machine 3000, for example, if the period from the end of the 1-time lottery game to the start of the next lottery game, specifically, the period from the time when the winning is determined in the previous lottery game to the time when the winning start button 3006 of the next lottery game is operated after the end of the winning play, the adverse effect is small, and the whole jackpot play is preferably started.

In each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 of the present embodiment, the game progress status exemplified here is set in advance to a status in which the total jackpot performance can be performed.

Fig. 16 is a sequence flowchart for explaining the overall jackpot performance timing determination process.

The arcade terminal unit 5000 that has received the winning data first inquires of the slot machine 1000, 2000, 3000 via the LAN about the timing at which the game progress status becomes a status in which the jackpot performance can be performed. In response to this inquiry, the control devices 1101, 2621, and 3101 as the time prediction processing units of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 function as time prediction processing means by themselves or in cooperation with the other control devices 1201, 2601, and 2611, and execute a time prediction program to perform processing for predicting the time at which the progress status of the respective games reaches the predetermined set status. Then, the control devices 1101, 2621, and 3101 of the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 transmit the total performance possible time information indicating the predicted time from the external communication devices 1108, 2625, and 3107 to the shop terminal unit 5000. The control device 5001 of the store terminal unit 5000, which is the total performance timing determining unit, functions as a total performance timing determining unit that determines the total performance timing at which the total jackpot performance is performed, based on the total performance possible timing information sent from each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Specifically, the earliest timing at which the total play possible timings of the total slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 overlap each other is determined based on the total play possible timing information, and is determined as the total play timing. Then, the information of the determined overall performance time is transmitted to each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. The progress of the game is controlled in each slot machine that has received the information, and the progress of the game is made to be the predetermined setting state that enables the performance of the jackpot performance in the determined total performance time. A specific control method is to store the setting conditions in advance in each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and to read information on the stored setting conditions to control the progress of the game, or to combine the setting conditions in advance in a program for controlling the progress of the game, and to control the progress of the game in accordance with the contents of the program.

The method of determining the total rendering timing is not limited to this.

For example, the slot machine 1000, 2000, 3000 is not asked about the total performance possible timing, and the total performance timing is determined based on a predetermined total performance timing determination condition. Then, the determined total performance timing is transmitted to each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and the progress of the game in each of the slot machines is controlled so that the progress state of the game itself becomes the predetermined setting state in which the total jackpot performance can be performed at the determined total performance timing. This method is particularly effective when the slot machine constituting the game system has a high degree of freedom in controlling the progress of the game.

When the total performance time determined by the gaming arcade terminal unit 5000 arrives, as shown in fig. 15, the control device 5001 of the gaming arcade terminal unit 5000 performs player presence confirmation processing for identifying a player who is playing using each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Specifically, all of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are asked for presence confirmation of the player through the LAN. The token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that have received the inquiry each perform a player presence confirmation process. Specifically, when the card ID is read by the card reader of each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, it is determined that the player is present. The method of confirming the presence of the player is not limited to the above example, and other methods may be employed.

After the presence confirmation process of the player, the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 return the presence confirmation information as the process result to the arcade terminal unit 5000 from the external communication devices 1108, 2625, and 3107. The control device 5001 of the store terminal unit 5000 identifies a table, a table portion, or an automatic gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as "table or the like") on which a player is playing, which is determined based on presence confirmation information sent from each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Then, the control device 5001 executes a winner determination lottery program, and performs a winner determination lottery process for determining which lottery object is won by using each of the identified game boards or the like as a lottery object. Specifically, a winning table is generated in which winning probabilities of respective drawing objects are equal, drawing objects corresponding to generated random numbers are selected in accordance with the winning table, and the selected drawing object is determined as a winner. In the present embodiment, in addition to the total jackpot prize, a fixed number of jackpot prizes (major bonus prize), a fixed number of medium prizes (medium bonus prize), and a fixed number of mini prizes (small bonus prize) are prepared in the winner determination lottery process. Thus, the control device 5001 sequentially determines the drawing targets to be won for these prizes by the method described above.

Here, the winning probabilities of the respective drawing objects are set to be equal, but may be unequal. For example, in the gaming arcade terminal unit 5000, since the token consumption data is periodically received from each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, 3000, the degree of contribution of each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, 3000 contributing to the increase of the total accumulated token count data of this time, and the ratio of the token consumption data received from each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, 3000 to increase the total accumulated token count data of this time can be determined. The winning probability may be relatively increased for a drawing object corresponding to a slot machine with a high ratio, and the winning probability may be relatively decreased for a drawing object corresponding to a slot machine with a low ratio.

After the winner determination lottery process is thus completed and the gaming tables for each winning are determined, the control device 5001 of the gaming arcade terminal unit 5000 notifies the winning results to the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 and transmits a total performance control command to the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. This enables the total jackpot performance using the performance units of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the store terminal unit 5000.

In each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that have received the total play control command from the store terminal unit 5000, a jackpot game start screen showing the start of the total jackpot drawing as shown in fig. 17 is displayed simultaneously on the display 1011, the display 2700, and the play panel 3011 that are the display units of the game tables and the like related to the drawing target. The jackpot award start screen is not displayed for a game table or the like that is not a drawing target, that is, a game table or the like that is determined that the player is not playing.

Here, in the present embodiment, even in the entire jackpot performance, the player can play the game of the slot machine with respect to the game table or the like which is not the drawing target. Therefore, during the whole jackpot performance, there is a possibility that an independent performance corresponding to the game progress of the game board or the like which is not the drawing target is performed. In the course of the overall jackpot performance, if an independent performance unrelated to the performance is performed, the independent performance obstructs the overall jackpot performance, and the effect of the overall jackpot performance is reduced. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the game board or the like that is not the drawing target is controlled so that the independent performance corresponding to the progress of the game is not performed in the entire jackpot performance.

The controllers 1101, 2621, and 3101 of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are operated alone or in cooperation with the other controllers 1201, 2601, and 2611 to execute a total performance program, thereby performing a total jackpot performance process. Specifically, by causing the performance units such as the speakers and the lighting devices of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 to perform a performance that is a part of the total jackpot performance, a single total performance (total jackpot performance) is performed in which all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the store terminal unit 5000 cooperate with each other. Specifically, for example, in all of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, blue and red lights are alternately emitted at the same time, or the same music and effect sound for notifying the start of the overall jackpot drawing are output at the same time.

However, in the present embodiment, since the presentation units of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are configured by different hardware, the same presentation cannot be performed. Therefore, by performing different performances in the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, a total jackpot performance having a sense of unity as a whole can be configured. For example, regarding music and effect tones, a bass section may be responsible for the horse racing game machine 1000, a midrange section may be responsible for the pusher game machine 2000, and a treble section may be responsible for the automatic lottery machine 3000.

In addition, as long as the performances performed by the performance units of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are synchronized with each other and have a sense of unity as a whole, various methods may be used as a specific method of the total jackpot performance.

After the total jackpot performance is started in this way, the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 are respectively followed by the jackpot start screen shown in fig. 16, and a lottery screen as shown in fig. 17 is displayed. Then, after the 3 reel images on the lottery screen start the variable display, the 3 reel images are still displayed, and the symbols corresponding to the winning or losing of the game table or the like corresponding to each of the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 are still displayed. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as described above, there are 4 awards, that is, the total jackpot prize, the large bonus prize, the medium bonus prize, and the small bonus prize, and the still display control is performed so that the combination of symbols corresponding to the respective awards is still displayed on the lottery screen. More specifically, the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 of the game boards and the like having the jackpot award in their entirety perform still display control for displaying 3a symbols continuously in a still state. The display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 of the game tables and the like for which the jackpot prize is won perform still display control for displaying still 3B symbols in succession. The display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 of the game tables and the like which win the bonus are subjected to static display control for statically displaying a symbol combination in which the a symbol and the B symbol are mixed. In the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 of the game tables or the like for which the winning prize of small bonus is awarded, the still display control is performed in which the a symbol or the B symbol is displayed in a still state on both the left reel image and the middle reel image, and the combination of the a symbol and the B symbol is not displayed in a still state on the right reel image (blank symbol is displayed in a still state).

The jackpot-starting screen and the lottery screen do not need to be identical screens in all of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and may be appropriately changed according to hardware for displaying these screens, or adjusted according to the game contents of the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, for example.

In the present embodiment, the change display of the reel images on the lottery screen starts all at once in all the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the store server 5000, but the end time of the still display of the 3 reel images differs for each prize. Specifically, the end time of the stationary display is gradually delayed in the order of the small bonus prize, the medium bonus prize, the large bonus prize, and the total jackpot prize after the game board or the like corresponding to the jackpot prize is the earliest.

In the present embodiment, a drawing performance (total jackpot performance) is also performed during a period from the start of the variable display to the end of the still display on the lottery screen. For example, after the start of the fluctuation display of the reel image on the lottery screen, the illumination of the corresponding tables or the like to be the drawing targets of the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, 3000 is turned on only during mutually different periods, and the tables or the like whose illumination is turned on are sequentially switched. Then, at the time when the still display of the rotor image on each game board or the like is completed, a drawing performance is performed such that the illumination of the game board or the like is flickered.

After the drawing performance is ended as described above, a token payout process is performed in which the number of tokens corresponding to each award is paid out to a player who plays at a game station or the like that has won each award. The payout of medals may be made by a medal payout unit as a medal payout unit of the token-operated game machine 1000, 2000, 3000, or may be made by a return of a payout amount of game fees by a clerk at a store.

Next, a description will be given of a token game event which is a characteristic part of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a process flow of a token match event according to the present embodiment.

A user participating in a token race event first arrives at the installation location of the store terminal unit 5000 and presents his or her own user card to the card reading surface 5007a of the card reader 5007. Then, the card reader 5007 reads the card ID in the user card (S1). At this time, the user may also be required to enter a password. In this case, for example, a password predetermined by the user is stored in the management server 4000 in a state associated with the card ID, the password associated with the card ID is downloaded from the management server 4000 after the card reader 5007 reads the card ID, and if the password input by the user does not match the downloaded password, the subsequent processing is not performed, and if the password input by the user does not match the downloaded password, the subsequent processing is performed. Alternatively, the password data may be stored in the user card.

After the card reader 5007 reads the card ID, the control device 5001 confirms whether or not the event participation flag associated with the card ID exists in the storage device 5002 (S2). The event participation flag associated with the read card ID is not stored in the storage device 5002 for the user who first participated in the present token competition event. The event participation flag is stored in the storage device 5002 until the event is completed or the event is terminated by giving up the event in the middle. Thus, the control device 5001 can grasp whether or not the user of the card ID is currently attending the event, based on the presence or absence of the event attendance flag.

If the event participation flag is not present in the storage device 5002, the control device 5001 displays a process (course) selection screen on the display device 5005 (S3). The process selection screen is for displaying a user selectable description of a plurality of processes. In the present embodiment, the following 2 processes are prepared: the process of completing the task in 2 slot machines selected by the control device 5001 and the process of completing the task in 3 slot machines selected by the control device 5001. Here, a case will be described where the number of slot machines required to perform a game for completing a subject is different for each process, and the contents of each process are appropriately set. For example, even in the same slot machine, it is possible to prepare a process in which a problem to be completed is different, or prepare a process including a problem to be completed by playing a game using a home-use game machine (including a portable game machine and the like).

The user selects a process by clicking on a process selection screen displayed on the display device 5005. Then, touch panel 5006 receives the operation (S4), and transmits the operation content to control device 5001. Thereby, the control apparatus 5001 saves the information of the process selected by the user in the state associated with the card ID thereof to the storage apparatus 5002 (S5). Then, the control device 5001 displays a problem notification screen indicating the contents of the problem to be completed by the user for the selected process on the display device 5005 (S6), and stores the event participation flag in the storage device 5002 in association with the read card ID (S7). In this way, the user is provided with a problem to be solved, and the user plays a game using each of the plurality of slot machines in order to solve the problem.

Here, in the course selected by the user, there is provided "obtaining the Chrysanthemum prize using the horse racing Game machine 1000! "subject 1, and" winning prize Red 7 Using the automatic lottery machine 3000! "issue 2. In this case, the user moves to the installation place of the horse racing game machine 1000 or the automatic lottery machine 3000 to perform any problem, and plays the game for the purpose of completing the problem in the slot machine.

For example, when a game is played using the horse racing game machine 1000 to accomplish the 1 st issue, first, the user presents his or her own user card to the card reading surface 1015. Then, the card reader 1204 reads out a card ID from the user card, and the card ID is stored in the SRAM1105 or the flash memory 1106. Then, while consuming the game medals, the player trains his horse racing character to play the game in the chrysanthemum prize game, and tries for the 1 st in the chrysanthemum prize game. When the 1 st hit in the chrysanthemum game occurs, the result information indicating that the chrysanthemum game is obtained is stored in the SRAM1105 or the flash memory 1106 in a state associated with the card ID of the player. When the user finishes the game, the result information as the 1 st completion information stored in the SRAM1105 or the flash memory 1106 is transmitted from the game console control device 1201 to the external communication device 1108 functioning as the 1 st completion information output unit via the master control device 1001 together with the card ID, and is output from the external communication device 1108 to the store terminal unit 5000. In the store terminal unit 5000 that has received this information, the control device 5001 stores the received result information in the storage device 5002 in a state associated with the received card ID.

In order to complete the 2 nd issue in the game using the automatic lottery machine 3000, the user presents his or her own user card to the card reading surface 3013 a. Then, the card reader 3013a reads the card ID from the user card, and the card ID is stored in the storage device 3103. Then, the game is played while consuming the medals of the player, and when the prize of red 7 is won, game information indicating that the prize of red 7 is won is stored in the storage device 3103 in a state of being associated with the card ID of the player. When the user finishes the game, the game information as the 2 nd completion information stored in the storage device 3103 is output to the store terminal unit 5000 by the control device 3101 together with the card ID from the external communication device 3107 as the 2 nd completion information output unit functioning as the 2 nd completion information output unit. In the store terminal unit 5000 that has received this information, the control device 5001 stores the received result information in the storage device 5002 in a state associated with the received card ID.

The user who has completed all the problems thus given comes again to the installation location of the store terminal unit 5000, and presents his or her own user card in front of the card reading surface 5007a of the card reader 5007. Then, the card ID in the user card is read by the card reader 5007 (S1). After the card reader 5007 reads the card ID, the control device 5001 confirms whether or not the event participation flag associated with the card ID exists in the storage device 5002 (S2). Here, since the event participation flag is already stored in S7, it is determined that the event participation flag is present. Thus, the control device 5001 reads the progress information stored in association with the read card ID, the result information for the horse racing game machine 1000, and the game information of the automatic lottery machine 3000 from the storage device 5002. Then, it is checked whether or not the read result information and game information include information indicating that the 1 st problem and the 2 nd problem corresponding to the read progress information are completed, and whether or not all the problems are completed is determined (S8). If there is an unfinished problem in this determination, the control device 5001 displays a screen indicating the contents of the unfinished problem on the display device 5005 (S9), and notifies the user of the unfinished problem.

On the other hand, when it is determined that all the problems have been completed, the control device 5001 as a processing unit functions as processing means to perform processing for displaying a completed performance screen for the congratulatory event completion on the display device 5005 (S10). In addition, the performance may be performed by the performance units of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, as in the above-described total jackpot performance. After such a performance, the control device 5001 as a processing unit functions as processing means for controlling the token payout device 5008 to perform a process of paying out a predetermined number of tokens from the token payout port 5008a as an event completion bonus (S11). Then, the control means 5001 erases the event participation flag saved in association with the read card ID from the storage means 5002 (S12).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the user participating in the event of the present token race first arrives at the installation location of the store terminal unit 5000, and receives the notification of the 1 st and 2 nd problems therein. Then, at the installation places of the horse racing game machine 1000 and the automatic lottery machine 3000 where the game is required to be played in order to accomplish these problems, the respective slot machines 1000 and 3000 are used to play the game, thereby competing for the completion of the respective problems. Then, the user who has completed all the tasks can obtain bonus tokens by going to the installation place of the store terminal unit 5000 again. Since such a game piece competition event is a new event that the user has not experienced before, and may arouse the interest of the user, the user may be prompted to participate in the event. By participating in the event, the user is allowed to play a game using a slot machine that is required to be used to complete the given problem regardless of his/her preference. This enables the user to use the slot machine which is not played if such a problem is not provided. As a result, the user can be made to know more fun of the game apparatus.

However, the control device 5001 of the store terminal unit 5000 may execute the problem generation program and determine the contents of the problem based on the contents of the program. In this case, for example, the control device 5001 collects information such as the number of players playing the game in each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. This information collection can be performed by the same process as the player presence confirmation process described above. Then, based on the collected information, the problem of the slot machine with high occupancy of the game machine used by the player is not reported to the user. Thus, the user is not required to wait for the use of the slot machine related to the problem. Further, it is preferable that a slot machine with a low occupancy of a game machine used by a player, that is, a game machine rarely used by a player is specified based on the collected information, and a problem of such a game machine is notified to the player.

In the present embodiment, although the case where the notification of all the problems is received when the user first arrives at the installation location of the store terminal unit 5000 is described, the following problem may not be received until the problem of receiving the notification is completed. Specifically, for example, when the user first arrives at the installation location of the store terminal unit 5000, only the 1 st issue is notified, and when the user has completed the 1 st issue and then arrives at the installation location of the store terminal unit 5000 again, the store terminal unit 5000 determines that the 1 st issue is completed based on the presence or absence of the completion information, and then notifies the 2 nd issue.

In the present embodiment, the case where the predetermined process performed when the player completes the event is the rendering process and the medal paying process has been described, but other processes may be used. For example, the following processing is also possible: if the pusher game machine 2000 wins the single jackpot award, the user is notified of information that the payout of the tokens having the number of 500 pieces added to the number of single accumulated tokens can be obtained, and if the user wins the single jackpot award, the pusher game machine 2000 is controlled to payout the tokens having the number of 500 pieces added to the number of single accumulated tokens. In this case, the 1 st and 2 nd problems described in the present embodiment are the 1 st problems to be completed, and the 2 nd problem to be completed is to obtain a single jackpot in the pusher game machine 2000. In this case, the user may not know the content of the 2 nd issue before the 1 st issue is completed, so that the chance of the event or the game may be increased.

Further, the predetermined processing performed by the player when the event is completed may be processing for obtaining special processing other than the payout of the medal by playing the game using a specific game machine. For example, when a player who has completed an event plays a game using a specific gaming machine, a special treatment of playing a game is given a game content which cannot be played if the player who has not completed the event in the gaming machine. In addition, for example, when a player who has completed an event plays a game using a specific game machine, a special treatment may be given to the game machine so that a special item such as a rare item can be obtained. The specific gaming machine to which the special treatment is given may be a gaming machine other than the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 constituting the present gaming system. The specific game machine to which the special treatment is given may be a game machine with a low occupancy of game machines used by the player, that is, a game machine rarely used by the player, a newly-built game machine, or a game machine rarely used by the player in the past.

In addition, a valid period (for example, 1 month) may be set for such special treatment. In this case, even if the user who has exceeded the expiration date is a player who has completed the event, the user cannot continue to enjoy the special treatment.

In the present embodiment, the card ID is stored in advance in the user card, and various user information is stored in the storage device 5002 of the store terminal unit 5000 in association with the card ID. In this case, if the information is information stored in the user card, the information can be used without communicating with the store terminal unit 5000. Therefore, for example, if event completion information (user information) indicating that the event is completed is previously stored in the user card, the specific game machine to which the special treatment is given can determine whether or not the special treatment is provided based on the event completion information even if the specific game machine does not communicate with the store terminal unit. For example, instead of storing event completion information in the user card, gift information (user information) indicating a predetermined gift provided when an event is completed may be stored in advance, and the gift issuing machine that issues the gift may be caused to read the gift information in the user card, so that the user can acquire the gift or an arbitrary gift corresponding to the gift information.

In the present embodiment, the case where the means for notifying the user of the problem is provided in the store terminal unit 5000 configured independently of the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 has been described, but the means for notifying the user of the problem may be provided in the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. In this case, for example, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in a slot machine that plays a game, the user receives notification of a problem to be completed in another slot machine from the slot machine. When the notification is received, the user plays the game using the slot machine and finally satisfies the event completion condition (predetermined processing condition), predetermined processing such as a performance processing or a medal paying-out processing is performed, and the special processing is accepted. In this case, the effect of making more users understand more fun of the game device can be obtained.

In addition, a user-selectable task may be set. In this case, the control device 5001 of the store terminal unit 5000, which is a problem changing unit, functions as a problem changing unit, and changes the problem information stored in the storage device 5002 in accordance with the content of the operation on the touch panel 5006. Then, the changed task information is displayed on a task notification screen for notifying the user of the task.

The slot machine applied to the game system of the present embodiment is not limited to the above-described type, and can be applied more widely.

Further, the game device applied to the present game system may not be a slot machine.

In the above embodiments, a unit realized by software such as a computer program may be realized by hardware such as a circuit or a chip, and a unit realized by hardware such as a circuit or a chip may be realized by software such as a computer program.

Claims (14)

1. A game system having a plurality of game devices having different game contents, each of the plurality of game devices having a game progress control unit for controlling a progress of a game, the game system comprising:

an identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of a user;

a 1 st problem notification unit that notifies a user of a 1 st problem that should be completed when a game is played using a 1 st game device among the plurality of game devices to obtain a 1 st game play result;

a 1 st completion information output unit that outputs 1 st completion information when a progress result of a game in which the progress control is performed by the game progress control unit of the 1 st game device becomes a 1 st game progress result related to the 1 st problem notified by the 1 st problem notification unit;

a 2 nd problem notification unit that notifies a user of a 2 nd problem that should be completed when a 2 nd game progress result is obtained by playing a game using a 2 nd game device among the plurality of game devices;

a 2 nd completion information output unit that outputs 2 nd completion information when a result of progress of the game in which the progress control is performed by the game progress control unit of the 2 nd game device becomes a 2 nd game progress result related to the 2 nd problem notified by the 2 nd problem notification unit;

a storage unit that stores the 1 st completion information output by the 1 st completion information output unit and the 2 nd completion information output by the 2 nd completion information output unit in association with the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit; and

and a processing unit that receives the identification information via the identification information receiving unit, determines whether or not a predetermined processing condition including a condition that the 1 st completion information and the 2 nd completion information are stored in the storage unit in association with the identification information is satisfied, and performs a predetermined process if the predetermined processing condition is satisfied, the predetermined process being a process that is not performed if the predetermined processing condition is not satisfied.

2. The gaming system of claim 1,

the 2 nd problem notification unit notifies the 2 nd problem to the user after the 1 st completion information output unit outputs the 1 st completion information.

3. The gaming system of claim 1,

has a problem notification device which is configured independently of the plurality of game devices,

the problem notification device includes at least the identification information receiving unit, the 1 st problem notification unit, and the 2 nd problem notification unit.

4. The gaming system of claim 2,

has a problem notification device which is configured independently of the plurality of game devices,

the problem notification device includes at least the identification information receiving unit, the 1 st problem notification unit, and the 2 nd problem notification unit.

5. The gaming system of claim 3,

the problem notification device further includes the processing unit.

6. The gaming system of claim 4,

the problem notification device further includes the processing unit.

7. The gaming system of any of claims 1 through 6,

the identification information receiving unit is constituted by an identification information reading unit that reads identification information of a user from a storage medium storing the identification information.

8. The gaming system of any of claims 1 through 6,

the 1 st completion information output unit outputs the 1 st completion information in association with the identification information when the progress result of the game that has been progress-controlled by the game progress control unit of the 1 st game device becomes the 1 st game progress result on condition that the identification information is received by the identification information receiving unit,

the 2 nd completion information output unit outputs the 2 nd completion information in association with the identification information when the result of progress of the game that has been progress-controlled by the game progress control unit of the 2 nd game device becomes the 2 nd game progress result on condition that the identification information is received by the identification information receiving unit,

the storage unit stores the 1 st completion information and the 2 nd completion information in association with each other in the identification information associated with each other.

9. The gaming system of any of claims 1 through 6,

has an operation receiving unit for receiving an operation by a user,

the 1 st problem notification unit introduces a plurality of 1 st problems which are different in contents and selectable by the user to the user, and notifies the user of the 1 st problem selected by the selection operation received by the operation reception unit,

the 2 nd problem notification unit introduces the plurality of 2 nd problems, which are different in content from each other and can be selected by the user, to the user, and then notifies the user of the 2 nd problem selected according to the selection operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit.

10. The gaming system of any of claims 1 through 6,

the system includes a problem changing unit that changes at least one of the 1 st problem reported to the user by the 1 st problem reporting unit and the 2 nd problem reported to the user by the 2 nd problem reporting unit.

11. The gaming system of any of claims 1 through 6,

at least 1 of the plurality of game devices is a slot machine,

the predetermined process performed by the processing unit includes a process for paying out a token.

12. The gaming system of any of claims 1 through 6,

has a presentation unit for performing a visual or auditory presentation to a player,

the predetermined processing performed by the processing unit includes performance control processing for causing the performance unit to perform a predetermined performance.

13. A game device, comprising:

a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of the game;

an identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of a user;

a subject information receiving unit that receives subject information corresponding to the identification information received by the identification information receiving unit; and

and a completion information output unit that outputs predetermined completion information when a result of progress of the game in which the progress control unit performs the progress control becomes a predetermined game progress result related to the problem information received by the problem information receiving unit.

14. A problem notification device is characterized by comprising:

an identification information receiving unit that receives identification information of a user;

a 1 st problem notification unit that notifies a user of a 1 st problem that should be completed by playing a game using a 1 st game device among a plurality of game devices each having a game progress control unit that controls a progress of the game, the game contents of which are different from each other, to obtain a 1 st game progress result; and

and a 2 nd problem notification unit that notifies the user of a 2 nd problem that should be completed when the user plays the game using a 2 nd game device among the plurality of game devices to obtain a 2 nd game play result.