HK1146005B - Game system, and game device and event processing device constituting the same - Google Patents

Description

Game system, game device constituting the same, and event processing device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a game system including a plurality of game devices and an event processing device connected to each of the game devices so as to be communicable, and a game device and an event processing device constituting the game system.

Background

Conventionally, there is known a game device that executes an event such as a special game that cannot be played in a normal game or a special show that cannot be received in a normal game when a predetermined event condition is satisfied. For example, patent document 1 discloses a game machine having a plurality of game tables, in which a performance (event) is performed at each game table at the same time. In this game machine, each player plays a game independently on each game board, and therefore each game board can be regarded as an independent game device. According to this game machine, by performing such a performance, a high performance effect can be expected as compared with a case where an individual performance is performed independently for each game board.

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2007-215778

However, in the game machine described in patent document 1, when the performance start condition of the jackpot prize is satisfied at any one of the game tables, the performance processing for the performance is started at all the game tables at once. Therefore, for example, when another player is enjoying the game machine as in a period of a jackpot drawing performance on another game machine, if the performance is suddenly started, the enjoyment of the other player is greatly disturbed. As described above, the game machine described in patent document 1 has a problem in that the amusement of another player who plays a game on another game table is reduced by the start of the performance.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a game system, a game device and an event processing device constituting the game system, which can suppress occurrence of a situation in which, when a single overall event is performed among a plurality of game devices, the enjoyment of a player who plays a game using the game device is reduced by the overall event.

A game system provided as one embodiment of the present invention includes: a plurality of game devices each including a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of a game; and an event processing device that executes processing for performing a single overall event in the plurality of game devices at the same time; the event processing device is connected to each game device so as to be communicable, and includes: an event timing determination unit configured to determine an event timing for executing the overall event based on a predetermined event timing determination condition; and a control command transmitting unit that transmits an event control command for executing the overall event at the event timing determined by the event timing determining unit to each game device; the game progress control unit of each game machine controls the progress of the game so that the progress of the game itself becomes a preset state in which the entire event can be performed at the event time associated with the event control command from the event processing device.

In general, each game device has a game progress situation in which the whole event is performed without significantly reducing the enjoyment of the player even if the progress of the game is hindered, and in such a situation, the game progress control unit may control when the situation is reached. Therefore, by determining the situation in advance and setting each game device, it is possible to realize control for setting the game progress situation of each game device to the situation at a specific time in the future. Thus, according to the game system, the game progress status of each game device when the event time determined by the event processing device arrives can be a preset status that does not greatly reduce the enjoyment of the player even if the game progress is obstructed by the overall event. Therefore, the whole event can be executed at a timing when the enjoyment of the player is not greatly reduced even if the progress of the game in the game device is hindered by the whole event.

In the game system, the game contents of the plurality of game devices may be different from each other.

In this game system, the game progress statuses are different from each other in a plurality of game devices having different game contents. Therefore, according to the present game system, by setting the game progress status of each game device at the time of arrival of the event time to a preset status in which the whole event can be performed, the effect of being able to perform the whole event at a time that does not significantly reduce the enjoyment of the player can be effectively utilized.

In the game system, each game device may include a time prediction processing unit that predicts a time at which the game progress status of the game device is the predetermined status and executes a process of transmitting event possible time information indicating the time to the event processing device, and the event time determination unit of the event processing device may determine the event time by determining the predetermined event time determination condition using the event possible time information transmitted from each game device.

When the event processing device unilaterally determines the event time for executing the overall event, there is a possibility that it is difficult for the game device to set the game progress status when the event time arrives as a preset status in which the overall event can be performed, based on the time until the event time, the current game progress status of the game device, and the like.

On the other hand, in general, each game device has a game progress situation in which the whole event can be executed without interfering with the progress of each game, and among such situations, there is a game device that can predict when the situation will be reached. Thus, by determining such a situation in advance and setting it for each game device, it is possible to predict the timing at which the progress situation of the game itself will become the situation in each game device.

According to the present game system, each game device predicts the time at which the progress status of its game will reach the status, and the event processing device determines the event time based on the event possible time information indicating the predicted time. This makes it possible to suppress the event timing from being determined to be a timing at which it is difficult for an arbitrary game device to set the game progress state at the time of arrival of the event timing to a preset state. Therefore, in many game devices, the whole event can be executed at a timing that does not significantly reduce the enjoyment of the player even if the execution of the game is hindered by the whole event.

Further, the game system may include a jackpot drawing apparatus communicably connected to the event processing apparatus and the game apparatuses, the jackpot drawing apparatus including: a drawing unit that performs a drawing for determining a jackpot award or a jackpot award that is a jackpot award among players who play a game in the respective game devices; a storage unit for storing payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout target to be paid out to a winning player when the winning of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit; a payout processing unit that reads out the payout amount data from the storage unit when the drawing unit determines a winning of the jackpot prize, and performs payout processing for paying out a payout object of an amount indicated by the read-out payout amount data to a winning player; a payment amount increasing unit that cumulatively increases the amount indicated by the payment amount data stored in the storage unit when a predetermined payment amount increase condition is satisfied; a winning prize information transmitting unit that transmits winning prize information indicating the determination to the event processing device when the winning prize of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit; the control command transmitting unit of the event processing device transmits the event control command to each game device when receiving the winning information.

In this game system, a so-called jackpot drawing and its performance can be executed without greatly reducing the enjoyment of the player.

In addition, another aspect of the present invention provides a game device including: a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of a game, the game progress control unit being communicatively connected to an event processing device for transmitting an event control command for executing a single overall event at the same time among a plurality of game devices to each of the game devices, the game progress control unit controlling the progress of the game so that the progress of the game itself becomes a preset state in which the overall event can be executed at an event time related to the event control command, upon receiving the event control command from the event processing device.

In this game device, the event processing device is provided to be capable of executing the whole event at a timing when the progress of the game device is inhibited by the whole event and the enjoyment of the player is not significantly reduced.

In addition, an event processing device according to another aspect of the present invention is an event processing device which is communicably connected to a plurality of game devices and executes processing for performing a single overall event at the same time in the plurality of game devices, the event processing device including: an event timing determination unit configured to determine an event timing for executing the overall event based on a predetermined event timing determination condition; and a control command transmitting unit that transmits, to each game device, an event control command for executing the overall event at the event timing determined by the event timing determining unit.

In this event processing device, by being associated with a plurality of game devices, the whole event can be executed at a timing at which the player's enjoyment is not significantly reduced even if the progress of the game on the game device is affected by the whole event.

According to the present invention, since the whole event can be executed at a timing when the enjoyment of the player is not significantly reduced even if the progress of the game by the game device is affected by the whole event, when a single whole event is performed among a plurality of game devices, it is possible to suppress occurrence of a situation in which the enjoyment of the player who plays the game by the game device is reduced by the whole event.

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 a slot machine (slot 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 a control block diagram of the store server.

Fig. 14 is a sequence flowchart showing the flow of the overall jackpot (jackpot) drawing.

Fig. 15 is a sequence flowchart for explaining the overall jackpot performance time determination process.

Fig. 16 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. 17 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.

In the figure: 1000-horse racing game machine (slot machine); 1010-a game table; 1011-display (display section); 1101-a master control device; 1108. 2625, 3107, 4003, 5003-external communication device; 1201-a game station control device; 2000-pusher game machine (slot machine); 2001-satellite decimation means; 2002-center decimation device; 2500-game pool; 2601. 2611, 2621-control device; 2700-a display part; 3000-automatic lottery machines (slot machines); 3011-show panel (display section); 3101-a control device; 4000-a management server; 4001-a control device; 5000-store server; 5001-control means.

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 of arcade game machines (commercial game machines) having a plurality of game machines different in game content from each other, and a arcade server and a management server as a whole performance processing apparatus connected to the slot machines so as to be communicable.

(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 game contents and different hardware. Further, the game machine may be of the same model. 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 server 5000 of the store via a lan (local Area network) as a high-speed communication network. The management server 4000 is connected to the store server of each store via a wan (wide Area network) which is a low-speed communication network. The management server 4000 performs data communication with a gaming arcade server that performs system management of the entire gaming arcade by performing data communication with each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, thereby performing management of the entire gaming arcade. In the present embodiment, a description is given of a game system that spans a plurality of shops, but a game system in a single shop is also the same.

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 that displays a game screen corresponding to the progress of the game, and a touch panel 1012 that 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 table 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 medal insertion port 1015 through which a medal that records data necessary for the game to be played again is inserted.

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 the horse racing game machine 1000 according to 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 in which programs and various databases necessary for a game are stored, and an external communication device 1108 for performing data communication with an external device such as the shop server 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: a game station control device 1201, a game medal management device 1202 that manages payout of game medals, a RAM1203 that temporarily records various data of a player, a magnetic information reading device 1204 that reads magnetic information of a magnetic card inserted into a magnetic card insertion slot 1015, and a magnetic information writing device 1205 that writes various information such as an ID code into the magnetic card. The station control device 1201 is connected to the medal management device 1202, the RAM1203, the magnetic information reading device 1204, and the magnetic information writing device 1205, respectively. 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, a medal insertion sensor, not shown, for detecting medals inserted through the medal insertion unit 1013, a not shown magnetic card drive device for driving a magnetic card inserted into the magnetic card insertion slot 1015, and the like.

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.

[ 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 configured by a control device 2601, a ROM2602, a RAM2603, and a communication device 2604. The control device 2601 executes various programs stored in the ROM2602 to perform various controls. The ROM2602 stores programs for executing various controls to be performed by the control unit 2600 of the console 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. Although not shown, the station unit ST is provided with rendering units as rendering units such as speakers and lighting devices for various kinds of rendering, and the control device 2601 controls the 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 server 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 number of individual accumulated tokens indicating the number of payout in the individual drawing described later and the number of total accumulated tokens indicating the number of payout 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.

[ 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 server 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.

[ drawing System for jackpot ]

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 total jackpot drawing together with each of the store servers 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 servers 5000 of the stores via the WAN.

Fig. 13 is a control block diagram of a store server 5000 for managing the systems in each store and performing data communication with the management server 4000 and each slot machine in the store.

The store server 5000 is mainly configured by a control apparatus 5001, a storage apparatus 5002, an external communication apparatus 5003, and an in-store communication apparatus 5004. The storage device 5002 stores various control programs. The storage device 5002 also stores the number of in-store accumulated tokens, which is 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 number of accumulated tokens 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.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of the overall jackpot drawing in the present embodiment. For convenience of explanation, fig. 14 shows 1 slot machine and one store server, 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 server 5000 of the store. The control device 5001 of the store server 5000 accumulatively stores a part (for example, 0.01 medal) of medals consumed by the player in the in-store slot machine 1000, 2000, 3000 connected to the store server 5000 as the in-store accumulated number of medals in the storage device 5002, based on data transmitted from each of the slot machine 1000, 2000, 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 in-store cumulative token count data transmitted here is an amount cumulatively stored during a period from the last transmission time to the current transmission time.

Each time the in-store accumulated token count data transmitted from each of the store servers 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 describe 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 servers 5000 at a predetermined timing (for example, every 10 minutes), and first performs a 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 device 4002 is transmitted to the arcade server 5000 that is the sender of the in-arcade accumulated token count data received up to that time. The arcade server 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 server 5000.

In the present embodiment, upon receiving the in-store accumulated token count data from each of the store servers 5000, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 executes the overall jackpot drawing program, compares the generated random numbers with a predetermined winning table, and performs the overall jackpot drawing in which the store of the sender of the data is determined to be a winning or a losing. When winning is determined by the whole jackpot drawing, the control device 4001 transmits winning data indicating winning by the whole jackpot drawing to the arcade server 5000 that transmits the intra-arcade cumulative token count data that becomes the starting condition of the drawing.

As another method, for example, the following method can be mentioned. That is, upon receiving the in-store accumulated token count data from any of the store servers 5000, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 executes the total jackpot drawing program, compares the generated random number with a predetermined winning table, and performs the total jackpot drawing for determining whether or not any of the stores wins or whether or not any of the stores wins. In the overall jackpot drawing, the winning store does not necessarily have to be determined. Therefore, in the overall jackpot drawing, there are cases where any of the shops have won no prize. When a prize is won in any one of the gaming arcades by the whole jackpot drawing, the control device 4001 transmits prize winning data indicating that a prize is won by the whole jackpot drawing to the gaming arcade server 5000 of the winning arcade.

The conditions for starting the overall jackpot drawing are not limited to the above conditions, and may be any conditions as long as they can be generated at appropriate time intervals. For example, a condition that a predetermined fixed time has elapsed may be set as a starting condition of the total jackpot drawing.

The arcade server 5000 that has received the winning data performs processing for determining which player played by the slot machine 1000, 2000, 3000 in the arcade connected thereto is 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 total 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 desirable. Further, for example, in the pusher game machine 2000, if the total 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 or a single jackpot drawing, the excitement of the game inherent to 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, during a period from the end of 1 lottery game to the start of the next lottery game, specifically, during a period from the time when a winning is determined in the previous lottery game to the time when the start button 3006 of the next lottery game is operated, the adverse effect is small, and it is suitable for starting the whole jackpot performance.

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.

Next, a process of determining the time of the total jackpot performance, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart for explaining the overall jackpot performance timing determination process.

The arcade server 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, which is the event possible time information indicating the predicted time, from the external communication devices 1108, 2625, and 3107 to the arcade server 5000. The control device 5001 of the store server 5000, which is an event timing determination unit, functions as event timing determination means for determining the overall performance timing (event timing) at which the overall jackpot performance is performed, based on the overall 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 all the 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.

Specifically, the above-described setting conditions are stored in advance in each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and the progress control of the game is performed by reading the information on the stored setting conditions, or the setting conditions are combined in advance in a program for controlling the progress of the game, and the progress of the game is controlled in accordance with the contents of the program.

In order to set the total rendering timing determined by the control device 5001 of the arcade server 5000 to the above-described setting state, it is necessary to finely adjust the progress of the game in each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000.

As a method of fine adjustment, in the horse racing game machine 1000, for example, a method of shortening or lengthening the reproduction time of the race reproduction video in the reproduction process of the race reproduction video executed after each race is finished is cited. Specifically, by setting the reproduction start time of the game reproduction video to the middle disc or the end disc of the game, the reproduction time can be shortened or lengthened.

In the pusher game machine 2000, for example, a method of performing fine adjustment by display control for extending or shortening the time from the start of rotation to the stop of the 3 color sub-shaped squares DS in the color sub game played in each station ST is exemplified. Specifically, for example, the reproduction speed of the image from the start rotation to the stop of the 3 color sub-shaped squares DS may be increased or decreased. In this case, since editing of the video itself is not necessary, the display processing is easily performed.

In the automatic lottery machine 3000, for example, a method of performing fine adjustment by drive control in which the time from the start of rotation of 3 reels to the stop of the rotation is extended or shortened is cited.

The fine adjustment method is not limited to the above-described method, and may be appropriately determined according to the game contents of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000.

In particular, in the case of a game machine that performs a digital lottery, it is effective to lengthen or shorten the time for displaying the image for drawing performance as in the pusher game machine 2000.

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

For example, the control device 5001 of the store server 5000, which is the performance timing determination unit, functions as performance timing determination means, and determines the overall performance timing based on predetermined overall performance timing determination conditions without performing an operation to inquire about the timing at which the overall performance is possible with respect to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Then, the determined total performance timing is transmitted to each of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and the respective slot machines may control the progress of the game 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 arcade server 5000 arrives, as shown in fig. 14, the control device 5001 of the arcade server 5000 performs player presence confirmation processing for identifying players who are playing through the respective token-operated game 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 perform player presence confirmation processing corresponding to the respective game contents.

Specifically, in the horse racing game machine 1000, since the player can play the game on each of the plurality of game boards, the player performs a process of confirming whether or not the player who is playing the game is present on each of the game boards. As this confirmation method, for example, a method of determining that a player is present at a game table having a magnetic card inserted into the magnetic card insertion slot 1015 is given.

In the slot machine 2000, since the player can play the game by each of the plurality of station units, the player can check whether or not the player is playing for each station unit. As this confirmation method, for example, a method of determining that a player is present in a station unit having medals in the storage unit 2101 of the medal insertion mechanism 2100 is included.

In addition, since the automatic lottery machine 3000 is played by 1 player, a process of confirming whether or not there is a player who plays the game using the automatic lottery machine 3000 is performed. As this confirmation method, for example, when the data of the reserve number of 1 or more is stored in the storage device 3103, it is determined that there is a player.

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 server 5000 from the external communication devices 1108, 2625, and 3107. The control device 5001 of the arcade server 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 identified 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 objects are determined as winners. 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 arcade server 5000, since the token-consumption data is periodically received from the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, the contribution degree of each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 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 the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 to increase the total accumulated token count data of this time can be specified. 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 processing is thus completed and the game boards for each winning are determined, the control device 5001 of the store server 5000, which is a control command transmitting unit, functions as control command transmitting means, and notifies the winning results to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 and transmits a total performance control command to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. This makes it possible to perform a total jackpot performance using the performance units of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the shop server 5000.

Next, the overall jackpot performance as the overall event will be described.

The control devices 1101, 2621, and 3101 as the game progress control units of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that have received the overall performance control command from the arcade server 5000 function as game progress control means alone or in cooperation with the other control devices 1201, 2601, and 2611, and perform processing for the overall jackpot performance, such as the one shown in fig. 16, on the display 1011, the display 2700, and the performance panel 3011 as the display units of the game boards and the like related to the drawing targets, to display a jackpot drawing start screen on which the overall jackpot drawing is started. Thereby, the jackpot game start screen is simultaneously displayed on the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011. The jackpot-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 individual performance corresponding to the progress of the game is not performed or the volume, the light amount, or the like is reduced to an inconspicuous level in the whole jackpot performance.

The control devices 1101, 2621, and 3101 of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, which are the overall performance control units, function as an overall performance control means by themselves or in cooperation with the other control devices 1201, 2601, and 2611, and perform an overall jackpot performance process by executing an overall performance program. Specifically, a single total performance (total jackpot performance) in which all of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the local store server 5000 cooperate with each other is performed by causing performance units such as speakers and 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. 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 start of the total jackpot performance, the control devices 1101, 2621, and 3101 as the game progress control units of the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 function as game progress control means alone or in cooperation with the other control devices 1201, 2601, and 2611, and the jackpot start screen shown in fig. 16 is displayed next to the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011, and a lottery screen as shown in fig. 17 is displayed. Then, after the 3 reel images on the lottery screen start the fluctuation display, the 3 reel images are still displayed, and the symbols corresponding to the winning or losing of the prize on 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 prize terms of 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 prize terms 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 3 a 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 betting screen do not need to be identical screens in all of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and may be appropriately changed depending on hardware for displaying these screens, or adjusted depending on the game contents of the respective slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, for example.

In the present embodiment, the reel image on the lottery screen is displayed in a fluctuating manner starting at once in all of the slot machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the store server 5000, but the end time of the still display of 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 betting 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 in 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.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the game progress is controlled so that the game progress of each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 when the timing of the total jackpot performance (total event) determined by the arcade server 5000 arrives is a predetermined state that does not significantly reduce the enjoyment of the player even if the game progress is influenced by the total jackpot performance. Therefore, even if the progress of the game in each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 is affected by the total jackpot performance, the total jackpot performance can be executed at a timing that does not significantly reduce the enjoyment of the player. Thus, when a single total jackpot performance is performed among a plurality of slot machines, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of a situation in which the enjoyment of a player who plays a game by the slot machines is reduced by the total jackpot performance.

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

The present invention can be similarly applied to a game system including slot machines of the same type having the same game contents.

The overall event of the present embodiment has been described by taking as an example the performance of the jackpot drawing (overall jackpot performance) performed by the entire game system, but may be another event.

In addition, if the whole event is an event unrelated to the medal as in the case where the whole jackpot performance is not present, the game apparatus applied to the game system may not be a slot machine.

In the present embodiment, the case where the event processing device and the jackpot drawing apparatus are common devices (the management device 4000 and the store server 5000) has been described, but different devices may be used.

The arcade server 5000 of the present embodiment is a dedicated device for the game system connected only to the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 participating in the total jackpot drawing, but may be a general arcade server connected to another game machine not participating in the total jackpot drawing.

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

Claims (10)

1. A game system is characterized by comprising:

a plurality of game devices having a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of a game; and

an event processing device for performing a process for simultaneously performing a single overall event in the plurality of game devices;

the event processing device and the plurality of game devices are connected to be communicable,

the event processing device includes: an event timing determination unit configured to determine an event timing for executing the overall event based on a predetermined event timing determination condition; and a control command transmitting unit that transmits an event control command for executing the overall event at the event timing determined by the event timing determining unit to each game device;

the game progress control unit of each game machine controls the progress of the game so that the progress of the game itself becomes a preset state in which the entire event can be performed at the event time associated with the event control command from the event processing device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1,

the game contents of the plurality of game devices are different from each other.

3. The gaming system of claim 1,

each game device includes a time prediction processing unit that predicts a time at which the progress status of the game itself becomes the preset status and executes a process of transmitting event possible time information indicating the time to the event processing device,

the event timing determination unit of the event processing device determines the event timing by determining the predetermined event timing determination condition using the event possible timing information transmitted from each game device.

4. The gaming system of claim 2,

each game device includes a time prediction processing unit that predicts a time at which the progress status of the game itself becomes the preset status and executes a process of transmitting event possible time information indicating the time to the event processing device,

the event timing determination unit of the event processing device determines the event timing by determining the predetermined event timing determination condition using the event possible timing information transmitted from each game device.

5. The gaming system of claim 1,

a jackpot drawing apparatus communicably connected to the event processing apparatus and the game apparatuses,

the drawing device for jackpot game includes: a drawing unit that performs a drawing for determining a jackpot award or a jackpot award that is a jackpot award among players who play a game in the respective game devices; a storage unit for storing payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object paid out to a winning player when the winning of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit; a payout processing unit that reads out the payout amount data from the storage unit when the drawing unit determines a winning of the jackpot prize, and performs payout processing for paying out a payout object of an amount indicated by the read-out payout amount data to a winning player; a payment amount increasing unit that cumulatively increases the amount indicated by the payment amount data stored in the storage unit when a predetermined payment amount increase condition is satisfied; a winning prize information transmitting unit that transmits winning prize information indicating the determination to the event processing device when the winning prize of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit;

the control command transmitting unit of the event processing device transmits the event control command to each game device when receiving the winning information.

6. The gaming system of claim 2,

a jackpot drawing apparatus communicably connected to the event processing apparatus and the game apparatuses,

the drawing device for jackpot game includes: a drawing unit that performs a drawing for determining whether a player who plays the game using each game device wins a jackpot award or a jackpot award that is a winning of the jackpot award; a storage unit for storing payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object paid out to a winning player when the winning of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit; a payout processing unit that reads out the payout amount data from the storage unit when the drawing unit determines a winning of the jackpot prize, and performs payout processing for paying out a payout object of an amount indicated by the read-out payout amount data to a winning player; a payment amount increasing unit that cumulatively increases the amount indicated by the payment amount data stored in the storage unit when a predetermined payment amount increase condition is satisfied; a winning prize information transmitting unit that transmits winning prize information indicating the determination to the event processing device when the winning prize of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit;

the control command transmitting unit of the event processing device transmits the event control command to each game device when receiving the winning information.

7. The gaming system of claim 3,

a jackpot drawing apparatus communicably connected to the event processing apparatus and the game apparatuses,

the drawing device for jackpot game includes: a drawing unit that performs a drawing for determining a jackpot award or a jackpot award that is a jackpot award among players who play a game in the respective game devices; a storage unit for storing payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object paid out to a winning player when the winning of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit; a payout processing unit that reads out the payout amount data from the storage unit when the drawing unit determines a winning of the jackpot prize, and performs payout processing for paying out a payout object of an amount indicated by the read-out payout amount data to a winning player; a payment amount increasing unit that cumulatively increases the amount indicated by the payment amount data stored in the storage unit when a predetermined payment amount increase condition is satisfied; a winning prize information transmitting unit that transmits winning prize information indicating the determination to the event processing device when the winning prize of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit;

the control command transmitting unit of the event processing device transmits the event control command to each game device when receiving the winning information.

8. The gaming system of claim 4,

a jackpot drawing apparatus communicably connected to the event processing apparatus and the game apparatuses,

the drawing device for jackpot game includes: a drawing unit that performs a drawing for determining a jackpot award or a jackpot award that is a jackpot award among players who play a game in the respective game devices; a storage unit for storing payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object paid out to a winning player when the winning of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit; a payout processing unit that reads out the payout amount data from the storage unit when the drawing unit determines a winning of the jackpot prize, and performs payout processing for paying out a payout object of an amount indicated by the read-out payout amount data to a winning player; a payment amount increasing unit that cumulatively increases the amount indicated by the payment amount data stored in the storage unit when a predetermined payment amount increase condition is satisfied; a winning prize information transmitting unit that transmits winning prize information indicating the determination to the event processing device when the winning prize of the jackpot prize is determined by the drawing unit;

the control command transmitting unit of the event processing device transmits the event control command to each game device when receiving the winning information.

9. A game device comprises a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of a game,

an event processing device for transmitting an event control command for simultaneously performing a single overall event in a plurality of game devices to each of the game devices,

the game progress control unit controls the progress of the game so that the progress of the game is a preset state in which the entire event can be performed at the event time associated with the event control command, after receiving the event control command from the event processing device.

10. An event processing device is connected to a plurality of game devices so as to be communicable, and performs processing for simultaneously performing a single overall event in the plurality of game devices,

comprising: an event timing determination unit configured to determine an event timing for executing the overall event based on a predetermined event timing determination condition; and

and a control command transmitting unit for transmitting an event control command to each game device for executing the overall event at the event time determined by the event time determining unit.