HK1161165A - Game system and jackpot lottery device that constitutes same - Google Patents

Description

Game system and jackpot lottery device constituting the same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a game system including a jackpot lottery device that performs a jackpot lottery with a plurality of game devices as targets of lottery, and a jackpot lottery device constituting the game system.

Background

Conventionally, as this kind of jackpot lottery apparatus, for example, a game system including a plurality of token-operated game machines (game apparatuses) installed in a game center or the like has been widely known (for example, patent document 1). Generally, a token-operated game machine controls a game progress on the condition that tokens (bet objects) are received from a player, and pays out a predetermined number of tokens (payout objects) to the player in accordance with a game result. An example of a token game machine using a jackpot drawing apparatus will be described, in which the number of tokens (insertion objects) received from a player is cumulatively added to the number corresponding to a part of the number of tokens, and this is held as payout amount data in a payout amount storage unit of the jackpot drawing apparatus. When a certain game device satisfies a predetermined drawing start condition, a drawing is performed in a jackpot drawing apparatus, and it is determined whether a player who plays a game in the game device wins or loses a jackpot prize (a losing jackpot) in the game device or the jackpot drawing apparatus. When the jackpot prize is won in the drawing, the number of tokens corresponding to at least a part of the payout amount data is paid out to the player of the game device satisfying the predetermined drawing start condition, and the payout amount data is set to the initial value.

In general, a jackpot drawing apparatus is often used in a game system including a plurality of game apparatuses each having a game progress control unit that independently plays a game. This is because of the following reason. That is, the number of tokens that can be paid out to the player at one time by each game device is limited to some extent by each game device. Therefore, when the single game device uses the jackpot drawing apparatus, the upper limit of the number of tokens to be paid out when the jackpot prize is awarded is limited by the maximum payout amount set in the game device. In contrast, in the case where a game system including a plurality of game devices uses a jackpot drawing apparatus, the upper limit of the number of tokens to be paid out when the jackpot prize is awarded can be determined by the sum of the maximum payout amounts of the plurality of game devices. In this case, the number of tokens paid out when the jackpot prize is awarded can be increased as compared with a case where the jackpot drawing apparatus is used as a single game apparatus. As a result, the player can be expected to pay out a large number of medals at one time by winning the jackpot prize, and the player's interest can be attracted. With such advantages, the jackpot lottery apparatus is often used in a game system including a plurality of game apparatuses, rather than a single game apparatus.

In particular, in recent years, a game system including game devices installed in a plurality of gaming arcades (game facilities) is widely known, and a jackpot lottery device may be used in such a game system.

Prior art documents

Patent document 1: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2007-215653

Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 2007-215653

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In such a game system, the larger the number of game devices participating in the jackpot lottery, the larger the amount of medals paid out when the jackpot prize is awarded, and therefore, it is considered that the player has a higher expectation of obtaining a large number of medals.

However, in the case where a person who pays out medals when winning the jackpot prize is a game machine-winning store operator, if the amount of medals paid out when winning the jackpot prize is too large, the game machine operator is forced to bear an excessive economic burden for a while. Accordingly, it is difficult to stably operate the respective stores, and as a result, it is difficult to operate the jackpot drawing system itself.

In addition, in order to suppress the reduction of the expectation of the player to the jackpot prize winning, the winning probability may be adjusted, that is, each game machine participating in the jackpot lottery may be adjusted at an appropriate frequency

(if the frequency is about 1 day 1 time in the shop unit, for example, and if the frequency is about 1 to 2 months 1 time in the game device) the prize winning machine wins the accumulated prize award. In this case, if the number of game devices participating in the jackpot drawing is too large, the jackpot award winning frequency of the entire game system is too high. When such a situation occurs, the value of the jackpot prize is lost, the charm of the player for winning the jackpot prize (the charm of the player for winning less than the player) is reduced, and the expectation of the player for winning the jackpot prize becomes thin.

As a method for solving such a problem, a method may be considered in which game devices participating in a jackpot lottery are divided into a plurality of groups, and the jackpot lottery is performed independently in each group. In this method, the number of game devices belonging to each group is grouped so that the number is equal to or less than a predetermined number, and the number of game devices participating in a jackpot lottery executed for each group can be adjusted so as not to be excessive.

However, even in the case of such a packet, the following problems occur.

In the jackpot drawing, a game apparatus in which the amount indicated by the payout amount data of the jackpot prize (hereinafter referred to as "jackpot accumulation number") is increased (hereinafter referred to as "jackpot accumulation amount") is generally set to be larger, and the winning frequency of the jackpot prize is set to be higher. Specifically, the following methods are available as methods for accumulating a prize: a mode of determining which game device is selected or which game device is not selected, that is, a mode of falling selection, in accordance with the selection probability assigned to each game device, by using all game devices as the objects of selection in 1 cumulative prize selection; in 1-time accumulated prize drawing, one game device is used as a drawing object, and the winning or losing mode of the game device is determined according to a predetermined winning probability. In the former method, the winning probability of each game device is generally set higher for game devices with larger amounts of money accumulated, and thus the winning frequency of the prize award accumulated by the game device with larger amounts of money accumulated is higher. In the latter method, the jackpot drawing start condition is set so that the game device having a larger amount of the jackpot drawing is set to satisfy the jackpot drawing start condition more frequently. This is also the case where the more the amount of accumulated prize money is, the higher the winning frequency of the jackpot prize by the game device is.

Under such a setting, if there are game devices with an extremely large amount of accumulated money in the same group, the winning frequency of the jackpot prize of the game device becomes extremely high as compared with other game devices. Therefore, the player who plays the game in the other game device may feel that the game device having a large amount of accumulated prize is always awarded, and may feel unfair.

On the contrary, if there are game devices with an extremely large amount of accumulated money in the same group, the increase rate of the accumulated prize remaining number is greatly increased by the amount of accumulated money of the game devices. Therefore, among players who play games with other game devices, there is also a popular game device in the same group that has a large amount of accumulated money that increases the amount of medals that can be obtained when the player wins the jackpot prize. Therefore, there may be a player who feels unfair when the game device having a large amount of money is not in the group to which the game device playing by itself belongs but in other groups.

The invention provides a game system and a jackpot lottery apparatus modified to the game system, which can divide game apparatuses participating in a jackpot lottery into a plurality of groups and further reduce the sense of unfairness of players that may occur when mutually independent jackpot lottery is performed in each group.

Means for solving the problems

As an aspect of the present invention, a game system includes: 4 or more game devices having a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of a game; and a jackpot lottery device that performs a group-independent jackpot lottery in which game devices belonging to a group are the targets of lottery for each of a plurality of groups to which at least 2 game devices belong, the jackpot lottery device including: a grouping processing unit that performs grouping processing for associating each of the 4 or more game devices with at least one of the plurality of groups under a predetermined grouping condition; a lottery unit that performs a group-independent jackpot lottery process for identifying a winning game device that wins a jackpot prize from game devices belonging to the group, for each of the plurality of groups; a payout amount storage unit that stores payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object including an amount to be paid out to a player of the selected game device when the drawing unit determines the selected game device, for each of the plurality of groups; a jackpot payout processing unit configured to perform jackpot payout processing for reading payout amount data corresponding to a group to which the winning game device belongs from the payout amount storage unit and paying out a payout object of at least a part of the amount indicated by the read payout amount data to a player of the winning game device, when the winning game device is determined by the lottery unit; and a payout amount increasing unit that cumulatively increases an amount indicated by payout amount data corresponding to a group to which the game device belongs each time a predetermined payout amount increasing condition is satisfied, wherein the lottery unit executes the group-independent-jackpot-drawing such that a winning frequency of a jackpot prize won by a game device having a large amount, the amount of which is increased by the payout amount data, within a predetermined period by the payout amount increasing unit becomes high, and the grouping processing unit performs the grouping processing such that a group associated with at least one game device of the 4 or more game devices is changed when a predetermined group change condition is satisfied.

In this game system, 4 or more game devices participating in a jackpot lottery are divided into a plurality of groups, and a jackpot lottery independent of each other is performed in each group. Further, according to the present game system, when a predetermined group change condition is satisfied, a group associated with at least 1 game device of the 4 or more game devices participating in the jackpot lottery is changed. Therefore, when a predetermined group change condition is satisfied, the game device may be separated from the group in which the game device having an extremely large amount of accumulation is located. This makes it possible to eliminate the unfairness among players who feel unfairness when only game devices having an extremely large amount of accumulated prize are awarded. On the other hand, in this case, the game device having an extremely large amount of accumulation belongs to another group, and there is a possibility that a new player having an unfair feeling may be present in the group. However, after that, if the predetermined group change condition is satisfied again, the game device having an extremely large accumulation amount may move to another group again. However, if the game device with the extremely large accumulation amount is configured to be movable to another group as in the present game system, the game device with the extremely large accumulation amount does not always hold the player with the feeling of unfairness, and the feeling of unfairness of the player can be reduced as the whole game system.

Further, the feeling of unfairness to the player who feels unfairness to the other groups, not in the group to which the game device playing by himself belongs, for the game device having an extremely large amount of accumulation can be reduced in the same manner.

Further, the game system may include: a winning-result presentation unit that, when the drawing unit determines a winning game device, performs a winning-result presentation in which any one of the plurality of game devices wins a content such as a jackpot prize for a plurality of game devices including the winning game device belonging to the same group as the winning game device; and a winning result notification unit that notifies a winning result of the jackpot prize after the winning-block-notification performance is performed.

In this game system, when the winning game device of the jackpot prize is determined, since the winning-advance performance is also performed for the game devices of the losing game devices that are not actually winning, not only the player who wins the game device but also the player who loses the winning game device are given the expectation that the jackpot prize may be won by themselves.

Here, when the winning frequency is adjusted so that each game machine participating in the jackpot lottery wins the jackpot prize at an appropriate frequency as described above, if the number of game machines participating in the jackpot lottery is too large, the frequency of winning advance notification performance becomes extremely high. Since the winning-result-notification performance is also performed for the players of the game devices that have been missed as described above, the winning-result-notification performance that has been frequently performed is felt to be annoying to those who have been missed.

In the present game system, the number of game devices participating in the jackpot lottery can be adjusted so as not to be excessive by the grouping processing described above. Therefore, the bothersome feeling of the winning-schedule show felt by the player who accepts the drop of the winning-schedule show can be reduced.

Further, the game system may include: the specific information notifying unit notifies a player of each game device of information for specifying another game device belonging to the same group as the game device.

In this game system, the player can receive information for specifying another game machine belonging to the same group as the game machine that plays the game, specifically, information such as the model name of the game machine, the installation location (area name and store name) of the game machine, and the like. Therefore, if a game device belonging to the same group as the game device which plays the game by itself is changed, the player can know what game device the changed game device is. As a result, it is possible to prevent the game device from being used in a conventional manner when a jackpot drawing is always performed together with the same game device.

In the game system, the jackpot lottery device may include a process interruption unit configured to interrupt the group-independent jackpot lottery when a predetermined interruption condition is satisfied, and the predetermined group change condition may satisfy the predetermined interruption condition.

If the game devices belonging to a group are suddenly changed while the jackpot lottery device continues to perform the jackpot lottery, a problem occurs in that the player feels uncomfortable. In the game system, the game devices belonging to the group are changed before and after interruption of the jackpot drawing by using the time when the jackpot drawing is interrupted by maintenance or the like. Thus, the interruption period such as the maintenance period is between before and after the change, and the problem that the player feels uncomfortable can be reduced.

In the game system, the predetermined grouping condition includes a condition that the number of game devices belonging to one group does not exceed a predetermined number.

In the game system, since the number of game devices belonging to one group does not exceed a predetermined number, it is possible to effectively reduce the sense of unfairness of the player by appropriately setting the predetermined number.

In the game system, the predetermined grouping condition includes a condition that the number of game devices belonging to one group is not less than a predetermined minimum number.

In this game system, since the number of game devices belonging to one group is not less than a predetermined minimum number, it is possible to avoid a situation in which the player's expectation of obtaining a large number of medals is reduced because the number of game devices participating in the group-independent jackpot lottery is too small.

In the game system, each of the 4 or more game devices is associated with at least one of the plurality of groups at random in the grouping process.

In this game system, by making the game devices belonging to the same group random, it is possible to make the combination of the game devices belonging to the same group diversified.

As another aspect of the present invention, a jackpot lottery apparatus that performs a group-independent jackpot lottery in which a game apparatus belonging to a group is a target of lottery for each of a plurality of groups to which at least 2 game apparatuses belong, includes: a grouping processing unit that performs grouping processing for associating each of 4 or more game devices with at least one of the plurality of groups under a predetermined grouping condition; a lottery unit that performs a group-independent jackpot lottery process for identifying a winning game device that wins a jackpot prize from game devices belonging to the group, for each of the plurality of groups; a payout amount storage unit that stores payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object including an amount to be paid out to a player of the selected game device when the drawing unit determines the selected game device, for each of the plurality of groups; a jackpot payout processing unit configured to perform jackpot payout processing for reading payout amount data corresponding to a group to which the winning game device belongs from the payout amount storage unit and paying out a payout object of at least a part of the amount indicated by the read payout amount data to a player of the winning game device, when the winning game device is determined by the lottery unit; and a payout amount increasing unit that cumulatively increases an amount indicated by payout amount data corresponding to a group to which the game device belongs each time a predetermined payout amount increasing condition is satisfied, wherein the lottery unit executes the group-independent-jackpot-drawing such that a winning probability that a jackpot prize is won by a game device whose amount indicated by the payout amount data is increased by the payout amount increasing unit for a predetermined period becomes higher, and the grouping processing unit performs the grouping processing such that a group associated with at least one game device of the 4 or more game devices is changed when a predetermined group change condition is satisfied.

In the jackpot drawing apparatus, the sense of unfairness of the player can be reduced as the whole game system.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, the game devices participating in the jackpot lottery are divided into a plurality of groups, and the mutually independent jackpot lottery is performed in each group, whereby the sense of unfairness of the player that may occur in this case can be reduced.

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 same game system.

Fig. 3 is a control block diagram showing a main control unit for collectively controlling the operations of the entire arcade game machine.

Fig. 4 is a control block diagram showing a console control unit provided for each console of the arcade game machine.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a structure of a console section in a pusher game machine constituting the co-game system.

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

Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a slot game screen displayed on a display unit of the co-propulsion game machine.

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

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a slot machine constituting the same game system.

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

Fig. 11 is a control block diagram relating to the main structure of the slot 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 a group-independent jackpot lottery process.

Fig. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a slot screen for a arcade game displayed on a large-sized display connected to a arcade server in a game system.

Fig. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a slot screen for drawing with the same store in a state where the display is stopped.

Fig. 17 is a sequence flowchart for explaining the group-independent jackpot performance period determination process.

Fig. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a jackpot start screen displayed on a display unit of each console or the like to be a drawing target.

Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a slot screen displayed on a display unit of each console or the like to be a drawing target.

Fig. 20 is a flowchart showing a packet processing flow according to the embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, as an embodiment of the present invention, a game system including 3 types of token-operated game machines, which are arcade game machines (arcade game machines) having different game contents, and a store server and a management server, which are communicably connected to the token-operated game machines and the token-operated game machines, will be described.

[ System outline ]

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

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

[ horse racing Game machine 1000]

The token gaming machine 1000 is a horse racing gaming machine.

In this horse racing game machine 1000, 1 or 2 or more players predict the arrival sequence of the horse racing performed in the present horse racing game machine, and when the prediction is in progress, can receive the payout of medals corresponding to the odds in the arrival sequence.

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

This horse racing game machine 1000 includes a race area 1002 provided at the center portion and a plurality of consoles 1010 as game devices provided so as to surround the race area 1002. The race area unit 1002 is provided with a race area surface 1004, and the race area surface 1004 is a moving surface simulating a race course of a race course to which a starting gate 1003 as a model is attached, and a race is developed by moving a plurality of model horses, not shown, within the race area surface 1004. A plurality of speakers 1005 for broadcasting a live event, a cheer, and the like are arranged around the match area portion 1002. Above the field unit 1002, a display unit 1006 for displaying the number of group-independent accumulated tokens or the like indicating the payout number of the group-independent jackpot lottery, an illumination device 1007 for illuminating the field unit 1002, and a camera 1009 serving as an imaging unit for imaging the field unit 1002, which will be described later, 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 console 1010 is provided with a display 1011 that displays a game screen according to the progress of a game, and a touch panel 1012 that overlaps 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 by the horse racing game machine 1000. The console 1010 is further provided with a medal insertion part 1013 into which a player inserts medals, a medal payout port 1014 through which medals are paid out to the player, and a magnetic card insertion port 1015 into which a magnetic card recording data required when the game is reopened is inserted.

In the horse racing game machine 1000, races of the same name as the actual central horse race are held in sequence at a predetermined cycle. Approximately 60 competitions were prepared 1 year each, and the time for betting the medals, that is, the time for purchasing the horse tickets, the time for the model horses to compete, and the time for displaying the competition results were secured for each competition. The player can freely purchase the tickets in the predicted arrival sequence of each competition. The purchase of the horse ticket is performed by inserting tokens, and if the purchased horse ticket matches the result of the race, the number of tokens corresponding to the inserted number of tokens and the payout rate is paid out as a bonus.

In the horse racing game machine 1000 according to the present embodiment, the race area unit 1002 forms a race area surface 1004, a model simulating an artificial lawn of an actual horse race, a starting gate 1003, and the like is provided on the race area surface 1004, and a horse as a model of a moving body moves on the race area 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 console control units provided for each console.

As shown in fig. 3, the main control section 1100 disposed on the racing area side includes a main control device 1101; a movement control device 1102 for controlling the movement of the model horse in the race section 1002; a lighting control device 1103 that controls the lighting device 1007; a sound control unit 1104 for controlling cheering and live events broadcast from the speaker 1005; SRAM1105 and flash memory 1106 for temporarily recording data processed by main control device 1101; a ROM1107 in which programs necessary for the game and various databases are stored; and an external communication device 1108 for performing data communication with an external device such as the store 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. The ROM1107 stores therein a movement control program as movement control information of each model horse, various data related to each horse used for a race, a database of a race schedule, and the like.

As shown in fig. 4, the console control section 1200 provided in each console 1010 includes a console control device 1201; a medal management device 1202 that manages medal payout and the like; a RAM1203 that temporarily records various data of the player; a magnetic information reading device 1204 serving as an identification information reading unit that reads magnetic information such as an ID code, which is player identification information of a magnetic card inserted into the magnetic card insertion slot 1015; a magnetic information writing device 1205 for writing various information into the magnetic card. The station control unit 1201 is connected to the token management unit 1202, the RAM1203, the magnetic information reading unit 1204, and the magnetic information writing unit 1205. Various kinds of information read out from the magnetic information reading device 1204 are stored in the RAM1203, which is an individual information storage section functioning as individual information storage means. The RAM1203 also stores point data corresponding to the number of tokens inserted into the token insertion unit 1013. The exchange of medals with the player is performed by increasing or decreasing the point data. The console control device 1201 is also connected to the display 1011 and the touch panel 1012 shown in fig. 2 provided on the console 1010, a not-shown medal insertion sensor for detecting medals inserted by the medal insertion unit 1013, and a not-shown magnetic card drive device for driving a magnetic card inserted into the magnetic card insertion slot 1015, respectively.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the console control device 1201 of each console 1010 is connected to the main control device 1101 on the game machine main body side, and necessary data communication is possible 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 actually reproduce an actual race horse when a 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 data of various parameters of the horse running in the race, the state of the horse race, and the like from the ROM1107 before the race starts, and determines the arrival order of the race. Further, since the order of arrival of medals paid out to the player is only the first arrival and the second arrival, it is not necessary to determine all the order of arrival of the running horse, and only the horses at the first arrival and the second arrival may be determined. In this case, movement control is performed for the other horses so as not to change to the first arrival and the second arrival, based on various parameters. The arrival order data and parameters of each horse determined by the main control device 1101 are sent to the movement control device 1102.

The movement control device 1102 that receives the data from the main control device 1101 executes a movement control program recorded in a ROM, not shown, to control the movement of each horse. The movement control device 1102 executing the movement control program calculates the movement pattern of each of the horses from 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 the movement pattern. Specifically, in order to generate such a magnetic field that each model horse 1060 moves in the movement pattern of each horse, a control command is transmitted to the control chip of each magnetic field generation substrate. The control chips 1022 having received the control commands control the currents flowing through the coils so that the magnetic forces attracting the S poles of the permanent magnets of the respective model motors 1060 sequentially occur along the predetermined movement paths of the respective model motors 1060. Accordingly, each model horse 1060 can be moved along a predetermined path of movement. As a result, each model horse 1060, which is subjected to the movement control by the movement control device 1102, develops a race in the game field.

[ Propulsion machine Game machine 2000]

Next, the token game machine 2000 will be explained.

The token gaming machine 2000 is a pusher machine.

Fig. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a structure of the console section ST in the pusher game machine 2000.

The 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 includes 4 station units ST as game devices, and each player plays a game on each station unit ST. Each satellite unit SA has 1 satellite lottery device 2001, and each station unit ST is arranged around the satellite lottery device 2001.

The station unit ST mainly includes a medal insertion mechanism (insertion unit) 2100; a gaming session 2500; an unillustrated console control section; a display portion 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 serving as display means is disposed on the upper rear side, and a game field 2500 is disposed at the upper center. Here, "front side" means a side on which the player plays the game, "back side" means a side opposite to the side on which the player plays the game, and "center" means a region between the aforementioned "front side" and "back side".

The medal insertion mechanism 2100 is a mechanism for the player to insert medals M while the pusher game machine 2000 is playing the game. The medals M inserted into the medal insertion mechanism 2100 are transported to the elevator bucket through a medal transport path not shown in the inside of the housing of the station section ST, and temporarily accumulated in the elevator bucket. The lift bucket has a medal accumulating part for accumulating medals M; a lifting part for lifting the medal M to a predetermined height; a medal discharge unit (discharge unit) for discharging the lifted medal M at a predetermined timing. A medal discharge path 2400 for guiding the discharged medal M to the game field 2500 is provided at the discharge port of the medal discharge portion so as to be capable of swinging left and right. The upper end of the lift portion is disposed above the game playing area 2500. In this case, the medal discharge portion provided at the upper end of the lift portion is also disposed above the game field 2500. Therefore, the medals M temporarily stored in the medal accumulating portion provided under the game field 2500 are raised above the game field 2500 by the raising portion, and then are discharged from the medal discharging portion to the game field 2500 through the medal discharging path 2400.

A main table 2501 as a medal placement table in which medals M are mainly accumulated in the game field 2500; a pusher unit 2510 as a medal pusher placed on the main table 2501. The pusher unit 2510 has an upper surface (referred to as a sub-table) on which the medal M is accumulated; a tilting table for sliding the medal M dropped from the sub-table; a pushing wall for pushing the medal M staying at the main table 2501. The propeller unit 2510 is slidably provided on the main table 2501 in the game field 2500, and slides back and forth at a constant cycle or an arbitrary cycle. A part (the back side) of the propeller unit 2510 is stored in a storage unit described later provided below the display unit 2700. The pusher unit 2510 reciprocates back and forth by sliding in and out from the storage unit.

The frame member of the display portion 2700 is slidably adjacent to the sub table. Therefore, when the pusher unit 2510 moves in the direction of housing the medals M in the housing unit, the medals M on the sub-table are pushed by the frame member. By this pushing, a part of the medals M on the sub-table falls to the inclined table. A part of the medal M dropped from the sub-table enters an opening (referred to as a "ball-entering hole") provided in the inclined table as a medal passing opening. The remaining medals M fall to the main table 2501 as they are, and stay on the main table 2501.

The medal M on the main table 2501 is pushed in by the sliding motion of the pusher portion 2510 like the medal M on the sub table. That is, since the pusher unit 2510 is placed on the main table 2501 without a gap, when the pusher unit 2510 moves in a direction of being carried out from the storage unit, the medal M on the main table 2501 is pushed by the pushing wall in front of the pusher unit 2510. Thereby advancing, a part of the medal M on the main table 2501 falls down. Among the dropped medals M, the medal M dropped from the end on the player side (referred to as "leading end" herein) to the medal dropping slot is paid out to the player, and the medals M other than the medals M, for example, the medals M dropped from both sides (referred to as "side ends" herein) of the main table 2501 are accumulated in a predetermined retention section in the station section ST.

As shown in fig. 5, the console section ST includes a ball drop mechanism 2800 on at least one side. The ball drop mechanism 2800 is a mechanism for dropping balls B1 and B2, which are spherical objects as different shapes described later, into the game field 2500, and includes a ball drop slope 2801 and a ball drop position drawing mechanism 2810. The balls B1 and B2 are drawing objects for executing a bingo game, which will be described later.

The ball drop slope 2801 is a structure for guiding balls B1, B2 dropped from a ball carrier 2520 described later to the ball drop position drawing mechanism 2810 by gravity. Thus, a descending slope. The ball drop position drawing mechanism 2810 is configured to draw a position on the game field 2500 where the balls B1 and B2 are dropped. Thus, the balls B1, B2 thrown from the ball carrier 2520 described later on the table unit ST are thrown into the game field 2500 via the ball throw ramp 2801 and the ball throw-in position drawing mechanism 2810.

As shown in fig. 5, the console section ST includes a ball conveying mechanism 2900 on at least one side. The ball carrying mechanism 2900 is configured to carry the balls B1 and B2 to the satellite lottery device 2001 when the balls B1 and B2 fall from the main table 2501 in the game playing field 2500 to the medal drop slot provided on the near side, and includes a ball carrying path, a ball carrying unit 2910, and a ball carrying unit traveling slope 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 transfer unit 2910. The ball conveying unit 2910 is configured to convey the balls B1 and B2 received through the ball conveying path to the satellite lottery device 2001, and travels on the ball conveying unit traveling slope 2901 under the control of the control unit of the console unit ST. The balls B1 and B2 carried to the satellite lottery device 2001 are transferred to the ball carrier 2520.

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

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

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 a configuration of a drive control system for driving each unit in accordance with the progress of the game.

The game control system of 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 performs the process control of the overall slot game and the bingo game, which will be described later, the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001 mainly performs the control of the physical lottery of the bingo game and the conveyance control of the balls B1 and B2, and the control unit 2620 of the center lottery device 2002 mainly performs the control of the individual jackpot lottery and the overall control of the pusher game machine 2000, which will be described later.

The control unit 2600 of the console unit ST is mainly composed of 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 execution programs and the like of various controls to be performed by the control unit 2600 of the console unit ST. The RAM2603 temporarily stores various data and information. The communication device 2604 is used for data communication with the control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001. In addition, although not shown, the console section ST is provided with rendering sections such as speakers and lighting devices for various kinds of rendering, and the control device 2601 controls these rendering sections to perform various kinds of rendering.

The control unit 2610 of the satellite lottery device 2001 is mainly configured by a control device 2611, a ROM2612, a RAM2613, a console-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 temporarily stores 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. In addition, although not shown, a 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 composed of 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 temporarily stores 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 is used for data communication with an external device such as the store server 5000 via a LAN. In addition, although not shown, rendering units such as speakers and lighting devices for various kinds of rendering are provided in the center drawing device 2002, and the control device 2621 controls these rendering units to perform various kinds of rendering.

In the above configuration, with the pusher game machine 2000, the slot game is executed while the display unit 2700 displays the slot game screen as shown in fig. 7 and the bingo game screen as shown in fig. 8, in addition to the pusher game. The pusher game machine 2000 also performs a single jackpot lottery using the center lottery device 2002. Also, the display unit 2700 displays a unit accumulated token count indicating the payout number of the unit lottery described later and a group independent accumulated token count indicating the payout number of the group independent jackpot lottery described later.

The slot game is a digital lottery game in which a digital lottery is mainly performed by the control unit 2600 in the station unit ST. The starting condition of the slot game is that the medal M enters any one of the ball insertion holes provided in the inclined table of the pusher unit 2510. The display unit 2700 displays a slot game screen as shown in fig. 7 during a time when the bingo game described later is not performed, and the control unit 2600 performs display control for rotating the 3 dice-shaped slots DS when any one of the medals M entering the ball-entering hole satisfies the slot drawing start condition. In the number lottery of the slot game, the control unit executes a predetermined lottery program and determines which character is elected or missed by matching the generated random number with a predetermined winning table. After that, when the elected character is determined, the control unit 2600 performs display control for stopping the rotation of the 3 dice-shaped tigers DS so that the display unit 2700 stops displaying the pattern combination associated with the elected character.

In the present embodiment, the following are prepared as roles of the digital lottery: a small character a that supplies 3 medals to the game field 2500, a small character B that supplies 8 medals to the game field 2500, a ball supply character that supplies a ball B1 to the game field 2500, a normal bonus character that supplies 30 medals to the game field 2500, a probability change bonus character that supplies 30 medals to the game field 2500 while using a winning table in which a high winning probability is set in the following digital lottery, a direct satellite character that directly supplies a ball B1 to the satellite lottery device 2001, a direct center character that directly supplies a ball B1 to the center device 2002, and the like. The election probability of each character is set so as to decrease in this order. However, what kind of characters are prepared and what winning probability is set for each character are arbitrary. For example, the medal M may be directly paid out to the player to give various benefits to the player. When these characters are selected, the control device 2601 of the console section ST controls the speaker, the lighting device, and the like to perform individual performances for suppressing the selected 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 based on 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 drawing 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 drawing device 2001 mainly performs the control such as the performance of the bingo game and the determination of the establishment of bingo. In the present embodiment, the satellite lottery device 2001 performs a physical lottery in which 1 winning bingo number (winning object) is selected from a plurality of different bingo numbers (lottery objects) by moving the balls B1 and B2. In the physical drawing of the present embodiment, 1 elected bingo number is selected from bingo numbers of "1" to "9". For example, the controller 2600 of the station unit ST generates arrangement information of the bingo cards in which the bingo numbers of "1" to "9" are arranged in a line for each station unit ST. Then, as shown in fig. 8, a bingo card image BC in which bingo number images (drawing target images) of "1" to "9" are arranged in the arrangement information is displayed on the display unit 2700 of each station unit ST. When bingo is established, the control device 2601 of the console section ST and the control device 2611 of the satellite section SA control the respective speakers, illumination devices, and the like to perform individual performances for entrusting a bingo establishment atmosphere.

The starting condition of the one-piece jackpot drawing is the prize winning point to which the right of the balls B1, B2 to enter the one-piece jackpot drawing start of the center drawing device 2002 is assigned in the physical drawing of the satellite drawing device 2001 of the bingo game, or the control device 2621 of the control unit 2620 in the center drawing device 2002 executes the one-piece jackpot execution program stored in the ROM2622 and starts the one-piece jackpot drawing when the direct center character is won in the slot game and one of the above-described starting conditions of the one-piece jackpot drawing is satisfied. Then, the center drawing device 2002 performs a physical drawing in which the single jackpot prize or the losing prize (including the case where prizes other than the winning single jackpot prize) are determined by moving the ball B1. When the winning-unit 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 individual performances for suppressing the atmosphere of the winning-unit jackpot award.

Then, when the winning cell jackpot prize is won, the control device 2621 reads the cell JP remaining number data, which is payout amount data, from the RAM2623, and performs a process for supplying tokens M of the number indicated by the data count value to the game field 2500 of the station unit ST that satisfies the jackpot drawing start condition. At this time, the controller 2621 outputs a medal supply command to the controller 2601 of the controller 2600 in the console section ST, and the medal M may be supplied to the game field 2500 by the same method as the normal medal supply process under the control of the controller 2601. The number of tokens supplied only when the single jackpot award is obtained is a large number because a number of tokens (for example, 0.03 tokens) corresponding to a part of the number of tokens thrown into all the station units ST is cumulatively added from the time when the single JP remaining number data is reset to the initial value (for example, 500 tokens). Therefore, a process of a unique token supply configuration may be adopted separately from the normal token supply process. In this case, it is also preferable to obtain a performance when a single jackpot prize is awarded. Then, when the winning-cell jackpot award is selected, the control device 2621 resets the remaining-cell JP count data stored in the RAM2623 to the initial value.

[ Tiger machine 3000]

Next, the token game machine 3000 will be explained.

The token game machine 3000 is a slot machine as a game device.

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

The slot machine 3000 includes a box-shaped housing 3002, and a front panel 3003 attached to the front side of the housing 3002 so as to be openable and closable. A display window 3004 for displaying a part of a fluctuation display unit described later is provided on the front panel 3003; a medal insertion port 3005; a start button 3006 as a start operation means; a dice display window 3007; an integral clearing button 3008; a speaker 3009; a medal receiving tray 3010 having a medal dispensing slot 3010 a; a performance panel 3011; a count display unit 3014; BET operation section 3015, and the like. The speaker 3009 and the rendering panel 3011 as rendering units function as rendering means of the slot machine 3000. The presentation panel 3011 displays various information such as the number of group-independent accumulated tokens indicating the number of payout tokens to be paid out in a group-independent jackpot drawing described later.

The housing 3002 is internally assembled with reels as a variable display unit, 3 of which outer peripheral surfaces are printed with various patterns. The 3 reels (hereinafter referred to as "left reel", "center reel", and "right reel" in this order) are each rotationally driven by a reel drive motor (not shown) constituted by a stepping motor. Then, a plurality of patterns such as "white 7", "cyan 7", "green 7", "red 7", "cherry red", and "blank" are printed in a predetermined order. In the present embodiment, the "blank" pattern is a pattern that does not constitute any character. In addition, a main control circuit board in which circuits are formed by various electronic components such as a CPU and a ROM, a token dispensing device having a token bucket 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.

A pattern of about 3 frames at a prescribed rotational position of each reel can be seen by a player through the display window 3004. In the display window 3004, 5 winning lines IL are drawn across all reels. When a combination of patterns relating to characters corresponding to a predetermined prize group (hereinafter, simply referred to as "character group") is arranged in a group on the winning line IL, the medals are paid out to the medal receiving tray 3010 or moved to a special game period in which a special game can be played, and the player is given the game value. In the slot machine 3000 of the present embodiment, 5 winning lines IL are provided, and the number of the winning lines IL may be reduced or increased. The winning line may not be visible to the player, and may be recognized by the CPU17a described later that performs the slot machine stop control.

The count display unit 3014 includes an integration display 3014a, a bonus award count display 3014b, a token payout count display 3014c, and the like.

The BET operation unit 3015 includes 2 buttons, i.e., a 1BET button 3015a and a Multiplex (MUX) BET button 3015 b.

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

The master control section 3100 of the slot machine 3000 includes a control device 3101; a reel control device 3102 for performing 3 reel drive controls; a storage device 3103 that stores various programs and various databases required for the game; a display control device 3104 for performing display control of the count display unit 3014; an illumination control device 3105 for controlling illumination of the show panel 3011 and the like; an acoustic control device 3106 for controlling the sound output from the speaker 3009; an external communication device 3107 for performing data communication with an external device such as the shop server 5000 via a LAN. The main control unit 1101 is connected to a medal insertion sensor 3022, a BET operation unit 3015, a medal dispensing device 3018, and the like in addition to these devices.

Next, the flow of the game in the slot machine 3000 will be described.

Before playing, the player first needs to insert medals into the medal insertion slot 3005 as his preparation. When a medal is inserted into the medal insertion opening 3005 by a player, the medal falls into the medal bucket through a path not shown. The passage is provided with a drop port for dropping coins smaller than a predetermined value and returning them to the coin payout port 3010a, a coin adjustment valve block for preventing passage of coins and returning them to the coin payout port 3010a or allowing them to pass, a coin insertion sensor 3022 formed of a photo sensor or the like for detecting the passed coins one by one, and the like. A medal detection signal output from a medal insertion sensor 3022 that detects medals is sent to the control device 3101 of the main control unit 3100. The control device 3101 receives this signal, and the display control device 3104 performs control for increasing the display count value by 1 on the integrated display 3014a, and increases the number of integration data stored in the storage device 3103 by 1. Usually, a plurality of tokens are inserted at a time to increase the number of credits to a certain extent. When the player operates the BET operation unit 3015 to perform the throw-in operation, the control device 3101 performs control for reducing the display count value of the integral display 3014a by the throw-in number while reducing the number of pieces of the integration number data stored in the storage device 3103 by the throw-in number. Then, the control device 3101 recognizes the winning line IL that becomes valid based on the number of dropped prizes. Further, if characters are not grouped together on the effective winning line IL, no prize is won even if characters are grouped together on the ineffective winning line IL.

When the player operates the start button 3006, the control device 3101, which is a start command receiving unit, executes a start command receiving program stored in the storage device 3103, thereby functioning as start command receiving means for receiving a variation display start command from the start button 3006. The controller 3101 that has received the fluctuation display start command first starts the rotational driving of all the reels by the reel controller 3102. The control device 3101 that has received the variation display start command functions as means for performing an internal lottery in which a winning or losing of a certain prize group selected from among a plurality of prize groups is determined by executing a prize group lottery program stored in the storage device 3103, and performs an internal lottery. The internal lottery is performed by comparing the random number data sent from the random number generation circuit with the award group lottery table stored in the storage device 3103. The prize group drawing table is a table in which random numbers are associated with a certain prize group or a loss. By such association, each prize group is elected or elected with a predetermined probability or is elected with a predetermined probability.

The rotational positions of the reels at which the rotational driving is started are detected by reel position sensors, not shown. The reel control device 3102 calculates the rotation speed of the reel based on the output signals from the reel position sensors. After the rotational speed of the reel has stabilized, the reel control device 3102 can recognize the position of each pattern on each reel based on the output signal from each reel position sensor. Then, the control device 3101 executes a stop control program stored in the storage device 3103, and the reel control device 3102 performs reel stop control so that a predetermined pattern combination is stopped from being displayed on the winning line, based on the result of the drawing by the internal drawing. Specifically, when a certain prize group is won by an internal lottery, stop control is performed so that a combination of patterns relating to characters corresponding to the won prize group is stopped from being displayed on the winning line IL. On the other hand, when any one of the prize groups is not selected and dropped by the internal lottery, the stop control is performed so that the combination of the patterns not corresponding to any one of the prize groups is stopped from being displayed on the prize line IL.

In a normal game, an internal drawing is performed using a prize-group drawing table corresponding to the normal game. The prize groups that can be won by drawing in the interior of the normal game include: a cherry bonus award corresponding to a cherry-red character formed of "cherry red-ANY (no question of a pattern)", an ANY7 bonus award corresponding to an ANY7 character formed of "ANY 7 (no question of a color of" 7 ") -ANY7 (no question of a color of" 7 ") -ANY7 (no question of a color of" 7 ") -i.e., multicolor" 7 ", a white 7 bonus award corresponding to a white 7 character formed of" white 7-white 7 ", a cyan 7 bonus award corresponding to a cyan 7 character formed of" cyan 7-cyan 7 ", a green 7 bonus award corresponding to a green 7 character formed of" green 7-green 7 ", a red 7 bonus award corresponding to a red 7 character formed of" red 7-red 7 ". If the corresponding characters that are awarded to a certain token payout prize by internal lottery are aligned on the winning line IL, the control device 3101 causes the token payout count display 3014c of the count display unit 3014 to display the number of token payout credits corresponding to the winning prize. Then, the control device 3101 performs token payout processing for the number of tokens corresponding to the award obtained. Specifically, the control device 3101 performs control to increase the token count data stored in the storage device 3103 by the token payout count and to increase the token count of the integral display 3014a by the token payout count. When the upper limit value of the medal point is exceeded, the medal is paid out to the medal reception tray 3010 from the medal discharge port 3010a by the medal discharge device 3018 by the amount of the exceeding. Further, the number of tokens to be paid out in the order described in the prize group is large.

[ cumulative prize System ]

Next, a group-independent jackpot lottery executed in the present game system will be described.

In the game system of the present embodiment, all of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are divided into a plurality of groups in each of the gaming arcades, and mutually independent jackpot lotteries (group-independent jackpot lotteries) are executed in groups. Since the process of the group-independent jackpot drawing performed in each group is the same for each group, only the jackpot drawing performed in one group will be described below, and the description of the other groups will be omitted.

The grouping process for grouping all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 into a plurality of groups will be described later.

Fig. 12 is a control block diagram of a management server 4000 that performs process control of a group-independent jackpot lottery together with each of the store servers 5000 belonging to a plurality of stores of the group.

The management server 4000 mainly includes a control device 4001, a storage device 4002, and an external communication device 4003. The storage device 4002 stores various control programs, and stores payout amount data of the present group, that is, group-independent accumulated token number data. Further, the storage device 4002 also stores the number-of-in-store accumulated tokens data for each of the stores belonging to the group. This in-store accumulated token count data indicates a part of the number of tokens consumed by the token game machines 1000, 2000, 3000 in the store (the same as the total number of tokens as the group-independent accumulated token count data). 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 system in the store and performing data communication with the management server 4000 and the respective gaming machines in the store. The store server 5000 is mainly composed of a control device 5001, a storage device 5002, an external communication device 5003, and an in-store communication device 5004. The storage device 5002 stores various control programs. The storage device 5002 also stores in-store accumulated token count data, which is a part of tokens consumed by the token game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 in the store, and also stores group-independent accumulated token count data transmitted from the management server 4000. The external communication device 5003 is used for data communication with an external device such as the management server 4000 via a WAN. The external communication device 5003 is used for data communication with the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, 3000 and the like via the LAN.

Fig. 14 is a sequence flow chart showing a group-independent jackpot lottery flow in the present embodiment. In the explanation of fig. 14, one token-operated game machine and one arcade server are shown.

In the store belonging to this group, when the player consumes medals at each of the medal game machines 1000, 2000, 3000, data indicating the consumption amount thereof is transmitted to the store server 5000 of the store together with the game machine ID as the game machine identification information for identifying the game machine (the console 1010 of the horse racing game machine 1000, the console section ST of the pusher game machine 2000, the slot machine 3000) that the player plays. Further, if each game device has a function of managing player identification information like the horse racing game machine 1000, the player identification information may be used instead of the game machine ID.

The control device 5001 of the store server 5000 accumulatively stores, in the storage device 5002, a part (for example, 0.01 medals) of medals consumed by the medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 in the stores connected to the store server 5000 by players as the data of the number of accumulated medals in the stores, based on the data transmitted from the respective medal game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. The control device 5001 then transmits the in-store accumulated token count data in the storage device 5002 to the management server 4000 at predetermined timing (for example, every 10 minutes). The number-of-tokens accumulated in the arcade transmitted here is an amount accumulated between the previous transmission time and the current transmission time.

The management server 4000 accumulatively adds the number of tokens of the amount indicated by the data to the group-independent accumulated-token-count data in the storage device 4002 every time the in-store accumulated token-count data transmitted from each of the store servers 5000 belonging to the group of stores is received. Thus, a part (for example, 0.01 token) of the number of tokens consumed by all token game machines belonging to the store of the group is counted as group-independent cumulative token number data. In the present embodiment, the initial value of the group-independent cumulative token number data is set to 1000 pieces, for example, and a part of the number of tokens consumed by the player is cumulatively added to the initial value.

Then, each time the management server 4000 receives the in-store accumulated token count data transmitted from each of the store servers 5000 belonging to the group of stores, a part of the number of tokens of the amount indicated by the data (the same as the total number of tokens as the group-independent accumulated token count data) is cumulatively added to the in-store accumulated token count data for the corresponding store in the storage device 4002. Therefore, this in-store accumulated token number data indicates the number of tokens (accumulation amount) for each store accumulated in the group-independent accumulated token number data.

In the present embodiment, the pusher game machine 2000 described above also performs a one-piece jackpot lottery in which the data of the number of accumulated tokens is calculated from only the number of tokens consumed by the pusher game machine 2000. On the other hand, the accumulated token count data for managing the operated group-independent jackpot award at the management server 4000 is calculated from the number of tokens consumed at all the token game machines belonging to the group. Therefore, when the jackpot lottery is won, the number of tokens to be paid out to the player can be increased.

The following describes a specific process flow. The control device 4001 of the management server 4000 receives the intra-store accumulated token count data transmitted from each of the store servers 5000 at a predetermined timing (for example, every 10 minutes), and performs the accumulated addition processing on the intra-store accumulated token count data of the corresponding store and the accumulated addition processing on the group-independent accumulated token count data. Then, at this point in time, the group-independent accumulated token count data stored in the storage device 4002 is transmitted to the arcade server 5000 that is the transmission source of the in-arcade accumulated token count data that has just been received. The arcade server 5000 that received this data transmits the set of individual accumulated token count data to each token game machine 1000, 2000, 3000. Then, in each of the token game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that have received the data, the display of the respective group-independent cumulative token count is updated based on the received group-independent cumulative token count data. In the present embodiment, in the case where the group-independent cumulative token count is individually displayed at each token-operated game machine, a display device for displaying the group-independent cumulative token count may be provided in the arcade, and individual display may not be performed at each token-operated game machine.

In the group-independent-jackpot lottery in the present embodiment, the process performed in the group-independent-jackpot lottery is to determine whether or not a game device that satisfies a predetermined lottery start condition is a group-independent-jackpot prize, whenever any one of the game devices 1010, ST, 3000 belonging to the own group of the gaming arcades satisfies the predetermined lottery start condition. Here, the starting condition of the group-independent jackpot drawing in the present embodiment is that a predetermined number of tokens (for example, 100 tokens) are inserted, but the starting condition is not limited thereto, and other known drawing starting conditions can be widely adopted. Specific examples thereof include: the drop operation is performed, the medal drop sensor detects dropped medals, a signal for starting the sign display change of the slot machine is turned ON, the number of medal payout exceeds a predetermined number (10), and the like. Further, the starting condition of the group-independent jackpot drawing and the winning probability of the group-independent jackpot prize may be different between the game apparatuses belonging to the group. Even when the starting conditions for the group-independent jackpot drawing are different between the game apparatuses, it is desirable to set the same drawing starting conditions for the same type of game apparatuses. When the winning probabilities of the group-independent jackpot prizes differ between the game apparatuses, the winning probabilities of the respective game apparatuses may differ depending on the drawing start condition set in the game apparatus.

In the present embodiment, since each group executes an independent jackpot lottery, the starting condition of the group-independent jackpot lottery and the winning probability of the group-independent jackpot prize may be different between the groups.

The following describes a specific process flow. Upon receiving the token consumption data and the game machine ID from each of the game machines 1010, ST, and 3000, the control device 5001 of the store server 5000 belonging to the store of this group cumulatively adds the number of tokens by the amount indicated by the token consumption data to the individual count data in the storage device 5002 in association with the game machine ID. Then, if the number of tokens indicated by the individual count data exceeds 100, the control device 5001 performs a process of subtracting the number of tokens by 100 from the individual count data, and executes a group-independent jackpot lottery process to perform a group-independent jackpot lottery. In the group of independent accumulated prize credits, the generated random number is compared with a predetermined credit table to determine whether the group of independent accumulated prize credits is selected.

In the group-independent jackpot drawing of the present embodiment, when the winning of any one of the game apparatuses 1010, ST, and 3000 is determined, a store drawing performance is first performed, which refers to a performance such as a store drawing for determining a store in which a group-independent jackpot prize winning occurs from among a plurality of stores in the group. In the present embodiment, since the winning game device for which the group-independent jackpot prize is awarded (or the winner, which is the player who plays the game in the game device) is already determined (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as the winner), the drawing process is not performed in the drawing performance of the store, and only the performance such as whether or not the drawing is performed. In other words, the drawing performance of the store can be said to be a performance for informing the winner of the group-independent jackpot prize appearing in which store.

In the gaming arcade drawing performance of the present embodiment, when the winning of any one of the game devices 1010, ST, 3000 is determined, first, the control device 5001 of the gaming arcade server 5000 transmits winning data indicating the winning together with the game machine ID of the game device 1010, ST, 3000 which is winning to the management server 4000. The control device 4001 of the management server 4000 that has received the winning data executes a store selection process for selecting a store that performs a store drawing performance. In the store selection processing of the present embodiment, the remaining stores in the group to which the store of the store server 5000 that transmitted the winning data belongs are selected.

In this embodiment, since all the gaming arcades constituting the present game system are divided into a plurality of groups in which mutually independent jackpot drawings (group-independent jackpot drawings) are performed, the number of gaming arcades in which a gaming arcade drawing performance is performed is extremely small compared to the case where a gaming arcade drawing performance is performed in all the gaming arcades constituting the present game system. If the number of the shops performing the shop drawing performance is too large, the number of the drawing objects on the surface (the number of the shops) becomes large, and as a result, the frequency of the occurrence of the situation that any game device in the shop is not won although the shop drawing performance exists is increased, and the player of each shop feels that the probability of winning the own shop (the probability of winning the shop on the surface) is low, so that the expectation of winning the shop is reduced, and the hot atmosphere of the shop drawing performance is poor. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, by performing the store drawing performance only in the stores in the same group as the store in which the winner appears, the winning probability on the surface of the own store winning is high, and the feeling of expectation of winning can be improved, and the atmosphere of the store drawing performance can be improved. In addition, the selection conditions of the stores and the number of selected stores in the store selection processing can be set as appropriate. Therefore, only a part of the stores in the same group as the store in which the elector appears may be selected in the store selection processing. Only the need to have a store with the winners who must select the group of individual jackpot prizes.

The control device 4001 of the management server 4000 selects a store that performs a store drawing performance by the store selection processing, and then outputs a store performance command to all the store servers 5000 of the stores that are selected as the stores that are in the same group as the store where the winner appears. Then, the store server 5000 that has received the store drawing command executes the store drawing processing. In the store lottery performance processing, a slot screen for store lottery as shown in fig. 15 is displayed on a large-sized display, not shown, connected to the store server 5000. The number of tokens (group-independent accumulated token number) paid out by the selection of the sub-group independent accumulated prize award is displayed on the lower portion of the slot screen for drawing in the arcade. Then, an image in which the image frames each showing the name and the area of the store selected in the store selection process are moved in a predetermined order from above the screen to below the screen is displayed on the store-drawing slot screen. That is, in the present embodiment, the large-sized display, which is the specific information notifying portion, functions as specific information notifying means for notifying a player of each game device belonging to the group of the gaming arcades of the gaming arcade, of a gaming arcade name and a place name, which are information for specifying another game device belonging to the same group as the own game device. Finally, as shown in fig. 16, the image frame of the store (store a) where the group-independent jackpot prize winner is located stops being displayed. Thus, the player who sees the large-sized display of the store performing the store drawing performance can know that the group-independent jackpot prize winner appears among the players who play the game in the store a. As a result, the player who plays the game in the store a has a more enhanced expectation of his or her own choice.

In addition, although the description has been given of the processing for displaying the slot screen for the store extraction on the large-sized display connected to the store server 5000 as the store drawing performance processing, another processing method may be adopted. For example, a processing method of displaying the aforementioned slot screen for the arcade drawing by the display unit of each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, a processing method of performing the arcade drawing performance by the voice broadcast, and the like are possible.

After the end of the performance of the arcade lottery in this way, the arcade server 5000 of the arcade (arcade a) where the group-independent jackpot award winner is located next performs a group-independent jackpot performance process of performing a performance such that the winner decides whether or not the lottery is in progress, the winner deciding to lottery the winner for determining the group-independent jackpot award from among the players who play the game in the token game machines 1000, 2000, 3000 in the arcade connected to the arcade server 5000. In the present embodiment, since the winner of the group-independent-jackpot prize has already been identified, the group-independent-jackpot-representing process is not a drawing process but a performance such that a drawing is being performed. In other words, the performance processed for the group of independent jackpot performances may be a winning-block performance for informing which player (or which game device) won the group of independent jackpot prizes. The group independent jackpot performance process notifies the winning players who have presented the group independent jackpot drawing from the inside of the store, arouses the expectation of the winning players or arouses who wins the winning, and can focus attention of players, audiences, and the like in the entire store.

The group of independent jackpot performances needs to be performed simultaneously in all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 in the store, but the timing of performing the performance (group-independent jackpot performance timing) needs to be adjusted depending on the progress of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. This is because each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 plays the game independently, and the progress of the game may be hindered by the group independent jackpot performance according to the progress status, which may significantly reduce the enjoyment of the player.

For example, in the horse racing game machine 1000, when a group-independent jackpot performance is suddenly started during the reproduction of a race using the race area section 1002, the original game atmosphere of the horse racing game machine is significantly reduced, which is not preferable. Further, for example, in the pusher game machine 2000, when a group-independent jackpot performance is suddenly started in a process of a lottery in which a large number of payout of medals can be expected, such as a physical lottery of a bingo game and a single jackpot lottery, an original game atmosphere of the pusher game machine is remarkably reduced, which is not preferable. Further, for example, in the slot machine 3000, when a group-independent jackpot performance is suddenly started while a winning performance is in progress when a large number of medals such as the green 7 prize and the red 7 prize are paid out, the joy of the player is significantly reduced, which is not preferable.

On the other hand, in each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, even if the group-independent jackpot performance hinders the progress of each game, there is a timing at which adverse effects such as a reduction in the original enjoyment of the token-operated game machine are small. For example, the horse racing game machine 1000 is suitable for starting a group independent jackpot performance with little adverse effect if it is a time for a player to insert medals, that is, a time for purchasing horse tickets. Further, for example, the pusher game machine 2000 is suitable for starting the group-independent jackpot performance with little adverse effect if it is a timing other than the progress of the drawing or the winning performance in which a large amount of medal payout can be expected. For example, the slot machine 3000 is suitable for starting the group-independent jackpot performance with little adverse effect between the end of 1 slot game and the start of the next slot game, specifically, from the time when the previous slot game is determined to be picked or the time when the selection performance is finished until the start button 3006 of the next slot game is operated.

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

Fig. 17 is a sequence flowchart for explaining the group-independent jackpot performance period determination process.

The store server 5000 that has received the store performance command first inquires of all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, via the LAN, a timing at which the game progress status becomes a status in which the group-independent jackpot performance can be performed. In response to this inquiry, the controllers 1101, 2621, and 3101 of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 alone or in cooperation with the other controllers 1201, 2601, and 2611 execute a timing prediction program to perform a process of predicting a timing at which the progress status of the respective games becomes the predetermined setting status. The control devices 1101, 2621, and 3101 of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 return group-independent-performance-possible-time information indicating the predicted time to the arcade server 5000 from the external communication devices 1108, 2625, and 3107. The control device 5001, which is a group-independent performance timing determination unit of the store server 5000, functions as group-independent performance timing determination means for determining a group-independent performance timing at which a group-independent jackpot performance is to be performed, based on the group-independent performance possible timing information transmitted from each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Specifically, the earliest period in which the group independent play possible periods of all the token game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 overlap each other is specified based on the information on the group independent play possible periods, and this period is determined as the group independent play period. Then, the information of the determined group-independent rendering timing is transmitted to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Each of the token-operated game machines which have received this information controls the game progress so that the state of the game progress of the token-operated game machine becomes a predetermined set state in which the group-independent jackpot performance can be performed, at the determined group-independent performance time. Further, a specific control method is to store the above setting conditions in advance in each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, 3000, and read information of the stored setting conditions to perform game progress control, or to combine the above setting conditions in advance in a program for game progress control, and to perform game progress control in accordance with the contents of the program.

In order to set the group-independent rendering timing specified by the control device 5001 of the store server 5000 to the above-described setting state, it is sometimes necessary to make fine adjustment of the game progress in each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000.

As a method of fine adjustment, the horse racing game machine 1000 may shorten or lengthen the reproduction time of the racing reproduction movie in the reproduction process of the racing reproduction movie executed after each race is completed, for example. Specifically, the reproduction time can be shortened or lengthened by setting the start time of the reproduction of the competitive reproduction movie as the middle disc or the end disc of the competition.

The pusher game machine 2000 may perform fine adjustment by display control for lengthening or shortening the time from the start of rotation to the stop of 3 dice-shaped slots DS in a slot game performed in each station unit ST, for example. Specifically, for example, the image reproduction speed from the start of the rotation of 3 dice-shaped tigers DS to the stop can be increased or decreased. In this case, the image itself does not need to be edited, and thus the display processing is easy.

The slot machine 3000 is a method of performing fine adjustment by drive control for increasing or decreasing the time from the start of rotation of 3 reels to the stop of the reels, for example.

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, if the game machine performs the digital lottery, it is effective to lengthen or shorten the time for displaying the lottery-rendering image as in the pusher game machine 2000 described above.

In addition, the determination method of the group-independent performance period is not limited thereto.

For example, the control device 5001 as the performance timing determination unit of the store server 5000 functions as performance timing determination means, and determines the group-independent performance timing under predetermined group-independent performance timing determination conditions without inquiring the group-independent performance possible timing from each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. The determined group-independent performance time may be transmitted to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and each token-operated game machine may control the game progress so that the game progress state thereof becomes a predetermined set state in which the group-independent jackpot performance can be performed at the determined group-independent performance time. This method is particularly effective in the case where the token-operated game machine constituting the present game system has a high degree of freedom in controlling the progress of the game.

When the group-independent performance time specified 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 recognizing a player who plays the game in each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. Specifically, all of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are inquired about the presence confirmation of the player through the LAN. The token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that have received the inquiry perform the player presence confirmation process based on the respective game contents.

Since each of the players can play the game on the console, the horse racing game machine 1000 performs a process of confirming whether or not the player playing the game exists on a console basis. As this confirmation method, for example, a method of confirming whether or not a player is present on each console based on the timing at which an ID code, which is player identification information, is read from a magnetic card inserted into the magnetic card insertion slot 1015.

More specifically, the station control device 1201 stores, in the RAM1203, identification information read timing information for specifying the timing at which the player inserts the magnetic card into the magnetic card insertion slot 1015 and the timing at which the magnetic information reading device 1204 reads out the ID code from the magnetic card at a predetermined timing thereafter, as the determination information. The identification information reading timing information may be data (time data) indicating a timing at which the ID code is read, or may be flag information. When the flag information is used, for example, flag information which disappears when a condition such as a lapse of a certain time is satisfied can be used. After receiving the inquiry of the presence confirmation of the player, the console control device 1201 as the judgment information detecting unit functions as judgment information detecting means for judging whether or not a predetermined fixed time (predetermined period) has elapsed from the latest time when the ID code is read to the current time, based on the identification information reading time information stored in the RAM 1203. When the identification information reading timing information is data (time data) itself indicating the timing at which the ID code is read, it can be determined whether or not the difference between the time indicated by the data and the current time is smaller than a predetermined time. When the identification information reading timing information is flag information, for example, the flag information may be set to have a predetermined time (predetermined period) and the flag information may be confirmed to be on (alive). The elapsed time from the latest time when the ID code is read to the current time and the lifetime of the flag information may be updated from the time when the input of the operation of the game occurs. Such a confirmation method based on the identification information read-out timing information can be used in a game device that performs progress control of a game based on individual information corresponding to player identification information read out from an identification information storage medium in which player identification information is stored.

Further, since the pusher game machine 2000 can play a game for each station part, it performs a process of confirming whether or not a player playing the game exists for each station part. As this confirmation method, for example, a method in which the station unit that has medals on the retention unit 2101 of the medal inserting mechanism 2100 determines that a player is present is given. Specifically, a sensor serving as a determination information detecting section that functions as determination information detecting means for detecting the presence of the medal on the retention section 2101 is provided, and if the sensor determines that the medal is present on the retention section 2101, it is determined that a player who plays a game is present. This confirmation method can be used for a game device having a retention unit for retaining coins used by a player to play a game.

Since the player 1 plays the game, the slot machine 3000 performs a process of confirming whether or not there is a player playing the game in the slot machine 3000. As this confirmation method, for example, when the data of the number of credits of 1 or more is stored in the storage device 3103, it is determined that there is a player. The confirmation method can be used for a game device that stores tokens used by a player as point data.

The method of confirming the presence of the player is not limited to the above example, and any other methods may be employed.

For example, as in the above-described token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, if the gaming machine includes the console control section 1200, the control section 2600 of the console section ST, and the main control section 3100, which are the input object receiving section and the payout processing section, a method may be employed in which the input object receiving section functions as input object receiving means for receiving an input object, and the payout processing section functions as payout processing means for performing payout processing for paying out to the player an amount of payout object corresponding to the amount of the received input object, based on a result of the game in which the game progress section functioning as the game progress means performs progress control. That is, reception timing information for a timing at which the input object (medal or the like) is received by the specific input object receiving unit is detected and stored, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined fixed time (predetermined time) has elapsed from a latest timing at which the input object is received to a time at which the player presence confirmation inquiry is received, based on the reception timing information. In this determination, since the possibility that the player is playing the game is high when the determination is not passed, the result of the determination that the player is playing the game becomes a powerful determination material for determining that the player is playing the game. As the reception timing information, as in the case of reading the identification information described above, the reception timing information may be data (time data) itself indicating a timing or may be flag information. In this case, for example, flag information which disappears when a condition such as a lapse of a certain time is satisfied can be used.

Further, for example, as in the horse racing game machine 1000 and the slot machine 3000 described above, if the RAM1203 and the storage device 3103 each having an integral data storage section functioning as integral data storage means for storing integral data, an input object receiving section functioning as input object receiving means for receiving an input object, and the console control section 1200 and the main control section 3100 each having an integral processing section functioning as an integral processing means for subtracting the integral data corresponding to the amount of the received input object from the integral data stored in the integral data storage section and adding the integral data corresponding to the amount of the input object received by the input object receiving section according to the game result are provided. That is, the point change timing information for specifying the timing at which the point data has changed is detected and stored, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined fixed time (predetermined time) has elapsed from the latest timing at which the point data has changed to the time when the player presence confirmation inquiry is received, based on the point change timing information. In this determination, since the possibility that the player is playing the game is high when the determination is not passed, the result of the determination that the player is playing the game becomes a powerful determination material for determining that the player is playing the game. As the integration change timing information, as in the case of the above-described identification information read timing information, the data (time data) itself indicating the timing may be used, or the flag information may be used. In this case, for example, flag information which disappears when a condition such as a lapse of a certain time is satisfied can be used.

Further, for example, as in the horse racing game machine 1000 and the slot machine 3000 described above, if a touch panel 1012, a start button 3006, a BET operation unit 3015, and the like, which are game operation receiving units serving as game operation receiving means for receiving player game operations, are provided, and the progress control of the game is performed according to the operations, the following method can be adopted. That is, the game play timing information for specifying the timing at which the game play reception unit has received the game play is detected and stored, and it is determined whether or not a predetermined fixed time (predetermined time) has elapsed from the latest timing at which the game play has been received to the time when the player presence confirmation inquiry is received, based on the game play timing information. In this determination, since the possibility that the player is playing the game is high when the determination is not passed, the result of the determination that the player is playing the game becomes a powerful determination material for determining that the player is playing the game. As the game operation timing information, as in the case of reading the identification information described above, the data (time data) itself indicating the timing may be used, or the flag information may be used. In this case, for example, flag information which disappears when a condition such as a lapse of a certain time is satisfied can be used.

As another example, in a pusher game machine or the like, a right to operate a slot or other small drawing device may be obtained by a medal entering a predetermined slot, and the right may be stored and accumulated (stacked) until the player consumes, and in these game machines, it may be determined that the player is playing a game by a state where the stack remains.

In the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, for example, the location where the player is located when the player plays the game is substantially fixed. In such a game device, the following method can be adopted. That is, a presence detection unit such as an infrared sensor or a touch sensor for detecting the presence of a player is provided at the location, and when an inquiry of confirmation of the presence of a player is received, it is determined whether the presence detection unit detects the presence of a player. In this determination, since the probability that the player is playing the game is high when it is determined that the player is detected, the determination result in the yes period becomes a powerful determination material for determining that the player is playing the game.

In addition, the above-described player presence confirmation methods are combined with each other, and the results of the determinations of the respective methods are combined to finally determine whether or not the player is playing the game, which is effective in improving the accuracy of the determination. Further, the final determination may be performed on each game device side, and the final determination result may be transmitted to the store server 5000, or the final determination may be performed in the store server 5000 and the management server 4000. In the present embodiment, a case will be described in which final determination is performed on the game device side and the final determination result is transmitted to the store server 5000.

After the player presence confirmation process, the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 return presence confirmation information as a result of the determination from the external communication devices 1108, 2625, and 3107 to the arcade server 5000. The control device 5001 of the store server 5000 recognizes a console, a station portion, or a slot machine (hereinafter referred to as "console or the like") on which a specific player is playing based on presence confirmation information transmitted from each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. The control device 5001 as the player count specifying unit functions as player count specifying means for specifying the number of players who are playing the game in the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that are the objects of the winning-notice performance.

At this time, when the number of players is less than the predetermined number (for example, 10 players), the control device 5001 performs processing for revoking the right to be awarded to the jackpot prize by the current winner. Thus, the group independent jackpot performance described later is not performed, the winning notification of the jackpot prize is not performed, and the jackpot payout process is not performed. I.e., treated as winning without a progressive prize award.

On the other hand, when the number of players reaches a predetermined number (for example, 10 players), the control device 5001 of the arcade server 5000 notifies the winning result of the jackpot prize to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and transmits a group-independent play control command to each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000. This makes it possible to perform a group-independent prize accumulation performance using the performance units of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the store server 5000. In the present embodiment, only the console or the like on which the player is playing is subjected to the group-independent jackpot performance using the result of the presence confirmation process of the player. Of course, the group-independent jackpot performance may be performed on all the consoles or the like, regardless of whether the player is playing the game.

In the present embodiment, after the winning of the jackpot prize is determined, the process for determining the winner of the jackpot prize (jackpot prize) of the fixed number, the winning (middle jackpot prize) of the fixed number, and the winning of the jackpot prize (small jackpot prize) of the fixed number may be executed. In this case, after the winning of the jackpot lottery is determined and at a predetermined timing before the group-independent jackpot performance is performed, a lottery process for determining each winning winner from among players (except the winning players of the jackpot prize) who play the game in the token game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 of the gaming arcade in which the winning player of the jackpot prize is located is performed.

Next, the group independent jackpot performance will be described.

In each of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 that have received the group independent play control command from the store server 5000, the jackpot start screen for starting the group independent jackpot drawing shown in fig. 18 is displayed on the display 1011, the display 2700, and the play panel 3011 of each display unit such as the console related to the drawing target at the same time. In the present embodiment, the jackpot start screen is not displayed for the station or the like which is not the group-independent jackpot drawing target, that is, the station or the like which determines that the player does not play the game, but if the jackpot start screen is displayed for all stations or the like, it is expected that the player who sees this screen will want to participate in the jackpot drawing and immediately come to the game machine or insert medals.

Here, in the present embodiment, with respect to the console and the like which are not the object of the group-independent jackpot drawing, even in the group-independent jackpot performance, the player can play the game of the token game machine. Therefore, in the group-independent-jackpot performance, there is a possibility that an individual performance corresponding to a game progress at a console or the like that is not an object of the group-independent-jackpot lottery may be performed. In the group independent jackpot performance, if an individual performance unrelated to the performance is performed, the individual performance may interfere with the group independent jackpot performance, and the quality of the group independent jackpot performance may be degraded. In the present embodiment, the console or the like that is not the subject of the group-independent jackpot drawing is controlled so that the individual performance corresponding to the progress of the game is not performed or the performance is performed with inconspicuous sound volume, light amount, or the like in the group-independent jackpot performance.

The controllers 1101, 2621, and 3101 of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 constitute a winning-advance-notice performance unit alone or in cooperation with the other controllers 1201, 2601, and 2611, and perform a group-independent-jackpot performance process by executing a group-independent performance program. More specifically, by causing the performance units such as the speakers and the lighting devices of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 to perform a performance as part of a group-independent prize performance, all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the store server 5000 perform a single group-independent performance in cooperation with each other. Specifically, for example, in all of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, blue and red lights are alternately emitted at the same timing based on a synchronization signal or a start signal emitted from the arcade server 5000, or music and sound effects similar to those of a player who is notified of a game play in a certain token-operated game machine when a group-selected independent jackpot prize is awarded are output at the same timing.

In the present embodiment, since the rendering units of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are configured by different hardware, it is impossible to perform exactly the same rendering. Therefore, different performances are performed in the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and a uniform performance is performed as a whole. For example, music and effect sounds may be played such that the horse racing game machine 1000 serves as a bass unit, the pusher game machine 2000 serves as a midrange unit, and the slot machine 3000 serves as a treble unit.

Further, if the performances performed by the performance units of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are synchronized with each other to provide a uniform overall performance, various performance methods can be considered as a specific method of group-independent prize-accumulation performance.

By thus starting the group independent jackpot performance, the player or audience in the gaming arcade knows which of the players playing at the token game machines 1000, 2000, 3000 in the gaming arcade is awarded the group independent jackpot prize. Therefore, the player holds a large expectation that he/she also has won the jackpot prize, and waits for the notification of the drawing result.

After the group-independent jackpot performance starts, the display unit 1011, 2700, or 3011 continues to display the slot screen shown in fig. 19 on the jackpot start screen shown in fig. 18. After the 3 reel images on the slot screen start to be displayed in a fluctuating manner, the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 perform display stop control of the 3 reel images so that the symbols corresponding to the winning prize or the losing prize for the console and the like corresponding to each reel stop being displayed. Specifically, in the present embodiment, as described above, the stop display control is performed so that the display units 1011, 2700, and 3011 of the console or the like which wins the jackpot prize are stopped and displayed on the slot screen by the combination of symbols corresponding to the group-independent jackpot prize prizes.

The jackpot start screen and the slot screen do not have to be the same screen on all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000, and may be, for example, contents that are appropriately changed depending on hardware that displays these screens or contents that are arranged depending on the game contents of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000.

In the present embodiment, the display of the reel images on the slot screen starts all at once on all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 connected to the store server 5000, but the stop display completion timings of the 3 reel images are different from each other. Specifically, it is preferable that the timing at which the stop display of the gaming machine that wins the group of the individual jackpot prizes is completed is made the latest.

In the present embodiment, the group-independent jackpot performance (winning-advance performance) continues from the start of the fluctuation display of the reel image on the slot screen until the end of the stop of the display. For example, after the start of the display of the reel image on the slot screen, the illumination of the corresponding stations and the like which are the objects of the group-independent jackpot performance of the respective token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 is turned on only in mutually different periods, and the performance is performed such that the stations and the like on which the illumination is turned on are sequentially switched. At the timing when the reel image on each station or the like is stopped and displayed, a lottery performance is performed by lighting the illumination on the station or the like.

After the group-independent jackpot performance is ended as described above, the process of paying out tokens of the number corresponding to the jackpot award is performed for the player who plays at the console or the like where the jackpot award is won. The payout of the medals may be made by the medal payout portion of the medal game machine 1000, 2000, 3000, or by the store attendant.

Next, a packet process which is a characteristic part of the present invention will be explained.

Fig. 20 is a flowchart showing a packet processing flow in the present embodiment.

The game system according to the present embodiment is set with a maintenance period of the management server 4000 or the like of about 1 time 1 day and 2 hours. In this maintenance period, the processing in the management server 4000 related to the group-independent jackpot lottery and the data communication with the management server 4000 are prohibited. Specifically, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 serving as the processing interruption unit functions as a processing terminal means together with the control device 5001 of each store server 5000 every time a predetermined interruption condition that 3 o' clock before each day is satisfied, for example. Thus, the control device 4001 first outputs a process interruption command to each store server 5000, and switches its operation to the maintenance mode to perform maintenance work. The control device 5001 of each store server 5000 that has received the process interruption command displays a notification screen during maintenance on a large-sized display, not shown, that is connected thereto, and performs a process of interrupting the process related to the group-independent jackpot drawing. In this maintenance period, the control device 5001 of each store server 5000 does not perform at least a group-independent jackpot drawing, and therefore does not determine winning of a jackpot prize in the maintenance period.

The maintenance operation is completed to 5 pm without any abnormality, and the maintenance period is completed (S1). Thus, the control device 4001 serving as the packet processing unit of the management server 4000 functions as packet processing means and first executes packet processing (S2). This grouping process is a process of grouping all the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, 3000 constituting the present game system into a plurality of groups in a shop unit. In the present embodiment, the grouping processing is performed under a grouping condition that the number of stores (the number of game devices) belonging to one group does not exceed 10 stores (a predetermined number), for example. Further, a condition that the number of stores (the number of game devices) belonging to one group is not less than a predetermined minimum number (for example, 3 stores) may be added as the grouping condition so that the number of group-independent accumulated tokens data for each group-independent jackpot lottery executed for each group does not become too low.

Specifically, the storage device 4002 of the management server 4000 stores data for managing group-independent jackpot lottery. The management data is stored in a state in which the store ID for specifying each store server is associated with the in-store accumulated token number data stored in the storage device 5002 of each store server 5000. The control device 4001 that executes the grouping process first assigns any one of a plurality of group IDs to each store ID in the management data at random. Each group ID is used to specify each group for performing a mutually independent group-independent jackpot drawing. That is, in the present game system, as described above, all of the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 are divided into a plurality of groups in each of the arcade units, and each group executes a group-independent jackpot drawing independent of each other.

After the grouping processing is completed in this manner, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 then generates group-independent cumulative token number data used for each group-independent progressive award lottery executed for each group. Specifically, the control device 4001 first reads out the intra-store accumulated token count data associated with the first group ID from the memory device 4002 (S3), calculates the total number of intra-store accumulated tokens belonging to the entire store of the group based on these data, and generates group-independent accumulated token count data indicating the calculated value (S4). The generated group-independent accumulated token number data is stored in the storage device 4002 in a state associated with the group ID. In this way, group-independent accumulated token count data for all groups is generated and stored in the storage device 4002 in a state associated with each group ID.

Thereafter, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 starts the participation reception process of the participation group-independent jackpot lottery from each of the store servers 5000 constituting the game system (S5). Then, when the participation request is transmitted from each store server 5000 (S6), the group ID to which the store of the store server 5000 of the transmission source belongs and the group-independent accumulated token count data associated with the group ID are transmitted as a response (S7). Thus, the store server 5000 that has received the response starts the group-independent jackpot drawing described above.

Here, after the winning of the jackpot prize is determined by the group-independent jackpot lottery and the payout process of the medals is performed, a notification of the completion of the payout of the medals is transmitted from the store server 5000 of the store where the winner appears to the management server 4000. Upon receiving the notification, the control device 4001 of the management server 4000 resets the in-store accumulated token count data associated with the group ID of the group to a predetermined number (e.g., zero). Then, the group-independent accumulated token count of the group is recalculated based on the reset in-store accumulated token count data, and group-independent accumulated token count data is generated. Thereby, the group-independent accumulated token count data of the group returns to the initial value (for example, 1000 tokens). Then, when tokens are consumed in the arcade belonging to the group, a part of the tokens is cumulatively added to the initial value, and the group-independent cumulative token number data of the group is increased.

In the present embodiment, the participation acceptance is performed until the next maintenance period comes (S8), and the maintenance work is performed if the next maintenance period comes. After the maintenance period ends, the group processing is performed again (S2), and the exchange of stores occurs between the groups. In this way, the following effects can be expected by the exchange of stores between groups.

For example, in a group to which a store (here, the store a) having an extremely large number of accumulated tokens (accumulation amount) in the store belongs, the frequency with which the game device of the store a satisfies the group-independent jackpot drawing start condition is extremely high as compared with other stores belonging to the group. Therefore, the proportion of the store a in which the jackpot prize winners appear is relatively higher than the other stores. In this situation, the game player who plays the game in another store belonging to the same group as the store a is aware of the fact that the winning performance of the store a is always performed in the drawing performance of the store. As a result, the player who plays in the other arcade may feel unfair due to the relationship with the player who plays in the arcade a, and may cause a reduction in the playability of the group-independent jackpot lottery. In the case where there is no exchange of stores between groups, such a sense of unfairness cannot be eliminated at all times, but in the present embodiment, since other stores belonging to the group together with store a are liquidity due to periodic grouping processing, stores that are always in the same group as store a do not exist theoretically. As a result, in the present game system, there is no player who continues to hold the feeling of unfairness, and as a whole of the game system, the feeling of unfairness of the player can be reduced, and the decrease in the game performance of the group-independent jackpot lottery can be avoided.

On the other hand, for example, in a group to which the number of accumulated tokens (accumulation amount) in a arcade a is extremely large, players of other arcades may be welcomed because of belonging to the same group as the arcade a and the number of tokens obtained increases when the players win in the group-independent jackpot lottery. Such a player has an unfair feeling in a store having an extremely large number of pieces accumulated in the store (accumulation amount) such as the store a, which does not exist in the group to which the game-playing store belongs. This feeling of inequality is not eliminated, and the gameplay of the group-independent jackpot lottery for the player is reduced. In the case where there is no exchange of stores between groups, such a sense of unfairness cannot be eliminated, but in the present embodiment, as described above, the group to which the store a belongs is fluid due to the periodic grouping processing, and thus stores that are not always in the same group as the store a do not exist theoretically. As a result, in the present game system, there is no player who continues to hold the feeling of unfairness, and as a whole of the game system, the feeling of unfairness of the player can be reduced, and the decrease in the game performance of the group-independent jackpot lottery can be avoided.

In the present embodiment, various conditions may be added as the grouping condition. For example, if a condition that the difference in the unit prices of the game chips between the additional shops is within a predetermined range is added as the grouping condition, some shops that may be generated by the difference in the unit prices of the game chips exceeding the predetermined range do not belong to the same group.

Further, the token-operated game machine to which the game system of the present embodiment is applicable is not limited to the above-described type, and is not necessarily a token-operated game machine.

The store server 5000 of the present embodiment is a device dedicated to the present game system to which only the token-operated game machines 1000, 2000, and 3000 participating in the present jackpot system are connected, but may be a general store server to which other game machines not participating in the present jackpot system are connected.

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

Description of the symbols

1000 horse racing game machine

1010 operation table

Main control device for 1011 display 1101

1108. 2625, 3107, 4003, 5003 external communication device

1201 console control device

2000 propelling machine game machine

2001 satellite lottery device

2002 center lottery device

2500 game playing area

2601. 2611, 2621 controlling means

2700 display

3000 tiger machine

3011 Performance panel

3101A control device

4000 management server

4001 control device

5000 shop server

5001 control device

Claims (8)

1. A gaming system, comprising:

4 or more game devices having a game progress control unit for controlling the progress of a game; and

a jackpot lottery device which executes a jackpot lottery independently for each of a plurality of groups to which at least 2 game devices belong, with the game devices belonging to the group as a lottery target,

the jackpot lottery device includes:

a grouping processing unit that performs grouping processing for associating each of the 4 or more game devices with at least one of the plurality of groups under a predetermined grouping condition;

a lottery unit that performs a group-independent jackpot lottery process for identifying a winning game device that wins a jackpot prize from game devices belonging to the group, for each of the plurality of groups;

a payout amount storage unit that stores payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object including an amount to be paid out to a player of the selected game device when the drawing unit determines the selected game device, for each of the plurality of groups;

a jackpot payout processing unit configured to perform jackpot payout processing for reading payout amount data corresponding to a group to which the winning game device belongs from the payout amount storage unit and paying out a payout object of at least a part of the amount indicated by the read payout amount data to a player of the winning game device, when the winning game device is determined by the lottery unit; and

a payout amount increasing unit which cumulatively increases the amount indicated by payout amount data corresponding to the group to which the game device belongs, each time a payout amount increase condition specified for each game device is satisfied,

the lottery section executes the group-independent jackpot lottery so that the winning frequency of the winning jackpot prize by the game device in which the payout amount increasing section increases the payout amount indicated by the payout amount data by a large amount within a predetermined period becomes high,

the grouping processing unit performs the grouping processing so as to change a group associated with at least one game device among the 4 or more game devices when a predetermined group change condition is satisfied.

2. The game system of claim 1, having:

a winning-result presentation unit that, when the drawing unit determines a winning game device, performs a winning-result presentation in which any one of the plurality of game devices wins a content such as a jackpot prize for a plurality of game devices including the winning game device belonging to the same group as the winning game device; and

the winning result notification unit notifies the winning result of the jackpot prize after the winning advance notice performance is performed.

3. The game system of claim 1, having:

the specific information notifying unit notifies a player of each game device of information for specifying another game device belonging to the same group as the game device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1,

the device for jackpot lottery has a process interruption unit for interrupting the group-independent jackpot lottery when a predetermined interruption condition is satisfied,

the predetermined group change condition satisfies the predetermined interrupt condition.

5. The gaming system of claim 1,

the predetermined grouping condition includes a condition that the number of game devices belonging to one group does not exceed a predetermined number.

6. The gaming system of claim 1,

the predetermined grouping condition includes a condition that the number of game devices belonging to one group is not less than a predetermined minimum number.

7. The gaming system of claim 1,

in the grouping process, each of the 4 or more game devices is randomly associated with at least one of the plurality of groups.

8. A jackpot lottery apparatus performs a jackpot lottery independently for each of a plurality of groups to which at least 2 game apparatuses belong, with the game apparatuses belonging to the group as a lottery target,

the jackpot lottery device includes:

a grouping processing unit that performs grouping processing for associating each of 4 or more game devices with at least one of the plurality of groups under a predetermined grouping condition;

a lottery unit that performs a group-independent jackpot lottery process for identifying a winning game device that wins a jackpot prize from game devices belonging to the group, for each of the plurality of groups;

a payout amount storage unit that stores payout amount data indicating an amount of a payout object including an amount to be paid out to a player of the selected game device when the drawing unit determines the selected game device, for each of the plurality of groups;

a jackpot payout processing unit configured to perform jackpot payout processing for reading payout amount data corresponding to a group to which the winning game device belongs from the payout amount storage unit and paying out a payout object of at least a part of the amount indicated by the read payout amount data to a player of the winning game device, when the winning game device is determined by the lottery unit; and

a payout amount increasing unit which cumulatively increases the amount indicated by payout amount data corresponding to the group to which the game device belongs, each time a payout amount increase condition specified for each game device is satisfied,

the lottery section executes the group-independent jackpot lottery so that the winning frequency of the winning jackpot prize by the game device in which the payout amount increasing section increases the payout amount indicated by the payout amount data by a large amount within a predetermined period becomes high,

the grouping processing unit performs the grouping processing so as to change a group associated with at least one game device among the 4 or more game devices when a predetermined group change condition is satisfied.