JP2005058369A - Game system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game system by which the number of stored balls is converted to a prepaid value by reduced operation to be used without requiring further operation for converting the number of stored balls to the prepaid value by a player, in the case where the stored balls of the player has more than a predetermined number, when ball lending operation is received with an insufficient prepaid value of the player. <P>SOLUTION: When the ball lending operation is received, a control section judges the remaining frequency to be less than a ball-lending unit frequency, information stored at a RAM of the control section and indicating whether a conversion process is performed or not is set as information indicating the execution of the conversion process, and the number of stored balls is judged to be more than a predetermined value (150 balls), at least part of the number of stored balls is converted to the prepaid value to lend balls. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  In the present invention, a game use process for causing a game to use a game value that can be used for a game owned by the player, and a value obtained by the player as a result of the game are stored. The present invention relates to a game system for performing a game use process for causing a game to use the magnitude of the saved value.

  Conventionally, when a process (for example, ball lending process) for causing a game to use a game value that can be used for a game owned by a player (for example, a prepaid value) is performed (for example, a ball). Processing to allow the game to use the amount of stored value (for example, the number of stored balls) obtained by saving the amount of acquired value acquired as a result of the game by the member player who registered as a member There has been proposed a gaming system that requires an operation (for example, a storage ball use operation) to perform the process when performing (for example, a replay of the stored ball) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-93708 (page 17, FIG. 18)

  However, in the conventional gaming system, for example, when a member player tries to continue the game using the number of stored balls due to the loss of the prepaid value, he recognizes that the prepaid value is lost and Since it is necessary to check the remaining number of stored balls owned by the member player and to use the number of stored balls when there is remaining, it is necessary to perform many operations before playing the game. It took. The present invention has been made based on such a background, and the purpose of the present invention is that when a ball lending operation is accepted in a state where the player's prepaid value is insufficient, the number of stored balls of the player is a predetermined number or more. In the case of remaining, there is provided a gaming system in which the player can convert the number of stored balls into a prepaid value and use it in a game with a small number of operations without performing another operation for converting the number of stored balls into a prepaid value. It is to provide.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to solve the above problems. In addition, although the code | symbol used in description of the best form for implementing invention mentioned later and drawing is added for reference, the component of this invention is not limited to what attached | subjected this code | symbol.

  First, the invention according to claim 1 is a game use processing means for performing a game use process (ball lending process) for causing a game to use the magnitude (remaining number of games) that can be used for a game owned by the player. The control unit 22), the game use operation means (display 24) operated by the player to cause the game use processing means to execute the game use processing, and the magnitude of the game value possessed by the player depends on the game. Use determination means (control unit 22) for determining whether or not the game value to be used in the game by the use processing means (ball lending unit frequency) or more, and the acquired value acquired as a result of the game by the player The stored value determining means (control unit 22) for determining whether or not the magnitude of the stored value (the number of stored balls) obtained by saving is greater than or equal to a predetermined magnitude, and the game use operating means are operated. Based on that before It is determined by the usage determining means that the magnitude of the gaming value is not equal to or greater than the magnitude of the gaming value used for the game by the gaming usage processing means, and the saving value determining means has a predetermined magnitude of the saving value. Conversion means (control unit 52) that performs conversion processing for converting at least a part of the magnitude of the saving value into the magnitude of the game value based on the determination that the game value is the above, The use processing means performs a game use process for causing a game to use a game value of a predetermined size within the range of the game value converted by the conversion means (1 ).

  The invention according to claim 2 is the gaming system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means (the control unit 52) performs the conversion process so that the saving value ( The processing for making it possible to specify the size of the gaming value converted from the number of stored balls), and the gaming system converts the size of the gaming value that can be specified by the converting means (the number of remaining balls) Re-conversion processing means (control unit 52) for performing a re-conversion process for converting the value into the saving value again, and the saving value re-converted by the re-conversion processing means into the remaining saving value An gaming system comprising: an addition processing means (control unit 52) that performs an addition process of adding.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the gaming system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conversion means (control unit 52) sets whether or not to perform the conversion process. The game system is characterized in that it includes a display 24), and the conversion means does not perform the conversion process on condition that the setting means does not perform the conversion process.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the gaming system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein whether or not the conversion process is performed by the conversion means (control unit 52). Registration means (input device 54, display 55, member information DB) for registering each player in association with player specifying information (member ID) capable of individually specifying the player; The gaming system is characterized in that the registration processing is performed on condition that the player specified by the player specifying information is registered when the conversion processing is performed.

  The gaming system according to the present invention has the following effects.

  First, according to the gaming system according to claim 1, when the game value possessed by the player is insufficient, at least a part of the stored value is converted into the game value. There is no need to perform another operation for converting the stored value into the game value and using it in the game, and the number of operations until the game is performed is reduced, so that the convenience of the player is improved.

  Further, according to the gaming system of claim 2, since the magnitude of the game value once converted from the magnitude of the saved value can be returned to the saved value again, the convenience of the player is improved. .

  According to the gaming system of claim 3, the player can set whether or not to convert the value of the saving value into the value of the gaming value, so he wants to convert the value of the saving value. It is possible to prevent the saving value from being forcibly converted even for a player who is not present.

  According to the gaming system of claim 4, each game is associated with the player specifying information capable of individually specifying each player as to whether or not the value of the stored value is converted into the value of the gaming value. Since the registration is performed for each player, it is possible to prevent the saving value from being forcibly converted even for a player who does not want to convert the saving value.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming system 1 according to the present invention is associated with player specifying information (member ID) that can specify each player individually, and the magnitude of the saving value possessed by the player ( A management device 50 that can convert at least a part of the number of stored balls into a game value size (prepaid value), and is communicable with the management device 50. In order to convert the prepaid value converted by the management device 50 into the number of stored balls again, which is communicable with the management device 50 and the card unit 20 that performs the game use processing for causing the game to use the prepaid value owned by the It consists of a settlement machine 30 operated by a player.

  Here, the prepaid value is a value of a game value that can be used for a game, and is a value obtained by converting a purchase amount of a game medium (here, a pachinko ball) into a frequency at a predetermined ratio (for example, 1 for 100 yen). frequency). This prepaid value is also called the remaining number. Further, the number of stored balls is the size of the stored value obtained by saving the amount of value acquired by the player as a result of the game (the number of pachinko balls here).

  In the gaming system 1, as shown in FIG. 2B, a membership card 6 and money 7 are used. The member card 6 is a recording medium in which a member ID, which is player identification information that can individually identify a player, is recorded, and the remaining number, security code, and the like are also recorded. This member card 6 is issued to a member player who has registered as a member, and is formed by forming a recording area at a predetermined site in a thin plastic plate having a rectangular shape, for example. As an IC card on which a non-contact type integrated circuit including a nonvolatile EEPROM is mounted. The money 7 is four kinds of banknotes, 1000 yen banknote, 2000 yen banknote, 5000 yen banknote, and 10000 yen banknote here. Hereinafter, the configuration of the gaming system 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following, the card reader / writer is abbreviated as “card R / W” and the database is abbreviated as “DB”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the card unit 20 is provided corresponding to the pachinko machine 10 (not shown) located on the game island (not shown) in the game hall 2 (here, adjacent to the left side of the pachinko machine 10), It has a vertically long box shape, and includes game use processing means, game use operation means, use determination means, saved value determination means, setting means, etc., which will be described later. The pachinko machine 10 is an example of a gaming machine, and plays a game by driving a pachinko ball, which is a game medium, into the game area. Here, the pachinko machine 10 can communicate with the card unit 20, and the card unit 20 and the pachinko machine. This is a so-called CR-type pachinko machine 10 in which pachinko balls are paid out and lent out from the inside of the pachinko machine 10 by exchanging signals regarding the lending of the pachinko balls with the machine 10.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, a currency insertion slot 23a, a touch panel display 24, a card insertion slot 25a, and the like are provided on the front surface of the card unit 20. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the card unit 20 is provided with a currency discriminator 23, a control unit 22, a communication unit 21, a card R / W 25, and the like. Each device provided in the card unit 20 is connected as shown in FIG.

  The communication unit 21 is communicably connected to the on-site communication unit 51 of the management device 50 via a communication line, and manages communication between the card unit 20 and the management device 50.

  The control unit 22 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling the operation of each component provided in the card unit 20. Thus, various processes are performed. The control unit 22 is an example of a game use processing means, and performs a game use process for causing a game to use a game value that can be used for a game owned by the player. Here, the ball lending process using the prepaid value possessed by the member player is performed, and is set when a ball lending operation which is a game use operation is performed by the display 24 which is a game use operation means described later. A process of paying out the number of pachinko balls (for example, 125 shots) corresponding to the number of ball lending units (for example, 5 degrees) from the pachinko machine 10 is performed.

  The control unit 22 is an example of a use determination unit, and determines whether or not the game value possessed by the player is equal to or greater than the game value used for the game by the game use processing unit. Here, it is determined whether or not the prepaid value possessed by the member player is equal to or greater than the set ball lending unit frequency.

  Further, the control unit 22 is an example of a saving value determination means, and the magnitude of the saving value (here, the number of saved balls) obtained by saving the amount of the acquired value acquired by the player as a result of the game is a predetermined value. It is determined whether or not it is larger than the size. Here, the predetermined size is 150 storage balls, which is the number of storage balls necessary for lending the 125 pachinko balls corresponding to 5 degrees.

  The money discriminator 23 receives the money 7 for purchasing the game value, and here identifies the amount of the money 7 inserted from the money insertion slot 23a. The money 7 received by the money discriminator 23 is discharged from the back of the card unit 20 to the outside, transported by a money transport mechanism (not shown) provided on the game island, and collected in a safe (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 6 to 9 described later, the touch panel display 24 is a display device for displaying various types of information and an input device for receiving input of various types of information. The touch panel display 24 is an example of a game use operation means, and is operated by a player to cause the game use processing means to execute a game use process. Here, on the screen shown in D13 to D15 of FIG. 6 and D33 and D35 of FIG. 8, the player performs a ball lending operation (here, the player presses a ball lending button displayed on the display 24). Operate when doing.

  The display 24 is an example of a setting unit, and sets whether or not the conversion process is performed by the control unit 52 of the management apparatus 50 which is a conversion unit described later. Here, the conversion process means that the magnitude of the game value (here, the remaining number) is determined by the use determination means (here, the control unit 22) based on the operation of the game use operation means (here, the display 24). It is determined by the use processing means (control unit 22) that the game value is not greater than or equal to the magnitude of the game value to be used for the game (here, the ball lending unit frequency), and the saving value determination means (here, the control unit 22) determines the magnitude of the saving value. Based on the fact that it is determined that the value (here, the number of balls) is greater than or equal to a predetermined size (here, 150 shots), at least a part of the value of savings (here, the number of balls) This is a process of converting into the value (here, prepaid value). Hereinafter, the setting as to whether or not to perform this conversion processing is referred to as conversion processing setting. A method for setting conversion processing settings using the display 24 will be described later.

  The card R / W 25 receives the member card 6 and reads the recorded information of the member card 6. Here, the member ID, the remaining number, and the membership information which are recorded information from the member card 6 inserted from the card insertion slot 25a, and The security code is read, and the updated remaining number is written in the membership card 6 every time the remaining number is added and subtracted.

  The checkout machine 30 is installed at a predetermined location in the amusement hall (for example, the end of the game island) and has a vertically long box shape as shown in FIG. It has an insertion slot 33a, a card return button 34a, a checkout button 34b, a display 35, a money return slot 36a, etc., and as shown in FIG. 3 (b), a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, A card R / W 33, an operation unit 34, a money return machine 36, and the like are provided. Here, the card return button 34 a and the settlement button 34 b are provided on the operation unit 34. In the settlement machine 30, the components are connected as shown in FIG. 3B, but the arrangement is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 3A and is arbitrary.

  The communication unit 31 is communicably connected to an on-site communication unit 51 of the management device 50 described later, and manages communication between the settlement machine 30 and the management device 50. As a result, when the record information (security code, member ID, and remaining frequency) of the member card 6 is read by the card R / W 33 described later, the settlement machine 30 sends the security code, member to the management device 50. A verification request including the ID and the remaining frequency is transmitted, and a verification match signal or a verification mismatch signal is transmitted from the management device 50 to the settlement machine 30.

  The control unit 32 is a computer including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, whereby the operation of each component provided in the settlement machine 30 is performed. Is used to perform various processes.

  The card R / W 33 receives the member card 6 and reads the recorded information of the member card 6. Here, the member ID, which is the recorded information from the member card 6 inserted from the card insertion slot 33a, the remaining frequency, and The security code is read and the remaining frequency recorded on the membership card 6 is set to zero when the checkout process is performed.

  The card return button 34a is a button for accepting an operation for returning the membership card 6 accepted by the card R / W 33, and the card return button 34a is pushed before the settlement button 34b is pushed. If there is, the membership card 6 accepted by the card R / W 33 is discharged from the card insertion slot 33a and returned. The settlement button 34b is a button for accepting a settlement operation of the member card 6. When the settlement button 34b is pressed and a settlement operation is performed, the settlement button 34b is read from the member card 6 registered in the member information DB described later. The money corresponding to the “remaining cash amount” corresponding to the member ID is paid out from the money return machine 36 and returned, and the corresponding “remaining amount of stored money” is converted again into the stored ball number and converted. The accumulated number of balls is added to the remaining number of accumulated balls. Here, the “cash remaining frequency” is the remaining frequency purchased using the currency 7 out of the remaining frequency, and the “reserved money remaining frequency” is the frequency converted by the conversion process out of the remaining frequency. Of the rest.

  The display 35 is for displaying various types of information when performing the settlement process. Here, as shown in FIG. 10, when the matching match signal is received, the current remaining frequency, the cash remaining frequency, and the stored ball remaining frequency are “remaining frequency”, “cash amount”, and “ In addition, it is displayed that the amount corresponding to the remaining amount of cash is settled only for the remaining amount of cash and that the remaining amount of stored amount is returned to the number of stored balls.

  The money return port 36 a is an opening for paying out the money returned from the money return machine 36. The money return machine 36 is for returning the amount of money corresponding to the remaining cash amount as a settlement money. Here, 1000 yen bills and plural types of coins (for example, 100 yen coins, 500 yen coins, etc.) Can be returned.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the management device 50 includes an on-site communication unit 51, a control unit 52, a hard disk 53, an input device 54, and a display 55.

  The on-site communication unit 51 is communicably connected to the communication unit 21 of the card unit 20 and the communication unit 31 of the settlement machine 30 via a communication line, and communicates between the management device 50 and the card unit 20 and the management device. 50 and communication between the checkout machine 30. The control unit 52 includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like. The processing program stored in the ROM is executed by the CPU using the RAM as a work area, thereby controlling the operation of each component provided in the management device 50. Thus, various processes are performed. Here, the control unit 52 is an example of a conversion unit, and performs the conversion process.

  The control unit 52 is an example of a re-conversion processing unit, and re-converts the size of the game value (here, the number of remaining balls) that can be specified by the conversion unit into the value of the saving value again. Conversion processing is performed. Further, the control unit 52 is an example of addition processing means, and performs addition processing for adding the magnitude of the saving value reconverted by the reconversion processing means to the remaining saving value magnitude (here, the number of balls). However, specific examples of the reconversion process and the addition process will be described later.

  The hard disk 53, which is a storage device, stores the member information DB. In this member information DB, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), member information related to member players who registered as members is registered in association with member IDs that can individually identify players. The member information registered here includes “password”, which is password information for using the membership card 6 corresponding to the member ID, “cash remaining number” and “remaining amount for storage”. The “remaining number of times” that is the combined value, the “remaining number of remaining cash” that is the prepaid value, the “remaining number of remaining points” that has been converted, the “number of stored balls” owned by the player of the member ID, and the conversion process This is “conversion processing” indicating whether or not to perform. In this “conversion processing”, “◯” indicates that conversion processing is performed for the player with the member ID, and “×” indicates that conversion processing is not performed for the player with the member ID. .

  The input device 54 is an input device for receiving input of various types of information, such as a keyboard and a mouse. The display 55 is a display device for displaying various information, and is a liquid crystal display, for example. The input device 54 and the display 55 function as registration means together with the member information DB described above. The registration means registers whether or not to perform the conversion process in association with player specifying information (here, a member ID) that can specify each player individually for each player. This registration method will be described next.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the display 55 displays a conversion processing registration screen for registering whether or not to perform conversion processing for each player. In the screen shown in FIG. 5, a check box for selecting whether or not to perform conversion processing corresponding to the member ID of each player is arranged. Here, the check box is checked by placing the mouse pointer of the input device 54 on the check box on the “Yes” side and clicking the check box. With the check box checked, the mouse pointer is set to “Setting”. If it is clicked together, it is registered in the above-described member information DB that conversion processing is performed for the player with the corresponding member ID. In the member information DB shown in FIG. 4, the fact that this conversion processing is performed is registered as “◯” of “conversion processing”. Similarly, in FIG. 5, the check box is checked by placing the mouse pointer of the input device 54 on the check box on the “No” side and clicking, and the mouse is set to “Setting” with the check box checked. When the pointer is clicked together, it is registered in the above-described member information DB that the conversion process is not performed for the player with the corresponding member ID. In the member information DB shown in FIG. 4, the fact that this conversion process is not performed is registered as “x” in “conversion process”. If the mouse pointer is clicked on the “Cancel” button, the changes made after the “Setting” button is clicked are canceled.

  This registration is performed when the membership card 6 is created, and the store clerk at the game hall registers the conversion process at the request of the player. Therefore, since the player can register in advance whether or not to change the number of balls when there is no prepaid value, the saving value is forcibly converted even for a player who does not want to convert the number of balls. Can be prevented.

  The operation of the gaming system 1 including the card unit 20, the settlement machine 30, and the management device 50 described above will be described with reference to FIGS. The information transmitted from the card unit 20 to the management device 50 described below is transmitted in association with a device ID that can identify the card unit 20, and the device ID received on the management device 50 side. Thus, the card unit 20 that has transmitted the information can be specified. Therefore, the management device 50 can identify the card unit 20 that transmitted the information and transmit the information to the identified card unit 20. The same applies to transmission / reception of information between the settlement machine 30 and the management apparatus 50.

  First, during the operation of the card unit 20, a screen shown as D11 in FIG. In D11, a message prompting insertion of the membership card 6 is displayed. In each screen displayed on the display 24 described below, when the “return” button is pressed by the player, the member card 6 accepted by the card R / W 25 is ejected from the card insertion slot 25a. Return to D11.

  When the member card 6 owned by the player is inserted from the card insertion slot 25a by the player at D11, the member ID, the remaining frequency, and the security code are read by the card R / W 25, and FIG. Is displayed on the display 24. In D12, a message prompting the user to input a personal identification number is displayed, and a “ten-key” for inputting the password is displayed. When a password is entered using the numeric keypad and “OK” is pressed, the member ID, the remaining frequency, the security code, and information indicating the password are transmitted to the in-field communication unit 51 of the management device 50 via the communication unit 21. Whether the security code is a legitimate code, collation of the personal identification number with the personal identification number corresponding to the member ID registered in the member information DB, and the remaining number and the membership information DB Collation with the remaining frequency corresponding to the registered member ID is performed. If these verification results are satisfactory, the information indicating that the use of the membership card 6 accepted from the management device 50 to the card unit 20 is permitted, the information indicating the number of stored balls corresponding to the membership ID, and the membership information DB are registered. Information indicating whether or not to perform the conversion process is transmitted from the in-field communication unit 51 to the communication unit 21. Based on the fact that the communication unit 21 has received the information, the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 stores in the RAM information indicating the remaining number of times read, the number of balls received, and whether or not to perform the received conversion process. At the same time, the screen shown in D13 is displayed on the display 24. In D13, the remaining frequency (here, 50 degrees) and a preset ball lending unit frequency (here, 5 degrees) are displayed.

  When the player presses the “Option” button at the upper right on the screen shown at D13, the screen shown at D21 in FIG. 7 is displayed. This screen is a screen for setting the above-described conversion processing. In this screen, the content of information indicating whether or not the player performs the conversion process stored in the RAM can be set and changed. For example, the player with the member ID 0001 registers when performing the conversion process as shown in FIG. 4, but it may be inconvenient if the conversion process is performed, such as not wanting to reduce the number of stored balls. In such a case, a check is made by depressing the check box on the left side of the screen shown in D21, which displays “Do not convert stored balls even when there is no remaining number”, and depresses the “Setting” button. Then, the contents stored in the RAM are rewritten and the conversion process is set not to be performed. Therefore, since the player can set whether or not to perform the conversion process, it is possible to prevent the number of stored balls from being forcibly converted even for a player who does not want to convert the number of stored balls. It should be noted that the conversion processing setting performed on the screen shown in D21 is valid only while the member card 6 accepted at the time of setting is accepted by the card unit 20, and the accepted membership card 6 is discharged. Then, the stored contents of the RAM are erased. Therefore, it is not reflected in the member information DB.

  In this way, the display 24 functions as a setting unit for setting whether or not the conversion process (here, the control unit 52) performs the conversion process.

  Next, returning to D13 in FIG. 6, when the player inserts the money 7 from the money insertion slot 23a and identifies the amount of the money 7 by the money discriminator 23, the amount of the money 7 is changed. The corresponding remaining frequency is added and updated to the remaining frequency displayed on the display 24 (stored in the RAM), and the screen shown in D15 is displayed on the display 24. In this D15, an additional amount (1000 yen here) which is the amount of money 7 identified by the currency discriminator 23, the remaining number after the addition update (here 60 degrees), and a preset credit unit The frequency (here, 5 degrees) is displayed. Then, after elapse of a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds), the process returns to D13 (however, the remaining frequency is 60 degrees). In addition, in response to the addition update of the remaining number, information indicating the member ID and the remaining number after the addition update is transmitted to the member management apparatus 50, and the remaining number of the corresponding member ID in the member information DB and the cash amount The remaining number is updated (here, 10 degrees is added to each), and the remaining updated number stored in the RAM by the card R / W 25 is written in the member card 6.

  6, when the “ball lending” button is pressed by the player, the control unit 22 performs processing described below. When the “ball lending” button is pressed, the control unit 22 which is a use determination unit first determines whether or not the remaining frequency stored in the RAM is equal to or larger than the set ball lending unit frequency. If the remaining frequency is equal to or greater than the ball lending unit frequency, a signal relating to the lending of the pachinko ball is exchanged between the card unit 20 and the pachinko machine 10, and the ball lending unit frequency (here, 5 degrees) The pachinko balls are paid out and lent out from the inside of the pachinko machine 10, and the ball lending unit frequency is subtracted and updated from the remaining frequency displayed on the display 24 (stored in the RAM) (D14). In addition, according to the subtraction update of the remaining frequency, information indicating the member ID and the remaining frequency after the subtraction update is transmitted to the member management device 50, and the remaining frequency of the corresponding member ID in the member information DB and the cash amount The remaining number is updated (here, 5 degrees is subtracted each time), and the remaining number after the subtraction update stored in the RAM by the card R / W 25 is written in the member card 6.

  In addition, when the said determination result is remaining frequency <ball lending unit frequency, the control part 22 which is a saving value determination means refers to the information which shows whether the conversion process memorize | stored in RAM is performed. . In this reference, when the information is information indicating that the conversion process is performed, it is determined whether or not the number of stored balls stored in the RAM is equal to or larger than a predetermined size (here, 150 shots). As a result, when the number of stored balls is equal to or greater than 150, the screen shown at D31 in FIG. 8 is displayed.

  For example, when the player with the member ID 0001 presses the “ball lending” button when the remaining frequency is 0 and the ball lending unit frequency is 5 in D13 of FIG. It is determined that the frequency is less than the ball lending unit frequency, and information indicating whether or not to perform the conversion process stored in the RAM is then referred to. In this reference, when the information is information indicating that conversion processing is performed, it is determined whether or not the number of stored balls stored in the RAM ≧ 150 (saving value determination). Here, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the number of stored balls of the player with the member ID 0001 is 633, so the number of stored balls stored in the RAM ≧ 150, and the screen shown in D31 of FIG. 8 is displayed. The

  In this screen, a message that prompts the user to select the number of balls to be converted and the number of balls to be converted and the current number of balls to be stored, and the number of balls that are deficient with respect to the selected ball lending unit frequency is 5. Displayed with a select button that allows selection. Here, there are three types of selection buttons, 5 degrees, 10 degrees, and 20 degrees, and it is displayed that the required number of storage balls is 150, 300, and 600, respectively. Here, since the number of stored balls of member ID 0001 is 600 or more, all three types of buttons are displayed. However, the displayed buttons may not be displayed according to the number of stored balls (for example, the number of stored balls). When there are only 500 shots, the 20 degrees button is not displayed.) Here, when the player presses a selection button (for example, 10 degrees), information indicating the number of stored balls (here, 300 shots) corresponding to the selection button that has been pressed is a member ID (here, 0001), It is transmitted to the management apparatus 50 together with the effect of performing the conversion process.

  Based on the fact that the communication unit 51 has received the information transmitted from the card unit 20, the control unit 52 of the management device 50 refers to the member information DB and corresponds to the received member ID (here, 0001). Of the 633 shots, 300 shots are converted to 10 degrees, and the 10 degrees are added to the remaining count and updated, and the 10 degrees are added to the remaining count and updated (FIG. 4B). ). That is, the conversion means (control unit 52) performs a process for making it possible to specify the magnitude of the game value converted from the stored value (the number of stored balls) when performing the conversion process.

  Subsequently, the control unit 52 transmits information indicating the remaining frequency (here, 10 times) updated and information indicating the number of remaining balls (here, 333 shots) to the card unit 20. Based on the remaining frequency, the control unit 22 updates the remaining frequency stored in the RAM (that is, updates from 0 to 10), and also updates the stored number of balls (that is, from 633 to 333). Update to departure). Here, the ball lending for the deficient frequency (here, 5 times) displayed at D31 is automatically performed, and that the ball lending is performed, that the conversion processing has been performed, It is displayed together with the updated number of stored balls (D32). When the remaining frequency stored in the RAM is subtracted and updated (that is, subtracted and updated by 5 times) due to the ball lending for the number of deficiencies, as shown in FIG. Thus, information indicating the member ID and the remaining frequency after the subtraction update is transmitted to the member management device 50, and the remaining frequency of the corresponding member ID in the member information DB and the remaining frequency for the accumulated ball are updated (here, each 5 degrees are subtracted). In the card unit 20, the remaining number after the subtraction update stored in the RAM by the card R / W 25 is written in the member card 6, and the screen is switched to the screen shown in D33.

  When the information indicating whether or not to perform the conversion process stored in the RAM is information indicating that the conversion process is not performed, the control unit 22 does not switch the screen from D13 to D31. Further, in the determination of the saving value, when the control unit 22 determines that the number of stored balls stored in the RAM is less than 150, the control unit 22 displays a message indicated by D41 in FIG. This message indicates that the remaining number is 0 and the number of stored balls is less than the predetermined number of 150 shots, so that the ball cannot be lent. After the message is displayed for 5 seconds, the display 24 returns to the screen for performing the ball lending operation with the remaining frequency shown in D13 of FIG. 6 (however, the remaining frequency is 0 at this time).

  Further, in D34 and D35 of FIG. 8, the result when 5 degrees is selected in D31 is displayed. At this time, 150 shots corresponding to 5 degrees are converted, and all the remaining degrees 5 after conversion are used for ball lending (D34), so the remaining number becomes 0 (D35).

  As described above, in the gaming system 1, the control unit 22 that is a game use processing unit uses the remaining number of games of a predetermined size within the range of the remaining number of stored balls converted by the conversion unit (control unit 52). Since the game usage process is performed to allow the player to use the game, there is no need for the player to change the number of stored balls to the remaining number and use it for the game again, and the number of operations until the game is reduced, The convenience of the player is improved.

  Next, a method will be described in which the player ends the game, and the remaining number converted from the number of stored balls is converted again into the number of stored balls. For example, when the player with the member ID 0001 presses the return button on the screen shown at D33 in FIG. 8, the member card 6 is ejected from the card R / W 25. When the player inserts the member card 6 from the card insertion slot 33a of the card R / W 33 of the settlement machine 30 provided at the end of the aforementioned game island, the recorded information of the member card 6 at the card R / W 33 (Security code, member ID, and remaining frequency) are read and stored in the RAM, and a check request including the security code, member ID, and remaining frequency is transmitted from the settlement machine 30 to the management device 50. Are matched, and a matching match signal or a matching mismatch signal is transmitted from the management device 50 to the settlement machine 30. At this time, if there is no problem with the collation, information indicating the remaining number of cash and the remaining number of remaining coins is transmitted together with a signal of matching and stored in the RAM of the control unit 32. As shown in D51 of FIG. 10 based on the stored contents of the RAM, the read remaining frequency is “remaining frequency”, the remaining cash frequency is “cash”, and the remaining amount of money is “reserved”. ", Respectively. In addition, it is displayed that only the cash amount is settled, and the accumulated amount is returned to the number of accumulated balls.

  When the player presses the settlement button 34b of the operation unit 34, the fact that the settlement is to be performed is transmitted to the control unit 32, and the fact that the settlement is performed from the control unit 32 via the communication unit 31 and the member stored in the RAM. The ID (here, 0001) is transmitted to the management device 50. In the control unit 32, the amount corresponding to the remaining amount of cash is returned from the money return machine 36 (however, the remaining number is not returned here because it is 0), and in the management device 50, the on-site communication unit 51 Based on the receipt of the payment and the member ID, the control unit 52 converts the remaining number of stored balls corresponding to the received member ID into the number of stored balls, and the number of remaining stored balls (that is, “the number of stored balls”). To the number stored as). In this case, since the remaining number of stored balls is 5, it is converted into 150 shots which is the number of stored balls corresponding to the 5 degrees, and is added to 333 shots which are the remaining stored balls. As a result, the remaining number of stored balls is 0. The number of stored balls is 488 (FIGS. 4C and 4D). That is, the control unit 52 reconverts the game value (the number of remaining balls) that can be specified by the conversion means (here, the control unit 52) into the stored value (the number of stored balls) again. Functioning as a reconversion processing means for performing an addition process for performing addition processing for adding the magnitude of the saving value reconverted by the reconversion processing means to the magnitude of the remaining saving value It is. According to this, since the prepaid value once converted from the number of stored balls can be returned to the number of stored balls again, the convenience of the player is improved. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the stored balls from being exchanged for cash regardless of the prize exchange. On the other hand, in the checkout machine 30, the remaining frequency recorded in the member card 6 is set to zero by the card R / W 33, and the member card 6 is returned.

  Finally, a modified example of the gaming system 1 according to the present invention will be described.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the recording medium on which the player specifying information (member ID) capable of individually specifying the player is recorded is the member card 6, but the recording medium is not limited to this. A game recording medium (for example, a prepaid card) in which player identification information (for example, a card ID) is recorded may be used, and according to this, the value of stored value (the number of stored balls) is managed in association with the card ID. Thus, the present invention can be applied to a player who has not registered as a member.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the membership card 6 that is a recording medium is an IC card has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the recording medium may be a magnetic card or the like. It may be a medium. Moreover, in said embodiment, although the example in which the money 7 was four types of banknotes was demonstrated, not only this but this money 7 may be one or two or more banknotes of the said four types of banknotes. It may be good or a coin.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the password information of the membership card 6 is a password entered by the player using the numeric keypad has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the password information may include individuals such as fingerprints, voiceprints, irises, and handwriting. Recognizable information may be used.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the magnitude of the saving value obtained by saving the amount of the acquired value acquired by the player as a result of the game is the number of saving balls is not limited to this, but the saving value is not limited to this. The size may be the number of medals.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the remaining number management and the stored ball number management are performed in the management device 50 provided in the game hall has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In a so-called third party organization, it may be performed.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the gaming machine is a normal pachinko machine 10 in which the pachinko balls are paid out to the outside has been described. However, the gaming machine is not limited thereto, and for example, the pachinko balls are enclosed in a non-touchable manner. Enclosed pachinko machines, slot machines where medals and pachinko balls are paid out, pachislots, credit-type slot machines that can be played without being paid out to the outside, and even pachinko balls and medals Even if it is a gaming machine that can be played by data without using it, an image-type pachinko machine in which a game board or a pachinko ball is displayed in an image, an image-type slot machine in which a reel is displayed in an image, etc. The type and form are not particularly limited.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the card unit 20 is a CR unit that lends game media by exchanging signals related to the lending of pachinko balls with the pachinko machine 10 has been described. The card unit may be provided with a ball payout device for lending game media. In the above embodiment, an example in which the card unit 20 performs ball lending processing for lending a pachinko ball as a game medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the card unit is a medal as a game medium. In the case where the gaming machine is the encapsulated pachinko machine or the credit type slot machine, the game medium used for the game in the gaming machine may be used. You may perform the process which adds a certain score and a score.

  In the above embodiment, as shown in D51 of FIG. 10, the example in the case where the settlement button 34b is pressed when the remaining amount of cash is 0 has been described. It may not be 0. For example, as shown in D52 of FIG. 10, when the cash remaining frequency is 30 degrees and the ball lending unit frequency is 5 degrees, when the “ball lending” button is pressed, the cash remaining frequency is 30 degrees. For money, money corresponding to the remaining number (for example, 3000 yen) is paid back from the money return machine 36, and the remaining number of stored points is stored in the management device 50 for the number of stored balls (for example, 150 shots). ).

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the gaming system 1 includes the settlement machine 30 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the gaming system 1 may not include the settlement machine 30. In the embodiment described above, the settlement machine 30 is included as one that is operated by the player in order to execute a re-conversion process for converting the game value converted by the conversion means into the saved value again. Regardless of the presence / absence of the settlement machine 30, a re-conversion process for converting the magnitude of the game value converted by the conversion means into the magnitude of the saving value may be executed. For example, when the member card 6 that has been accepted by pressing the return button in the card unit 20 is ejected, the member ID stored in the RAM and the reconversion are transferred from the card unit 20 to the management device 50. The re-conversion process is also executed by transmitting information indicating that the process is to be performed and re-converting the number of remaining balls of the corresponding member ID in the management device 50.

  In the above embodiment, use determination means for determining whether or not the remaining number of times owned by the player is equal to or greater than the set ball lending unit frequency, and whether or not the number of accumulated balls of the player is greater than or equal to a predetermined size Although the example in which the saving value determination means for determining whether or not the control unit 22 of the card unit 20 has been described is not limited thereto, the use determination means and the saving value determination means are the control unit 52 of the management device 50. Also good. At this time, the member ID read from the member card 6 received from the card unit 20 to the management device 50 is transmitted, and the control unit 52 of the management device 50 sends the member information corresponding to the member ID from the member information DB. The determination is performed with reference to the above.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the player presses the selection button on the screen shown in D31 of FIG. 8, information indicating the number of stored balls corresponding to the pressed selection button includes the member ID and the conversion process. A description will be given of an example in which, in the management device 50, the received number of stored balls corresponding to the received member ID is converted into a frequency and the remaining number of stored balls is added and updated. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the player presses the selection button, the number of stored balls corresponding to the pressed selection button is calculated from the number of stored balls stored in the RAM of the control unit 22 of the card unit 20. The number of times corresponding to the selection button that has been pressed is added to the remaining number of times stored in the RAM and updated to update the number of stored balls. Frequency may be transmitted to the management device 50 along with the member ID. In the management device 50, the number of stored balls and the remaining frequency corresponding to the received member ID are compared with the received updated number of stored balls and the remaining frequency to calculate the frequency converted from the stored ball, and the calculated frequency Is added to the remaining number of remaining balls and updated, and then the number of stored balls and the remaining number are updated.

  In the above embodiment, an example is described in which the money corresponding to the remaining amount of cash is paid back based on the fact that the checkout button 34b is pressed in the checkout machine 30, and the remaining amount of stored money is reconverted into the number of stored balls. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the money corresponding to the remaining amount of cash is paid back by pressing the settlement button 34b, and the remaining amount of stored money may not be converted into the number of stored balls.

  In the above embodiment, the control unit 22 is information indicating that the remaining frequency is less than the ball lending unit frequency, and information indicating whether or not to perform the conversion process stored in the RAM is the conversion process. The number of stored balls stored in is described as an example in which a screen for selecting a frequency to be converted from the number of stored balls shown in D31 of FIG. 8 is displayed when it is determined that the predetermined number (for example, 150 shots) is satisfied. Not limited to this, the number of stored balls of a predetermined number (for example, 150 shots) is automatically converted into the number of degrees (for example, 5 degrees) without displaying the screen of D31 based on the determination of the control unit 22, so You may rent a ball for several minutes.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a gaming system. FIG. 2A is a front view showing an example of a card unit, FIG. 2B is a sectional side view thereof, and FIG. 2C is a functional block diagram thereof. FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing an example of a settlement machine, and FIG. 3B is a functional block diagram thereof. FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating an example of registered contents of the member information DB stored in the hard disk of the management apparatus. FIGS. 4B, 4C, and 4D are diagrams showing changes in registered contents of the member information DB. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conversion process registration screen displayed on the display of the management apparatus. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display of the card unit. FIG. 7 is a first diagram subsequent to FIG. FIG. 8 is a second diagram following FIG. FIG. 9 is a third diagram subsequent to FIG. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen displayed on the display of the checkout machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game system 22 ... Control part 24 ... Display 52 ... Control part 54 ... Input device 55 ... Display

Claims (4)

A game use processing means for performing a game use process for causing a game to use a magnitude of a game value that can be used for a game owned by the player;
Game use operation means operated by the player to cause the game use processing means to execute game use processing;
Use determination means for determining whether or not the game value possessed by the player is greater than or equal to the game value used for the game by the game use processing means;
Saving value determination means for determining whether or not the magnitude of the saving value obtained by saving the amount of the acquired value acquired as a result of the game by the player is greater than or equal to a predetermined magnitude;
Based on the operation of the game use operation means, the use determination means determines that the magnitude of the game value is not greater than or equal to the magnitude of the game value used for the game by the game use processing means, and the saving value Based on the determination that the saving value is determined to be greater than or equal to a predetermined value, a conversion process is performed to convert at least a part of the saving value to the gaming value. Conversion means;
With
The game use processing means performs a game use process for causing a game to use a game value having a predetermined size within the range of the game value converted by the conversion means. . A gaming system according to claim 1,
The conversion means, when performing the conversion process, performs a process for making it possible to specify the size of the game value converted from the size of the saving value,
The gaming system includes:
Re-conversion processing means for performing re-conversion processing for converting the magnitude of the game value converted in an identifiable manner by the conversion means into the value of the saving value;
Addition processing means for performing addition processing for adding the magnitude of the saving value reconverted by the reconversion processing means to the magnitude of the remaining saving value;
A gaming system comprising: A gaming system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
Setting means for setting whether to perform the conversion processing by the conversion means;
The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the conversion means does not perform the conversion process on condition that the setting means does not perform the conversion process. A gaming system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
Registration means for registering for each player in association with player identification information that can individually identify the player whether or not to perform the conversion processing by the conversion means;
The game system characterized in that the conversion means performs the conversion process on the condition that the registration means registers the player specified from the player specifying information when the conversion process is performed.

Images