Patent Grant
8118656
The present invention relates to a game device, more specifically, a game device for playing a medal game in which game players charge medals to play a game, and medals are discharged to the game players.
One of the medal game devices is the so-called medal pusher. In the medal pusher, the medals inserted by game players are stored on a table, the medals stored on the table are pushed out by a medal pusher to pay back the pushed-out medals to the game players. In such medal game devices, the game players do not win many medals but doe not lose many medals. Such medal game devices are not amusing enough and do not incite the gambling spirit of the game players.
Recently, medal game device including several satellites around one large casing has increased. In such medal game device, new ideas that the usual medal pusher game is played by the respective satellites, and a common game all the satellites take part in is played to thereby pay out many medals, etc. are used.
Patent Reference 1: Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 2004-113563
However, in the conventional medal game device, even a game common among the satellites is played independently by the respective satellites.
An object of the present invention is to provide a game device which makes it possible to play a closely related game among the satellites.
The game device according to one aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, in the game device which can communicate information between a main device and a plurality of satellite devices, the main device comprises: a first memory means storing data of participation states of said plurality of satellite devices in a main game and game orders thereof; a second memory means storing chessman position data indicating a position of a chessman in the main game; and a main control means which lots for one of the satellite devices to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery, executes prescribed processing based on data stored in the second storage means, to which the value has been added, lots for another satellite device of the turn next to said one satellite to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery to the data stored in the second storage means, and executes prescribed processing, based said added data.
In the game device described above, it is possible that wherein each satellite device comprises a satellite control means which executes processing of a satellite game, based on an operation signal from an operation means operated by a player, and when the satellite device has become qualified to participate in the main game, based on a result of the satellite game, executes the processing of transmitting a signal of the satellite having become qualified to participate in the main game to the main device, the main control means of the main device executes the processing of receiving the signal transmitted from the satellite control means of the first memory means, and executes the process of making said satellite device participated in the first storage means and renewing the game order.
In the game device described above, it is possible that the main control means of the main device, when the prescribed processing based on the data stored in the second memory means is for ending the main game, executes the processing of transmitting to the satellite device a signal of ending the main game, and executes the processing of making the satellite device not participated in the first storage means and renewing the game order, the satellite control means of the satellite device executes the processing of receiving the signal transmitted from the main control means and starting the satellite game.
In the above-described game device, it is possible that the main control means of the main device, when the prescribed processing based on the data of the second storage means is for ending the main game, executes the processing transmitting signals of play values obtained in the main game to the satellite device, the satellite control means of the satellite device executes the processing of receiving the signals transmitted from the main control means, and executes the processing of discharging a play value obtained in the main game.
As described above, according to the present invention, the main device comprises a first memory means storing data of participation states of said a plurality of satellite devices in a main game and a game order thereof; a second memory means storing chessman position data of a chessman position in the main game; and a main control means which lots for one of the satellite devices to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery, executes prescribed processing based on data stored in the second storage means, to which the value has been added, lots for another satellite device of the turn next to said one satellite to participate in the main game, based on the data stored in the first memory means, adds a value based on a result of the lottery to the data stored in the second storage means and executes prescribed processing, based said added data, whereby the satellites can make the game closely related with each other.
The game device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to
The appearance of the medal game device according to the present embodiment is illustrated in
(Big Monopoly (Registered Trademark) Unit)
A large round roulette-shaped big monopoly unit 12 is disposed at the center of the casing 10. In the big monopoly unit 12, 2 front and back revolving annular boards 13 are provided, and at the top of the big monopoly unit 12, a triangular pointer 14 for pointing measures of the annular boards 13 is provided.
Forty measures to be used in the monopoly are drawn at the peripheral edge of the two annular board 13, and the forty measures correspond to forty partitions drawn at the boundary edge of the square board of the monopoly of the board game. The same partitions are drawn at the corresponding positions of the front annular board 13 and the back annular board 13 so that when the revolving annular boards 13 stop, the pointer 14 can point one and the same partition.
At an upper part of the front side of the big monopoly unit 12 inside the annular board 13, a display monitor 15 is disposed, and displays various information of the big monopoly game.
When the player playing in the satellite 20 satisfies a prescribed condition, they play a monopoly game (hereinafter called “big monopoly game”) using the big monopoly unit 12, which is common among all the players as the main game in which all the satellites 20 can take part in.
In the big monopoly game, the players sequentially revolve the annular boards 13. In accordance with contents of a measure pointed by the pointer 14 when the annular board 13 has stopped, the game proceeds.
(Satellite Unit)
Respectively on the sides of the front and the back of the big monopoly unit 12 of the casing 10, 3 satellites 20 are provided, totally 6 satellites 20 are provided. The satellites 20 are partitioned by transparent boards 21. Characterizing illuminations are provided on the partition boards 21 between the satellites 20. The illuminations of the partition boards 21 will be detailed later.
Each satellite 20 comprises an upper game unit, a middle operation panel unit and a lower medal discharge unit.
In the upper game unit, medal charging means 22A, 22B are provided left and right. In each satellite 20, 2 game players can play, but 1 game player may operate the left and the right medal charging means 22A, 22B to play the game.
In the middle operation panel unit, a plurality operation buttons 24A, 24B, 24C are provided.
In the lower medal discharge unit, a medal discharge slot 28 through which medals to be paid back to the game player is provided. The medals discharged by a medal discharging means (not illustrated) are paid out through the medal discharge slot 28. The medal discharge slot 28 will be detailed later.
(Inside of the Satellites)
The inside of each satellite 20 is illustrated in
Inner of the medal table 34, a chucker member 36 having a plurality of chuckers is provided. As illustrated in
Detection means (not illustrated) are provided on the respective chuckers 36a, 36b, . . . of the chucker member 36 and detect whether or not medals charged from the medal charging means 22A, 22B have passed the chuckers 36a, 36b, . . . .
Immediately behind the chucker member 36, a display monitor 38 for displaying game images is provided. The length of the chucker member 36 is substantially the length of the lower side of the display monitor 38 and is disposed very near the lower side of the display monitor 38. On the display monitor 36, game images and warning images are displayed. A lamp 39 is provided above the display monitor 38.
In the game image, the same game board as the game board of the monopoly is displayed. Players play independently in the respective satellites 20 the monopoly game (hereinafter called “mini monopoly game”) as the satellite game executed in the satellite, in which the respective players play independently, charging medals.
A medal box 40 is provided on the left side of the medal table 34. The medal box 40 has a medal carrying rail 42 for carrying medals, whereby medals are fed to the medal box 40 via the medal carrying rail 42 from the medal supply unit 44.
When a big hit or a middle hit takes place, the medal box 40 is tilted to supply a large number of medals onto the medal table 34. This repeated several times when a big hit takes place to thereby keep the game player excited.
(Structure of the Game Device)
The structure of the medal game device according to the present embodiment is illustrated in
In the present embodiment, on the front and the back of the big monopoly unit 12 of the casing 10, 3 satellites are respectively provided, totally 6 satellites are provided.
In each satellite, a satellite board for generally controlling the medal game device is provided. To the satellite game board 50, an operation button 24, the medal charging means 22 for charging medals, the medal discharging means 28 for discharging medals, and the display monitor 38 for displaying game images, etc. are connected.
A main game board 80 is provided for generally controlling the medal game device. To the main game board 80, a big monopoly driving means 86 for revolving the annular boards 13 of the big monopoly unit 12, and a main display monitor 88 which is the display monitor 15 are connected.
The respective satellites 20 are independent of each other and respectively execute the medal game, i.e., the mini monopoly game described above. The main game board 80 monitors states of the respective satellites 20. The game boards 50 of the respective satellites 20 transmit their own states of each frame to the board 80, and the main game board 80 monitors their own states for each frame, based on data transmitted from the satellite game board 50.
(Structure of Game Board)
The structure of the satellite game boards of the respective satellites 20 and the main game board 80 is illustrated in
In each of the game boards 50, 80, a CPU 51 which executes the game program, generally controls the system and makes coordinates calculation for image display, etc., and a system memory (RAM) 52 used as a buffer memory for storing programs and data necessary for the CPU 51 to make the processing are connected commonly to a bus line to be connected to a bus arbiter 54. The bus arbiter 54 controls the flow of programs and data between the game boards 50 and the respective blocks and devices connected outside.
A program data memory storing the game program and data (including image data and music data) or a storage medium (including an optical disc, an optical disc drive, etc. for driving CD-ROMs, etc, which are game storage media), a BOOTROM 58 storing programs and data for driving the game device are connected to the bus arbiter via the bus line.
Via the bus arbiter 54, a rendering processor 60 which reproduces image data (MOVIE) data read from the program data memory or the storage medium 56 and producing images to be displayed corresponding to operations of the players and game progresses, and a graphic memory 62 storing graphic data, etc. necessary for the rendering processor 60 to produced images are connected. Image signal outputted from the rendering processor 60 are converted by a video DAC (not illustrated) from digital signal to analog signals to be displayed on the display monitor 38.
Via the bus arbiter 54, a sound processor 66 which reproduces music data read from the program data memory or the storage medium 56 and produces effect sounds and sounds corresponding to operations of the players and game progresses, and a sound memory 68 storing sound data, etc. necessary for the sound processor 66 to produce effect sounds and sound are connected. The sound signals outputted from the sound processor 66 are converted by the audio DAC (not illustrated) from digital signals to analog signals to be outputted from a speaker 70.
A communication interface 72 is connected to the bus arbiter 54. The communication interface 72 is connected to the LAN in the game device. The satellite game boards 50 and the main game board 80 can communicate with each other via LAN cables, etc.
To the bus arbiter 54, operation buttons 24A-24C are connected via a peripheral I/F (interface) 76. The peripheral I/F 76 outputs signals for controlling the game boards 50 in accordance with operations of the players.
To the bus arbiter 54, the medal charging means 22 and the medal discharging means 28 are connected via the peripheral I/F 76. The peripheral I/F outputs signals for controlling the medal charging means 22 and the medal discharging means 28 in accordance with operations of the players, etc.
A backup memory (not illustrated) is connected to the bus arbiter 54, and results of the game, etc. are stored in the backup memory. The backup memory may be substituted by the system memory (RAM).
(Game Processing)
The game processing of the mini monopoly and the big monopoly of the medal game device according to the present embodiment will be detailed with reference to
The mini monopoly game, which is the satellite game, is executed in the respective satellites 20. The satellite game boards 50 make the game processing of the mini monopoly game.
The big monopoly game, which is the main game, is executed as a game common among the respective satellites 20. The main game board 80 makes the game processing of the big monopoly game.
The basic flow of the game processing of the medal game device according to the present embodiment will be explained. Players play the mini monopoly game of special rules independently in the respective satellites 20, charging medals.
When the player in a satellite 20 satisfies a prescribed condition, the player can take part in the big monopoly game which is common among all the players using the big monopoly unit 12. Prescribed conditions for shifting to the big monopoly are suitably set.
For example, in the mini monopoly game, the players can build hotels. Every time when a player builds his own hotel, 1 house-shaped lamp 39 is lit. When the player has built 8 hotels, and all 8 house-shaped lamps have been lit, the player can take part in the big monopoly game.
In the mini monopoly game, a slot is provided in each game board at the center. Under a prescribed condition, a mini game in which the slot is revolved is executed. In the slot, when 7 and 7, for example, are paired, the player in the satellite can take part in the big monopoly game.
In the big monopoly game, the players sequentially operate to revolve the annular board 13. In accordance with contents of a partition pointed by the pointed 14 when the revolving annular board 13 is stopped, the monopoly game of a special rule proceeds.
In the big monopoly game of the present embodiment, respective chessmen are not provided for the respective satellites 20, but characteristically, only 1 pointer 14 corresponding to a chessman is provided commonly among all the participating satellites. The player in each satellite 20 advances the annular board 13 from a partition the pointer was caused to point by the operation of the preceding player by a number of pips of a die thrown by himself. Then, the player in the satellite 20 of the next turn advances the game with a partition to which the current player has advanced partitions as the start.
Thus, from which partition the players start depends not only on a partition of the die they throw but also on partitions of the die thrown by the players in the other satellites 20. The players watch game results of the respective satellites and play the game closely related with the satellites.
The players playing the big monopoly game shift to the mini monopoly game under a prescribed condition. The prescribed condition for the players shifting to the mini monopoly game is suitably set.
For example, a partition pointed by the pointer 14 in the big monopoly game indicates “GO TO JAIL” “IN JAIL”, the player who has hit the partition returns to the mini monopoly.
When a partition pointed by the pointer 14 in the big monopoly game is a super jackpot which a large number of medals stored in the partition are discharged at once, the player who has hit the partition returns to the mini monopoly of the satellite 20.
(Game Data of Main Game Board)
Various game data of the main game board 80 will be explained.
In the system memory 52, which is the memory means of the CPU 51 of the main game board 80, game data necessary to execute the game are stored. Examples of the game data are illustrated in
The satellite table (a first memory means) illustrated in
In the satellite table, as illustrated in
The various registers illustrated in
As the various registers, as illustrated in
(Processing of Shifting to Big Monopoly Game)
The processing of the players in the satellites who have played the mini monopoly game shifting to the big monopoly game will be explained with reference to the flow chart of
It is assumed that, at the start, as illustrated in
It is assumed that, at a certain time, the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 detects that a condition for shifting to the big monopoly game has been attained, e.g., all 8 hotels have been built, and all 8 lamps 39 have been lit, or “7” and “7” have been paired in the slot disposed at the center of the game board (Step A101), the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 transmits the big monopoly shift information that Satellite (A) 20 will shift to the big monopoly game together with his own satellite ID to the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 (Step A102).
Next, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 receives the satellite ID and the big monopoly shift information transmitted from the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 (Step M101).
Then, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 makes the satellite participation processing (Step M102). The CPU 52 of the main game board 80 adds 1 to the participant number register of the system memory 52 of the main game board 80, turning on the participation flag of the satellite ID of Satellite (A) 20 of the satellite table and renews a die throw order of the satellite ID of Satellite (A) 20 of the satellite table with a number of the participant number register.
When the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 has completed the satellite addition processing, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 transmits an addition completion signal to the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 (Step M103).
Then, the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 receives the addition completion signal transmitted from the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 (Step A103) and executes the shift processing for Satellite (A) 20 (Step A104). Satellite (A) 20 finishes the mini monopoly game and shifts to the usual pusher game in the mode of the big monopoly game and is ready to receive signals form the main game board 80.
(Big Monopoly Game Processing)
The big monopoly game processing by the main game board 80 will be explained with reference to the flow chart of
First, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 makes the start processing for starting the big monopoly game (Step M201). The satellite ID of the die throw order 1 in the satellite table is set in the current satellite register.
Next, the CPU 52 of the main game board 80 transmit a play start signal to the satellite (A) 20 of the ID set in the current satellite register (Step M202).
Next, the CPU 52 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 receives the play start signal from the CPU 51 of the main game board 90 (Step A201).
Then, when the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 detects a start button input by the player (Step A202), the CPU 51 transmits a big monopoly start signal to the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 (Step A203).
Next, when the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 detects the big monopoly start signal transmitted from the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 (Step M203), the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 executes the sugoroku processing in the big monopoly game (Step M204). The CPU 51 of the main game board 80 throws the die, based on a random number, adds a number of pips of the die to the chessman position pointer and revolves the annular board 13 by the big monopoly drive means 36 so as to point the pointer 14 to a partition corresponding to the chessman position pointer.
Next, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 makes the partition processing (Step M205). The CPU 51 of the main game board 90 adds a medal number corresponding to the pointed partition to a won medal number in the satellite table of Satellite (A) of the ID in the current satellite.
Then, the CPU of the main game board 80 judges whether or not the partition pointed by the pointer 14 corresponding to the chessman position pointer is the partition for ending the big monopoly game (Step M206). The CPU 51 of the main game board 80 judges whether the pointed partition is “GO TO JAIL” or “IN JAIL” or the super jackpot. When the partition is not for ending the big monopoly game, the end processing in Step M207 which will be described next is skipped.
When the partition is for ending the big monopoly game, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 executes the big monopoly end processing (Step M207). The CPU 51 of the main game board 20 turns off the participation flag of the current satellite in the satellite table, subtracts 1 from the participant number register and sets a won medal number of the current satellite in the satellite table in the medal discharge number register and turns on the end flag.
Next, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 transmits the data of the won medal number, the data of the medal discharge number and the data of the end flag of the current satellite in the satellite table to Satellite (A) 20 of the ID set in the current satellite register (Step M208).
Next, the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 receives the data of the won medal number, the data of the discharged medal number and the data of the end flag from the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 (Step A204).
Next, the CPU 52 of the game board of Satellite (A) 20 makes the processing of ending the big monopoly game in Satellite (A) 20, based on the data of the won medal number, the data of the discharged medal number and the data of the end flag the CPU 51 has received (Step A205).
As the end processing, the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (A) 20 makes effect displays, as of, e.g., “Congratulations! OO number of medals won”, on the display monitor 38.
Next, the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite discharges medals from the medal discharge means 28, based on the data of the discharged medal number and the data of the end flag while making on the display monitor 38 effect displays, as of, e.g., “Sorry! Big monopoly ended! OO number of medals paid!” “Congratulations! Superjackpot! OOO number of medals paid!”.
Only when the big monopoly game ends, in Step M207, a discharge medal number is set, and the end flag is turned on. Unless the big monopoly game ends, no value is set in the discharge medal number, and the end flag is off. Neither the medal discharge nor the end effect display is made.
Then, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 makes the next play processing for the player of Satellite (B) 20 of the next turn playing the big monopoly game (Step M209).
The CPU 51 of the main game board 80 subtracts 1 from the die order of all the satellites in the satellite table, and in the die order of a satellite whose die order has resultantly become 0 and whose participation flag is on, sets a value of the participant number register to renew the die order.
At this time, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 does not change a value of the chessman position pointer but retains the value as it is. Thus, in Satellite (B) 20 of the next turn, the big monopoly game is played based on the current chessman position pointer.
Next, for Satellite (B) 20 of the next turn, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 makes the start processing (Step M210). The satellite ID of the die order 1 in the satellite table is set in the current satellite register.
Then, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 transmits a play start signal to Satellite (B) 20 of the ID set in the current satellite register (Step M211).
Next, the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (B) 20 receives the play start signal from the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 (Step B201).
Then, when the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (B) 20 detects the start button input by the player (Step B202), the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (B) 20 transmits a big monopoly start signal to the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 (Step B203).
Then, when the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 receives the big monopoly start signal transmitted from the CPU 51 of the game board 50 of Satellite (B) 20 (Step M212), the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 executes the sugoroku processing in the big monopoly game (Step M213). The CPU 51 of the main game board 80 throws the die, based on a random number, adds a number of pips of the die to the partition pointer and revolves the annular board 13 by the big monopoly drive means 36 so as to point the pointer 14 to a partition corresponding to the chessman position pointer.
Subsequently, the CPU 51 of the main game board 80 makes the same partition processing, judgment processing and end processing as in Steps M205, M206 and M208 and further makes the processing to a satellite 20 of the next turn by the same next play processing as in Step M209.
As described above, according to the present embodiment, only 1 pointer corresponding to the chessman is provided commonly among all participating satellites, and the players of the respective satellites advance the game, based on a play result of the preceding satellite, whereby the respective players have results influenced by their own plays but also by the other player' plays. The players can play the game, watching their own game results and related closely with the satellites.
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can cover other various modifications.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the medal game device for playing the medal pusher game but may be applied not only to the medal pusher game but also to game device for making other medal games.
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the medal game device using medals. However, the present invention may be applied to any game device as long as the game device use a physical body having play values in the game, i.e., the physical body is not essentially medals and can be pinball balls, tokens, coins, prizes, etc.
In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the game device which uses no information storage medium, such as IC card, etc. However, the present invention may be applied to game devices using information storage medium, such as IC cards, magnetic cards, etc. and to game devices which use memories of other game devices, the memories in the satellites of the game device, and memories of game severs which can be communicated with the game devices via internets.
The present invention relates to a game device for playing a medal game in which players charge medals to play a game, and medals are discharged to the players, and is applicable to game devices in which the satellites can play a game closely related with one another.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-041421 | Feb 2005 | JP | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/JP2006/302455 | 2/13/2006 | WO | 00 | 3/27/2008 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2006/087987 | 8/24/2006 | WO | A |
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