Patent Application
20200043283
The present invention relates to a game machine system integrating game machines such as slot machines and video slot machines that are used in game parlors such as casinos.
Conventionally, there is a game machine called a video slot, which is superior to conventional mechanical slot machines in that it can stimulate players through visual effects with video and animation.
With a bit of ingenuity, such visual expression on video may provide an exciting game to players. Especially, expressions applying software technology using animation include various expressions to live up a game as entertainment, and can attract players.
For example, the game machine described in JP 2011-92719 A has a display portion and a controller. The display portion displays a specific symbol placed in a specific cell. The symbol contains a specific type of symbol that is placed in the specific cell. The controller controls movements of the symbols and cells. The specific cell has a gauge. A numerical value indicated by the gauge represents a count of how many times the specific cell appears in the display portion. The controller compares the numerical value of the gauge with a threshold value, and sets a favorable condition to a player to be initiated when the value of the gauge has reached the threshold value.
Patent document 1 JP2011-92719 A
However, in conventional game machines, it has been ended that a player has only waited for the game result while having watched expression of animation appearing on a display portion. Thus, the player has no element that can participate in the game while involving himself with the game result expressed for a long period of time, but only a sense of expectation of waiting for the result. The player may often expect expression that maintains a sense of expectation and game performance by a performance even when the player waits for a long period of time until the game result comes out.
An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine system which allows a player to participate in a game until a game result comes out so as not to bore the player even for a period of time during which the game result comes out, and which achieves such a performance that maintains a sense of expectation for the game result.
The present invention provides a game machine system comprising a game machine capable of progressing different kinds of games and a table game with different kinds of the games, the game machine system comprising an administration controller connected to a plurality of game machines and the game machine capable of displaying progress of a game selected from a plurality of kinds of games and a result of the game, wherein the game machine includes an operating device with which a player operates the progress of the game, and the progress of the game at a place different from the game machine selected by the administration controller is performed by operation of the operating device of the game machine selected by the administration controller.
With the above characteristics, the player is encouraged to push such an operating device, so that the player can participate in and enjoy the game. In addition, the player can join other games even when the player is away.
A game machine system 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments and drawings illustrate some of the embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.
A configuration of the game machine system 1 will be described with reference to
As shown in
In this game machine system 1, states of respective games are displayed on the full-sized large monitor 2. A monitor 2a displays a bingo game for which an administration controller 10 progresses a game, a monitor 2b displays a card game using a card such as baccarat or poker where a dealer progresses a game on tables 5a, 5b, and 5c, and a monitor 2c displays a state of a roulette game of the automatic game device 4 or a state of a dice game of the automatic game device 3.
The full-sized large monitor 2 may display the state of a game sequentially without specifying a position.
Further, the administration controller 10 also transmits and receives input/output signals from the game machines 20. Furthermore, the administration controller 10 also transmits and receives input/output signals from the automatic game devices 3, 4 as well as a video from cameras 6 provided in the automatic game devices 3, 4.
The administration controller 10 processes data from the input/output monitor devices 7, the automatic game devices 3, 4 and the game machines 20 and the video from the cameras 6, and displays them on the full-sized large monitor 2. As the data displayed on the full-sized large monitor 2, statistical data of the results of games performed by the table games 5, the automatic game devices 3, 4, and the game machines 20 is displayed by a table, a graph, or the like.
With reference to
As shown in
The display portion 30 includes a touch monitor 31 that is of a touch panel type. The number of monitors is not particularly limited and may be three or more, or one, and the monitor may not be of the touch panel type.
The display portion 30 can display on a display screen of the touch monitor 31 a slot machine game or other games such as a table game through communication. The game machine 20 can perform a wide variety of games.
The display portion 30 displays a reel, a payout display portion, a bet display portion, a credit amount display portion, and the like (not shown) on the display screen of the touch monitor 31.
Next, the main configuration of the game machine 20 will be described with reference to the block diagram of
The motherboard 24 controls the display portion 30 and the emergency LED 22 displayed in case of emergency, and further controls each device via an IO board 25. The IO board 25 is also connected to a speaker (not shown), the bill acceptor 41, the ticket printer 42 (
The operating device 50 is connected to the motherboard 24 via a control board 57 incorporating a CPU 58, ROM and RAM, and the IO board 25. The motherboard 24 uses the same CPU, has an OS (operation software), and controls the display portion 30 and the operating device 50, including the IO board.
Under control of the software on the OS driven by the CPU of the motherboard 24, the game machine 20 controls benefit as a state in which a player is advantageous, a stage bonus, and a winning amount of a free game, further controls the display portion 30 reflecting the result obtained from the winning, and furthermore controls the operating device 50.
Using the control program driven by the same OS driven by the same installed CPU of the motherboard 24, the game machine 20 controls lotteries such as benefit, a stage bonus, and benefit of a winning game of a free game, which are advantageous for a player, further controls symbols and a reel (not shown) of the display portion 30, and furthermore controls the operating device 50. Consequently, the control for the display portion 30 can be interlocked with the control for the operating device 50 with less time lag, and, in addition, it is difficult to perform fraudulent acts and the like.
Since the motherboard 24 allows bidirectional communication with the operating device 50 via the IO board 25, the motherboard 24 can be easily connected and easily interlock with the operating device 50, and skipping of data from the operating device 50 due to electrical noise is also reduced. The control program is provided with a notifying control program that operates a notifying control portion to be described later and an operating device control program that controls the operating device 50. The IO board 25 is connected to the administration controller 10, and transmits and receives signals to/from the administration controller 10.
The operating device 50 is connected to the motherboard 24 via the control board 57 incorporating the CPU 58, ROM and RAM, and the IO board 25. The motherboard 24 controls a motor 71 via a motor driver 78 of the control board 57 and further controls lighting of an LED 61 provided in a light source portion 60 shown in
In the operating device 50, a rotation operation detecting portion 72 detects a rotation direction and a rotation speed with an origin detecting portion 73 and a jog sensor 74, and further detects whether or not a push button portion 51 is pushed by a button switch 76. The detected data is output to the mother board 24 via the IO board 25.
Next, the appearance of the operating device 50 will be described with reference to
In the operating device 50, a flange portion 54 is provided, and a body portion 53 incorporating the control board 57 (
Next, the internal structure of the operating device 50 will be described with reference to
The rotation driving portion 65 integrally fixes a decoration display portion 66 and a rotation fixing portion 67, and fixes the motor 71, which pivotally supports the rotation fixing portion 67 on a shaft 62, to the center of the body portion 53. In the rotation driving portion 65, the decoration display portion 66 can be rotated by the rotation of the motor 71. In the decoration display portion 66, any of a pattern, a symbol and a character, or a combination thereof is engraved, printed, or three-dimensionally formed.
In the rotation operation portion 52 integrally formed with the push button portion 51, a rotation shaft 55 is provided so as to be rotatable around the motor. The body portion 53 is provided with an urging means 56 that includes an urging spring, rubber or the like and that is provided below the rotation shaft 55, and the urging means 56 urges the rotation operation portion 52 upward. The body portion 53 is further provided with a ball urging receiver 68 so that the rotation operation portion 52 can be stably rotated and depressed.
The ball urging receiver 68 has a rotary sphere therein and slides with the rotation operation portion 52, and the rotary sphere rotates in accordance with the rotation of the rotation operation portion 52. For the ball urging receiver 68, an urging means (not shown) similar to the above-described urging means is provided so that the rotary sphere moves upward and downward in conjunction with the up-and-down movement of the rotation operation portion 52.
When the push button portion 51 is pushed, the rotation operation portion 52 moves downward and pushes the button switch 76 to detect whether or not the push button portion 51 is pushed. As the button switch 76, a mechanical switch, an optical switch, or the like is used.
The body portion 53 is provided with the light source portion 60 below the rotation operation portion 52. The light source portion 60 includes a plurality of LEDs 61 and transmits the transparent rotation operation portion 52 to illuminate the decoration display portion 66 and the like.
The rotation operation detecting portion 72 abuts against the rotation shaft 55 of the rotation operation portion 52, and when the origin detecting portion 73 rotates in conjunction with the rotation shaft 55, the rotation operation detecting portion 72 detects the number of rotations. The origin detecting portion 73 serves as the jog sensor 74 which detects the rotation direction. Although the jog sensor 74 may serve as the origin detecting portion 73 as in the present embodiment, a sensor which detects the rotation direction may be provided separately.
In the rotation operation portion 52, a vibration motor 75 is provided in an abutted state in order to notify a player that it is advantageous for the player during performance by vibration of the rotation operation portion 52.
Next, a performance using the operating device 50 will be described with reference to
In this example, as shown in
In the push button portion 51, as shown in
As described above, in the transparent cross 84, the rotation driving portion 65a rotates in accordance with the progress of a game, so that the light from the light source portion 60 provided below the transparent cross 84 can be visually recognized, like a beautiful kaleidoscope. The rotating motion seen through the transparent cross 84 can provide a performance giving a sense of expectation to a player.
Next, a performance using the operating device 50 will be described with reference to
In this example, instead of the motor 71 of the rotation driving portion 65a, decoration display portions 66b and 67b are changed in two modes.
On the other hand, in the lower decoration display portion 67b in close contact with the decoration display portion 66b is printed such that the letter “PUSH” is capable of transmitting the light from the LED 61 of the light source portion 60 provided below, and other portions are printed in black and shield the light. As described above, in the decoration display portions 66b and 67b, a different letter appears by changing the light emitting portion of the LED 61.
The player is encouraged to push the operating device 50 thus configured, so that the player can participate in and enjoy the game. In addition, two different displays are possible even in the operating device 50 with a thin thickness.
In Example 3, as shown in
In the operation of the operating device 50 of the game machine 20, the same operation screen is reflected on the input/output monitor device 7. A dealer progresses the game according to instructions from the game machine 20 while watching the input/output monitor device 7 of the game machine 20.
In the game machine system 1, although a player can participate in the same table game 5 or the same automatic game devices 3, 4 from a plurality of the game machines 20, the administration controller 10 selects one of the game machines 20 for which the largest amount of credit is bet in the same game from among the same table game 5 or the same automatic game devices 3, 4, and only one game machine 20 selected can instruct and operate the input/output monitor device 7 or the automatic game devices 3, 4 by the operating device 50.
Here, the selected game machine 20 is displayed on the touch monitor 31 in order to make the player recognize that the game machine 20 is selected, or the emergency LED 22 is displayed in seven colors, whereby the selected game machine 20 can be informed to not only the player but also the dealer and other players.
On the other hand, the game machine 20 causes the light source portion 60 (
In the game machine 20, as described above, although the administration controller 10 selects the game machine 20 operating the progress in the same game, the game machine 20 may be selected from the input/output monitor device 7 by the dealer.
As described above, even with the game machine 20 at a remote place, since the result is reflected by the player's will as well as a sense of superiority, the player can fully enjoy the atmosphere in which the player participates in the game.
As shown in
When the rotation operation portion 52 of the operating device 50 is rotated as shown in
As described above, the player can participate in the game as though the player himself turns the card 96b. In addition, the player can participate in the game with a sense of expectation of the game result.
In Example 4, as shown in
As shown in
As shown in
In the game machine 20 which has not been selected, after the player bets a credit for the automatic game device 4, the player cannot operate the operating device 50 of the automatic game device 4, but can see the state of the game from the touch monitor 31.
The roulette may be interlocked with the actual table game 5, and as described above, in conjunction with the input/output monitor device 7, the progress of the game may be instructed from the game machine 20 instead of the dealer.
Next, with reference to
The wheel 105 with a number described is displayed on the touch monitor 31, and when a player of the selected game machine 20 rotates the rotation operation portion 52 of the operating device 50, the dealer rotates the wheel 105 and pushes the push button portion 51, so that the game result is displayed. The wheel 105 may be a device that operates automatically.
As shown in
As described above, the player can be prevented from being bored by displaying the other table games 5 and the performances of the automatic game devices 3 and 4 on the touch monitor 31, and the player can participate in and enjoy the game by operating the operating device 50.
While sitting on a chair (not shown), a player can enjoy a game while operating the operating device 50 provided on the table 26. The game machine 120 further includes the bill acceptor 41 and the ticket printer 42 above the touch monitor 32. A card as a note, which is used in place of a bill and in which the amount of money is written, or a bill can be inserted through the bill acceptor 41, and a card on which the amount of payout is written is discharged through the ticket printer 42.
The display portion 130 includes the monitor 31 and the touch monitor 32 that is of a touch panel type. The number of monitors is not particularly limited and may be three or more, or one. The monitor may not be of the touch panel type.
The display portion 130 can display on display screens of the touch monitors 31 and 32 a slot machine game or other games such as a table game through communication. Thus, the game machine 120 can perform a wide variety of games.
The display portion 130 displays on the display screen of the touch monitor 32 a game currently being played by a player and, for example, displays a reel, a payout display portion, a bet display portion, a credit amount display portion, and the like (not shown).
The display portion 130 may display on the display screen of the touch monitor 31 the progress status or the result of the table game 5 and any of the games of the plurality of automatic game devices 3, 4 via the administration controller 10. Also in this example, the player can participate in and enjoy the other table games 5 and the games of the plurality of automatic game devices 3, 4 and the like by operating the operating device 50 as described above.
Four game machines 220 capable of playing the game of the automatic game device 201 are provided around the automatic game device 201.
The game machine 220 includes an emergency LED 224 at the uppermost portion and the monitor 31 that is of a touch panel type as a display portion 230 at an intermediate portion therebelow. The touch monitor 31 is surrounded by a casing portion 221, and in the game machine 220, the table 26 protrudes downward. The number of monitors is not particularly limited and may be three or more, or one. The monitor may not be of the touch panel type.
While sitting on a chair (not shown), a player can enjoy a game while operating the operating device 50 provided on the table 26.
The game machine 220 further includes the bill acceptor 41 and the ticket printer 42. A card as a note, which is used in place of a bill and in which the amount of money is written, can be inserted through the bill acceptor 41, and a card on which the amount of payout is written is discharged through the ticket printer 42.
The display portion 230 displays on a display screen of the touch monitor 31 the video from the camera 6 (not shown) capturing the state of the automatic game device 201 and, at the same time, displays a payout display portion, a bet display portion, a credit amount display portion, and the like so as to allow participation in the game.
In addition, the display portion 230 can display a slot machine game or other games such as a table game through communication. Thus, the game machine 220 can perform a wide variety of games.
The display portion 230 may display on the display screen of the touch monitor 31 the progress status or the result of the table game 5 and any of the games of the plurality of automatic game devices 3, 4 via the administration controller 10.
Also in this example, the player can participate in and enjoy the other table games 5 and the games of the plurality of automatic game devices 3, 4 and the like by operating the operating device 50 as described above.
In the game machine 320, the touch monitor 31 is provided below the pachinko device 330 and surrounded by a casing portion 321, and the table 26 protrudes downward.
While sitting on a chair (not shown), a player can enjoy a game while operating the operating device 50 provided on the table 26.
The pachinko device 330 shown in
The pachinko device 330 includes on its upper portion an imaging portion 335 having a built-in camera that images the board surface 334, and images the state of the pachinko balls 332 rolling on the board surface 334. The imaging portion 335 is equipped with a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, and the like. The imaging portion 335 is used not only in enjoying the state of the game, but also in an abnormality such as fraudulent acts or a test for an error from an initial value of the nail 337. In order to maintain fairness, the degree of inclination is periodically checked by the acceleration sensor.
The pachinko device 330 is used by the following game method. When a predetermined number of bonus symbols appear on a display screen of the touch monitor 31, the game machine 320 wins a bonus stage, and the pachinko device 330 drops the pachinko balls 332 from the above. The game machine 320 converts the number of the pachinko balls 332 having entered the winning device 333 and a ball collection port 336 into points, and in a bonus stage, when the total point exceeds a reference value, a double point is obtained. For example, when the pachinko balls 332 have entered the winning device 333, 10 points are obtained, and when the pachinko balls 332 have entered the ball collection port 336, 1 point is obtained.
As described above, since the bonus stage is a game using the pachinko balls 332, the player can enjoy a powerful game unlike a two-dimensional game.
In the above examples, in a case where the rotation operation is prompted during a performance, when the operation of the rotation of the operating device 50 or the depression of the push button portion 51 is not performed for a predetermined time in order to make the progress of the game interesting, the game may be forcibly progressed. For example, the predetermined time is about 10 to 15 seconds, and after taking time to operate, if there is no operation for the progress of the game, the game result may be displayed to proceed to the next game.
As described above, the player can enjoy a game with good tempo without wasting time and without being bored.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018-146553 | Aug 2018 | JP | national |
