Gaming system and gaming machine
In a gaming system which includes a slot machine and a management device which is communicably connected to the slot machine, the slot machine includes: an appeared ball presentation unit which presents at least one bingo ball, and invites the player to input a selection in connection with this bingo ball; a selection result notification unit which reports a selection result message to the management device according to the selection input by the player; and a bingo game result processing unit which acquires an award, based on the bingo hit message from the management device. And the management device receives the selection result message from the slot machine, determines a win or a loss in the game based thereon, and reports a bingo hit message to the slot machine.
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This application claims the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-156809, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gaming system and to a gaming machine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, along with the flow of diversification of games, it has been proposed to build a system in which a plurality of players can participate (a so-called “linked type gaming system”) by providing a host computer (a management device) which is separate from a plurality of gaming machines, and by the host computer performing communication with these gaming machines. As a broad division, in the prior art there have been two types of such linked type gaming system. One of these is a linked type gaming system in which win or loss for a player is determined according to a result which has been produced by the host computer (for example, by a lottery or the like), so that it is a linked type gaming system in which the host computer takes the initiative; while the other is a so-called progressive linked type gaming system, in which the player is able to gain a benefit (for example points or a number of coins which are saved up in the host computer) according to a result which has been produced by the gaming machine.
With these linked type gaming systems, generally, subjective elements on the part of the player such as his intentions, his selection, his strategies, his tactics, and so on have not been reflected in the game. Due to this, it has been necessary to satisfy the player only with the passive enjoyment of the game, in which he is simply notified of lottery results produced by the host computer or by the gaming machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe objective of the present invention is to provide a linked type gaming system with which active participation in the game on the part of a player is made possible; and, in more detail, the objective of the present invention is to provide a new gaming system and a new gaming machine which are endowed with interactivity, in which games according to prior art linked type gaming systems (in which simply reels spin and are subsequently viewed) are abandoned, and instead the player's active intentions, strategy, tactics, and attacking methods are received, and his win or loss in the game is determined according thereto.
As means for solving the above described problem, the present invention has the following characteristics. As an embodiment of the present invention, there is proposed a gaming system which comprises a gaming machine and a management device which is communicably connected to the gaming machine.
With this system, the gaming machine includes: at least one selection element (for example, a bingo ball); and a processor (for example, a microcomputer) which enables a player to pick the selection element, notifies a picked result (for example, a selection result message) to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the game from the management device; wherein the management device receives the picked result (for example, a selection result message) from the gaming machine, determines a win or a loss in the game based on the picked result, and notifies the game result (for example, a bingo hit message) to the gaming machine.
According to this gaming system, it becomes possible for the player to participate in an active game by selecting the selection element, so that it is possible to supply a more attractive linked type game.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a gaming system, wherein, on receipt of the picked result from the gaming machine, the management device notifies the gaming machine of the progression state of the game; and the gaming machine displays the progression state of the game which is notified thereto.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a gaming system including a gaming machine which supplies a first game (for example, a basic game or a slot game) to a player, and a management device which is communicably connected to the gaming machine, and the gaming system supplies a second game (for example, a linked type game or a bingo game) to the player.
With this gaming system, the gaming machine includes: at least one selection element (for example, a bingo ball); and a processor (for example, a microcomputer) which determines whether or not the selection element appears based on the first game, enables a player to pick the selection element if the selection element appears, notifies a picked result (for example, a selection result message) to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the second game (for example, a bingo hit message) which is notified from the management device; wherein the management device receives the picked result (for example, a selection result message) from the gaming machine, determines a win or a loss in the second game based on this picked result, and notifies the gaming machine of the result (for example, a bingo hit message) of the second game.
According to this gaming machine, it becomes possible for the player to participate in an active game by selecting the selection element, so that it is possible to supply a more attractive linked type game; and, moreover, since it is possible for the player to perform the second game in a state of closely connected with the execution of the first game, accordingly it becomes possible to attract the interest of the player more strongly, and to enhance his playing inclination.
It would also be acceptable to arrange for the above described gaming machine to be a gaming machine which variably displays a plurality of symbols, and the selection element appears when a predetermined symbol is displayed. Since, with this gaming system, the first game and the second game are even more closely related, it becomes possible to attract the playing inclination of the player yet more strongly.
Further, it would also be acceptable to arrange for the gaming system so as to be that the gaming machine further comprises a display which, along with displaying the selection element as a display image, displays a message inviting the player to input the selection.
In addition, in the gaming system of the present invention, the management device receives the picked result from the gaming machine, and notifies the gaming machine of the progression state of the second game, according to the picked result, and the gaming machine displays the progression state of the second game which is notified.
Further, in the gaming system of the present invention, the second game is a bingo game.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a gaming machine for a gaming system which includes a management device, and the gaming machine which is communicably connected to this management device.
This gaming machine includes: at least one selection element (for example, a bingo ball); and a processor (for example, a microcomputer) which enables a player to pick the selection element, notifies a picked result (for example, a selection result message) to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the game from the management device.
According to this gaming machine, it becomes possible for the player to participate in an active game by selecting the selection element, so that it is possible to supply a more attractive linked type game.
Further, the gaming machine of the present invention comprises a display which displays the progression state of the game, as notified by the management device according to the picked result.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is proposed a gaming machine which is used in a gaming system which includes a gaming machine which supplies a first game (for example, a basic game or a slot game) to a player, and a management device which is communicably connected to the gaming machine, and gaming system supplies a second game (for example, a linked type game or a bingo game) to the player.
This gaming machine includes: at least one selection element (for example, a bingo ball); and a processor (for example, a microcomputer) which determines whether or not the selection element appears based on the first game, enables a player to pick the selection element if the selection element appears, notifies a picked result (for example, a selection result message) to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the second game (for example, a bingo hit message) which is notified from the management device.
According to this gaming machine, it becomes possible for the player to participate in an active game by selecting the selection element, so that it is possible to supply a more attractive linked type game; and, moreover, since it is possible for the player to perform the second game in a state of closely connected with the execution of the first game, accordingly it becomes possible to attract the interest of the player more strongly, and to enhance his playing inclination.
With the above described gaming machine, it would also be acceptable to construct this gaming machine to be a gaming machine which variably displays a plurality of symbols, and the selection element appears when a predetermined symbol is displayed. And, with this gaming machine, since the first game and the second game are even more closely related, accordingly it becomes possible to attract the playing inclination of the player yet more strongly. It should be understood that the gaming machine further comprises a display which, along with displaying the selection element as a display image, displays a message inviting the player to input the selection.
Further, the gaming machine of the present invention comprises a display which displays the progression state of the second game, as notified by the management device according to the picked result.
In addition, in the gaming machine of the present invention, the second game is a bingo game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.
1: The First Embodiment1.1. A Summary of the Gaming System
First a summary of the gaming system according to this first embodiment will be explained. This gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming machines on which players may perform play. On each of these gaming machines, a basic game, like a slot machine game, which corresponds to a first game (including a bonus game and a feature game which may be generated during a basic game), may played by a player by making payment of a game value. By “game value” is meant a fee which the player pays as consideration for performing a basic game on the gaming machine, and it may be a value which cannot be converted into cash. Generally, the game value is provided to the player or is paid to the player in the form of a game medium such as medals, tokens, coins or the like.
These gaming machines also execute another game which is different from the above described basic game (in order to distinguish it from the basic game, this will be termed a “linked type game”). Such a “linked type game” is a game in which players mutually compete with one another on various different gaming machines to achieve a game winning condition, and a player who reaches the game winning condition receives payment of a game value from a management device, as an award or a remuneration for winning the linked type game. It should be understood that such a linked type game corresponds to the second game in this description of the present invention.
The linked type game of this embodiment is a bingo game in which several players participate (a game in which they take at will balls (termed a “bingo ball”) or cards one by one with a numbers affixed thereto, they check if these numbers and the numbers in cells which are drawn on a card (termed a “bingo card”) in which numbers are placed, agree with one another, and they compete to link up cells along a vertical column, a horizontal row, or a diagonal).
Each time the management device executes this linked type game, it prepares one bingo card. On a predetermined condition being satisfied, each of the gaming machines causes one or a plurality of bingo balls to appear on a display or the like of that gaming machine. And the player on that machine is able to determine which bingo balls are to be selected so that the corresponding numbers on the bingo card are hit and cleared, and in what order these bingo balls will be selected. As a result, the player becomes able to reflect his own intentions and strategy in the type of order in which he hits and clears the numbers on the bingo card.
When the player performs a selection with regard to a bingo ball which has appeared, the gaming machine notifies the result of selection by the player to the management device, and the management device performs hit-and-clear of the number on the bingo card according to this selection (picked) result which is notified.
The management device determines that a player who has hit bingo (i.e. who has hit and cleared the number in the final cell among cells which are connected horizontally, vertically, or diagonally) has won, and pays an award or remuneration. The above is a summary of the gaming system of this embodiment.
1.2. An Example of the Structure of the Gaming System
Next, an example of the structure of the linked type gaming system according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to
The gaming system 100 comprises one or a plurality of gaming machines 101, and a management device 102 which is communicably connected to the gaming machines 101. Each of the gaming machines 101 is connected to the management device 102 via a communication network 103.
1.2.1. The Gaming Machine
The gaming machine 101, which is a structural element of the linked type gaming system of this embodiment, will now be explained. It should be understood that although, in this embodiment, a slot machine is employed as the gaming machine 101, this does not mean that the gaming machine 101 is limited to being a slot machine; provided that it is a gaming machine 101 which performs a basic game, any type of gaming machine will be acceptable—for example, a pachinko game machine or a video game machine or the like may also be used as the gaming machine 101 of this embodiment.
In the following, a slot machine which is the gaming machine 101 will be explained.
The lower liquid crystal display 4 has windows 23, 24, and 25, and, via these windows 23, 24, and 25, the player can visually confirm symbols which are placed on the outer circumferences of reels 46 as will be described hereinafter.
An operation table 5 is provided at the lower side of the lower liquid crystal display 4 and projects forward therefrom, and on this operation table 5, from its leftmost side, there are disposed a call button 6, a payout button 7, and a help (HELP) button 8. Furthermore, on the right side of the help button 8, there are disposed a coin insertion unit 9 and a bill insertion unit 10. Moreover, from the left side of the operation table 5, along its forward edge, there are arranged a 1-BET button 11, a SPIN/REPEAT BET button 12, a 3-BET button 13, and a 5-BET button 14.
Here, the call button 6 is a button which is pressed for calling a shop attendant when a bill is to be changed or the like. The payout button 7 is a button which is pressed when a basic game is finished, and, when this payout button 7 is pressed, the coins which have been won in the game are paid back from a coin payout opening 15 to a coin tray 16. It should be understood that a payout switch 41 which will be described hereinafter is attached to the payout button 7, and, based on the pressing of the payout button 7, a switch signal is output to a CPU 30.
The help button 8 is a button which is pressed when the method of operating the game or the like is unclear to the player, and, when this help button 8 is pressed, various types of help information are displayed on the upper liquid crystal display 3 or on the lower liquid crystal display 4. A help (HELP) switch 42 which will be described hereinafter is attached to this help button 8, and, based on the pressing of the help button 8, a switch signal is output from this help switch 42 to the CPU 30.
A coin sensor 43 which will be described hereinafter is provided to the coin insertion unit 9, and, when a coin is inserted into the coin insertion unit 9, a coin detection signal is output to the CPU 30 from this coin sensor 43. Furthermore, a bill sensor 44 is provided to the bill insertion unit 10, and, when a bill is inserted into the bill insertion unit 10, a bill detection signal is output to the CPU 30 from this bill sensor 44.
The 1-BET button 11 is a button which bets 1 each time it is pressed once. A 1-BET switch 38 which will be described hereinafter is attached to this 1-BET button 11, and, when the 1-BET button 11 is pressed, a switch signal is output to the CPU 30 from this 1-BET switch 38, based on this press.
The spin (SPIN/REPEAT BET) button 12 is a button which, by being pressed, starts the rotation of the reels which will be described hereinafter, so as to start a game with the current bet number or the previous bet number. A spin switch 37 which will be described hereinafter is attached to this spin button 12, and, when the spin button 12 is pressed, a switch signal is output from the spin switch 37 to the CPU 30 based on this press. It should be understood that bets of 1 to 5 are available as bet numbers which can be wagered by pressing the spin button 12.
The 3-BET button 13 is a button for, based on pressing this 3-BET button 13, starting a game with a bet of 3. A 3-BET switch 39 which will be described hereinafter is attached to this 3-BET button 13, and, when the 3-BET button 13 is pressed, a switch signal is output to the CPU 30 from this 3-BET switch 39. Furthermore, the 5-BET button 14 is a button for, based on pressing this 5-BET button 14, starting a game with a bet of 5, and for being pressed when starting a bonus game which will be described hereinafter. A 5-BET switch 40 which will be described hereinafter is attached to this 5-BET button 14, and, when the 5-BET button 14 is pressed, a switch signal is output to the CPU 30 from this 5-BET switch 40.
Furthermore, along with a coin payout opening 15 being formed at the lower portion of the cabinet 2, there is also provided a coin tray 16 which receives coins which are paid out from the coin payout opening 15. A coin detection unit 52 which consists of a sensor or the like is provided in the interior of the coin payout opening 15, and this coin detection unit 52 detects the number of coins that are paid out from the coin payout opening 15.
Next, structures related to the control system of this slot machine 1 will be explained with reference to
Moreover, a clock pulse generation circuit 33 which generates standard clock pulses and a divider (frequency divider) 34 are connected to the CPU 30, and, also, a random number generator 35 which generates random numbers and a sampling circuit 36 are connected thereto. The random numbers which are sampled via the sampling circuit 36 are used for various types of lotteries, such as winning combinations, effects, and the like. Furthermore, the spin switch 37 which is attached to the spin (SPIN/REPEAT BET) button 12, the 1-BET switch 38 which is attached to the 1-BET button 11, the 3-BET switch 39 which is attached to the 3-BET switch 13, the 5-BET switch 40 which is attached to the 5-BET switch 14, the payout switch 41 which is attached to the payout button 7, and the help (HELP) switch 42 which is attached to the help button 8 are all connected to the CPU 30. On depression of these buttons, the CPU 30 performs control for various types of operation which are to be executed corresponding to these buttons, based on the switch signals which are output from the corresponding switches.
Yet further, the coin sensor 43 which is provided to the coin insertion unit 9 and the bill sensor 44 which is provided to the bill insertion unit 10 are both connected to the CPU 30. The coin sensor 43 detects that a coin has been inserted from the coin insertion unit 9, and the CPU 30 calculates the number of coins which have been inserted based on the detection signal which are output from the coin sensor 43. Similarly, the bill sensor 44 detects the type and the value of a bill which has been inserted from the bill insertion unit 10, and the CPU 30 calculates the equivalent number of coins to the value of this bill, based on the bill detection signal which is output from the bill sensor 44.
A plurality of stepping motors 47 (in this example, 3) which cause the reels 46 to rotate are connected to the CPU 30 via a motor drive circuit 45. When motor drive signals (command pulses) are output to the motor drive circuit 45 from the CPU 30, each of the stepping motors 47 is rotationally driven by an electromagnetic signal which is output from the motor drive circuit 45. The CPU 30 counts the number of drive pulses which have been supplied to each of the stepping motors 47, and thereby the CPU 30 ascertains the rotational positions of the symbols on each of the reels 46 based on the number of pulses which it has counted, and performs stop position control and the like thereof.
A position change detection circuit 48 is connected to the CPU 30. This position change detection circuit 48 detects changes of the stopped positions of the reels 46 after stopping control has been performed by the above described motor drive circuit 45. For example, this position change detection circuit 48 may detect a change of the stop positions of the reels 46 due to their stop positions having been forcibly changed by the player so as, irrespective of whether actually it is not a combination of stop symbols which constitutes a winning mode, to become a combination of stop symbols which constitutes a winning mode or the like. This position change detection circuit 48 may, for example, be made so as to be able to detect changes of the stop positions of the reels 46 by detecting fins which are attached at predetermined intervals to portions on the inside of the reels 46.
A hopper 50 is connected to the CPU 30 via a hopper drive circuit 49. When a drive signal is output from the CPU 30 to this hopper drive circuit 49, the hopper 50 pays out a predetermined number of coins from the coin payout opening 15.
Furthermore, a coin detection unit 52 is connected to the CPU 30 via a payout completion signal circuit 51. This coin detection unit 52 is located in the interior of the coin payout opening 15, and, when it has detected that a predetermined number of coins have been paid out from the coin payout opening 15, a coin payout detection signal is output to the payout completion signal circuit 51 from the coin detection unit 52, and, based thereon, the payout completion signal circuit 51 outputs a payout completion signal to the CPU 30.
Furthermore, the upper and lower liquid crystal displays 3 and 4 are connected to the CPU 30 via a liquid crystal drive circuit 53. A graphic board or the like may be used for this liquid crystal drive circuit 53. Furthermore, it would also be acceptable to control the upper liquid crystal display 3 and the lower liquid crystal display 4 with separate liquid crystal drive circuits. Moreover, a touch panel 55 is connected to the CPU 30 via a touch panel drive circuit 54.
Yet further, LEDs 57 are connected to the CPU 30 via an LED drive circuit 56. A large number of these LEDs 57 are arranged on the front surface of the slot machine 1, and they are lights which are controlled to be ON or OFF by the LED drive circuit 56 when various types of effect are being performed, based on a drive signal from the CPU 30. Furthermore, a sound output circuit 58 and a speaker 59 are connected to the CPU 30, and this speaker 59 is a device for generating various types of sound effects, based on the output signal of the sound output circuit 58, when various types of effect are being performed. It should be understood that a communication interface (I/F) 60, which is a communication port for performing communication between the management device 102 and the slot machines, is attached to the CPU 30.
The main functions of this slot machine 1 are principally implemented by a micro computer 61 of the slot machine 1 performing processing. The functioning of this micro computer 61 will now be explained in the following description.
The basic game execution unit 401 is endowed with the function of performing a basic game; in concrete terms, it performs execution of lotteries according to bets by the player, rotation control of the reels 46 according to the results of the lotteries, determination of a winning combination according to the symbols of the reels which have stopped, payment of an award if a win has occurred, and so on.
The credit value storage unit 402 is endowed with a function of storing, as credit values, a numerical value which corresponds to a game value which the player has inserted into the slot machine 1, a numerical value which corresponds to a game value which he has gained during a basic game, and the like. When the player desires a payout of coins or the like, a value which corresponds to the amount to be paid out is subtracted from the value which is stored in the credit value storage unit 402, and a number of coins corresponding to this value which has been subtracted are discharged by the hopper drive circuit 49 and the hopper 50.
The bingo ball appearance condition determination unit 403 is endowed with a function of determining whether or not a condition for causing a bingo ball which corresponds to the selection element of the present invention to appear has been hit. This condition for causing the appearance of a bingo ball may be any type of condition, but, by way of example, it is considered that the following types of condition may be employed:
(1) That, during a basic game, some predetermined symbol has stopped in a predetermined position and is displayed;
(2) That, during a basic game, a predetermined winning combination has occurred;
(3) That the number of bets by the player has exceeded a predetermined number;
(4) That a lottery as to whether or not a bingo ball will be caused to appear (which is separate from the lotteries in the basic game) has taken place, and has resulted in a win. It should be understood that the number of bingo balls which appear may be constant, or may vary; either will be acceptable. In this embodiment, the bingo ball appearance determination unit 403 is arranged to determine the number of bingo balls which are caused to appear randomly within a range from one to three.
The bingo ball permutation generation unit 404 is endowed with a function of generating bingo ball permutation data, which is data which determines an order of appearance of (M−N+1) bingo balls, with a number from N to M being affixed to each of them. This bingo ball permutation data, may, for example, be generated by determining the order of appearance of the bingo balls with random numbers. It should be understood that, in this embodiment, it is supposed that N=1 and M=80, so that it is supposed that, at each slot machine 1, 80 bingo balls with numbers from 1 to 80 affixed to them appear according to the bingo ball permutation data which has been generated for that slot machine 1.
Moreover, it should be understood that this bingo ball permutation data is generated each time a new bingo game is started, and, during the same bingo game, the bingo game permutation data which has already been generated continues to be used.
The bingo ball permutation storage unit 405 is endowed with the function of storing the bingo ball permutation data which has been generated by the bingo ball permutation generation unit 404.
Returning to
Along with images of the bingo balls being displayed on the lower liquid crystal display 4 according to this command from the appeared ball presentation unit 406, a message is displayed which invites the player to select a bingo ball which will be the selected element, and then a screen is displayed which waits to receive input from the player. This screen will be termed the “selection input awaiting screen”.
The selection result notification unit 407 is endowed with a function of notifying to the management device 102, as a player selection result, via the communication interface 60, data which has been input by the player according to the selection input awaiting screen, using input means such as the touch panel 55 and/or the various switches 37 through 42 or the like.
Returning to
Furthermore, when the bingo ball permutation generation unit 404 generates new bingo ball permutation data according to a command from the bingo game result processing unit 408, the bingo ball permutation storage unit 405 deletes the bingo ball permutation data 601 which was stored up until this moment, and stores the newly generated bingo ball permutation data 601. By doing this, the preparations for starting a new bingo game are completed.
1.2.2. The Management Device
Next, the management device 102 will be explained. This management device 102 is a device which can communicate with each of the slot machines 1, and is an information processing device which is equipped with a calculation processing device (a CPU), a main memory (a RAM), a read only memory (a ROM), an input and output device (an I/O), a display device (a liquid crystal display, a CRT, or the like), and, according to requirements, an external storage device like a hard disk device or the like. The management device 102 is an information processing device like, for example, a computer, a work station, a server, or the like. And, in the management device 102, a program for causing this information processing device to function as the management device 102 is stored in the ROM or in the hard disk device or the like, and the management device 102 is implemented by loading this program into the main memory and by causing the CPU to execute it. Furthermore, the above described program need not necessarily be stored in a storage device within this information processing device; it would also be acceptable for it to be supplied from an external device (for example an ASP (the server of an application service provider or the like), so that it is thereby loaded into the main memory.
The communication interface 701, just like the communication interfaces 60 of the slot machines 1, is matched to the communication formats of the management device 102 and the slot machines 1, and performs mutual conversion processing of data and electrical signal, and communication protocol processing.
The bingo card generation unit 702 is endowed with a function of generating, at the start of a bingo game which is to be executed by the slot machines 1 and the management device 102, bingo card data which corresponds to a bingo card. It should be understood that, in this embodiment, all of the slot machines 1 perform bingo games using a common bingo card which is generated by the management device 102.
The bingo card data 801 shown in
The progression state data storage unit 703 is endowed with a function of generating progression state data based on the bingo card data 801 generated by the bingo card data generation unit 702, and of updating and rewriting this progression state data according to selection result messages 501 which it receives from the slot machines 1.
In the example shown in the figure, “0” is initially written in advance in the open flag fields 802F of all of the records 802A, and this “0” is changed to “1” for the open flag field 802F of a record 802A which corresponds to a cell in which hit and clear processing has been made. Furthermore, “9999” is initially written into the gaming machine ID fields 802G, and, in the gaming machine ID field 802G of a record 802A which corresponds to a cell in which hit and clear processing has been made, there is written and stored the gaming machine ID 502Y in that selection result message 501 which has a time stamp 501Z having the earliest (the oldest) value, among the selection result messages 501 having the same number 502X as the number field 802D of that cell. Furthermore, in the time stamp field 802H, there is written and stored the time stamp 501Z of that selection result message 501 which has a time stamp 501Z having the earliest (the oldest) value, among the selection result messages 501 having the same number 502X as the number field 802D of that cell.
The selection result message processing unit 704 receives selection result messages 501 from each of the slot machines 1, and searches from the progression state data 802 for records 802A in which the same values as the numbers 501X in these selection result messages 501 are stored in their number fields 802D. And, when the selection result message processing unit 704 has discovered a record 802A of this type, it compares together the value of the time stamp of the selection result message 501 and the value which is stored in the time stamp field 802H of that record, and, if the time stamp of the selection result message 501 is the earlier, it performs rewriting of the open flag field 802F, the gaming machine ID field 802G, and the time stamp field 802H of that record, according to the contents of the selection result message 501.
By this function of the selection result message processing unit 704, the progression state data 806 is updated moment by moment according to the selection result messages 501 from the slot machines 1, and it becomes possible for the newest progression state of the bingo game to be always ascertained by the management device 102.
The bingo hit determination unit 705 refers to the progression state data 802 stored in the progression state data storage unit 703, and determines whether or not the bingo has hit or not, in other words, whether or not, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, any five successive cells have been hit and cleared (i.e., whether “1” is written into the open flag fields 802F of all the five corresponding records 802A). If it has been determined that a bingo hit has occurred, then the bingo hit determination unit 705 acquires the allocated points which have been allocated to those five cells from their allocated points fields 802E and calculates an acquired vame value, and generates a bingo hit message 502 in order to notify this acquired game value to the slot machine 1, which it transmits to the slot machines 1. By doing this, the players of the slot machines 1 are informed that bingo has been hit.
1.2.3. The Communication Network
Irrespective of whether the communication network 103 is a cable network, a wireless network, a dedicated circuit, or a switching circuit, when devices which are connected thereto have set up a session with devices which they each take as their objectives, it operates so as to make it possible to send and receive information between them. This communication network 103 may be implemented by combining a plurality of networks via gateways, as in the case of the internet. Furthermore, with regard to such connection, it may be arranged that transmission and reception of information between these devices is possible, when a session has been established, even if they are temporarily connected by a PPP connection or the like, while not being directly connected to the main trunk (the so-called “backbone”). It should be understood that the above described “communication network” may also be considered as including a communication network which does not use a switching circuit, such as one in which dedicated circuits are extended and closed in a fixed manner.
1.3. Examples of Operation
1.3.1. An Example of the Operation of the Management Device
Next, an example of the operation of the management device 102 having the above described type of structure will be explained with reference to
The management device 102 is started by its power source being turned on, and first performs initialization processing such as initializing its RAM and so on (in a step S901).
Next (in a step S902) the management device 102 starts the bingo card data generation unit 702 and generates bingo card data 801, and, based thereon, performs bingo game preparation processing, which is processing in which progression state data 802 is prepared and is stored in the progression state data storage unit 703.
Next, the management device 102 waits to receive the selection result messages 501 transmitted from the slot machines 1, and makes a determination as to whether or not a selection result message 501 has been received (in a step S903). If no selection result message 501 is received (the NO branch from S903), then the management device 102 returns to the step S903 and waits for a selection result message 501. If, on the other hand, a selection result message 501 has been received (the YES branch from S903), then the management device 102 starts the selection result message processing unit 704, and performs hit and clear processing (in a step S904), which is processing for updating the progression state data 802 corresponding to this selection result message 501 which has been received, so as to hit and clear the corresponding cell of the bingo cards.
And next, the management device 102 starts the bingo hit determination unit 705, and refers to the progression state data 802 and determines (in a step S905) whether or not, for any lineup of cells, a bingo hit has occurred. If the result of this determination is that a bingo hit has not occurred (the NO branch from the step S906), then the management device 102 returns to the step S903, and waits for the receipt of the next selection result message 501.
If, on the other hand, it has been determined that a bingo hit has occurred (the YES branch from the step S906), then the management device 102 performs bingo hit message transmission processing (in a step S907). In this bingo hit message transmission processing, the management device 102 specifies, among the five records 802A which correspond to the cells of the lineup where this bingo hit has occurred, that record 802A which corresponds to a cell which is opened last (a cell in which hit-and-clear has been made last) and for which the latest (the newest) time stamp value is stored in the time stamp field 802H. And the management device 102 specifies the slot machine 1 which has won the bingo, from the gaming machine ID which is stored in the gaming machine ID field 802G of that record 802A. Moreover, the management device 102 calculates the total of the values which are stored in the allocated points fields 802E of the five records 802A which correspond to the cells of the lineup where the bingo hit has occurred, and takes this total value as the acquired game value. Next, the management device 102 generates a bingo hit message 502 in which are stored the acquired game vlaue 502X which has thus been calculated and the gaming machine ID 502Y of the slot machine 1 which has won this bingo, and transmits it to the slot machines 1. The above completes one bingo game.
After the step S907, in order to start a new bingo game, the management device 102 returns to the step S902, and thereafter repeats the steps S903 through S907.
1.3.2. An Example of the Operation of the Slot Machine
Next, an example of the operation of this slot machine 1 will be explained with reference to
Next, the slot machine 1 (in more detail, its microcomputer 61 or CPU 30, and similarly hereinafter) performs linked type game execution processing (in a step S1002).
When this linked type game execution processing starts, the slot machine 1 (in more detail, its bingo ball appearance condition determination unit 403) executes (in a step S1101) bingo ball appearance condition determination processing, which is processing for determining whether or not the bingo ball appearance condition is satisfied. As previously described, the bingo ball appearance condition may be any suitable condition, provided that it can be determined on by the microcomputer 61 or the CPU 30. Here, it is supposed to be set as the ball appearance condition, that the spin switch 37 is being pressed, and that an output signal has been emitted by the spin switch 37.
If, in the step S1102, it has been determined that the bingo ball appearance condition has not been satisfied (in this example, if an output signal from the spin switch 37 has not been detected: NO in the step S1102), then the slot machine 1 terminates this linked type game execution processing, and the flow of control returns to the main processing of
If on the other hand, in the step S1102, it has been determined that the bingo ball appearance condition has been satisfied (in this example, if an output signal from the spin switch 37 has been detected: YES in the step S1102), then the slot machine 1 (in more detail, the appeared ball presentation unit 406) executes (in a step S1103) bingo ball appearance determination processing, which is processing for determining which bingo ball shall appear. In this example, it is supposed that the slot machine 1 determine the number of bingo balls which shall appear randomly in the range from one to three. In more concrete terms, after having determined the number of bingo balls which shall appear randomly in the range from one to three, the slot machine 1 refers to the bingo ball permutation data 601, and determines a number of records 602, among the records in whose third fields 605 there is stored a flag which denotes non-appearance up till now, corresponding to the number of bingo balls which shall appear, in order from that record 602 whose first field 603 contains the least value.
After this bingo ball appearance determination processing (in the step S1103), the slot machine 1 performs (in a step S1104) bingo ball presentation processing by presenting to the player bingo balls to the number thereof which it has been determined shall appear, and by inviting selection input from the player. In this bingo ball presentation processing, the slot machine 1 (in more detail, the appeared ball presentation unit 406) causes bingo balls to be displayed on the lower liquid crystal display 4, to the number thereof which it has been determined in the step S1103 shall appear. Furthermore, the slot machine 1 acquires values which are stored in the number fields 604 of the records 602 to the number of bingo balls which it has been determined shall appear, and issues a command to the liquid crystal drive circuit 53, so as to cause images of bingo balls to which these numbers are affixed to be displayed. And the lower liquid crystal display 4 displays images of bingo balls to the number thereof which it has been determined shall appear, according to this command, and invites selection therefrom by the player.
Next, the slot machine 1 (in more detail, the selection result notification unit 407) receives selection input selected or determined by the player, i.e. one or a plurality from the bingo balls which were presented in the step S1104, generates a selection result message 501 based on this selection input, and executes (in a step S1105) selection result message transmission processing, which is processing for transmitting this message to the management device 102. In more concrete terms, the slot machine 1 (in more detail, the selection result notification unit 407) generates the selection result message 501 based on the selection input which the player has generated by actuating the touch panel 55 and the switches 37 through 42, and transmits this selection result message 501 to the management device 102.
Next, after a fixed time period has elapsed, the slot machine 1 (in more detail, the bingo game result processing unit 408) determines (in a step S1106) whether or not a bingo hit message 502 has been received from the management device 102, which is returned corresponding to the previously described selection result message 501 (including one which has been transmitted by a different one of the slot machines 1). If it has been determined that such a bingo hit message 502 has not been received (NO in the step S1106), then the management device 102 terminates this linked type game execution processing without doing anything further, and returns to the main processing. On the other hand, if it has been determined that such a bingo hit message 502 has been received (YES in the step S1106), then the slot machine 1 determines (in a step S1107) whether or not it is this machine which has won bingo or not, based on the gaming machine ID 502Y which is included in this bingo hit message 502.
If it has been determined that the machine which has won bingo is this slot machine 1 (YES in the step S1107), then the slot machine 1 performs (in a step S1108) award reception processing, since it is necessary to receive a winning bingo award. In concrete terms, in this award reception processing, the slot machine 1 adds the value of the acquired game value 502X which has been stored in the bingo hit message 502 to the credit value which is stored at this time point. By doing this, it is possible for the slot machine 1 which has won bingo to receive a game value corresponding to the bingo which it has won.
Following on from this award reception processing, the slot machine 1 must make preparations for the start of the next bingo game, and thus performs (in a step S1109) bingo ball permutation data generation processing in which it generates and stores bingo ball permutation data 802, and thereafter terminates this linked type game execution processing and returns to the main processing.
On the other hand, if it has been determined that the machine which has won bingo is not this slot machine 1 (NO in the step S1107), then the slot machine 1 does not perform award reception processing, but directly performs the bingo ball permutation data generation processing (in the step S1109), and thereafter terminates this linked type game execution processing and returns to the main processing.
The above completes the explanation of the linked type game execution processing. Returning to
1.3.3. An Example of the Operation of the Gaming System
Next, an example of the operation of this gaming system according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to
First, the slot machine A performs basic game execution processing (
Next, the slot machine B which is different from the slot machine A performs (in a step S1203) basic game execution processing (S1001 of
On receipt of this selection result message 501, the management device 102 performs (in a step S1209) hit and clear processing on bingo card (S904 of
Next, the management device 102 displays on its display device an image of the bingo card, of which the fourth cell has come to be in the opened state (the reached state), and performs display (in a step S1211) of the progression state, in order to inform the players of the slot machines A and B of the state of progress of the game.
After the step S1211, the slot machine A performs (in a step S1301) basic game execution processing for a second time (S1001 of
On receipt of this selection result message 501, the management device 102 performs (in a step S1307) hit and clear processing on bingo card (S904 of
Furthermore, the management device 102 displays an image of the bingo card on which the fifth cell has come to be in the opened state (the bingo hit state) on its display device, and performs (in a step S1310) a progression state display, in order to inform the players of the slot machines A and B of the bingo hit.
Yet further, as a result of the execution of the bingo hit message transmission processing, a bingo hit message 502 is transmitted from the management device 102 to the slot machine A and the slot machine B (in steps S1311 and S1312).
On receipt of this bingo hit message 502, the slot machine A determines that itself has won, and performs (in the step S1313) award reception processing (
On the other hand, on receipt of this bingo hit message 502, the slot machine B determines that it is not this machine which has won, and does not perform any award reception processing, but merely performs (in the step S1315) bingo ball permutation data generation processing (
By contrast, the management device 102 which has transmitted the bingo hit message performs (in a step S1316) bingo card data generation processing (S902 in
Subsequently as well, the same processing is continued by the slot machines A and B and the management device 102, and the players continue repeatedly to participate in both the basic game and the linked type game, so that it is possible for them to enjoy playing. The above completes the explanation of this example of operation of this gaming system.
1.4. Screen Examples
Next, examples of screens which are displayed by the slot machine 1 and the management device 102 of this system during execution of this linked type game will be explained.
1.4.1. Examples of the Screens Displayed by the Slot Machine
It should be understood that although, in the above described explanation, it was described that, if a plurality of bingo balls have appeared, it is possible to select any one, and only one, thereof, it would also be acceptable to make it possible, if a plurality of bingo balls have appeared, to select a plurality of these bingo balls. In this case, it would be acceptable to transmit the same number of selection result messages to the management device 102 as the number of bingo balls which were selected, with data being stored in these selection result messages making it possible to determine the order in which the bingo balls were selected.
By the way, in the examples of screens shown in
Next, examples are shown in
It should be understood that although, in the above described explanation, it was described that, if a plurality of bingo balls have appeared, it is possible to select any one, and only one, thereof, it would also be acceptable to make it possible, if a plurality of bingo balls have appeared, to select a plurality of these bingo balls. In this case, it would be acceptable to transmit the same number of selection result messages to the management device 102 as the number of bingo balls which were selected, with data being stored in these selection result messages making it possible to determine the order in which the bingo balls were selected.
In this screen example, when a bingo ball appears, this new bingo ball appears from an inlet 1801, and the bingo balls which first appear over the inlets 1801 shift so as to be pressed outwards in turn towards the outlets 1802
1.4.2. Examples of the Screens Displayed by the Management Device
Next, examples of screens which are displayed by the management device 102 will be explained with reference to
In this example, it is supposed that one bingo game finishes at this point, and this gaming system starts a new bingo game; but of course, alternatively, it would also be acceptable for the bingo game to continue even after this one bingo has been hit.
It would also be acceptable to arrange for it to be possible to identify, on the screen which is displayed by the management device 102, which player (i.e. which slot machine) has opened which cell. In
It should be understood that a bingo hit may not necessarily be limited to some continuous line of cells being opened in one of the horizontal, the vertical, or a diagonal direction.
Furthermore, it would also be acceptable to arrange that, when a cell is reversed, a multiple is shown at the side of the number of allocated points, like “x2”, “x4”.
Moreover, it would also be acceptable to arrange also to pay an award to a player even though he has not hit bingo.
Even further, it would also be acceptable to arrange for more than one cell to be opened for a single bingo ball.
It should be understood that the bingo card which is displayed by the management device 102 may not necessarily use an array of matrix form. In
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. The gaming system according to this second embodiment is characterized by the fact that it performs a linked type game according to the symbols which are used in the basic game. In the first embodiment, the slot machines 1 were so called hybrid machines in which mechanical reels and liquid crystal screens were combined; but, by contrast, the slot machines 1 of this second embodiment are, suitably, machines of the so called video slot type. The other structures and operations of this second embodiment are the same as in the case of the gaming system of the first embodiment.
In this example, the liquid crystal display device 2200 is of a so-called five-reel type which displays five reels 36011 through 36015: at the beginning of a basic game, it starts a varying display of various types of symbol 3602 and the like as though the rotation of the reels 36011 through 36015 has been started, and, after a predetermined time period has elapsed, it terminates this varying display of the various types of symbol 3602 and the like, as though the rotation has been stopped, and displays a symbol stopped for each reel. In
Since, according to this embodiment, since it is possible to perform the linked type game in a state of closely connected with the execution of the basic game, accordingly it is possible to attract the interest of the player better, and thus it becomes possible to supply a gaming system which can enhance the inclination of the player to participate.
3. Modified Embodiments(1) Although, in the first and the second embodiment, the management device 102 and the slot machines 1 were explained as being separate devices, an arrangement would also be acceptable in which one of the slot machines 1 is made to function as the management device 102. Furthermore, to build the gaming system according to the present invention as a so-called stand alone environment, so that the slot machine 1 is endowed with the functions of the management device 102, is also to be considered as falling within the technical scope of the present invention.
(2) In the first and the second embodiments, it would also be acceptable to arrange, each time the management device 102 opens any cell, for it to transmit data showing the game progression state to each of the slot machines 1. Such data showing the game progression state, for example, may be data which can display an image which corresponds to a bingo card, such as shown in
It should be understood that, as has been explained above, according to the present invention, with a linked type game in which a plurality of players can participate, it is possible to supply a linked type game in which the game progresses based on selections by the players, and it becomes possible to impart a stronger impression to the players who are participating in this linked type game, thus enhancing the attractive qualities of the game.
Claims
1. A gaming system comprising a gaming machine and a management device which is communicably connected to the gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine comprises:
- at least one selection element; and
- a processor which enables a player to pick the selection element, notifies a picked result to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the game from the management device;
- wherein the management device receives the picked result from the gaming machine, determines a win or a loss in the game based on the picked result, and notifies the game result to the gaming machine.
2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein, on receipt of the picked result from the gaming machine, the management device notifies the gaming machine of the progression state of the game; and the gaming machine displays the progression state of the game which is notified thereto.
3. A gaming system comprising a gaming machine which supplies a first game to a player, and a management device which is communicably connected to the gaming machine, and the gaming system supplies a second game to the player, wherein the gaming machine comprises:
- at least one selection element; and
- a processor which determines whether or not the selection element appears based on the first game, enables a player to pick the selection element if the selection element appears, notifies a picked result to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the second game which is notified from the management device;
- wherein the management device receives the picked result from the gaming machine, determines a win or a loss in the second game based on the picked result, and notifies the gaming machine of the result of the second game.
4. The gaming system according to claim 3, wherein the gaming machine variably displays a plurality of symbols, and the selection element appears when a predetermined symbol is displayed.
5. The gaming system according to claim 3, wherein the gaming machine further comprises a display which, along with displaying the selection element as a display image, displays a message inviting the player to input the selection.
6. The gaming system according to claim 3, wherein the management device receives the picked result from the gaming machine, and notifies the gaming machine of the progression state of the second game, according to the picked result, and the gaming machine displays the progression state of the second game which is notified.
7. The gaming system according to claim 3, wherein the second game is a bingo game.
8. A gaming machine for a gaming system which comprises a management device, wherein the gaming machine is communicably connected to the management device, comprising:
- at least one selection element; and
- a processor which enables a player to pick the selection element, notifies a picked result to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the game from the management device.
9. The gaming machine according to claim 8, further comprising a display which displays the progression state of the game, as notified by the management device according to the picked result.
10. A gaming machine employed in a gaming system which comprises a gaming machine which supplies a first game to a player, and a management device which is communicably connected to the gaming machine, and the gaming system supplies a second game to the player, comprising:
- at least one selection element; and
- a processor which determines whether or not the selection element appears based on the first game, enables a player to pick the selection element if the selection element appears, notifies a picked result to the management device according to the picked selection element by the player, and provides an award based on a result of the second game which is notified from the management device.
11. The gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the gaming machine variably displays a plurality of symbols, and the selection element appears when a predetermined symbol is displayed.
12. The gaming machine according to claim 10, further comprises a display which, along with displaying the selection element as a display image, displays a message inviting the player to input the selection.
13. The gaming machine according to claim 10, further comprises a display which displays the progression state of the second game, as notified by the management device according to the picked result.
14. The gaming machine according to claim 10, wherein the second game is a bingo game.
Type: Application
Filed: May 30, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 21, 2006
Applicant:
Inventor: Akira Osawa (Tokyo)
Application Number: 11/442,592
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);