GAME MACHINE WITH PHYSICAL LOTTERY MECHANISM
A game machine of the present invention is a medal game machine where a lottery is performed at a satellite unit as a physical lottery system and when obtained numbers form a line on a bingo card, which is realized as an establishment of bingo. Medals are paid out directly or indirectly to a player. Wherein one privilege to be given to a player at the moment of establishment of bingo is selected in accordance with a control state of a payout rate of medals from a plurality of privileges each of which is connected with the payout of medals to a player and by which the affections given to the payout rate of medals are different from each other.
Latest KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD. Patents:
- Game system, terminal apparatus, and recording medium
- CONTROL SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM
- STORAGE MEDIUM, GAME SYSTEM USED FOR SAME, AND CONTROL METHOD
- Recording medium for selecting objects using head mounted display, information processing system, and information processing method
- Video distribution system, storage medium used therefor, and control method
This is the U.S. national phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2007/052692, filed Feb. 15, 2007, and claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 2006-040033, filed Feb. 16, 2006, both of which are incorporated by reference herein. The International Application was published in Japanese on Aug. 23, 2007 as International Publication No. WO 2007/094392 A1 under PCT Article 21(2).
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to a game machine with physical lottery system which executes a lottery by imparting a physical motion to a medium for lottery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONAs one kind of game machines in which amusement media are utilized, there is well-known a so-called medal pusher game machine, in which medals dropped by a player drop down onto a play field portion where plural medals as amusement media are placed, the medals dropped onto the play field portion are pushed by a pusher table to change the arrangement thereof, and by the change, the medals which have fallen down from a predetermined area of the play field portion are delivered to the player. Moreover, in such pusher games, there is a game machine with a function of lottery game for giving a chance of obtaining a large number of medals, in which electronic lottery processing like a slot game is performed on condition that the medals pass through a predetermined checker, and when a win hand is established a large number of medals according to the win hand are delivered to the play field portion.
In the pusher game mentioned above, a part of medals having fallen down from the play filed is not delivered to the player but collected in the game machine. Thereby, a payout rate of medals is managed to be kept within an appropriate range (for instance, around 90%). Moreover, a win probability in the lottery game is also controlled so that the payout rate is kept within the appropriate range.
To the above mentioned medal game machine, it is made an attempt to further add a game function or a lottery function besides the lottery game, to enhance an enjoyableness of game by generating a probability of delivering much more medals. As one of the attempts, there is concerned a game machine which is configured so that a physical lottery system imparting a physical motion to a medium for lottery to select at least one option from plural options, is installed, an additional game combined with the lottery caused by the physical lottery system is executed, and the amusement media are delivered to the player in a case where the player wins the additional game. As the additional game combined with the physical lottery system, there is concerned a game in which a pattern arrangement area where patterns (for instance, numerals) corresponding to the options are arranged in a predetermined manner, is generated virtually, and when a predetermined win arrangement is formed by the plural patterns in the pattern arrangement area, each of which corresponds to each of the plural options selected in the plural lotteries in the lottery system, it is assumed that the player wins the game, and predetermined number of medals are delivered to the play field portion. A bingo game can be a typical example of such game. In this case, a bingo card corresponds to the pattern arrangement area, and each of lines in a longitudinal direction, a lateral direction and an oblique direction correspond to a win arrangement.
However, in the game in which the physical lottery system above mentioned is utilized, it is impossible for the game machine to control the lottery by the physical lottery system. Moreover, after the arrangement of patterns in the pattern arrangement area is once determined, the win probability of the game, in other words, the probability of forming the win arrangement depends on only the lottery result by the physical lottery system. Therefore, it is impossible for the game machine to control the win probability. Then, if a large number of medals are delivered for the win in such game, the affection given to the payout rate by the deliver is big. If it is tried to reduce the affection in the original game, the payout rate is controlled unnaturally, which might cause a reduction of the enjoyableness of game. For example, if the win rate in the lottery game is made lower to lower the payout rate, the chances of win are apparently reduced and the enjoyableness of the player is likely to be reduced.
Then, there is an object of the present invention that there is provided a game machine capable of reducing the affection of the delivery on the payout rate by a not-conventional method, while delivering the amusement media by utilizing the lottery by the physical lottery system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe game machine of the present invention solves the above mentioned problem by the following configuration: A game machine having a first game device for providing a chance for playing a predetermining game in exchange for drop of amusement media, and managing delivery of the amusement media to a player so that payout rate of the amusement media to the player is controlled to approach a target value; a physical lottery system for selecting at least one option from a plurality of options by imparting a physical motion to a medium for lottery, in a case that a predetermined lottery condition is satisfied in the game; a second game device for virtually generating a pattern arrangement area where a plurality of patterns are arranged in accordance with a predetermined alignment, each of the plurality of patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of options in the lottery system, and delivering directly or indirectly the amusement media to the player in a case that the patterns in the pattern arrangement area forms a predetermined win arrangement, each of the patterns corresponding to each of the options selected by plural selections in the lottery system; and a privilege selection device for, in a case that a predetermined privilege selection condition is satisfied, selecting depending on a control state of the payout rate from a plurality of privileges, a privilege to be given to the player in response to a formulation of the win arrangement, each of the plurality of privileges having a link with a delivery of the amusement media to the player and affections of which are different from each other, wherein the second game device, in a case that the win arrangement is formed, gives to the player, the privilege selected by the privilege selection device in association with the win arrangement, in addition to the delivery of the amusement media.
According to the game machine of the present invention, in the case that the predetermined condition is established in the game executed by the first game device, the lottery is performed by the physical lottery system. In the case the lottery is performed plural times by the physical lottery system, the patterns, each of which corresponds to each option selected at each lottery, forms the predetermined win arrangement, while the amusement media are delivered directly and indirectly to the player by the second game device, the privilege selected in association with the formation of the win arrangement by the privilege selection device is also given to the player. As the privilege selected by the privilege selection device is selected from the plurality of privileges each of which has the affection on the payout rate of amusement media is different from each other, by the change of the selection, the affection that the formation of the win arrangement gives to the payout rate changes. Namely, it is possible to absorb by the selection of the privilege by the privilege selection device, the affection given to the payout rate by the delivery of amusement media utilizing the physical lottery system. Thereby, it becomes not necessary to execute the operation (for example, the operation for changing the win probability or the like) for changing the payout rate in the game executed by the first game device, or if it is necessary, the degree of operation can be small.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the physical lottery system may comprise a lottery board having a plurality of medium take portions each of which corresponds to each of the plurality of options and a drop system for dropping the medium for lottery onto the lottery board, while making the medium for lottery dropped onto the lottery board from the drop system act irregularly, may bring the medium for lottery in any one of the medium take portions, and may determine the option corresponding to the medium take portion in which the medium for lottery has been taken as the option selected by the lottery. Moreover, the physical lottery system may include a rotation body having a plurality of medium take portion, each of which corresponds to each of the plurality of options, and a drop system for dropping the medium for lottery onto a rotation route of the rotation body, while rotating the rotation body at a predetermined velocity, may drop the medium for lottery from the drop system onto the rotation route of the rotation body, and may determine the option corresponding to the medium take portion in which the medium for lottery has been taken as the option selected by the lottery. Moreover, the privilege selection device may select the privilege in a case that the predetermined privilege selection condition is satisfied in the game by the first game device. It is possible to appropriately determine the privilege selection condition depending on the kind of game executed by the first game device. Additionally, the privilege selection condition is associated with the game executed by the first game device, thereby it is possible to function the privilege selection device as a compensation device for a payout-rate control. For example, in the case that the payout rate goes off the target value significantly, or there is a probability to get into this state in the first game device, the payout rate is controlled to approach the target value by utilizing the privilege selection device.
In another embodiment of the game machine of the present invention, the first game device may be configured to implement a pusher game and a lottery game, the pusher game where while medals as the amusement media accumulated on the play field portion are pushed out by a pusher table performing a reciprocal motion in the play field portion, the medals ejected from a predetermined range of the play field portion are delivered to the player, the lottery game where in a case that the medals has passed through a predetermined position of the play field portion, lottery processing is executed for making a win hand appear while controlling a win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law, and in a case that the win hand is established, the privilege according to the established win hand may be given to the player, and the physical lottery system may recognize that the predetermined lottery condition is satisfied in a case that a predetermined win hand is established in the lottery game, and may select the option. According to this embodiment, in addition to the delivery of amusement media in the pusher game, by executing the delivery of amusement media depending on the result of the lottery game, it is possible to give to the player a probability to obtain much mount of medals compared with the case that only the pusher game is executed. Accordingly, it is possible to enhance the enjoyableness of game. Additionally, the lottery by the physical lottery system is executed in the case the predetermined win hand in the lottery game has been established. Thereby, it is possible for the delivery of amusement media via the lottery of the physical lottery system to absorb by the selection by the privilege selection device, the affection given to the payout rate, while the enjoyableness of game is further enhanced by adding the probability of a further delivery. Accordingly, it is not necessary to perform unnatural operations for the management of payout rate in the pusher game or the lottery game executed by the first game device.
In the above mentioned embodiment, the privilege selection device may select the privilege in a case that a predetermined privilege selection hand is established in the lottery processing executed by the first game device. According to this embodiment, by associating the lottery processing by the first game device with the selection of the privilege by the privilege selection device, it is possible to position the privilege selection itself as one chance which can appear depending on the result of the lottery processing of the first game device.
In the above mentioned embodiment, the privilege selected by the privilege selection device may include a provision of the medals to the play field portion. In this case, the medals provided to the play field portion are used in the pusher game of the first game device, and thereby the indirect delivery of amusement media to the player is realized. However, in the present invention, the delivery of amusement media by the second game device is not limited to the delivery that the amusement media are provided to the play field portion, and it can be applied that the amusement media such as medals are directly delivered to the player.
In one embodiment on the present invention, the second game device may virtually generate a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and may deliver the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
As mentioned above, according to the present invention, in the game machine providing a chance for playing a game in exchange for drop of amusement media, and managing delivery of the amusement media so that the payout rate of the amusement media to the player is controlled to approach the target value, not only the physical lottery system and the second game device executing the delivery of amusement media depending on the lottery result of the lottery system, also the privilege selection device are provided. The privilege selection device selects the privilege corresponded to the formulation of win arrangement which is a condition for the delivery of amusement media by the second game device. Thereby, it is possible to absorb by a change of selection of privilege of the privilege selection device, the affection given to the payout rate by the delivery of amusement media utilizing the physical lottery system. Because of this, it is possible to reduce the necessity of operation for payout rate in the game executed by the first game device, and it is possible to avoid the unnatural operations of payout rate causes the decrease of the enjoyableness of game.
A diagram showing a schematic configuration of a game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.
A perspective view showing a satellite unit and a station unit combined therewith.
A diagram showing a flow of medals in the station unit.
A diagram showing a flow of a ball in the station unit.
A perspective view showing a center unit.
A block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system in the game machine.
A flow chart of processing that the host control unit and the station control unit execute for managing the payout rate.
A flow chart of a game basic control routine that the station control unit executes in response to the drop of medals.
A diagram showing a game picture displayed on the monitor of the station unit.
A diagram showing a details of a bingo game portion provided in the game picture shown in
A flow chart of a satellite lottery routine that the satellite control unit executes.
A flow chart of a win probability determination routine that the host control unit executes.
A diagram showing number of wins data that the host control unit holes.
A flow chart of a bingo routine that the station control unit executes in response to the notification of the result of a satellite lottery.
A diagram for explaining a way of changing arrangement of numerals on a win line in the bingo game.
A flow chart of a center lottery control routine that the center control unit executes.
A flow chart of a grand slot lottery control routine that the host control unit executes.
A flow chart of a premier mode routine that the station control unit executes instead of the game basic control routine.
A diagram showing a schematic game picture displayed on a monitor of the station.
A flow chart of a premier mode termination control that the station control unit executes for determining the termination of the premier mode.
Using
With reference to
The medals M which are dropped in the play field portion 12 falls down on the sub table 21. Then, the medals M accumulate on the sub table 21 or roll down to the main table 20 from the sub table 21. The medals M accumulated on the sub table 21 are pushed forward (i.e. the side of player) by a reciprocal motion of the pusher table 23. Thereby, the medals M are pushed out of the front edge of the sub table 21, and the pushed out medals M slide off on a slope portion 24 to move to the main table 20, and are accumulated there. The medals M accumulated on the main table 20 are pushed forward by a reciprocal motion of the pusher table 22. Thereby, the medals M fall down to the surround of the main table 20. The medals M which has fallen down are collected in a lift up hopper 25 shown in
Returning to
The ball B dropped onto the main table 20 is gradually pushed out toward the front side of the main table 20 together with the medals M by the reciprocal motion of the pusher table 22. When the ball B falls down from the front edge of the main table 20, the ball B which has fallen down is transferred to the satellite unit SA by the ball transfer portion 15.
As shown in
The ball carrier 40 is capable of moving along with the outer circumference of the bingo stage 30. The ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B from the ball provision system 50A, 50B to the ball drop portion 14 of each station unit ST, and transfers the ball B from the ball transfer portion 15 of each station unit ST to the ball provision system 60A, 60B. To each lower portion of the ball provision systems 50A, 50B, the ball B has passed through the winning prize pockets 32a, 33a is selectively guided depending on the kind of the ball B. For example, the normal ball B1 is guided to the ball provision system 50A, and the special ball B2 is guided to the ball provision system 50B. The ball provision system 50A, 50B takes the guided ball B in a screw feeder 51 to transfer the ball B upward, and delivers the ball B reaching the top of the screw feeder 51 from the ejection portion 52 one by one. The ball carrier 40 moves to just below the ejection portion 52 in liaison with the delivery of the ball B from the ejection portion 52, thereby the ball B to be ejected from the ball ejection portion 52 are passed to a fork 41 of the ball carrier 40. The ball carrier 40 which has received the ball B from the ball provision system 50A, 50B moves along with the outer circumference of the bingo stage 30 up to the ball drop portion 14 of the station unit ST where the ball B should be transferred. After that, the carrier 40, by inclining the fork 41 outward, delivers the ball B to the top of the slope 14a of the ball drop portion 14. The delivered ball B slopes down through the slope 14a, and, via a drop position selection system 14b, is dropped at a arbitrary position on the main table 20.
On the other hand, in a case that the ball B is transferred to the ball transfer portion 15 of the station unit ST, the ball carrier 40 moves to the inner side of the slope 28 of the ball transfer portion 15 where the ball B has been transferred and receives the ball B from the slope 28. And then, the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B to the position of the ball drop system 60A or 60B. It is associated with the kind of ball B which one of the ball drop systems 60A or 60B the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B to. For example, in a case of the normal ball B1, the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B1 to the ball drop system 60A, while in a case of the special ball B2, the ball carrier 40 transfers the ball B2 to the ball drop system 60B.
Each of the ball drop systems 60A, 60B has a ball lifter 61 and a ball guide 62. The ball lifter 61 is capable of performing a reciprocal motion in an up and down direction. In a case that the normal ball B1 is transferred to a ball drop system 60A from the ball carrier 40, the ball lifter 61 of the ball drop system 60A gets lower. After that, the fork 41 of the ball carrier 40 is inclined to the side of ball lifter 61, and the ball B1 is passed from the ball carrier 40 to the ball lifter 61. The ball lifter 61 having received the ball B1 gets up to the top of the ball guide 62. After that, the ball lifter 61 is inclined so that a down slope is formed to the ball guide 62. Thereby, the normal ball B1 is passed to the ball guide 62. The normal ball passed to the ball guide 62 is dropped in the outer circumference 32 of the bingo stage 30 from the top of the ball guide 62. In a case that the special ball B2 is transferred to the ball drop system 60B from the ball carrier 40, the ball lifter 61 of the ball drop system 60B gets lower, and the ball B2 is passed from the ball carrier 40 to the ball lifter 61. After that, the ball lifter 61 operates in a similar way to the ball drop system 60A to pass the special ball B2 to the ball guide 62 of the ball drop system 60B. The special ball B2 passed to the ball guide 62 is dropped to the inner circumference portion 33 of the bingo stage 30 from the top of the ball guide 62.
As shown in
Additionally, to each of the station unit ST, the satellite unit SA, and the center unit CN, illumination devices and sound devices are mounted as rendering devices for warming up game mood. As the electric light devices, for example, for the station unit a plurality of LEDs (light-emitting diodes) are arranged along with a moving route from the drop of the medals M to the ejection of medals M to the play field portion 12. In the satellite unit SA, lamps are mounted to provide from the lower bingo stage 30, an illumination in the shape of ring around the rotation axis of the bingo stage 30 as the center. The winning prize pocket 71a of the big roulette 71 in the center unit CN is fringed with a plurality of LEDs. As the sound devices, speakers are provided, effect sounds and BGM (back ground music) are appropriately outputted from the speakers. As shown in
Next, the configuration of a control system of the game machine G will be described. As shown in
The host control unit 100 executes an entire management, a coordinate control and the like of the game machine G. The host PC 110 controls operations of a main-body rendering portion 111 of the game machine G Rendering devices not included in any one of the center unit CN, the satellite unit SA, or the station unit ST, such as the above mentioned moving lights L and the speakers on the spacers SP, are included in the main-body rendering portion 111. The center PC 120 controls a display on the center monitor 70.
The center control unit 130, by operating based on the state of the center unit CN detected by a sensor group 131, a center drive portion 132 and a center rendering portion 133, controls execution of the center game and rendering in the game utilizing the center unit CN. In the sensor group 131, a win sensor is included, which detects whether the big ball 73 enters or not in each winning prize pocket 71a of the big roulette 71. For example, a no-contact switch, or a reflection-type or transmission-type optical sensor can be employed as the win sensor. In the center drive portion 132, drive devices such as a motor for rotating the big roulette 71, actuators for driving the big ball drop system 72 and the like are included. In the center rendering portion 133, rendering devices such as lamps and speakers uniquely provided to the center unit CN.
The satellite control unit 40 controls the execution of the satellite lottery, the transfer of the ball B, and the rendering of game utilizing the satellite unit SA, by operating a satellite drive portion 142 and a satellite rendering portion 143 based on the state of the satellite unit SA, which is detected by a sensor group 141. In the sensor group 141, a win sensor for detecting whether the ball B passes or not through each of the winning prize pockets 32a, 33a of the bingo stage 30, and a carrier position sensor for detecting the position of the ball carrier 40 in the circumferential direction. A non-contact switch or a transmission-type or reflection-type optical sensor can be employed as the win sensor. In the satellite drive portion 142, drive devices are included, such as a motor for rotating the bingo stage 30, an actuator for driving the ball carrier 40 along with the outer circumference of the bingo stage 30, an actuator for operating the fork 41 of the ball carrier 40, an actuator for driving the screw feeder 51 and the ball ejection portion 52 or the ball provision system 50A, 50B respectively, an actuator for driving upward and downward the ball lifter 61 of the ball drop system 60A, 60B. In the satellite rendering portion 143, rendering devices such as lamps and speakers uniquely mounted to the satellite unit SA.
The station control unit 150 controls the pusher game and the digital lottery game to be executed at the station unit ST and the rendering of the games utilizing the station unit ST, by operating a station drive portion 152 and a station rendering portion 153 based on the state of the station unit ST detected by a sensor group 151. Additionally, the station control unit 150 controls display of the station monitor 16. In the sensor group 151, a medal sensor group with respect to detection of the medals M, a ball sensor group with respect to detection of a ball B, and a position sensor group for detecting position of movable parts such as the lever 10a, and the pusher tables 22, 23.
In the medal sensor group, there are included a medal drop sensor for detecting the drop of medals M from the medal slot, a medal ejection sensor for detecting the ejection of medals M from the medal ejection portion 18, a checker sensor for the fall of medals M to the openings 24a to 24c as the checker, fall medal sensor for detecting the fall of medal M from the front edge of the main table 20, a medal delivery sensor for detecting the medal M to be delivered to the medal deliver portion 11 from the lift up hopper 25, and the like. Non-contact switches, optical sensors, micro switches and the like can be employed as the above sensors, like the medal sensors employed to an already-known the medal game machine. Additionally, in the ball sensor group, there are included such as a ball drop sensor for detecting the drop of ball B from the ball drop portion 14, a ball fall sensor for detecting the ball B falling down from the main table 20 and being transferred to the ball transfer portion 15. The ball fall sensor further functions as a sensor for discriminating the kind of ball B, that is, whether or not the ball which has fallen is the normal ball B1 of the special ball B2. The discrimination of the ball B can be realized by using a sensor as the ball fall sensor, which outputs different signal depending on the kind of ball B1, B2. For example, in a case that one of the balls B1 and B2 is a resin ball and another one of the balls B1 and B2 is a metal ball, it is possible to discriminate the kind of balls B1, B2 with a metal sensor. When the reflectance rate of the balls B1 and B2 are different from each other, the reflectance-type optical sensor is employed as the ball fall sensor. It is possible to discriminate the kind of ball B according to the strength of output signal from the sensor. By discriminating the kind of ball B with the ball fall sensor, it is possible to specify the ball drop system 60A, 60B to which the ball carrier 40 should transfer the ball B.
In the station drive portion 152, there are included such as a drive device for each of the medal hopper 13a and the lift up hopper 25, an actuator for realizing the operation of ejecting the medals of the medal ejection portion 18, drive devices for reciprocating the pusher tables 22, 23 such as motors, an actuator for operating the drop position selection system 14b of the ball drop portion 14, a drive derive for driving the ball lifter 27 of the ball transfer portion 15 and the like. In the station rendering portion 153, rendering devices are included such as lamps and speakers uniquely mounted to the station unit ST.
Next will be described various kinds of processing executed by the game machine G with reference to
In the game machine G of the present embodiment, so that the payout rate POst of each of the station units ST is appropriately equal to each other, the processing shown in
The station control unit 150 obtains the payout rate POall from the host control unit 100 at step S12, and subsequently at step S13, determines a target payout rate POsttgt of its own station unit ST based on the difference between the own payout rate Post and the entire payout rate POall. In each station control unit 150, a standard target payout rate is set as a initial value in advance. Then, each station control unit 150 appropriately adjusts a win probability (a probability of establishing the win hands) of the digital lottery game so that the payout rate POst calculated in itself is controlled to approach the initial value of a target payout rate POsttgt. Moreover, at step S13, in a case that a difference between the own payout rate POst and the entire payout rate POall increases beyond an permissible range, so as to reduce the difference, the station control unit 150 adjusts the target payout rate POsttgt. For example, in a case that the own payout rate POst is higher than the entire payout rate POall, the target payout rate POsttgt is set to be lower than the initial value. In this manner, by changing the target payout rate POsttgt, it is possible to reduce the dispersion of payout rates POst.
Next, in reference to
At next step S102, the station control unit 150 determines whether or not the medals M have entered any one of the openings portions 24a to 24c as the checker. When the medals M have entered the checker, the station control unit 150 goes to step S103 to start the slot lottery of the digital lottery game. Namely, the station control unit 150 displays the game picture 200 shown in
After the slot lottery ends, the station control unit 150 goes to step S104 to determine whether or not the combination of the three patterns determined in the slot lottery is a losing hand or not. In a case of the losing hand, the station control unit 150 terminates this routine. On the other hand, at step S140, in a case of the combination is not the losing hand, namely, in a case of establishing the win hand in the slot lottery, the station control unit 150 goes to step S105 and after step S105 to execute processing appropriate to the kind of win hand. Namely, the station control unit 150, firstly at step S107, whether or not a win hand of “ball” is established. In a case of establishing the win hand of “ball”, the station control unit 150 goes to step S106 to deliver (drop) the normal ball B1 to the play field portion 12. Namely, the station control unit 150 requires the delivery of the normal ball B1 to the satellite control unit 140. In response to the require, the satellite control unit 140 requires the ball provision system 50A to eject the normal ball B1 therefrom, and delivers the ejected ball to the slope 14a of the ball drop portion 14 by the ball carrier 40. In sync with the delivery of the normal ball B1, the station control unit 150 operates the drop position selection system 14b of the ball drop portion 14 to drop the normal ball B1 to an appropriate position in the play field portion 12. When the drop of the normal ball B1 is accomplished, the station control unit 150 terminates this routine.
At step S104, in a case that the win hand of “ball” is not established, the station control unit 150 goes to step S107 to determine whether or not the win hand of “ordinary patterns” in the slot lottery has been established. In a case of the win hand of “ordinary patterns”, the station control unit 150 goes to step S108 to execute processing for providing medals M, the number of which corresponds to the win hand of “ordinary patterns”, to the play field portion 12 from the medal provision portion 13. Hereinafter, the delivery of medals M means the delivery of medals M from the lift up hopper 25 to the medal delivery portion 11, and the provision of medals M means the delivery of medals M from the medal provision portion 13 to the play field portion 12. The provision of medals M from the medal provision portion 13 may be only a route through the medal ejection portion 18 and the medal shoot 19. However, in a case of delivering a big amount of medals M to the play field portion 12 at one time, the medals M may be provided through other routes.
Subsequently at step S109, the station control unit 150 sets the mode of slot lottery to an ordinary mode, and after that terminates this routine. The mode of slot lottery will be described. At step S107, in a case that the win hand of “ordinary patterns” is not established, the station control unit 150 goes to step S110 to determine whether or not the win hand of “probability oscillation patterns” has been established. In a case that the win hand of “probability oscillation patterns” has been established, the station control unit 150 goes to step S111 to provide the medals M, the number of which corresponds to the “probability oscillation patterns”, to the play field portion 12. Subsequently at step S112, the station control unit 150 sets the mode of slot lottery to the probability oscillation mode, and after that terminates this routine. The probability oscillation mode is a mode where the probability of establishing the win hand in the slot lottery is heightened compared with a normal mode. That is to say, in a case that the win hand of “probability oscillation patterns” is established, at step S112, the probability oscillation mode is started or the same mode is maintained. Then, in a case that the win hand of “ordinary patterns” has been established in the probability oscillation mode, the probability oscillation mode is terminated by the processing of step S109.
At step S110, in the case that the win hand of “probability oscillation patterns” is not established, the station control unit 150 goes to step S113 to determine whether or not the win hand of “bingo feature” has been established. In the case that the win hand of “bingo feature” has been established, the station control unit 150 goes to step S114 to execute a bingo card feature setting processing. The bingo card feature setting processing is a processing for changing an expected value of player with respect to the number of delivering medals M by changing player's privilege in a bingo game executed in combination with the bingo cards 211 displayed on the bingo game portion 210 shown in
In the bingo card feature setting processing at step S114 in
In a case that the win hand of “the bingo feature” is not established at step S113 of
In a case that the medals M do not enter the checker at step S102 in
After dropping the ball B, the satellite control unit 140 goes to step S204, reads out which one of the winning prize pockets 32a (or 33a) the dropped ball B has fallen into, based on the detection signal of the win sensor included in the sensor group 140. Subsequently, at step S205, the satellite control unit 140 determines whether or not the winning prize pocket 32a (or 33a) into which the ball B has fallen is a JP chance pocket, that is, a winning prize pocket having the letters of “JP chance”. Then, in a case that the winning prize pocket 32a (or 33a) is the JP chance pocket, the satellite control unit 140 goes to step S206 to require the center lottery to the center control unit 130. In a case that the winning prize pocket 32a (or 33a) is not the JP chance pocket, step S206 is skipped.
In the next step S207, the satellite control unit 140 notifies the host control unit 100 and the station control unit 150 (which has required the satellite lottery) of the number or letter of the winning prize pocket 32a (or 33a) which the ball B has fallen into. After notifying of that, the satellite control unit 140 terminates the satellite lottery routine.
Next, the host control unit 100, at step S302, calculates the win probability for each pocket number. The calculation obtains the value by dividing the number of wins N1 to N9, Njp for each pocket number by the number of times of lottery within the sampling period. Note that the calculation with respect to the probability of win for the pocket number JP corresponding to “JP chance” can be omitted. Subsequently, at step S302, the host control unit 100 notifies the station control unit 150 of the probability of win for each calculated pocket number, and after that terminates this routine. Note that the station control unit 150 which becomes a notified destination at step S303 is the control unit 150 of each of the 4 station units ST combined with the satellite unit SA including the satellite control unit 140 which has notified of the result of the satellite lottery. Namely, the win probability determination routine is executed for each unit independently. The each unit comprises the satellite unit SA and 4 station units SA combined therewith.
Subsequently at step S132, the station control unit 150 determines whether the bingo has been established on the bingo card 211, that is, three active numerals has been aligned on a line. In a case that the bingo has been established, the station control unit 150 goes to step S133 to provide to the play field 12, the medals M the number of which is obtained by totalizing the bingo WIN medals and the repeat WIN medals. The bingo WIN medals is the number displayed in the odds display area 212 shown in
In the next step S135, the station control unit 150 resets the feature on the win line, that is eliminates the privilege corresponds to the win line. After that, the station control unit 150 goes to step S136 to obtain the win probability of each pocket number of which has been notified by the host control unit 100. Subsequently at step S137, the station control unit 150 change the arrangement of the numerals on the win line in reference to the win probabilities of the pocket numbers and the difference between the payout rate POst and the target payout rate POsttgt. For example, the case shown in
Returning to
Subsequently at step S142, the station control unit 150 delivers the normal ball B1 to the play field portion 12. This processing may be the same as the processing of step S106 in
In a case that it is determined that the big ball 73 has entered the JP donation pocket at step S402, the center control unit 130 goes to step S403 to instruct the station control unit 150, which has required the center lottery, to provide to the play filed portion 12, the medals the number of which corresponds to the JP win. After instructing the provision of medals, the center control unit 130 terminates this routine. Additionally, in a case that the center lottery is required from the satellite control unit 140, the station control unit 150 which has required the satellite lottery to the satellite control unit 140 is a notified destination of the instruction to provide medals. On the other hand, in a case that the big ball 73 does not enter the JP donation pocket at step S402, the center control unit 130 goes to step S404 to determine whether or not the big ball 73 has entered the winning prize pocket 71a defined as a grand slot pocket. In a case that the big ball 73 has entered the ground slot pocket, the center control unit 130 goes to step S405 to require the host control unit 100 to execute the grand slot lottery, and after that terminates this routine.
In a case that the big ball 73 does not enter the ground slot pocket at step S404, the center control unit 130 goes to step S406 to instruct the station control unit 150 to provide medals M the number of which corresponds to the center lottery to the play field portion 12. The number of medals in this case is enough smaller than the number of medals instructed at step S403. Different number can be instructed depending on the kind of the winning prize pocket 71a which the big ball 73 has been taken in. The notified destination of the instruction to provide medals is the same as the one in the case of step S403. After instructing the provision of medals, the center control unit 130 terminates this routine.
After executing the ground slot lottery, the host control unit 100 goes to step S502 to determine whether or not a win hand of “premier mode” has been established in the ground slot lottery. In a case that the win hand of “premier mode” has been established, the host control unit 100 goes to step S503 to require the station control unit 150 to shift to the premier mode. The required destination in this case is the station control unit 150 which has required the center control unit 130 to execute the center lottery caused the requirement of the ground slot lottery at step S405 in
In a case that the win hand of “premier mode” is not established at step S502, the host control unit 100 goes to step S504 to determine whether or not a win hand of “satellite game” has been established. In a case that the win hand of “satellite game” has been established, the host control goes to step S505 to require the satellite control unit 140 which has required the center lottery to execute a predetermined center game. After requiring that, the host control unit 100 terminates this routine. the satellite control unit 140 required to execute the satellite game, executes the satellite game in accordance with a predetermined process, and instructs the station control unit 150 (same as the required destination at step S503) to provide medals M depending on the game result.
In a case that the win hand of “satellite game” is not established at step S504, the host control unit 100 goes to step S506 to determine whether or not a win hand of “medal WIN” has been established. In a case that the win hand of “medal WIN” has been established, the host control unit 100 goes to step S507 to instruct the station control unit 150 to provide medals the number of which is obtained by adding the medals corresponding to the win hand of “medal WIN” to the JP medals (the provision medals instructed at step S403 in
In a case that the win hand of “medal WIN” is not established at step S506, the host control computer 100 goes to step S508 to require the center control unit 130 to re-execute the center lottery. In response to this, the center control unit 130 re-executes the center lottery in
In the premier mode routine, the station control unit 150 firstly step S151, executes a medal drop processing, and subsequently at step S151 determines whether or not the medals M has entered the checker. In a case that the medals M have entered the checker, the station control unit 150 goes to step S153 to execute the slot lottery as the digital lottery game performed on the station monitor 16. The win hand at this moment is limited to the case that three same numerals has appeared. Additionally, the win probability is set to be higher than the one at step S103 in
On the other hand, in a case of not the losing hand at step S154, the station control unit 150 goes to step S155 to provide to the play filed portion 12, the medals M the number of which is dependent on the win hand in the slot lottery. Subsequently at step S156, the station control unit 150 switches between an active state and an inactive state with respect to the win number, that is, the numeral, three of which have appeared. For example, as shown in
On the other hand, in a case that the medals M do not enter the checker at step S152, the station control unit 150 goes to step S160 to determine whether or not the ball B has fallen from the main table 20. In a case that the ball B hasn't fallen, this routine is terminated. On the other hand, in a case that the ball B has fallen, the station control unit 150 goes to step S161 to determine whether or not the ball B which has fallen is the special ball B2. The discrimination of the kind of ball B is above mentioned with respect to the sensor group 151 in
The satellite control unit 140 to which the satellite lottery is required in the processing at step S164 in
In a case that the winning-prize pocket number is not “JP” at step S172 in
In the above embodiment, the configuration for executing the pusher game and the digital bingo game in the station unit ST corresponds to the first game device. The configuration for executing the bingo game in the station unit ST corresponds to the second game device. The satellite unit SA corresponds to the physical lottery system. The station control unit 150 corresponds to the privilege selection device. The bingo stage 30 in the satellite unit SA corresponds to the lottery board and the rotation body. The ball B corresponds to the medium for lottery. In addition, the fall of ball B in the pusher game (refer to step S120 in
The preset invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be realized by various embodiments. For example, although the above embodiment the ball B as the medium for lottery is dropped via the play field portion 12, the satellite lottery can be performed not via the play field portion 12. The physical lottery system is not limited to the configuration such as satellite SA, but can be appropriately changed to something able to select randomly at least one option by imparting a physical motion to a medium for lottery. For example, the lottery system where plural balls each of which the number to be used in a bingo game is put on are shuffled and one of the balls is selected can be employed. In the above embodiment, while the bingo stage 30 as the lottery board and the rotation body is rotated, physical and irregular motion is imparted to the ball B by dropping the ball B from the drop system 60A, 60B onto the bingo stage 30, the ball B is brought in one of the winning prize pockets 32a (or 33a) as the medium take portion, and the number of the letter put on the winning prize pocket 32a (or 33a) in which the ball B has been taken is determined as the option obtained by the lottery. However, the physical motion by the physical lottery system is not limited to the one imparted by such as this configuration. For example, it is not necessary to rotate the bingo stage 30. For example, even if a medium take portion is mounted on a fixed lottery board, it is possible to impart an irregular motion to the medium for lottery on the lottery board and select an option randomly, by an addition of incline to the lottery board, or an arbitrary disposition of obstacles and the like.
The second game device is not limited to a device for performing a bingo game. The second game device can be appropriately changed to something which virtually generates a pattern arrangement area where patterns, each of which corresponds to the option selected by the physical lottery system, are arranged in accordance with a predetermined alignment, and delivers some amusement media in a case that, in the pattern arrangement area, a predetermined win arrangement is formed by the patterns corresponding to the selected options. For example, it can be changed to such as the following case: in a case that the patterns arrangement area is generated by arranging the patterns in a matrix shape, it can be determined that the win arrangement has been formed, when the patterns each of which corresponds to the selected option are arranged on the four corners of the pattern arrangement area. The selection of privilege by the privilege selection device can be something executed depending on the control state of payout rate, and is not limited to the selection for controlling the payout rate toward to the target value. For example, for generating fluctuation in the control state of the payout rate, the control can be adopted that the privilege which the amount of delivery becomes comparatively bigger is selected purposely, even if the payout rate is higher than the target value.
In the game machine of the present invention, the first game device is not limited to the combination of the pusher game and the digital lottery game, but can be configured so that various games are performed as long as the delivery of amusement media is managed so that the payout rate is controlled to approach the target value. The delivery of amusement media by the second game device is not limited to the configuration that the amusement media are delivered indirectly to the player via the delivery of amusement media to the play field portion, but can be the configuration that a part or all of amusement media to be delivered as a reward for win are delivered directly to the player.
Claims
1. A game machine comprising:
- a first game device for providing a chance for playing a predetermining game in exchange for drop of amusement media, and managing delivery of the amusement media to a player so that payout rate of the amusement media to the player is controlled to approach a target value;
- a physical lottery system for selecting at least one option from a plurality of options by imparting a physical motion to a medium for lottery, in a case that a predetermined lottery condition is satisfied in the game;
- a second game device for virtually generating a pattern arrangement area where a plurality of patterns are arranged in accordance with a predetermined alignment, each of the plurality of patterns corresponding to each of the plurality of options in the lottery system, and delivering directly or indirectly the amusement media to the player in a case that the patterns in the pattern arrangement area forms a predetermined win arrangement, each of the patterns corresponding to each of the options selected by plural selections in the lottery system; and
- a privilege selection device for, in a case that a predetermined privilege selection condition is satisfied, selecting depending on a control state of the payout rate from a plurality of privileges, a privilege to be given to the player in response to a formulation of the win arrangement, each of the plurality of privileges having a link with a delivery of the amusement media to the player and affections of which are different from each other,
- wherein the second game device, in a case that the win arrangement is formed, gives to the player, the privilege selected by the privilege selection device in association with the win arrangement, in addition to the delivery of the amusement media.
2. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein
- the physical lottery system comprises:
- a lottery board having a plurality of medium take portions each of which corresponds to each of the plurality of options; and
- a drop system for dropping the medium for lottery onto the lottery board, while making the medium for lottery dropped onto the lottery board from the drop system act irregularly, brings the medium for lottery in any one of the medium take portions, and determines the option corresponding to the medium take portion in which the medium for lottery has been taken as the option selected by the lottery.
3. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein
- the physical lottery system comprises:
- a rotation body having a plurality of medium take portion, each of which corresponds to each of the plurality of options, and
- a drop system for dropping the medium for lottery onto a rotation route of the rotation body, while rotating the rotation body at a predetermined velocity, drops the medium for lottery from the drop system onto the rotation route of the rotation body, and determines the option corresponding to the medium take portion in which the medium for lottery has been taken as the option selected by the lottery.
4. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein
- the privilege selection device selects the privilege in a case that the predetermined privilege selection condition is satisfied in the game by the first game device.
5. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein
- the first game device is configured to implement a pusher game and a lottery game,
- wherein the pusher game where while medals as the amusement media accumulated on the play field portion are pushed out by a pusher table performing a reciprocal motion in the play field portion, the medals ejected from a predetermined range of the play field portion are delivered to the player,
- wherein the lottery game where in a case that the medals has passed through a predetermined position of the play field portion, lottery processing is executed for making a win hand appear while controlling a win probability in accordance with a predetermined control law, and in a case that the win hand is established, the privilege according to the established win hand is given to the player, and
- the physical lottery system recognizes that the predetermined lottery condition is satisfied in a case that a predetermined win hand is established in the lottery game, and selects the option.
6. The game machine according to claim 5, wherein
- the privilege selection device selects the privilege in a case that a predetermined privilege selection hand is established in the lottery processing executed by the first game device.
7. The game machine according to claim 5, wherein
- the privilege selected by the privilege selection device includes a provision of the medals to the play field portion.
8. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein
- the second game device virtually generates a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and delivers the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
9. The game machine according to claim 2, wherein
- the second game device virtually generates a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and delivers the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
10. The game machine according to claim 3, wherein
- the second game device virtually generates a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and delivers the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
11. The game machine according to claim 4, wherein
- the second game device virtually generates a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and delivers the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
12. The game machine according to claim 5, wherein
- the second game device virtually generates a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and delivers the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
13. The game machine according to claim 6, wherein
- the second game device virtually generates a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and delivers the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
14. The game machine according to claim 7, wherein
- the second game device virtually generates a bingo card in a matrix shape in which same number of the patterns are arranged in each of a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction, and delivers the amusement media by recognizing that the win arrangement has been formed at the moment when all of the patterns aligned on any one of a longitudinal line, a lateral line, or a diagonal line of the bingo card are the patterns corresponding to the options selected by the lottery system.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 15, 2007
Publication Date: Jul 1, 2010
Applicant: KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT CO., LTD. (Tokyo)
Inventors: Masato Okuaki (Tokyo), Toru Omoto (Tokyo), Hiroto Nakamoto (Tokyo), Junichi Yamaguchi (Tokyo)
Application Number: 12/279,666
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);