Abstract: A game system includes a management apparatus and a game device. The management apparatus includes an authentication section for obtaining results of authentications using first and second identifiers that should correspond to a user. When the results of the authentications are affirmative, a validity time limit is associated with the first identifier. In addition, the game device includes a confirmatory identifier acquirer for acquiring a confirmatory identifier that should correspond to the user, and an inquiry maker for making an inquiry asking the management apparatus to check whether or not the first identifier conforming to the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management apparatus. The inquiry inquires the management apparatus to check whether or not the validity time limit corresponding to the first identifier is a time after the present time when the first identifier conforming to the confirmatory identifier is stored in the management apparatus.

Abstract: It is an object to appropriately obtain an effect aimed at by changing the amount of payout objects to be paid out through specific control according to the bet amount of a game play that has produced a predetermined progress result regarding a start condition for specific control. A specific control start condition count value is counted according to a progress result of a game controlled by a game progress control unit, an accumulated amount of bet objects bet in a game when the count value was counted is stored, specific control is started based on the count value satisfying a predetermined specific control start condition, and payout objects of an amount according to the stored accumulated amount of bet objects are paid out in accordance with the specific control.

Abstract: A storage system including a maintenance terminal, at least one disk drive, and a plurality of volumes that are provided by the at least one disk drive, and each store therein data written by the plurality of host devices. In this storage system, the maintenance terminal sets information for use to measure the performance of the storage device, and the storage device acquires the set information, measures the performance of the storage device with respect to the data stored in the plurality of volumes based on the information, and transmits, to the maintenance terminal, performance information about the performance being a measurement result. The storage system as such can collect information about the performance of a storage device that is not measurable from the side of the host devices, and a method for collecting such performance information can be provided.

Abstract: A pool amount (payout amount) of a jackpot award is adjusted without deteriorating individual game attractiveness of all game apparatuses even in a game system in which game apparatuses of different models are mixed. Each game progress control unit of a plurality of game apparatuses controls the progress of a game in such a manner that a ratio of an amount of payout objects paid out to a player by a payout process of the payout processing unit to an amount of bet objects received by the bet object receiving unit within a predetermined period comes closer to a normal preset payout ratio obtained by deducting a player's own pool ratio indicated by the pool ratio data stored in the pool ratio storage unit of the game apparatus concerned from a total preset payout ratio indicated by the preset payout ratio data stored in the preset payout ratio storage unit of the game apparatus concerned.

Abstract: Where a drawing machine for jackpot game is utilized in a game system in which a plurality of game apparatuses are divided into a plurality of groups for management, a payout ratio is easily managed for each group. The drawing machine for jackpot game performs a group drawing for selecting one winning group among a plurality of groups and performs a winner determining process for determining a winner among players who play game apparatuses belonging to the winning group, thereby performing a jackpot drawing.

Abstract: To give a player who plays a certain game apparatus less frequently an increased opportunity that the player plays selectively with the game apparatus. Provided is a benefit-imparting condition deciding apparatus which, when a player corresponding to identification information received by an identification information receiving unit is decided to satisfy a predetermined benefit-imparting condition, outputs clear information in a state of being associated with the identification information on the player and also notifies the player of game apparatus designating information for designating a benefit-imparting game apparatus, and where the identification information is received after receipt of the clear information, a benefit-imparting process is performed for imparting the player a benefit according to the clear information associated with the same identification information as the received identification information.

Abstract: The present invention improve disadvantages such as a limited jackpot drawing performance and so on.

Abstract: The present invention is to be capable of removing a disadvantage caused by that rough payment amount of payout objects to be paid out when a jackpot award is won is displayed differently in each game apparatus The present game apparatus includes: a jackpot drawing apparatus which performs the jackpot drawing in which three or more game apparatuses are regarded as drawing targets; and a relaying apparatus including a payout amount data receiving unit which is connected to the jackpot drawing apparatus in a manner to enable communication and receives the payout amount data output by the payout amount data output unit of the jackpot drawing apparatus, and a payout amount data transmitting unit which is connected to each of the game apparatuses belonging to a predetermined group that is composed of a plurality of game apparatuses constituting a part of the above-described three or more game apparatuses in a manner to enable communication and transmits to the above-described each of the game apparatuses the same

Abstract: The present invention is to be capable of increasing an opportunity for a user to start playing a game apparatus that the user does not often play so as to allow a large number of users to know enjoyment of that game apparatus. The present game system includes two or more game apparatuses, each of which comprises a game progress control unit for controlling progress of a game of which content differs from each other.

Abstract: In order for a player to develop a sense of great expectation that the player him/herself may win a jackpot award, a game system includes: a jackpot drawing apparatus for performing a payout process for paying out to the winning player a payout target having at least a part of an amount indicated by payout amount data that is obtained by reading it out from a storage unit when the drawing unit determines winning of the jackpot award, and for cumulatively increasing an amount indicated by the payout amount data stored in the storage unit when a predetermined payout amount increasing condition is satisfied; and a notification processing apparatus for performing, when performing the jackpot award winning notification process for notifying the player who has won the jackpot award, of winning of the jackpot award, prior to issuing the same, an advance notification process for issuing an advance notification to the effect that a player who plays by using each game apparatus belonging to a predetermined group config

Abstract: In order to prevent a situation where a winner for a jackpot award is consequently concentrated on a player who plays by using a particular game apparatus that is a part of a game system, the game system includes a jackpot drawing apparatus for performing the following processes: when the drawing unit determines winning of the jackpot award, payout amount data is read out from the storage unit, a payout process for paying out a payout target having at least a part of an amount indicated by the read-out payout amount data to the winning player is carried out, and at the same time, when a predetermined payout amount increasing condition is satisfied, the amount indicated by the payout amount data stored in the storage unit is cumulatively increased.

Abstract: The present invention is to be capable of inhibiting the occurrence of an instance where the enjoyment of a player who plays with the game apparatus by the total event is decreased when a single total event is carried out among two or more game apparatuses. The present game system includes: two or more game apparatuses, each of which comprises a game progress control unit for performing game progress control; and an event processing apparatus for performing a process for carrying out a single total event at the same timing by the plurality of game apparatuses. The event processing apparatus and each game apparatus are connected in a manner to enable communication.

Abstract: In order that a game apparatus is made to participate in a jackpot drawing that responds to a request made by a manager or the like, who manage the game apparatus, the present game system includes a participation processing apparatus for selecting, for each game apparatus, one or at least two jackpot drawing apparatuses for executing a jackpot drawing in which each game apparatus can be regarded as the drawing target, from among two or more jackpot drawing apparatuses, according to a predetermined participation application condition, and at the same time, for selecting, for each game apparatus, one or at least two jackpot drawing apparatuses for executing a jackpot drawing in which each game apparatus is not regarded as the drawing target, from among the two or more jackpot drawing apparatuses, according to a predetermined participation decline condition.

Abstract: The present invention is to be capable of carrying out an unusual performance beyond type of machine. The present game apparatus includes: two or more types of game apparatuses having hardware configurations different from each other, each of the game apparatuses including a performance unit for carrying out a performance visually and audibly appealing to a player, and a game progress control unit for controlling game progress and performing game performance control according to the game progress by controlling the performance unit; and a total performance processing apparatus for executing a process for carrying out a total performance in the two or more types of game apparatuses by using the performance unit provided in each of the two or more types of game apparatuses. The total performance processing apparatus and the two or more types of game apparatuses are connected and capable of communicating with each other.

Abstract: A storage system including a maintenance terminal, at least one disk drive, and a plurality of volumes that are provided by the at least one disk drive, and each store therein data written by the plurality of host devices. In this storage system, the maintenance terminal sets information for use to measure the performance of the storage device, and the storage device acquires the set information, measures the performance of the storage device with respect to the data stored in the plurality of volumes based on the information, and transmits, to the maintenance terminal, performance information about the performance being a measurement result. The storage system as such can collect information about the performance of a storage device that is not measurable from the side of the host devices, and a method for collecting such performance information can be provided.

Abstract: A storage system and a backup method achieving enhanced reliability without degradation in the performance of the entire system. A first storage apparatus stores data transmitted from a host system and transmits it to a second storage apparatus and a third storage apparatus. The second storage apparatus and the third storage apparatus store the data transmitted from the first storage apparatus and verify the consistency in the data between themselves.

Abstract: In a random number selector using a selection ball, a first selector is provided with a passage and a plurality first pockets each associated with a symbol and operable to receive the selection ball. A second selector is provided with a plurality of second pockets each associated with a jackpot and operable to receive the selection ball. A guide member guides the selection ball which has been passed through the passage in the first selector to the second selector. In a bingo game machine, a first bingo game using only the first selector and a second bingo game using both of the first selector and the second selector are performed.

Abstract: A storage system and a backup method achieving enhanced reliability without degradation in the performance of the entire system. A first storage apparatus stores data transmitted from a host system and transmits it to a second storage apparatus and a third storage apparatus. The second storage apparatus and the third storage apparatus store the data transmitted from the first storage apparatus and verify the consistency in the data between themselves.

Abstract: An information distribution system and an information distribution method in which a user can view content on a personal digital assistant without complicated operation, thereby obtaining detailed information from an information distributor efficiently without fail. An information distribution system comprises a personal digital assistant for viewing a distribution file delivered by an information distributor, a distribution file server for storing the distribution file to be delivered to the personal digital assistant, and a command mail server for storing as email a command to specify the personal digital assistant to which the distribution file is to be delivered. The command mail server sends the email to the personal digital assistant. The personal digital assistant determines whether or not the email is addressed thereto based on command information provided by the email.

Abstract: In a random number selector using a selection ball, a first selector is provided with a passage and a plurality first pockets each associated with a symbol and operable to receive the selection ball. A second selector is provided with a plurality of second pockets each associated with a jackpot and operable to receive the selection ball. A guide member guides the selection ball which has been passed through the passage in the first selector to the second selector. In a bingo game machine, a first bingo game using only the first selector and a second bingo game using both of the first selector and the second selector are performed.