Game device and game control method

Abstract

A game device comprises a game device body which includes a plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, a lottery means for lotting said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and a control means for controlling a game; and a plurality of satellites which are connected to the game device body, and each includes a receiving means for receiving information of said winning object-to-be-lotted, and a control means for controlling the game, wherein a plurality of kinds of information are applied to said objects-to-be-lotted; in one of said plurality of satellites, said control means executes one game, based on one kind of information of said plurality of kinds of information of said winning object-to-be-lotted, in the other ones of said plurality of satellites, said control means executes another game, based on the other kinds of said plurality of kinds of information applied to said object-to-be-lotted. The game device can provide a bingo game, etc. using a lottery function and additionally other games using the lottery function.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The preset invention relates to a game device on which bingo games, etc. are played by using the lottery function, and a game control method.

BACKGROUND ART

Among game devices installed in game centers, etc., the bingo game device is a game device of typical lottery, in which a number of players having no special operational skill participate and can get prizes, medals, etc.

In the conventional bingo game device, a number of balls are housed in a transparent spherical capsule, and the rotary shaft integrally secured to the capsule is rotatably inserted in the rod horizontally passed through the capsule. The rotary shaft is rotated to scrape up the balls with the scraper nails in the capsule to drop the balls.

When those of the balls scraped upward by the scraper nails described above drop desirably onto the upper surface of the ball receiver provided integrally on the rod passed through the capsule and pass through the hole formed in the ball receiver at the center thereof, these balls are recognized as chosen and sent to the ball reservoir formed in a ring-shape on the horizontal plane below the ball receiver to be displayed (refer to Patent Reference 1).

In such conventional bingo game device, when players sitting in front of the bingo game device observe the motions of the balls, the spherical shape of the capsule makes it difficult for the players sitting at the ends of the row to watch in details the spherical transparent capsule.

As another conventional bingo game device which has improved this point, the inventors of the present application proposed a bingo game device comprising a number of identifiable balls; an elongate cylindrical transparent capsule housing the balls; a scraper means provided longitudinally along the inside circumferential surface of the elongate cylindrical transparent capsule; a capsule rotating means for rotating the elongate cylindrical transparent capsule on the longitudinal center line; a ball receiving means for one of said number of balls scraped upward by the scraper means in the inside space of the elongate cylindrical transparent capsule; an identifying means for identifying the ball received by the ball receiving means; and a lottery means for falling the lot on the ball identified by the identifying means (refer to Patent Reference 2).

Such conventional bingo game device makes it easy for a number of players to visually observe which ball in the capsule has been chosen.

Patent Reference 1: Specification of Japanese Patent No. 2720723 Patent Reference 2: Specification of Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication No. 2003-143633

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

Such conventional bingo game devices, which are large game devices using the complicated mechanisms, are expensive. Accordingly, such bingo game devices must be installed in amusement facilities, etc. for long periods of time so as to restore the purchase costs of the bingo game devices.

On the other hand, the conventional bingo game devices, which are large and impressive, attract attentions of clients when the bingo game devices are installed for the first time but gradually become less attractive. To attract the attentions of clients, the bingo game devices must be suitably renewed by the addition of new games which attract the attentions of clients, etc.

An object of the present invention is to provide a game device on which the bingo game, etc. using the lottery function, and also additional games using the lottery function can be played, and a game control method.

Means for Solving the Problems

According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a game device comprising: a game device-body which includes a plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, a lottery means for lotting said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and a control means for controlling a game; and a plurality of satellites which are connected to the game device body, and each includes a receiving means for receiving information of said winning object-to-be-lotted, and a control means for controlling the game, wherein a plurality of kinds of information are applied to said objects-to-be-lotted; in one of said plurality of satellites, said control means executes one game, based on one kind of information of said plurality of kinds of information of said winning object-to-be-lotted, in the other ones of said plurality of satellites, said control means executes another game, based on the other kinds of said plurality of kinds of information applied to said object-to-be-lotted.

In the above-described game device, it is possible that in each of said satellites, said control means execute said another game on condition that a game result of said one game given by said control means satisfies a prescribed condition.

In the above-described game device, it is possible that the prescribed condition is the jackpot condition.

In the above-described game device, it is possible that figure information and color information are applied to said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, in one of said plurality of satellites, said control means executes said one game, based on said figure information applied to said objects-to-be-lotted, and in the other ones of said plurality of satellites, said control means execute said other game, based on said color information of said winning object-to-be-lotted.

In the above-described game device, it is possible that said one game is a bingo game in which the lattices of a lattice of a bingo card are sequentially made effective based on a winning figure, and the control means of said one satellite controls the bingo game to make a lattice of the lattice of the bingo card, which agrees with said figure information applied to the winning object-to-be-lotted; and said another game is a sugoroku game, in which a chessman advances sequentially one by one of a plurality of lattices arranged between the start and the goal, and the control means of said other satellites control the sugoroku game to advance the chessman to a nearest lattice of a color which agrees with said color information of the winning object-to-be-lotted.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a game control method of a game device comprising a game device body which includes a plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, a lottery means for lotting said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and a control means for controlling a game; and a plurality of satellites which are connected to the game device body and each include a control means for controlling the game, wherein said objects-to-be-lotted have a plurality of kinds of information applied to, the method comprises the steps of: the control means of said game device body transmitting the information of a winning object-to-be-lotted which has won by the lottery of said lottery means to said plurality of satellites; the control means of one of said plurality of satellites receiving the information of said winning object-to-be-lotted transmitted by the transmitting means of the game device; the control means of said one of said plurality of satellites executing one game, based on one kind of information of said plurality of kinds of information of said winning object-to-be-lotted; the control means of the other ones of said plurality of satellites executing one game receiving the information of said winning object-to-be-lotted transmitted by the transmitting means of said game device body; and the control means of said other ones of said plurality of satellites executing another game, based on the other kinds of said plurality of kinds of information of said winning object-to-be-lotted.

The above described game control method may further comprise the step of the control means of each of said satellites executing said another game on the condition that a game result of said one game satisfies a prescribed condition.

In the above-described game control method, it is possible that said prescribed condition is the jackpot condition.

In the above-described game control method, it is possible that said one game is a bingo game in which the lattices of a lattice of a bingo card are sequentially made effective based on a winning figure, the game control method further comprises the step of the control means of said one satellite controlling the bingo game to make a lattice of the lattice of the bingo card, which agrees with said figure information applied to the winning object-to-be-lotted, said another game is a sugoroku game, in which a chessman advances sequentially one by one of a plurality of lattices arranged between the start and the goal, the game control system further comprise the step of the control means of said other satellites controlling the sugoroku game to advance the chessman to a nearest lattice of a color which agrees with said color information of the winning object-to-be-lotted.

In the above-described game control method, it is possible that said one game is a bingo game in which the lattices of a lattice of a bingo card are sequentially made effective based on a winning figure, and the game control method comprises the step of the control means of said one satellite controlling the bingo game to make a lattice of the lattice of the bingo card, which agrees with said figure information applied to the winning object-to-be-lotted; and said another game is a sugoroku game, in which a chessman advances sequentially one by one of a plurality of lattices arranged between the start and the goal, and the game control system further comprise the step of the control means of said other satellites controlling the sugoroku game to advance the chessman to a nearest lattice of a color which agrees with said color information of the winning object-to-be-lotted.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a plurality of kinds of information are applied to objects-to-be-lotted, in one of a plurality of satellites, control means execute a game, based on one of said plurality of kinds of information of a winning object-to-be-lotted, and in the other ones of said plurality of satellites, the control means execute another game, based on other kinds of said plurality of kinds of information of the winning object-to-be-lotted, whereby a bingo game, etc. using the lottery function and additionally other games using the lottery function can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the appearance of the game device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is views explaining the balls used in a bingo game executed by the game device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a game image of the bingo game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is views illustrating bingo card tables of the bingo game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is the flow chart of the game processing of the bingo game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is the flow chart of the game processing of the sugoroku game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating the sugoroku table of the sugoroku game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating the game image of one scene of the sugoroku game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view of the sugoroku table of one scene of the sugoroku game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating one game image of another scene of the sugoroku game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating the sugoroku table of another scene of the sugoroku game executed by the game device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

One Embodiment

The game device according to one embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

(Appearance of the Game Device)

The appearance of the game device according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the appearance of the game device.

On the game device 1 according to the present embodiment, the bingo game is mainly played. The game device according to the present embodiment comprises a game device body 10, and totally 10 satellite units, i.e., 5 satellite units arranged on each of the front and back sides of the game device body 10.

(Game Device Body)

In the game device body 10, balls 12 to be lotted are housed in an elongate cylindrical transparent capsule 14. The balls 12 are 25 numbered balls and 1 key ball.

The elongate cylindrical transparent capsule 14 is formed substantially in a configuration having hemispherical shells integrally connected to both ends of the cylinder. The elongate cylindrical transparent capsule 14 is rotated in one direction on the central axis extended in the longitudinal direction through the center. The balls 12 are scraped upward by scraper rods (not illustrated) disposed at a prescribed pitch circumferentially to the inside circumferential surface of the elongate cylindrical capsule 14 and in parallel with the central axis of the capsule. The balls scraped upward fall onto a pair of a left and a right wing plates 16 disposed in the elongate cylindrical transparent capsule 14.

The balls 12 which have rolled down onto the wing plates 16 are rolled to and fro and are moved little by little toward the center of the capsule every time the balls are reciprocated to and fro to roll into a luck basket 18 between the pair of wing plates 16. The balls 12 which have rolled into the luck basket 18 are detected by a ball detector (not illustrated) and fall into a ball identifying means 20 (not illustrated) disposed very below the lucky basket 18.

In the ball identifying means 20, kinds of the balls 12, numbers of the numbered balls and key balls are identified. The identified balls 12 are carried by a ball conveyor (not illustrated) to be reserved in a ball reservoir (not illustrated).

The identification information of the identified balls 12 by the ball identification means 20 is transmitted to the respective satellite units 50 via a communication means.

(Satellite Units)

Each satellite unit 50 comprises a table 54 supported on a cylindrical support 52, and a flat display device 56 slantly disposed.

A rectangular liquid crystal display 58 is disposed at the center of the super surface of the display device 56. A tough panel 60 is disposed on the surface of the liquid crystal display 58. The touch panel detects touch operations of a player on the display device 56.

In the table 54 before the display device 54, a medal slot 62 is formed, and swing operation buttons 64 are disposed both one the left and the right sides.

The swing operation buttons 64 becomes effective under prescribed conditions, and when the operation button 64 on the left side is pushed, the elongate cylindrical capsule 66 is swung upper left, and when the swing operation button 64 on the right side is pushed, the elongate transparent cylindrical capsule 14 is swung lower right.

A medal discharge mechanism (not illustrated) is incorporated in the support 52, and a medal outlet 66 is opened in the front of the support 52. A medal receiver (not illustrated) for receiving medals is provided inner thereof.

(Constitution of the Game Device)

The constitution of the game device according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the constitution of the game device according to the present embodiment.

A main board 30 is for controlling the game device body 10. A satellite 1 board, a satellite 2 board, . . . a satellite 10 board 80 are for respectively controlling the satellite unit 1, the satellite 2 unit . . . , a satellite 10 unit 50. The main board 30 is net work connected to the satellite 1 board, the satellite 2 board . . . , the satellite 10 board 80 via a network board 40.

(Main Board)

The main board 30 includes a drive control unit 32 for driving a capsule driving mechanism 22 of the game device body 10, a ball scrape up mechanism 24, and a wing plate driving mechanism 26. The capsule drive mechanism 22 is for rotating and swinging the elongate cylindrical transparent capsule 14. The ball scrape-up mechanism 24 is for scraping upward the balls 12 with scrape-up rods (not illustrated). The wing drive mechanism 26 is for driving the wing plates 16 reciprocally to and fro.

The main board 30 includes a CPU 34 as control means, a RAM 36 as a work memory and a ROM 37 for storing programs, data, etc.

The main board 30 further includes an input/output interface 38. The input/output interface 38 is connected to the ball identifying device 20 which identifies the balls, and a network board 40.

(Satellite Board)

The satellite 1 board 80 for controlling the satellite 1 unit 50 includes a medal mechanism controller 82 which drives the medal receiver mechanism 70 and the metal discharge mechanism 68 of the satellite units 50.

The satellite 1 board 80 includes a graphic display circuit 84 which displays game images, etc. on the liquid crystal display 58.

The satellite 1 board 80 includes a CPU 86 as a control means, a RAM 87 as a work memory, and a ROM 88 which stores programs, data, etc.

The satellite board 80 further includes an input/output interface 90. The input/output interface 90 is connected to a touch panel 60, a swing operation button 64 and a network board 40.

The satellite 2 board, the satellite 3 board, the satellite 10 board 80 which respectively control the satellite 2 unit 50, the satellite 3 unit 50, . . . , the satellite 10 unit 50 have the same constitution as the above-described satellite 1 board 80.

(Bingo Game)

The bingo game played on the game device according to the present embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. FIG. 3 is views explaining the balls used in the bingo game of the present embodiment. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a game image of the bingo game of the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is views of bingo card tables of the bingo game of the present embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flow chart of the game processing of the bingo game of the game device according to the present embodiment.

In the bingo game, a bingo card having numbers arranged in 25 lattices of a 5 columns×5 rows lattice is prepared. The lattice having the same number which is the same as the number of a ball selected at random is erased. When 5 lattices which are continuous vertically, horizontally or diagonally are erased, “BINGO” is made. Each player completes more lines with a prescribed number of balls, whereby he can get more medals. Each player may turn lattices which are several win lattices? between vertically and horizontally, whereby continuous lattices are erased with a set number of balls.

(Balls Used in the Bingo Game)

In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the balls to be lotted are 25 numbered balls, 1 key ball with a key drawn on, and 1 bomber ball like a bomb.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, 25 numbered balls 12 have numbers “1”, “2”, “3”, . . . , “25” drawn on the surfaces and have 7 colors corresponding to the drawn numbers. The balls 12 numbered “1”, “2” and “3” have “purple color”. The balls 12 numbered “10”, “11”, “12” and “13” have “yellow color”. The balls 12 numbered “14”, “15”, “16”, and “17” have “blue color”. The balls 12 numbered “18”, “19”, “20” and “21” have “red color”. The balls 12 numbered “22”, “23”, “24” and “25” have “pink color”. The information of the above-described surface colors of the numbered balls 12 is used in a sugoroku game which will be described later.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, 1 key ball 12 has “a key” drawn on the surface and has, e.g., silver color to be outstanding.

As illustrated in FIG. 3A, 1 bomber ball 23 has “a bomb” drawn on the surface and has, e.g., gold color to be outstanding.

The bomber ball 12 makes the following special processing when a ball has won. In the bingo card displayed on the screen, a bomb appears and disappears. The bomb ball 12 repeatedly appears and disappears randomly at the positions between one lattice and one lattice on the bingo card every time a ball has won. When the bomb ball 12 has won at the timing that the bomb is displayed, the numbers in 4 lattices around the position where the bomb is displayed become effective as selected and are erased as are the numbers when the numbered balls 12 have normally won. The line can be more easily completed than normally, which is very advantageous to the player playing the bingo game.

FIG. 3B is a ball table of the relationships among the numbers of the 25 numbered balls 12, the colors and the lattice numbers of advances in a sugoroku game (a Japanese game). The ball table is stored in, e.g., the RAM 36 or the ROM 37, or in the RAMs 87 or the ROMs 88 of the satellite board 80 to be referred to in the sugoroku game to be described later.

In the present embodiment, the 25 numbered balls 12 are grouped into 3 or 4 balls sequentially from the smaller numbers, and the balls of the same group have the same color. The balls of the same color have the same lattice number of an advance. But, this is not essential. The colors and the lattice numbers of advances may be decided on the 25 numbered balls 12 at random irrelevantly to the numbers of the balls 12.

(Bingo Card)

In the bingo game of the present embodiment, a player selects 4 bingo cards and plays the bingo game with the 4 selected bong cards.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a first bingo card 1 is displayed at the center of the game image, a second bingo card is displayed upper left in the game image, a third bingo card is displayed at the left center in the game image, and a fourth bingo card 4 is displayed lower left in the game image.

Each bingo card as distributed has figures arranged in totally 25 lattices of 5 column-wise×5 row-wise. When a numbered ball 12 is lotted, the lattice having the same figure as the number of the winning ball 12 becomes effective, and the figure is replaced with a coin mark.

In the present embodiment, the main bingo card (Card 1) alone, which is displayed larger at the center of the game image, has the lattices operated by the player. For example, the player can touch a part of the main bingo card (Card 1) of the game image to thereby replace, for example, the figures of the rows or the figures of the columns.

FIG. 5 illustrates states of the bingo card tables. The bingo card tables indicate states of the bingo cards in the game.

FIG. 5A illustrates a table of the bingo card 1 displayed at the center of the game image. FIG. 5B illustrates a table of the bingo card 2 displayed upper left on the game display. FIG. 5C illustrates a table of the bingo card 3 displayed at the left center of the game image. FIG. 5D illustrates a table of the bingo card 4 displayed lower left on the game image.

When a numbered ball 12 is lotted, the lattice having the same figure as the number of the winning ball 12 become effective, the figure is replaced with a O mark. When 5 column-wise, row-wise or diagonally continuous lattices in the bingo card table have become to O marks, it is judged that “BINGO (WIN)” has been made.

In the bingo game, the bingo cards each having totally 25 lattices of 5 column-wise×5 row-wise are prepared, and the lattice of the same figure as the number of a ball selected at random is erased, and when 5 column-wise, row-wise or diagonally continuous lattices have been erased, “BINGO” is made. Each player makes “BINGO” (WIN) in as many as possible to thereby obtain many lot medals.

(Game Processing of Bingo Game)

The bingo game processing of the bingo game of the present embodiment will be explained. As illustrated in FIG. 6, in the game processing of the present embodiment, the game processing advances, relating the game processing of the game device body 10 and the game processing of the satellite units 50 with each other.

First, in a satellite unit 50, when players insert medals into the medal slots, a game image (not illustrated) for the bet is displayed on the liquid crystal displays 58, and bets are made by the operations of the touch panels 60, etc. (Step S20).

The information of the satellites 50 that the bets have been made is transmitted from the input/output interfaces 90 of the satellite boards 80 to the main board 30 of the game device body 10 via the network board 40.

The main board 30 of the game device body 10 receives the information that the bets have been made, which was transmitted from the satellite units 50 via the network board 40 and the input/output interface 38 and receives the bets from the satellite units 50 (Step S10).

Subsequently, the main board 30 of the game device body 10 finishes receiving bets for the current bingo game when a prescribed period of time has been passed (Step S11).

When the game device body 10 finishes receiving bets, a game image (not illustrated) including a plurality of bet cards is displayed on the liquid crystal displays 58 and the bet cards are selected by the operations of the touch panels 60 by the players (Step S21). On the liquid crystal displays 58 of the respective satellite units 50, the same game image for selecting the bet cards is displayed, and the players select the card the faster the first.

Subsequently, a game image (not illustrated) indicating that the bingo game starts is displayed on the liquid crystal displays 58 of the satellite units 50 (Step S22).

When the game image indicating that the bingo game starts is displayed in the satellite units 50, the lottery of the balls 12 is made in the game device body 10 (Step S12). The lottery of the balls 12 is mechanically made as described above, and the ball 12 which has rolled into the lucky basket 12 is a winning ball.

Subsequently, the ball identification means 20 of the game device body 10 identifies the number of the winning ball 12 (Step S13)

Then, the information of the number of the winning ball 12 identified by the ball identifying means 20 is transmitted via the network board 40 from the input/output interface 38 of the main board 30 to the satellite board 80 of the respective satellite units 50.

The satellite boards 80 of the satellite units 50 receive via the network board 40 and the input/output interfaces 90 the information of the number of the winning ball 12 transmitted from the game device body 10 and stores the number in the winning ball information memories of the RAMs 87 (Step S23).

Then, the satellite boards 80 of the satellite units 50 make the lattice of the same figure of the bingo cards as the number of the winning ball 12 effective and write the O mark in such lattice of the bingo card tables illustrated in FIG. 5 and displays a coin mark in such lattice of the game images illustrated in FIG. 4 (Step S24).

The main board 30 of the game device body 10 transmits the information of the number of the winning ball 12 (Step S14), then adds 1 to the ball number counter (Step S15) and judges whether or not the ball number counter has counted 8 (Step S16). When the ball number counter has not counted 8, Step S12 follows to repeat the ball lottery processing (Step S12), the ball identifying processing (Step S12), the ball information transmitting processing (Step S14) and the processing of adding 1 to the ball number counter (Step S15) until the ball number counter counts 8.

At this time, every time the ball lottery is repeated, the satellite boards 80 of the satellite units 50 detect whether or not any one of the 5 column-wise, the row-wise and diagonally continuous lattices continuously have become to the 0 marks, i.e., detects whether or not a bingo line has been made (Step S25).

When no bingo line has been made, the satellite boards 80 of the satellite units 50 detect whether or not the ball lottery has finished (Step S27), and when the ball lottery has not finished, Step S23 follows.

When a bingo line has been made, “BINGO (WIN)”, in such satellite unit 50, a prescribed winning medal is looted such satellite unit 50 by the medal discharge mechanism 68 (Step S26), and the game finishes.

In Step S16, it is judged that the ball number counter has counted 8 (Step S16), the main board 30 of the game device body 10 finishes the game (Step S17).

(Jackpot)

In the game device according to the present embodiment, the satellite units 50 go on playing the bingo game, and when one of the satellite units 50 satisfies prescribed jackpot conditions, such satellite unit 50 starts the jackpot game which will be described later. In the next game, such satellite unit 50 plays the jackpot game while the other satellite units 50 are playing the usual bingo game.

The prescribed jackpot condition is as exemplified below.

(1) A bingo card color is decided for each satellite unit 50, and every time the ball 12 of the same color as the bingo card color is selected, a point (jewel point) for the color is accumulated. For example, in the satellite unit 50 whose bingo cards are pink, as illustrated in FIG. 3, every time a pink ball 12, i.e., the ball 12 having figures “22”, “23”, “24” or “25” is selected, 1 jewel point is added. For example, when 50 jewel points are accumulated, the jackpot condition is satisfied, and the satellite unit 50 starts the jackpot game.

The jewel point may be accumulated for each satellite unit 50 irrespective of players or may be accumulated in an IC card for each specific player.

(2) When all the balls 12 having the same color as the bingo card color of the satellite unit 50 are all selected in one bingo game, the jackpot condition is satisfied, and the satellite unit 50 starts the jackpot game. For example, in the satellite unit whose bingo card color is blue, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the blue balls 12, i.e., the balls 12 having the figures “4”, “5” and “6” are all selected in one bingo game, the jackpot condition is satisfied, and the satellite unit 50 starts the jackpot game.

(3) When the satellite unit 50 makes “BINGO”, 1 point as the bingo point is added to the satellite unit 50. The plural bingo cards are used, and 4 points at maximum, for example, can be gained in 1 game. For example, when 50 bingo points are accumulated, the jackpot condition is satisfied, and the satellite unit 50 starts the jackpot game.

The bingo point may be accumulated for each satellite unit 50 irrespective of a player or may be accumulated in an IC card or others for each specific player.

(Key Ball)

In the game device according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the balls 12 include a key ball with a key drawn on in addition to the numbered balls.

When the key ball is selected, the following game control, for example is made.

When the key ball is selected (won) in the bingo game, the bingo game playing at this time is paused in all the satellite units 50, and irrelevant to the winning results of the bingo game at this time, all the satellite units 50 play a treasure bonus game, such as “bouzu mekuri”, which is not the bingo game, is played. In the treasure bonus game, all the players can obtain high points which cannot be obtained in the usual bingo game and can have a large number of medals.

(Bomb Ball)

In the game device according to the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the balls 12 includes 1 bomb ball with a bomb drawn on.

When the bomb ball is selected (won) in the bingo game, a “Bomb Mark” is indicated on the bingo card of that of the satellite units 50, which is being operated by the player at this time is indicated, and 4 lattices around the indication position of the “Bomb Mark” become effective, and the numbers are erased as are when the usual balls 12 are selected (won). This is very advantageous to the player.

(Game Processing of Bingo Game and Jackpot Game)

The game processing the bingo game and the jackpot game of the present embodiment will be explained. In the game processing of the present embodiment, as described above, if one satellite unit 50 has satisfied the jackpot conditions, the satellite unit 50 plays the jackpot game in the next game. In the present embodiment, the jackpot game is, e.g., the sugoroku game. Concurrently therewith, the other satellite units 50 play the usual bingo game.

At this time, the jackpot game does not always take place in 1 satellite unit 50, and a plurality of the satellite units 50, which have satisfied the jackpot condition may concurrently play different jackpot games.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the game processing by the game device body 10, the game processing of the bingo game by the bingo game satellite units 50, the game processing of the sugoroku game, which is the jackpot game, by the game satellites playing the sugoroku game are advanced, related mutually with each other.

First, in the bingo game satellite units 50, when the players inserts medals into the medal slots 62, the game image for the bet (not illustrated) is displayed on the liquid crystal display 58, and bets are made by operations of the touch panels 60, etc. (Step S20).

The information that the bets have been made in the bingo game satellite units 50 is transmitted from the input/output interfaces 90 of the satellite board 80 to the main board 30 via the network board 40.

On the other hand, in the sugoroku game satellite unit 50, the sugoroku game is explained to the player on the liquid crystal display 58, etc. (Step S30). Concurrently therewith, the information that the sugoroku game is started is transmitted from the input/output interfaces 90 of the satellite boards 80 to the main board 30 of the game device body 10.

The main board 30 of the game device body 10 receives the information that the bets have been made from the bingo game satellite units 50 and the information that the sugoroku game is started from the sugoroku game satellite 50 via the network board 40 and the input/output interface 38 to receive the bets of the bingo game satellite units 50 (Step S10).

Subsequently, after a prescribed bet period of time has passed, the main board 30 of the game device body 10 finishes the bet receipt of the current bingo game (Step S11).

When the game device body 10 finishes the receipt, in the bingo game satellite units 50, a game image (not illustrated) having a plurality of the bet cards indicated is displayed on the liquid crystal display 58, and the bet cards are selected by the operations of the touch panels 60 by the players (Step S21). The same game image for selecting the bet cards is concurrently displayed on the liquid crystal displays 58 of the respective satellite units 50, and the players select the card the faster the first.

Then, a game image (not illustrated) that the bingo game starts is displayed on the liquid crystal displays 58 of the bingo game satellite units 50 (Step S22).

On the other hand, in the sugoroku game satellite 50, a mage image (not illustrated) with a plurality of sugoroku maps and characters indicated is displayed on the liquid crystal displays 58, and the sugoroku maps and the characters are selected by the operations of the touch panel 60 by the player (Step S31).

Then, on the liquid crystal display 58 of the sugoroku game satellite 50, a mage image (not illustrated) that the sugoroku game starts is displayed (Step S32).

When the game image that the bingo game starts is displayed in the bingo game satellite units 50, and the game image that the sugoroku game starts is displayed in the sugoroku game satellite unit 50, the lottery of the balls 12 is made in the game device body 10 (Step S12). The ball lottery is mechanically made, and the ball 12 which has rolled into the lucky basket 18 is a winning ball.

Then, the number of the winning ball 12 is identified by the ball identifying means 20 of the mage machine 10 (Step S13).

Then, the information of the number of the winning ball 12 identified by the ball identifying means 20 is transmitted to the satellite boards 80 of the respective satellite units 50, i.e., the bingo game satellite units 50 and the sugoroku game satellite unit 50 via the network board 40 and the input/output interfaces 90 (Step S23).

The satellite board 80 of the bingo game satellite units 50 receive the information of the number of the winning ball 12 transmitted from the game device body 10 via the network board 40 and the input/output interface 90 and stored the information in the winning ball information memory of the RAM 87 (Step S23).

Subsequently, the satellite boards 80 of the bingo game satellite units 50 make effective the lattice of the bingo cards, which is the same figure as the number of the winning ball 12 and writes O marks in such lattices of the bingo card tables illustrated in FIG. 5 and skull marks indicated in such lattices of the game image illustrated in FIG. 4 (Step S34).

On the other hand, the satellite board 80 of the sugorouku satellite unit 50 renews the colors of the respective lattices of the sugoroku map before starting the sugoroku game (Step S33).

In the sugoroku game, the sugoroku map includes the lattices of “Start”, “Lattice 1”, “Lattice 2”, . . . “Goal”. At the start, a chessman is placed in the lattice “Start” and advances, based on winning balls 12, and when the chessman arrives at the lattice “Goal”, the sugoroku game satellite unit 50 has won the sugoroku game.

In the present embodiment, the chessman advances, based on colors of the winning balls 12. The sugoroku game table illustrated in FIG. 8 is stored in the RAM 87 of the satellite board 80 of the sugoroku game satellite unit 50.

In this sugoroku table, for the lattice column of “Start”, “Lattice 1”, “Lattice 2”, . . . “Lattice 18” and “Goal”, a chessman position column indicating a current position of the chessman, and a lattice color column indicating colors of the lattices are provided.

In the present embodiment, the chessman is advanced not by a figure of the number of a winning ball 12 but based on a surface color of the winning ball 12. That is, for the balls 12 numbered “1”, “2” and “3” and having the surfaces colored in “purple”, the chessman is advanced by “1 lattice”; for the balls numbered “4”, “5” and “6” and having the surfaces colored in “light blue”, the chessman is advanced by “2 lattices”; for the balls 12 numbered “7”, “8” and “9” having the surfaces colored in “yellow”, the chessman is advanced by “3 lattices”; for the balls numbered “10”, “11”, “12” and “13” and having the surfaces colored in “green”, the chessman is advanced by “4 lattices”; for the balls 12 numbered “14”, “15”, “16” and “17” and having the surfaces colored in “blue”, the chessman is advanced by “5 lattices”; for the balls 12 numbered “18”, “19”, “20” and “21” and having the surfaces colored in “red”, the chessman is advanced by “6 lattices”; and for the balls numbered “22”, “23”, “24” and “25” and having the surfaces colored in “pink”, the chessman is advanced by “7 lattices”.

In the sugoroku table at the start of the sugoroku game, as illustrated in FIG. 8, a current position of the chessman is at the chessman position “Start”, and in the lattice color column, “purple” is for “Lattice 1”; “light blue” is for “Lattice 2”; “yellow” is for “Lattice 3”; “green” is for “Lattice 4”; and “blue” is for “Lattice 5”; “red” is for “Lattice 6”; and “pink” is for “Lattice 7”.

The satellite board 80 of the sugoroku game satellite units 50 renew the colors of the respective lattices of the sugoroku map, based on the sugoroku table illustrated in FIG. 8.

Subsequently, the satellite boards 80 of the sugoroku game satellite units 50 receive the information of the number of a winning ball 12 transmitted from the game device body 10 via the network board 40 and the input/output interfaces 9 and store the information in the winning ball information memories of the RAMs 87.

Then, the satellite boards 80 of the bingo game satellite units 50 convert the number information of the winning ball 12 to color information, based on the ball table illustrated in FIG. 3B and store the color information in the winning ball information memories of the RAMs 67 (Step S35).

Then, the satellite boards 80 of the bingo game satellite units 50 advance the chessman to a lattice of the lattice color column which agrees with the color information of the winning ball stored in the winning ball information memories of the RAMs 87, based on the sugoroku table illustrated in FIG. 8 (Step S36).

The main board 30 of the game device body 10 has transmitted the number information of the winning ball 12 (Step S14), and them adds 1 to the ball number counter (Step S15) and judges whether or not the ball number counter has counted 8 (Step S16). When the ball number counter has not counted 8, Step S12 follows, and the step of the ball lottery processing (Step 12), the ball identifying processing (Step S13), the ball information transmission processing (Step S14) and the processing of adding 1 to the ball number counter (Step S15) are repeated.

At this time, the satellite boards 80 of the bingo game satellite units 50 detect, every time the ball lottery is repeated, whether or not 5 column-wise, row-wise or diagonal lattices have continuously 0 marks, i.e., a bingo line has been made in the bingo card tables illustrated in FIG. 5 (Step S25).

When no bingo line has been made, the satellite boards 80 of the bingo game satellite units 50 detect whether or not the ball lottery has finished (Step s27), and when the ball lottery has not finished, Step S23 follows.

When a bingo line has been made, and “Bingo (Win)” is made, in such bingo gate satellite unit 50, prescribed medals are allotted from the metal discharge mechanism 68 (Step S26), and the game finishes.

On the other hand, the satellite boards 80 of the sugoroku game satellite units 50 advances the chessman in the sugoroku game every time the ball lottery is repeated (Step S36).

For example, when the chessman is positioned in “Lattice 6”, the game image illustrated in FIG. 9 is displayed on the liquid crystal display, and the sugoroku table illustrated 10 is given.

That is, in the sugoroku table, as illustrated in FIG. 10, the current position of the chessman is in “Lattice 6” of the chessman position column, and in the lattice color column, “Lattice 11” is “purple”; “Lattice 8” is “light blue”; “Lattice 9” is “yellow”; “Lattice 10” is “green”; “Lattice 11” is “blue”; “Lattice 12” is “red”; and “Lattice 132” is “pink”.

Then, the satellite units 80 of the sugoroku game satellite units 50 renew the colors of the respective lattices of the sugoroku map, based on the sugoroku table (Step S33). Resultantly, as illustrated in FIG. 9, in the game image, the surface of “Lattice 7” turns “purple”; the surface of “Lattice 8” turns “light blue”; the surface of “Lattice 10” turns “green”; and the surface of “Lattice 11” turns “blue”; the surface of “Lattice 12” turns “red”; and the surface of “Lattice 13” turns “pink”.

The sugoroku game further advances: for example, when the chessman is positioned in “Lattice 14”, the game image illustrated in FIG. 11 is displayed on the liquid crystal display 58, and the sugoroku table becomes as illustrated in FIG. 12.

That is, in the sugoroku table, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the current position of the chessman is positioned “Lattice 14”, and in the lattice color column, “purple” is for “Lattice 15”; “light blue” is for “Lattice 16”; “yellow” for “Lattice 17”; “green” is for “Lattice 18”; and “blue” is for “Goal”.

Then, the satellite boards 80 of the sugoroku game satellite units 50 renew the colors of the respective lattices of the sugoroku map, based on the sugoroku table (Step S33). Resultantly, in the game image, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the surface of “Lattice 15” turns “purple”; the surface of “Lattice 16” turns (blue”; the surface of “Lattice 17” turns “yellow”; the surface of “Lattice 18” turns “green”; and the surface of “Goal” turns “blue”.

Thus, the players can immediately know the lattice the chessman is to be advanced in the sugoroku game, based on the surface color of a winning ball.

In the sugoroku game, the chessman thus arrives at the “Goal”, and the satellite board 80 of the sugoroku game satellite unit 50 fights with the boss. Based on operations of the player, it is detected whether or not the character of the chessman has defeated the boss (Step S37).

Here, in the present embodiment, when the key ball wins with the sugoroku game (jackpot game) being generated, the sugoroku game (jackpot game) is paused, and the bouzumekuri game (the treasure bonus game) is generated, as is generated for the other players playing the bingo game (the usual bingo game).

In the progress of the game up to this time, when the bomb call wins, the following processing is made.

In the sugoroku game satellite units 50, which are executing the sugoroku game (jackpot game), the processing that the chessman of the players uses “Bomb” to defeat the boss is made.

In the bingo game satellite units 50, which are executing the bingo game (the usual game), the processing that, as described above, the lattices having figures at 4 points around the “Bomb Mark” displayed in the bingo card are selected is made.

Thus, the key ball and the bomb ball winning can make the game exciting to both the players of the sugoroku game satellite units 50 and the players of the bingo game satellite units 50.

In the present embodiment, when the key ball and the bomb ball win, the game is advanced without the processing of increasing a number of the ball number counter. However, such processing is not essential, and also when the key ball and bomb ball win, the processing of increasing a number of the ball number counter may be made. When the chessman has not arrived at Goal” or the chessman has arrived at “Goal” but has not defeated the boss at “Goal”, the satellite boards 80 of the sugoroku game satellite units 50 detects whether or not the ball lottery has finished (Step S39), and when the ball lottery has not finished, Step S33 follows.

When the chessman has arrived at “Goal” and has defeated the boss, the sugoroku game satellite units 50 prescribed win medals are allotted from the medal discharge mechanism 68 (Step S38), and the game finishes.

In Step S16, when the main board 30 of the game device body 10 judges that the ball number counter counts 8, the main board of the game device body 10 finishes the game (Step S17).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the bingo game having the lottery function can include the sugoroku game using the same lottery function.

Modified Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can cover other various modifications.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the game device is a large game device installed in amusement facilities, etc. However, the present invention is applicable to game devices using portable game device bodys, domestic game device, personal computers, portable telephone, etc.

In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is explained by means of the bingo game and the sugoroku game using the lottery function but is not limited to these games. The present invention is applicable to games which use a plurality of kinds of information applied to said objects-to-be-lotted.

Claims

1. A game device comprising:

a game device body which includes

a plurality of objects-to-be-lotted,

a lottery means for lotting said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and

a control means for controlling a game; and

a plurality of satellites which are connected to the game device body, and each includes

a receiving means for receiving information of said winning object-to-be-lotted, and

a control means for controlling the game, wherein

a plurality of kinds of information are applied to said objects-to-be-lotted;

in one of said plurality of satellites, said control means executes one game, based on one kind of information of said plurality of kinds of information of said winning object-to-be-lotted,

in the other ones of said plurality of satellites, said control means executes another game, based on the other kinds of said plurality of kinds of information applied to said object-to-be-lotted.

2. A game device according to claim 1, wherein

in each of said satellites,

said control means execute said another game on condition that a game result of said one game given by said control means satisfies a prescribed condition.

3. A game device according to claim 2, wherein

that the prescribed condition is the jackpot condition.

4. A game device according to claim 1, wherein

figure information and color information are applied to said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted,

in one of said plurality of satellites,

said control means executes said one game, based on said figure information applied to said objects-to-be-lotted, and

in the other ones of said plurality of satellites,

said control means execute said other game, based on said color information of said winning object-to-be-lotted.

5. A game device according to claim 2, wherein

figure information and color information are applied to said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted,

in one of said plurality of satellites,

said control means executes said one game, based on said figure information applied to said objects-to-be-lotted, and

in the other ones of said plurality of satellites,

said control means execute said other game, based on said color information of said winning object-to-be-lotted.

6. A game device according to claim 3, wherein

figure information and color information are applied to said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted,

in one of said plurality of satellites,

said control means executes said one game, based on said figure information applied to said objects-to-be-lotted, and

in the other ones of said plurality of satellites,

said control means execute said other game, based on said color information of said winning object-to-be-lotted.

7. A game device according to claim 4, wherein

said one game is a bingo game in which the lattices of a lattice of a bingo card are sequentially made effective based on a winning figure,

the control means of said one satellite controls the bingo game to make a lattice of the lattice of the bingo card, which agrees with said figure information applied to the winning object-to-be-lotted,

said another game is a sugoroku game, in which a chessman advances sequentially one by one of a plurality of lattices arranged between the start and the goal, and

the control means of said other satellites control the sugoroku game to advance the chessman to a nearest lattice of a color which agrees with said color information of the winning object-to-be-lotted.

8. A game device according to claim 5, wherein

said one game is a bingo game in which the lattices of a lattice of a bingo card are sequentially made effective based on a winning figure,

the control means of said one satellite controls the bingo game to make a lattice of the lattice of the bingo card, which agrees with said figure information applied to the winning object-to-be-lotted,

said another game is a sugoroku game, in which a chessman advances sequentially one by one of a plurality of lattices arranged between the start and the goal, and

the control means of said other satellites control the sugoroku game to advance the chessman to a nearest lattice of a color which agrees with said color information of the winning object-to-be-lotted.

9. A game device according to claim 6, wherein

said one game is a bingo game in which the lattices of a lattice of a bingo card are sequentially made effective based on a winning figure,

the control means of said one satellite controls the bingo game to make a lattice of the lattice of the bingo card, which agrees with said figure information applied to the winning object-to-be-lotted,

said another game is a sugoroku game, in which a chessman advances sequentially one by one of a plurality of lattices arranged between the start and the goal, and

the control means of said other satellites control the sugoroku game to advance the chessman to a nearest lattice of a color which agrees with said color information of the winning object-to-be-lotted.

10. A game control method of a game device comprising a game device body which includes a plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, a lottery means for lotting said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and a control means for controlling a game; and a plurality of satellites which are connected to the game device body and each include a control means for controlling the game,

wherein

said objects-to-be-lotted have a plurality of kinds of information applied to,

the method comprises the steps of:

the control means of said game device body transmitting the information of a winning object-to-be-lotted which has won by the lottery of said lottery means to said plurality of satellites;

the control means of one of said plurality of satellites receiving the information of said winning object-to-be-lotted transmitted by the transmitting means of the game device body;

the control means of said one of said plurality of satellites executing one game, based on one kind of information of said plurality of kinds of information of said winning object-to-be-lotted;

the control means of the other ones of said plurality of satellites executing one game receiving the information of said winning object-to-be-lotted transmitted by the transmitting means of said game device body; and

the control means of said other ones of said plurality of satellites executing another game, based on the other kinds of said plurality of kinds of information of said winning object-to-be-lotted.

11. A game control method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:

the control means of each of said plurality of satellites executing said another game on a condition that a game result of said one game satisfies a prescribed condition.

12. A game control method according to claim 11, wherein

that the prescribed condition is the jackpot condition.

13. A game control method according to claim 10, wherein

figure information and color information are applied to said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and

the method further comprises the steps of:

the control means of one satellite of said plurality of satellites executing said one game, based on said figure information of said winning object-to-be-lotted; and

the control means of the other satellites of said plurality of satellites executing said another game, based on said color information of said willing object-to-be-lotted.

14. A game control method according to claim 11, wherein

figure information and color information are applied to said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and

the method further comprises the steps of:

the control means of one satellite of said plurality of satellites executing said one game, based on said figure information of said winning object-to-be-lotted; and

the control means of the other satellites of said plurality of satellites executing said another game,

based on said color information of said willing object-to-be-lotted.

15. A game control method according to claim 12, wherein

figure information and color information are applied to said plurality of objects-to-be-lotted, and

the method further comprises the steps of:

the control means of one satellite of said plurality of satellites executing said one game, based on said figure information of said winning object-to-be-lotted; and

the control means of the other satellites of said plurality of satellites executing said another game, based on said color information of said willing object-to-be-lotted.

16. A game control method according to claim 13, wherein

said one game is a bingo game in which the lattices of a lattice of a bingo card are sequentially made effective based on a winning figure,

the game control method further comprises the step of the control means of said one satellite controlling the bingo game to make a lattice of the lattice of the bingo card, which agrees with said figure information applied to the winning object-to-be-lotted,

said another game is a sugoroku game, in which a chessman advances sequentially one by one of a plurality of lattices arranged between the start and the goal,

the game control system further comprise the step of the control means of said other satellites controlling the sugoroku game to advance the chessman to a nearest lattice of a color which agrees with said color information of the winning object-to-be-lotted.