US20050054426A1 - Gaming machine and gaming system - Google Patents
Gaming machine and gaming system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050054426A1 US20050054426A1 US10/935,100 US93510004A US2005054426A1 US 20050054426 A1 US20050054426 A1 US 20050054426A1 US 93510004 A US93510004 A US 93510004A US 2005054426 A1 US2005054426 A1 US 2005054426A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- event
- value
- game
- lottery
- cumulative
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/326—Game play aspects of gaming systems
- G07F17/3272—Games involving multiple players
- G07F17/3276—Games involving multiple players wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3286—Type of games
- G07F17/329—Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
Abstract
A gaming machine 310 includes a plurality of gaming terminal devices having control panels operated by a player, wherein the player plays a game upon payment of a game value. Furthermore, the gaming machine 310 includes: cumulative storage means that stores a plurality of kinds of cumulative values on a per unit game basis at a predetermined rate in response to medals; event value achievement determination means that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage means has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and event activation means that activates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination means determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
Description
- This application is based upon and claims a priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-316020 filed on Sep. 8, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated Herein by reference. This application is related to co-pending U.S. applications claiming priorities for JP-2003-316021 to filed on the even date with this application, International Application No. PCT/JP/03/11439, PCT/JP/03/11440, PCT/JP/03/11441, and filed on Sep. 8, 2003 in Japan. The co-pending applications are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a gaming machine that A plurality of players can participate in playing, wherein player interest is enhanced.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- A bingo game machine is generally known as a gaming machine placed in a game arcade. In the bingo game machine of this type, a bingo card having each cell of a matrix assigned with any piece of identification information is displayed on a display of each player. And, a piece of identification information is selected at random from among a plurality of pieces of identification information. Thus, the game proceeds as a cell corresponding to the selected identification information is activated. On the condition that an assemblage of the activated cells forms a predetermined display mode after such a step is repeated a predetermined number of times, e.g., all the cells arranged linearly in any one of vertical, horizontal and diagonal directions become active, i.e., that bingo is won, a game value such as a medal is awarded as a payout to the winning player.
- Such a bingo game machine, whose rule is easy to understand for a beginner, can allow the beginner to easily approach the game. On the contrary, the predetermined display mode is so simple that the payout to be awarded to the player cannot be made high. Besides, since all the aforesaid predetermined modes have substantially the same pattern, it is difficult to provide a difference in payout. According to the aforesaid, in such a bingo game, it is difficult to provide a payout equivalent enough to award a large amount of game value. Accordingly, there is the risk of reducing the interest of players dedicating efforts to increasing a game value.
- As a method of solving such a problem, there are known the method of activating events serving as the chance of increasing the game value in high amounts, e.g., jackpots during a game, and like method (e.g., see JP-A-2002-78862). As a specific bingo game machine, there is a bingo game machine configured such that the information of jackpots is disclosed to the players and a jackpot is activated when the numerical value of a certain item (e.g., an inputted or inserted game value) reaches a fixed value or more.
- However, in the aforesaid gaming machine, the players often stop playing the game after the jackpot is activated. The reason is that the players know by experience that it is highly possible that another jackpot does not activate immediately after a jackpot is activated. Particularly, when the information of jackpots is always disclosed, such a tendency becomes remarkably high.
- The invention has been made in view of such problems as aforesaid, and an object thereof is to provide a gaming machine in which a plurality of kinds of events serving as the chance of increasing a game value activate independently one of another.
- To achieve such an object as above, the gaming machine of the invention provides such configurations as follows.
- According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming machine that includes a plurality of gaming terminal devices having control panels operated by a player and on which the player plays a game upon payment of a game value, the gaming machine including: a cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of kinds of cumulative values on a per unit game basis at a predetermined rate in response to the game value; an event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and an event activation unit that activates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
- According to the first aspect of the invention, a plurality of events serving as the chance of increasing the game value activate independently one of another. Accordingly, even when an event activates, there is the possibility that the next event activates immediately. Therefore, the expectation of the player for the events is maintained, thus making it possible to avoid the emergence of a player who stops the game after an event activation.
- According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming system that includes control panels operated by players and that includes a plurality of gaming terminal devices on which the players play a game upon payment of a game value and a game server for transmitting/receiving the data of the game from the plurality of gaming terminal devices, wherein the gaming terminal devices each includes a game value data transmission unit that transmits to the game server the data of the game value paid by the players, and the game server includes: a game value data receive unit that receives the data of the game value transmitted by the game value transmission unit; a cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of cumulative values on a per game basis at a predetermined rate in response to the game value received by the game value data receive unit; an event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and an event activation unit that activates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
- According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming system that includes control panels operated by players and that includes a plurality of gaming terminal devices on which the players play a game upon payment of a game value and a game server for transmitting/receiving the data of the game from the plurality of gaming terminal devices, wherein the gaming terminal devices each includes: a cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of cumulative values on a per game basis at a predetermined rate in response to the game value; and a cumulative value data transmission unit that transmits to the game server the data of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit, and the game server includes: a cumulative value data receive unit that receives the data of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values transmitted by the cumulative value data transmission unit; an event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values received by the cumulative value data receive unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and an event activation unit that activates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
- According to the second and the third aspect of the invention, a plurality of events serving as the chance of increasing the game value activate independently one of another. Accordingly, even when an event activates, there is the possibility that the next event activates immediately. Therefore, the expectation of the players for the events is maintained, thus making it possible to avoid the emergence of a player who stops the game after an event activation.
- According to the invention, a plurality of events serving as the chance of increasing the game value activate independently one of another. Accordingly, even when an event activates, there is the possibility that the next event activates immediately. Therefore, the expectation of the players for the events is maintained, thus making it possible to avoid the emergence of a player who stops the game after an event activation.
- These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a general outline of a gaming machine of an embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a general outline of a lottery machine of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 3 is a top view of a lottery ball receiving portion of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 4 is a top view of the lottery machine of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of lottery wheels of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 6 is a top view of the lottery wheels of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIGS. 7A to 7G are longitudinal sectional views showing a general outline of a second collection path in the gaming machine of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a gaming terminal of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a system configuration configured in the gaming machine of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a control circuit configured in the lottery machine of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control circuit configured in the gaming terminal of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 12 is an example of a standby screen of the gaming terminal, displayed on a display screen of the gaming terminal of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 13 is an example of a jackpot displayed on the display screen of the gaming terminal of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 14 is an example of a jackpot displayed on the display screen of the gaming terminal of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 15 is an example of a first jackpot activation time determination table of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 16 is an example of a second jackpot activation time determination table of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 17 is an example of a first jackpot notification execution time determination table of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 18 is an example of a second jackpot notification execution time determination table of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 19 is a main flowchart of processes of the lottery machine and gaming terminal of the embodiment of the invention; -
FIG. 20 is a flowchart followingFIG. 19 ; -
FIG. 21 is a flowchart followingFIG. 20 ; -
FIG. 22 is a flowchart of a first jackpot process; -
FIG. 23 is a flowchart of a second jackpot process; and -
FIG. 24 is a schematic view showing a gaming system of the embodiment of the invention. - An example of a preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described with reference to the drawings.
- As an equivalent of the game value of the invention, in addition to a coin, a medal, a game ball or a token, there is a game medium such as a card storing the information of a game value awarded or to be awarded to players. In this embodiment, however, the description will be given using the medal.
- Configuration of Gaming Machine
- First, the general outline of a gaming machine will be described using
FIG. 1 .FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a general outline of the gaming machine of this embodiment. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , agaming machine 310 includes alottery machine 312 and a plurality ofgaming terminals 314. Thisgaming machine 310 can provide a game simultaneously to a plurality of players through the plurality ofgaming terminals 314A to 314J. Additionally, thegaming terminal 314 of this embodiment corresponds to an example of the gaming terminal device of the invention. - The
lottery machine 312 mainly includes ahousing 313 imitating a ship and is disposed in the center of thegaming machine 310. Besides, twolottery wheels lottery machine 312. These twolottery wheels lottery holes 340, 341 (seeFIG. 4 ). The identification information that is the combination of a first symbol including spade, club, heart and diamond and a secondsymbol including numbers 2 to 10 and letters A, J, Q and K is made to correspond to these plural lottery holes 340, 341. A lottery is held in response to any of the plurality of lottery holes 340, 341 that lottery balls have entered, thus determining the result of the game. A rocking device 346 (seeFIG. 2 ) is disposed in thelottery machine 312, and thehousing 313 is rockable so that astem 312A and a stern 312B are displaced in an up and down direction. - The plurality of
gaming terminals 314A to 314J are disposed on either broadside of thelottery machine 312. Besides, in this embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1 , there are provided tengaming terminals 314A to 314J. Besides, the plurality ofgaming terminals 314A to 314J are formed withmedal payout ports 382A to 382J, respectively. Additionally,FIG. 1 does not illustrate thegaming terminals 314F to 314H and medal payout ports 382F to 382J that are blocked from view by thelottery machine 312. - Additionally, this embodiment is configured to provide the ten
gaming terminals 314A to 314J as the plurality of gaming terminals. However, the invention is not limited thereto but may have another mode. For example, it may be configured that there are provided a plurality other than ten of gaming terminals or that there is provided one gaming terminal. - Configuration of Lottery Machine
- The general outline of the
lottery machine 312 of thegaming machine 310 will be described usingFIG. 2 .FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a general outline of thelottery machine 312 of this embodiment. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , ascrew conveyor 320 is disposed at the stern 312B of thelottery machine 312. Thisscrew conveyor 320 is a device for upwardly conveying the lottery balls used in the lottery via the inside of thelottery machine 312. - This
screw conveyor 320 includes aspiral body 320A extending upwardly at a predetermined angle, asupport plate 320B extending along thespiral body 320A, and a lotteryball lifting motor 320C for rotating thespiral body 320A. A groove having a larger curvature radius than the radius of the lottery ball is spirally formed in thespiral body 320A. The lotteryball lifting motor 320A is driven, thereby rotating thespiral body 320A, so that the lottery balls are conveyed upward while being held between the groove spirally formed in thespiral body 320A and thesupport plate 320B. That is, thescrew conveyor 320 is disposed outside thehousing 313 and visibly conveyslottery balls 302 being conveyed. - Besides, a lottery
ball holding portion 332 is disposed above thelottery machine 312. This lotteryball holding portion 332, to be visible from the players, etc., is formed from a resin having permeability. Consequently, the remaining number of lottery balls can be clearly showed to the players. This lotteryball holding portion 332 has an upwardly opening shape and holds the lottery balls guided from a lotteryball guide portion 324. Besides, an opening (not shown) for passing one lottery ball therethrough is formed in the bottom face of the lotteryball holding portion 332. - A cylindrical
rotating body 328 is disposed below the lotteryball holding portion 332. Thisrotating body 328 has the function of closing the opening formed in the bottom face of the lotteryball holding portion 332. Thereby, the lottery balls held by the lotteryball holding portion 332 are maintained held. - Besides, the
rotating body 328 is formed with a holding hole (not shown) for holding one lottery ball. A drive portion (not shown) including a rotary motor 326 (seeFIG. 10 ), etc. is disposed at the edge end of therotating body 328. The drive portion is driven to thereby rotate therotating body 328. Therotating body 328 is rotated to thereby make the holding hole open upwardly, thus dropping one lottery ball held by the lotteryball holding portion 332 into the holding hole via the opening. Furthermore, therotating body 328 is rotated to thereby close the opening formed in the lotteryball holding portion 332 and also make one lottery ball held in the holding hole. Furthermore, therotating body 328 is rotated to thereby close the opening formed in the lotteryball holding portion 332 and also make the holding hole open downwardly, thus downwardly dropping one lottery ball held in the holding hole. Thus, one lottery ball held by the lotteryball holding portion 332 is selected and then dropped. Besides, thisrotating body 328 is formed from a resin having permeability, so that the lottery ball held in the holding holes becomes visible to the players. Consequently, the progress of the game can be clearly shown to the players. - A lottery
ball receiving portion 334 having permeability is disposed below therotating body 328. This lotteryball receiving portion 334 is for receiving the lottery balls dropped through the holding hole of the rotating body disposed thereabove. Consequently, the lottery balls dropped from the holding hole of therotating body 328 are held by the lotteryball receiving portion 334 so as to be visible to the players. The lotteryball receiving portion 334 is formed withnotches FIG. 3 ) for inputting the received lottery balls therethrough onto any one of thelottery wheels lottery machine 312 has the rocking function, the lottery balls held by the lotteryball receiving portion 334 are guided to any one of the twolottery wheels lottery machine 312. -
Slopes notches FIG. 3 ) of the lotteryball receiving portion 334. Theseslopes ball receiving portion 334 onto any one offace portions slopes slopes - The two
lottery wheels slopes lottery wheels face portions housing 313. - A plurality of the lottery holes 340, 341 for holding one lottery ball are formed on the upper faces of these
face portions shutter 347 is disposed on the bottom face of the plurality of lottery holes 340, 341. During the game, thisshutter 347 is controlled to be closed, thus holding the lottery balls that have entered the plurality of lottery holes 340, 341. Besides, after the game ends, theshutter 347 is controlled into the open state, thereby discharging the lottery balls that have entered the plurality oflottery balls lottery machine 312. Besides, the plurality of lottery holes 340, 341 are each disposed with an inputball detection sensor 349. The inputball detection sensor 349 detects that the lottery ball has entered any of the plurality of lottery holes. - A
collection portion 345 formed with afirst collection path 344 and asecond collection path 350 is provided below the twolottery wheels lottery machine 312. Theshutter 347 is controlled into the open state, whereby thiscollection portion 345 allows thefirst collection path 344 receive the lottery balls that have entered the plurality of lottery holes 340, 341. Besides, thiscollection portion 345 is formed withinclined portions first collection path 344. Furthermore, the horizontally extendingsecond collection path 350 is formed below theinclined portions second collection path 350 via thefirst collection path 344 and then held. - An open/
close gate 352 is disposed in thesecond collection path 350. This open/close gate 352 is openably/closeably controlled. Consequently, when placed in the open state, the open/close gate 352 comes into the state where the lottery balls can pass between thesecond collection path 350 and the lower end of thespiral body 320A. On the contrary, when placed in the closed state, the open/close gate 352 comes into the state where the lottery balls cannot pass between thesecond collection path 350 and the lower end of thespiral body 320A. Thus, thelottery machine 312 is rocked so that the stern 312B side becomes lower than thestem 312A side, and the open/close gate 352 is controlled into the open state. Thereby, the lottery balls held in thesecond collection path 350 are led out to the lower end of thespiral body 320A. Besides, the open/close gate 352 is controlled into the closed state, thereby preventing the lottery balls led out to the lower end of thespiral body 320A from returning to thesecond collection path 350, and furthermore preventing the lottery balls held in thesecond collection path 350 from being led out to the lower end of thespiral body 320A. - A lottery ball passing
detection sensor 351 is disposed between the open/close gate 352 and the lower end of thespiral body 320A. This lottery ball passingdetection sensor 351 is for detecting the number of lottery balls led out to the lower end of thespiral body 320A from thesecond collection path 350 via the open/close gate. Accordingly, thelottery machine 312 is inclined so that the stern 312B side becomes lower than thestem 312A side, and the open/close gate 352 is controlled into the open state. Thereby, when the number of lottery balls that have passed through the open/close gate 352 reaches a predetermined number, the open/close gate 352 is controlled into the closed state, so that the predetermined number of lottery balls are led out to the lower end of thespiral body 320A. Besides, after the predetermined number of lottery balls are led out to the lower end of thespiral body 320A, these lottery balls do not return to thesecond collection path 350. - Besides, the
lottery machine 312, provided with the rockingdevice 346, is rockable and inclinable about a rockingshaft 348. - A
dot LED display 327 including a plurality of LED's, etc. is disposed below the lotteryball holding portion 332. A game round number is displayed on thisdot LED display 327. Besides, aSTART lamp 329 is disposed in the center of thelottery machine 312. In thisSTART lamp 329, when the lottery balls drop through the holding hole of therotating body 328 onto the lotteryball receiving portion 334, a built-in lamp is turned on and a letter START is displayed so as to be visible to the players. Besides, the configuration may be such that thegaming machine 310 is provided with a plurality of lighting devices (not shown), thereby enabling the sailing ship-shapedlottery machine 312 to be lighted up with various colors, thus enabling various representations together with the rocking operation. As a target that can be lighted up, there aresails 311A to 311E. - The aforesaid lottery
ball receiving portion 334 andslopes FIG. 3 .FIG. 3 is a top view showing the lotteryball receiving portion 334 and theslopes - As shown in
FIG. 3 , the aforesaid lotteryball receiving portion 334 is formed with a recessedportion 334A. This recessedportion 334A receives the lottery balls that drop through the holding hole of the aforesaidrotating body 328. Besides, twonotches side face 334B of the lotteryball receiving portion 334. Consequently, as thelottery machine 312 is rocked, the lottery balls received by the recessedportion 334A roll outside the recessedportion 334A through any one of the twonotches - The upper ends of the
slopes notches slopes lottery wheels slopes ball receiving portion 334 through theaforesaid notches ball receiving portion 334, thus guiding the rolled-out lottery balls to any one of thelottery wheels slopes lottery wheels slopes slopes - Description of Lottery Wheel, etc.
- The
aforesaid lottery machine 312 andlottery wheels FIG. 4 is a top view showing thelottery machine 312.FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing thelottery wheel 338.FIG. 6 is a top view showing thelottery wheel 338. Additionally, inFIGS. 5 and 6 , since thelottery wheel 339 has the same configuration as thelottery wheel 338, the description thereof will be omitted. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , as aforesaid, the twolottery wheels lottery machine 312. The twolottery wheels - These
lottery wheels lottery wheels housing 313. Thelottery wheels face portions lottery wheels slopes lottery wheel 338 rotates clockwise and, as shown inFIG. 5 , theslope 336A is inputted clockwise. Consequently, when the lottery balls are rolled onto thelottery wheels - Besides, a connection table 390 is provided between the
lottery wheels face portions lottery wheels lottery wheels -
Guide portions lottery wheels portions lottery wheels portions face portions lottery wheels guide portions - Besides,
bank portions lottery wheels bank portions lottery wheels bank portions face portions lottery wheels lottery wheels slopes lottery wheels bank portions lottery wheels bank portions lottery wheels - Besides, the
lottery wheels lottery wheel 338 sometimes roll onto thelottery wheel 339 from thelottery wheel 338 via the connection table 390. Conversely, the lottery balls inputted onto thelottery wheel 339 sometimes roll onto thelottery wheel 338 from thelottery wheel 339 via the connection table 390. Accordingly, the lottery balls roll between theselottery wheels device 346 is disposed in thelottery machine 312, the housing 323 of thelottery machine 312 is rocked. Thereby, for example, the lottery balls can be rolled on thelottery wheels lottery wheels lottery wheels portions bank portions - These
lottery wheels lottery holes FIG. 5 , the identification information including space and heart as the first symbol is assigned to the plurality of lottery holes 340 provided in thelottery wheel 338. Specifically, A, 2 to 10, J, Q and K of spade and A, 2 to 10, J, Q and K of heart are assigned to the plurality of lottery holes 340 provided in thelottery wheel 338. On the other hand, the identification information including club and diamond as the first symbol is assigned to the plurality of lottery holes 341 provided in thelottery wheel 339. Specifically, A, 2 to 10, J, Q and K of club and A, 2 to 10, J, Q and K of diamond are assigned to the plurality of lottery holes 341 provided in thelottery wheel 339. That is, any of the plurality of symbols is set to be of a kind, which therefore allows the players to easily identify the desired identification information by observing the place in which the lottery balls roll. This makes it possible to let the players still further have impatience and expectation, thus enabling an enhancement in the interest in the game. For example, when the lottery balls roll on thelottery wheel 338, it can be easily identified that the first symbol is of spade and heart, and when the lottery balls roll on thelottery wheel 339, it can be easily identified that the first symbol is of club and diamond. That is, in the twolottery wheels lottery wheels lottery wheels - Besides, as shown in
FIG. 6 , thelottery wheel 338 is provided with the plurality oflottery holes 340 along circumferences C1 and C2 centered about a center point C0 of rotation. This circumference C2 is positioned inwardly from the circumference C1. Besides, 16 lottery holes are provided along the circumference C1, while 10 lottery holes are provided along the circumference C2. Besides, as aforesaid, A, 2 to 10, J, Q and K of spade and A, 2 to 10, J, Q and K of heart are assigned to these 26 lottery holes 340. And, specifically, A and 2 to 8 of spade and A and 2 to 8 of heart are assigned to the 16 lottery holes provided along the circumference C1, while 9, 10, J, Q and K of spade and 9, 10, J, Q and K of heart are assigned to the 10 lottery holes provided along the circumference C2. - Besides, as shown in
FIG. 5 , thelottery wheel 338 is provided with a plurality ofconvex portions 342 having a more convex shape than theface portions 338A of thelottery wheel 338. Besides, as shown inFIG. 6 , the plurality ofconvex portions 342 are provided along a circumference C3 centered about the center point C0 of rotation. Besides, this circumference C3 is positioned inwardly from the most inward circumference C2 of the circumferences C1 and C2 provided with the plurality of lottery holes. That is, the plurality ofconvex portions 342 are provided along the circumference C3 positioned inwardly from the most inward circumference C2 of the plurality of kinds of circumferences C1 and C2, so as to be adjacent to the plurality of lottery holes formed on the most inward circumference C2. Thereby, for example, the lottery balls hit against the convex portions, which weakens the rolling movement of the lottery balls, thus making it possible to change the rolling direction of the lottery balls. Then, out of the plurality of kinds of circumferences C1 and C2, the lottery balls evenly enter the lottery holes formed along the inner circumference C2 and the lottery holes formed along the outer circumference C1. Therefore, it is possible to hold a lottery in which the lottery balls evenly enter many lottery holes. - Besides, as shown in
FIG. 6 , the configuration is preferably such that aconvex portion 342A having a convex shape is provided in the region surrounded by: tangent lines D1 and D2 tangent to twolottery holes lottery holes convex portion 342A, which weakens the rolling movement of the lottery balls, thus making it possible to change the rolling direction of the lottery balls, thereby raising the possibility of entering thelottery holes - Description of Collection Portion
- The
aforesaid collection portion 345 of thelottery machine 312 will be described usingFIGS. 7A to 7G.FIGS. 7A to 7G are longitudinal sectional views showing thesecond collection path 350. - When the game ends, as aforesaid, the
shutter 347 is placed in the open state, and the lottery balls drop through the plurality of lottery holes 340, 341. And, after the elapse of a predetermined time, as shown inFIG. 7A , these lottery balls are held in thesecond collection path 350 via thefirst collection path 344. As shown inFIG. 7A , with thelottery balls 302 held in thesecond collection path 350 of theaforesaid collection portion 345, thehousing 313 is inclined by the rockingdevice 346. In this case, as shown inFIG. 7B , since the open/close gate 352 provided in thesecond collection path 350 is in the closed state, thelottery balls 302 are held in thesecond collection path 350 so as to be positioned on the open/close gate 352 side. And, as shown inFIG. 7C , the open/close gate 352 is controlled into the open state, whereby thelottery balls 302 positioned in thesecond collection path 350 roll toward a lower portion of thespiral body 320A. That is, thehousing 313 is inclined, and thelottery balls 302 positioned in thesecond collection path 350 are led out to thescrew conveyor 320. When thelottery balls 302 thus roll toward the lower portion of thespiral body 320A, thelottery ball 302 passingdetection sensor 351 detects the number oflottery balls 302 rolled toward the lower portion of thespiral body 320A. That is, thelottery ball 302 passingdetection sensor 351 detects the number oflottery balls 302 led out to thescrew conveyor 320 from thesecond collection path 350. In other words, thelottery ball 302 passingdetection sensor 351 detects the number oflottery balls 302 passing through the open/close gate 352. When the number oflottery balls 302 detected by thelottery ball 302 passingdetection sensor 351 reaches a predetermined number, as shown inFIG. 7D , the open/close gate 352 is controlled into the closed state. Thereby, as shown inFIG. 7E , the predetermined number oflottery balls 302 roll toward the lower portion of thespiral body 320A and conveyed upwardly by thescrew conveyor 320. That is, the lottery balls are made ready to be inputted. Besides, in this state, as shown inFIG. 7F , the inclination of thehousing 313 is returned to a horizontal position, i.e., control for restraint is performed. That is, the rockingdevice 346 has the function of restraining the inclination of thehousing 313. Besides, as shown inFIG. 7F , thelottery balls 302 that have rolled toward the lower portion of thespiral body 320A do not return. Of course, as shown inFIG. 7G , even when thehousing 313 is inclined in the reverse direction, similarly, thelottery balls 302 that have rolled toward the lower portion of thespiral body 320A do not return. - Thereby, the housing 313 (see
FIG. 1 ) is inclined, and the lottery balls positioned in thesecond collection path 350 are led out to the lower portion of thespiral body 320A. Therefore, the lottery balls can be collected by merely inclining thehousing 313, thus enabling the gaming machine to be manufactured in a simple manner and at low cost. Particularly, as much space as possible need be saved in a large-size gaming machine such as a bingo game machine, and still more space can be saved according to the invention. Besides, there is no need to provide each of the plurality of lottery holes with a lottery ball discharge unit, thus enabling the gaming machine to be manufacture in a simpler manner and at lower cost. - Description of Gaming Terminal
- The
gaming terminal 314A of thegaming machine 310 will be described usingFIG. 8 .FIG. 8 is a perspective view of thegaming terminal 314A. Additionally, since thegaming terminals 314B to 314J have the same configuration as thegaming terminal 314A, the description thereof will be omitted. - The
gaming terminal 314A mainly includes adisplay 370A, atouch sensor 372A (seeFIG. 11 ), aninner dial 376A and anouter dial 377A, amedal input port 378A and amain control circuit 500A (seeFIG. 11 ). - The
display 370A is provided in an upper portion of thegaming terminal 314A. A bingo game matrix card image allotted to the players and other pieces of information, or an optional game image, etc. are displayed on thedisplay 370A. With such a configuration, the game can proceed with various pieces of information displayed on a display screen of thedisplay 370A being visible to the players. - Furthermore, the configuration may be as follows. That is, the
lottery machine 312 is provided with a camera (not shown) that takes the overall picture of thelottery wheels display 370A. Thereby, even when any one of thelottery wheels lottery wheels - Besides, the
display 370A is provided with a touch panel mainly including thetouch sensor 372A. Thereby, the players can be provided with a gaming environment in which the input of various data and the issue of instructions are made possible by touching thedisplay 370A. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the
touch sensor 372A enables various input operations. However, other operating modes can be used. For example, the configuration may be such that there are provided a plurality of operation buttons with which various input operations can be performed. - A
seat portion 374A is provided on the player side of thedisplay 370A. Theinner dial 376A and theouter dial 377A positioned in vertical tiers are provided on the upper face of thisseat portion 374A. By using theinner dial 376A and theouter dial 377A, the players can be provided with a gaming environment in which a difficult operation can be performed by merely depressing the normal operation buttons and touching the touch panel. For example, in a first jackpot game to be described later, theinner dial 376A or theouter dial 377A is moved right and left, whereby a mock telescope 397 (seeFIG. 13 ) displayed on thedisplay 370A can be moved right and left, or the focal distance of themock telescope 397 can be adjusted. - For example, in this embodiment, in the bingo game matrix image displayed on the
display 370A, the identification information, assigned to bingo cells, in the outer periphery of the matrix image can be moved between adjacent bingo cells along the aforesaid outer periphery. Thereby, when the movement of the second identification information is intended to be continuously performed, the operation must be repeated over and over again by only depressing the normal operation buttons and touching the touch panel, which is a lot of trouble. Therefore, when an input device such as theinner dial 376A and theouter dial 377A is used, the continuous operation becomes possible with one motion, so that a game of high operability can be provided to the players. Besides, a very simple operation can be performed even for an analog motion in performing scrolling on the screen, in moving a pointer, or in like case, so that a game of high operability can be provided to the players. - Besides, the
medal input port 378A for inputting medals therethrough is provided on the right side of theinner dial 376A and theouter dial 377A. Besides, amedal sensor 380A (seeFIG. 11 ) is disposed inside themedal input port 378A. Thismedal sensor 378A detects that medals have been inputted into themedal input port 378A. Thus, when the players input medals into themedal input port 378A, themedal sensor 380A detects that the medals have been inputted. - Besides, the
main control circuit 500A (seeFIG. 11 ) is disposed inside theseat portion 374A and controls the aforesaid various devices. - Configuration of Gaming Machine
- The system configuration of the
gaming machine 310 will be described usingFIG. 9 . - As shown in
FIG. 9 , thegaming machine 310 mainly includes: alottery machine controller 360 for performing the control of thelottery machine 312; and thegaming terminals 314A to 314J. - The
lottery machine controller 360 is communicably connected to tengaming terminals 314A to 314J. Besides, thislottery machine controller 360 can control thegaming terminals 314A to 314J by transmitting/receiving various data and signals from the tengaming terminals 314A to 314J. - Electrical Configuration of Lottery Machine
- The electrical configuration of the
lottery machine 312 of thegaming machine 310 will be described usingFIG. 10 . -
FIG. 10 shows a circuit configuration including amain control circuit 400 that controls the game processing operation of thelottery machine 312 of thegaming machine 310, and a peripheral device (actuator) that is electrically connected to themain control circuit 400. - The
main control circuit 400 includes aCPU 406 that performs a control operation in accordance with a pre-set program, and anROM 408 and anRAM 410 that are the storage unit. - As shown in
FIG. 10 , the inputball detection sensor 349 is connected to aninterface circuit group 402 of themain control circuit 400. When the lottery balls enter any of the plurality of lottery holes 340, 341, the inputball detection sensor 349 supplies a predetermined signal to an input/output bus 404 via theinterface circuit group 402. The input/output bus 404 inputs/outputs a data signal or an address signal from the control processing unit (hereinafter called the CPU) 406. - Besides, the lottery ball passing
detection sensor 351 is also connected to theinterface circuit group 402 of themain control circuit 400. When the lottery balls pass through the open/close gate 352, the lottery ball passingdetection sensor 351 supplies a predetermined signal to the input/output bus 404 via theinterface circuit group 402. - Furthermore,
communication control circuits 414A to 414J are connected to theinterface circuit group 402. Thesecommunication control circuits 414A to 414J are for providing a communicable connection between thelottery machine controller 360 and thegaming terminals 314A to 314J. Particularly, data signals of the number of bets per game to be described later are transmitted from thegaming terminals 314A to 314J via thecommunication control circuits 414A to 414J. Thereby, a jackpot pool value to be described later can be calculated. Additionally, the pool value of this embodiment corresponds to the cumulative value of the invention. - The ROM (Read Only Memory) 408 and the RAM (Random Access Memory) 410 are also connected to the aforesaid input/
output bus 404. TheROM 408 records a control program for controlling the process of the game in thelottery machine controller 360. Furthermore, theROM 408 stores initial data, various programs, etc. for executing the control program. Besides, theRAM 410 stores a flag and the value of a variable that are used in the aforesaid program. - Furthermore, an
interface circuit group 412 is connected to the input/output bus 404. The lotteryball lifting motor 320C, therotary motor 326, lotterywheel rotating motors shutter 347, the rockingdevice 346, and the open/close gate 352 are connected to theinterface circuit group 412. Thereby, theCPU 406 controls various devices, thus enabling driving of theaforesaid lottery machine 312. - A clock pulse generator 415 and a frequency divider 416 that generate a reference clock pulse, and a random number generator 417 and a random number sampling circuit 418 that generate a random number to be sampled are connected to the
CPU 406. Additionally, means for random sampling may be configured to execute random sampling on an operation program of theCPU 406. In that case, the random number generator 417 and random number sampling circuit 418 can be omitted or can also be left intact for use as backup for a random number sampling operation. - A control program for controlling the process of the game in the
lottery machine controller 360 is stored in theROM 408. Furthermore, initial data, various programs, etc. for executing the control program are stored in theROM 408. In addition, each event value and an upper limit value of a first jackpot to be described later are stored in theROM 408. - Besides, a first jackpot activation time determination table and a second jackpot activation time determination table (see
FIGS. 15 and 16 ), which will be described later, are stored in theROM 408. As will be described later, each jackpot activation time determination table is for determining in which round of game a jackpot is activated after the game that meets the condition of activation, when each jackpot meets the condition of activation, i.e., when each pool value exceeds the intrinsic event value of the jackpot. - Furthermore, a first jackpot notification execution time determination table and a second jackpot notification execution time determination table (see
FIGS. 17 and 18 ), which will be described later, are stored in theROM 408. Each jackpot notification execution time determination table is for determining in which round of game a jackpot notification is executed before a game in which the jackpot is activated. - Besides, the
RAM 410 stores therein a flag and the value of a variable that are used in the aforesaid program. Furthermore, as will be described later, based on the total number of medals bet, a jackpot pool value is stored in theRAM 410, wherein the pool value is updated on a per game basis. - Electrical Configuration of Gaming Terminal
- The electrical configuration of the
gaming terminal 314A of thegaming machine 310 will be described usingFIG. 11 . Additionally, since thegaming terminals 314B to 314J have the same configuration as thegaming terminal 314A, the description thereof will be omitted - As shown in
FIG. 11 , themedal sensor 380A is aninterface circuit group 502A of themain control circuit 500A. When medals are inputted through themedal input port 378A, themedal sensor 380A supplies a predetermined signal to an input/output bus 504A via theinterface circuit group 502A. The input/output bust 504A inputs/outputs a data signal or an address signal from a central processing unit (hereinafter called a CPU) 506A. Additionally, when medals are inputted, the number of bets is also detected by themedal sensor 380A. Themedal sensor 380A transmits a data signal of the number of bets to theCPU 506A. This data signal is transmitted via a to-be-describedcommunication control circuit 514A, as a data signal, to the CPU 406 (seeFIG. 10 ) of the main control circuit 400 (seeFIG. 10 ) of thelottery machine 312. This data of the number of bets is further transmitted to theRAM 410. - Besides, the
touch sensor 372A is also connected to theinterface circuit group 502A of themain control circuit 500A. When detecting that the player has touched the display position of an instruction content displayed on thedevice 370A, thetouch sensor 372A supplies theinterface circuit group 502A with a signal corresponding to such an instruction content. - Besides, the
inner dial 376A and theouter dial 377A are connected to the aforesaidinterface circuit group 502A. When the players rotate theinner dial 376A and theouter dial 377A, a signal corresponding to the rotating angle of theinner dial 376A or theouter dial 377A is supplied to theinterface circuit group 502A. - Furthermore, the
communication control circuit 514A is connected to theinterface circuit group 502A. Thiscommunication control circuit 514A is for providing a communicable connection between thelottery machine controller 360 and thegaming terminal 314A. Particularly, a signal for generating a jackpot and a signal for executing a jackpot notification are transmitted from thelottery machine 312 via thecommunication control circuit 514A. - An ROM (Read Only Memory) 508A and an RAM (Random Access Memory) 510A are connected to the aforesaid input/
output bus 504A. TheROM 508A stores therein a control program for controlling the process of the game of thegaming terminal 314A. Furthermore, theROM 508A stores therein an initial data for executing the control program, a program for controlling the display of thedisplay 370A, etc. Besides, theRAM 510A stores therein a flag and the value of a variable that are used in the aforesaid program. - Furthermore, an
interface circuit group 512A is connected to the input/output bus 504A. Aspeaker 586A and ahopper 588A are connected to theinterface circuit group 512A. And, theinterface circuit group 512A supplies a drive signal and drive power so as to control each of the aforesaid devices in response to the result of a calculation process in theCPU 506A. - Furthermore, a
display controller 600A is connected to theinterface circuit group 512A. Thedisplay controller 600A supplies thedisplay 370A with an image signal for displaying an image, based on an image display command supplied from themain control circuit 500A. - A bingo game and a jackpot that are played using the
gaming machine 310 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14. In a bingo game machine such as thegaming machine 310, in addition to the normally performed bingo game, a game (event) called a jackpot is played. The jackpot is an event (game) that has a high possibility of awarding more medals to the players than in the bingo game. - Bingo Game
- The conventional bingo game is such a game as follows. That is, 25 numbers serving as the identification information are described on a bingo card made of paper on which 5×5 bingo matrix cells are drawn. And, when a number selected by lottery is found on the bingo card, a bingo cell corresponding to the selected number is activated. When five activated bingo cells are arranged in vertical, horizontal or diagonal line on the bingo card, a bingo hand is achieved, thus awarding a prize such as commercial goods to the winner.
- A bingo game played on the
gaming machine 310 is played by the same rule as the aforesaid. However, in the bingo game played on thegaming machine 310, as shown inFIG. 12 , in place of the bingo cells made of paper, bingo cells 375 are displayed on adisplay screen 371A of thedisplay 370A of thegaming terminal 314A, thereby allowing the players to play the bingo game. Additionally, since thegaming terminals 314B to 314J have substantially the same configuration as thegaming terminal 314A, the description thereof will be omitted. - Besides, in the bingo game played on the
gaming machine 310, as shown inFIG. 12 , in place of the numbers serving as the identification information of the normal bingo game, playing-card designs are used as the identification information. Accordingly, even when a poker hand (e.g., one pair, two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush, or five of a kind) is achieved in addition to the conventional bingo hand, medals are awarded to the winning players. - And, the bingo game is played by such a procedure as follows. First, the lottery balls are inputted onto
lottery wheels lottery wheels - Jackpot
- The jackpot of the
gaming machine 310 of this embodiment will now be described with reference toFIGS. 13 and 14 . - The jackpot refers to an event (game) that has a high possibility of awarding more medals to the players participating in the game than in the bingo game. The players can obtain the chance of being able to win more medals than in the bingo game. Here, the “players participating in the game” refers to players who are actually involved in the bingo game with a medal bet upon activation of a jackpot. The jackpot has two kinds: a first jackpot and a second jackpot.
- The first jackpot will be described with reference to
FIG. 13 .FIG. 13 shows an image displayed on thedisplay 370A of thegaming terminal 314A at a Discover Treasure Island game held in the first jackpot. - Here, the fist jackpot refers to a less-awarded jackpot that is pre-set to have a possibility of activating frequently per day. The first jackpot is a less-awarded jackpot than the to-be-described second jackpot but is set to have a higher activation frequency than the second jackpot. When the first jackpot is activated, all the players participating in the game play the Discover Treasure Island game of searching for a treasure island. As shown in
FIG. 13 , themock telescope 397 is displayed on thedisplay screen 371A of thedisplay 370A of thegaming terminal 314A. The players operate theinner dial 376A or theouter dial 377A (seeFIG. 8 ) right and left, thereby moving themock telescope 397 right and left or adjusting the focal distance of themock telescope 397, thus searching for thetreasure island 379. And, 60 medals are awarded to the player who is the first to discover thetreasure island - The second jackpot will now be described with reference to
FIG. 14 .FIG. 14 shows an image displayed on thedisplay 370A of thegaming terminal 314A at a symbol guessing game held in the second jackpot. - The second jackpot refers to a high-awarded jackpot that is pre-set to have a possibility of activating several times per day. When the jackpot is activated, the lottery balls are inputted onto the
lottery wheels 338 and 339 (seeFIG. 4 ). The lottery balls roll on thelottery wheels lottery holes FIG. 14 , the players operate theinner dial 376A or theouter dial 377A (seeFIG. 8 ) right and left, thereby selecting three playing-card symbols - The conventional gaming machine is configured such that the jackpot is activated on a per gaming terminal basis. Therefore, a player cannot participate in a jackpot activating at the gaming terminal of another player. Accordingly, unfairness arises among the players participating in a bingo game of the same bingo game machine. Thus, there is the risk of reducing the interest of the players in the game.
- In the
gaming machine 310 of the invention, both the first and second jackpots are configured such that all the players participating in the game can be involved in the jackpot. Therefore, it is possible to provide the gaming machine that maintains the expectation of the players without reducing the interest of the players. - Condition of Jackpot Activation
- On the other hand, in the
gaming machine 310, a predetermined condition need be satisfied in order for a jackpot to activate. The condition of jackpot activation is that each pool value to be described below exceeds the intrinsic event value of each jackpot. Here, the pool value refers to a value obtained such that after the preceding jackpot activation, the total number of medals bet per game by all the players is multiplied by a rate pre-set for each jackpot (hereinafter called the predetermined rate) and, furthermore, this result is accumulated in all the game. That is, after the preceding first jackpot activation, the total number of medals bet per game by all the players is multiplied by the predetermined rate of the first jackpot, and the result is accumulated in all the game, thereby calculating the pool value of the first jackpot. Hereinafter, the pool value of the first jackpot will be called a first pool value, and the pool value of the second jackpot, a second pool value. Additionally, the accumulated value of the invention corresponds to the pool value. - Additionally, even when the pool value exceeds the event value, it only means that the condition of jackpot activation is satisfied. When a jackpot actually activates is determined with reference to the jackpot activation time determination table to be described later. Furthermore, as will be described later, even when the condition of activation of the first jackpot is fulfilled, if there are not a predetermined number of players participating in the game, the first jackpot is cancelled.
- In the
gaming machine 310 of this embodiment, the predetermined rate used for calculating the pool value is 5% at both the first and second jackpots, i.e., 0.05 of the total number of medals. Besides, as aforesaid, the event value of each jackpot varies from one jackpot to another. Thus, the event value of the first jackpot is 100 medals, while the event value of the second jackpot is 1,000 medals. - The condition of activation of the first jackpot will hereinafter be specifically described by taking the first jackpot as an example. For example, the pool value obtained after a bingo game in which the preceding first jackpot has activated is set to 60. And, suppose that 500 medals are bet in a bingo game (hereinafter called a first game) immediately after the aforesaid bingo game. In this case, since 500×0.05=25, the pool value obtained until the first game is 65+25=90. Suppose that 600 medals are bet in a second game subsequent to the first game. Then, since the value obtained by multiplying the total number of medals by the predetermined rate is 600×0.05=30, the pool value of the second game is 90+0=120. Accordingly, this value exceeds 100 that is the event value of the first jackpot, thus satisfying the condition on which the first jackpot is activated in the second game.
- Additionally, this embodiment limits the kinds of jackpots to two kinds. However, the invention is not limited thereto but may be provided with three or more kinds of jackpots. On this occasion, preferably, there are provided a plurality of jackpots between which the number of payout medals won varies.
- Besides, in this embodiment, the event value of the first jackpot is set to 100 and that of the second jackpot is set to 1,000. However, the invention is not limited thereto, but the event value need only be a numerical value capable of maintaining the expectation of the players. Besides, the management of a game arcade or the maker of a gaming machine may make it ready to modify the event value as appropriate. Furthermore, there may be provided a plurality of jackpots different in event value from each other.
- Furthermore, in this embodiment, the predetermined rate functioning as a coefficient for calculating the pool value is set to 5% (0.05) that is the same at both the first and second jackpots. However, the invention is not limited thereto, but the predetermined rate may vary between each jackpot and may be the same at the both jackpots. Besides, the predetermined rate may be either smaller or larger than 5%. Furthermore, the management of a game arcade or the maker of a gaming machine may make it ready to modify the event value as appropriate.
- Thus, according to the invention, a plurality of jackpots serving as the chance of increasing medals are activated independently one of another. Accordingly, even when a jackpot is activated, there is the possibility that another jackpot may be activated immediately thereafter. Therefore, the expectation of the players for jackpots is maintained, which can avoid the emergence of a player who stops playing the game after a jackpot activation.
- Besides, the conventional bingo game machine cannot provide a difference in the mode of forming a bingo, so that a payout to be awarded to the players cannot be provided with much latitude. Consequently, there has appeared a bingo game machine for solving the aforesaid problem by providing an event such as a jackpot in which more medals are awarded than in the bingo game. However, even when one jackpot is activated, there is a limitation in providing the payout with variation. Thus, there is the risk of reducing the interest of the players.
- However, according to the invention, a plurality of kinds of jackpots different in the number of payout medals are provided as in the second jackpot having a low activation frequency but a high payout and as in the first jackpot having a low payout but a high activation frequency. Therefore, the payout to be awarded to the players can be provided with much latitude. Besides, the activation frequency also varies, thus enabling the payout award to have a wavy form. Accordingly, it is possible to maintain the interest of the players in the game.
- Jackpot Activation Time Determination Table
- The jackpot activation time determination table will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 15 and 16 . -
FIGS. 15 and 16 shows the jackpot activation time determination tables.FIG. 15 shows the first jackpot activation time determination table, andFIG. 16 shows the second jackpot activation time determination table. The jackpot activation time determination table stored in theROM 408 of thelottery machine 312 is such a table as follows. That is, when a jackpot satisfies the condition of activation, i.e., when each pool value exceeds the intrinsic event value of the jackpot, the table is referred to when it is determined in which round of game (that refers to the bingo game) a jackpot is activated after the bingo game that satisfies the condition of activation. The jackpot activation time determination table has an item called the number of activation standby games and an item of a random number range. The number of activation standby games refers to the number of bingo games played from the bingo game satisfying the condition of jackpot activation until a jackpot is activated. - A specific method of determining in which round of game the first jackpot is activated after the first jackpot satisfies the condition of activation will hereinafter be described using
FIG. 15 . - First, the
CPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 selects a random number from a predetermined random number range (e.g., a range of “0” to “255”). Based on the random number value selected, referring to the first jackpot activation time determination table ofFIG. 15 , it is determined in which round of game (that refers to the bingo game) the first jackpot is activated after the bingo game satisfying the condition of activation. For example, when the random number selected falls in a range of “201”, to “255”, the first jackpot is activated at the twentieth bingo game from the bingo game satisfying the condition of activation. - Thus, even when the pool value becomes equal to or greater than the event value at which the jackpot is activated, there is the possibility that the jackpot may not be activated immediately. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the players to predict the subsequent event activation. Accordingly, the expectation of the players for events is maintained, thus enabling the interest of the players to be maintained.
- Additionally, this embodiment is configured such that a jackpot is activated within at least 50 games (that refer to the bingo games) after the condition of activation of each jackpot is satisfied. However, the invention is not limited thereto, but the number of bingo games played after the condition of activation of each jackpot is satisfied until a jackpot is activated may be 50 games or more.
- Jackpot Notification
- The jackpot notification will now be described.
- In the
gaming machine 310 of this embodiment, when the condition of jackpot activation is satisfied and the time of jackpot activation is determined, the jackpot notification is performed with respect to the players before the jackpot is activated. - The jackpot notification is performed by lighting up
sails 311A to 311E of the gaming machine 310 (seeFIG. 1 ) with light (not shown). When to perform the jackpot notification is determined with reference to the jackpot notification execution time determination table to be described later. - Additionally, the jackpot notification may be performed by a method other than that of lighting up the
sails 311A to 311E of thegaming machine 310 with light (not shown). For example, the jackpot notification may be executed on the display 370 of thegaming terminal 314. - Jackpot Notification Execution Time Determination Table
- The jackpot notification execution time determination table will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 17 and 18 . -
FIGS. 17 and 18 show jackpot notification execution time determination tables, respectively.FIG. 17 shows the first jackpot notification execution time determination table, andFIG. 18 shows the second jackpot notification executing time determination table. The jackpot notification execution time determination table stored in theROM 408 of thelottery machine 312 is a table that determines in which round of game (that refers to the bingo game) the jackpot notification is performed before a bingo game in which a jackpot is activated. The jackpot notification execution time determination table includes an item called the number of notification execution games and an item called a random number range. The number of notification execution games refers to the number of bingo games obtained from a bingo game in which the jackpot notification is performed for a bingo game in which a jackpot is to activate. - A specific method of determining in which round of game (that refers to the bingo game) a first jackpot notification is executed before a bingo game in which the first jackpot is activated will hereinafter be described using
FIG. 17 . - First, the
CPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 selects a random number from a predetermined random range (e.g., a range of “0” to “255”). Based on the random number value selected, referring to the first jackpot notification execution time determination table ofFIG. 17 , it is determined in which round of game (that refers to the bingo game) the first jackpot is activated after the bingo game satisfying the condition of activation. For example, when the random number falls in a range of “51” to “100”, the first jackpot notification is executed in the bingo game that is two games before the bingo game satisfying the condition of activation of the first jackpot. - Thus, the jackpot notification is performed before the jackpot is activated. Therefore, this can prevent the interest of the players from being reduced due to a sudden jackpot activation. Besides, it can be expected to attract customers because of the notification of events, thus enabling an increase in the number of players participating in the game.
- Besides, in this embodiment, the jackpot notification execution time determination table is divided into two: the first jackpot and the second jackpot. However, this embodiment is not limited thereto, but the first and second jackpot notification execution time determination tables may be integrated into the same one.
- Cancellation of First Jackpot Activation and Cancellation of First Jackpot Notification Execution
- The Discover Treasure Island game of the first jackpot is a game in which medals are awarded to a predetermined number of players, e.g., only up to three winners. Accordingly, even in case where the predetermined number of players are not gathered, when the first jackpot is activated, the interest stimulated in competition with others is suppressed, so that there is the risk of reducing the interest in the game.
- Consequently, in this embodiment, even when the condition of activation of the first jackpot is satisfied, the number of players participating in the game is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number, e.g., three player or less, the first jackpot is withheld from activating. In this case, until the number of players participating in the game exceeds the predetermined number, the first jackpot is not activated as a matter of course, and the jackpot notification is not executed, either.
- Besides, when the first jackpot is cancelled, the time of generating the first jackpot is re-determined again. Similarly, when the first jackpot is cancelled, the time of executing the notification of the first jackpot is re-determined again.
- Thus, according to the invention, when the predetermined number of players is not reached, the notification of the first jackpot is not executed, and the first jackpot is not activated, either. Accordingly, because the players want to enjoy the prizes of jackpots to the possible maximum, the players come to participate in the bingo game as often as possible. As a result, it is possible to increase the number of players participating in the game.
- On the other hand, in the case of the second jackpot table, even when the number of players participating in the game is smaller than the predetermined number, either the execution of notification of the second jackpot or the activation of the second jackpot is not cancelled.
- Thus, according to the invention, in case where the predetermined number of game participants is not reached, even when one jackpot is cancelled, the other jackpot is not cancelled. Accordingly, the situation in which no jackpot is activated at all can be avoided. As a result, it is possible to avoid such a situation as to reduce the interest of the players.
- First Pool Value Transfer Process
- As aforesaid, in the first jackpot, when the predetermined condition is not satisfied, the notification of the first jackpot is not executed, and the first jackpot is not activated, either. However, even though the first jackpot has a low payout, the jackpot pool value is obtained by multiplying the number of medals bet by the players by the predetermined rate. Therefore, when no jackpot is activated and no medal is restored to the players, a burden is imposed on the players. Thus, there is the risk of reducing the interest of the players in the game. The reason is that when the cancellation of the first jackpot continues in succession, the ratio of the number of medals inputted by the players to the number of medals paid out, i.e., a payout ratio (hereinafter called P/O ratio), is reduced by the amount of the predetermined rate.
- Consequently, the
gaming machine 310 is configured as follows. That is, when the activation of the first jackpot is cancelled and the first pool value that is the pool value of the first jackpot becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined numerical value called an upper limit value, a surplus pool value obtained by subtracting the upper limit value from the first pool value is transferred to the second pool value that is the pool value of the second jackpot. That is, the surplus pool value is added to the second pool value. - For example, when the second pool value is 509, the upper limit value 200, and the first pool value 230, the
surplus pool value 30 obtained by subtracting the first pool value 200 from the first pool value 230 is added to the second pool value 509, thus obtaining 539 of the second pool value. Accordingly, the activation time of the second jackpot is put forward by the amount of the addition. - Thus, when the surplus pool value is transferred to the second pool value, the activation of the second jackpot is quickened by the amount of the transfer. Accordingly, this increases the chance of awarding a large number of medals to the players, thus enabling an enhancement in the expectation for the game. At the same time, the burden can be avoided from being imposed on the players, thus enabling the interest of the players to be prevented from being reduced.
- Operation of Lottery Machine and Gaming Terminal
- The process in the main control circuit 400 (see
FIG. 10 ) of thelottery machine 400 and the process in themain control circuit 500A (seeFIG. 11 ) of thegaming terminal 314A will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 23. - Operation of Lottery Machine
- The process in the
main control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312 will be described with reference toFIG. 19 . - At a step S100, the
CPU 406 performs a game preparation process. Specifically, the lottery balls held on the screw conveyor are moved to the lotteryball holding portion 332 in a predetermined number. Besides, in addition thereto, theCPU 406 performs various processes such as inclining thehousing 313 at a predetermined angle. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S101. - At the step S101, the
CPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 performs the determination of lottery start. TheCPU 406 determines whether or not it is the time to start a lottery after the elapse of a predetermined waiting time. When this determination is YES, the process moves to a step S102, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S103. - At the step S102, the
CPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 performs the transmission of a lottery start signal. TheCPU 406 transmits the lottery start signal via thecommunication control circuits 414A to 414J to thegaming terminals 314A to 314J, respectively. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S104. Additionally, the aforesaid lottery start signal is received by a to-be-described gaming terminal 314 at a step S204 that is the process of themain control circuit 500A of thegaming terminal 314. - On the other hand, at the step S103, the
CPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 performs waiting time consumption. TheCPU 406 measures the time taken until the predetermined waiting time has elapsed. When this process ends, the process returns to the step S101. - At the step S104, the
CPU 406 performs bet operation reception time consumption. TheCPU 406 measures the time taken until a predetermined bet operation reception time has elapsed. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S105. - As shown in
FIG. 20 , at the step S105, theCPU 406 receives the data of the number of bets. In this process, theCPU 406 receives the data of the number of bets transmitted at a step S214. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S107. - At a step S106, the
CPU 406 calculates the pool value of each jackpot from the number of bets transmitted from each gaming terminal and stored the resultant pool value in theRAM 410. Specifically, theCPU 406 adds the number of bets per game transmitted from each gaming terminal and multiplies the result by the predetermined rate of each jackpot, thus calculating each pool value. And, theCPU 406 stores the calculation result in a predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S107. - At the step S107, the
CPU 406 determines whether or not the first pool value is equal to or greater than the first event value. In this process, theCPU 406 determines whether or not the first pool value stored in theRAM 410 at the step S105 is equal to or greater than the first event value stored in theROM 408. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S108, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S111. - At the step S108, the
CPU 406 performs a first jackpot process. The first jackpot process will be described later. - At a step S109, the
CPU 406 receives the data of a game result of the first jackpot. In this process, theCPU 406 receives the data of the game result of the first jackpot transmitted through the process of a step S218. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S110. - At the step S110, the
CPU 406 transmits payout data corresponding to the game result to each gaming terminal. In this process, theCPU 406 transmits the payout data to each gaming terminal based on the data of the game result received through the process at the step S109. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S111. - At the step S111, the
CPU 406 determines whether or not the second pool value is equal to or greater than the second event value. In this process, theCPU 406 determines whether or not the second pool value stored in theRAM 410 at the step S105 is equal to or greater than the second event value stored in theROM 408. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S112, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S114. - At the step S112, the
CPU 406 performs a second jackpot process. The second jackpot process will be described later. - At a step S113, the
CPU 406 receives the data of a game result of the second jackpot. In this process, theCPU 406 receives the data of the game result of the second jackpot transmitted through the process of a step S224. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S114. - At the step S114, the
CPU 406 transmits a payout data corresponding to the game result to each gaming terminal. In this process theCPU 406 transmits the payout data to each gaming terminal based on the data of the game result received through the process of the step S113. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S115. - As shown in
FIG. 21 , at the step S115, theCPU 406 starts the rotation of the lottery wheel. By the control of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312, start lotterywheel rotating motors face portions - At the step S116, the
CPU 406 starts to rock the housing. By the control of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312, the rockingdevice 346 is started to start rocking the housing of thelottery machine 312. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S117. - At the step S117, the
CPU 406 performs the process of dropping one lottery ball. By the control of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312, the rotating body 328 (seeFIG. 1 ) is controlled and one lottery ball is dropped into the lotteryball receiving portion 334. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S118. - At the step S118, the
CPU 406 performs the process of obtaining identification data. In this process, by the control of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312, one of the inputball detection sensors 349 disposed in the plurality of lottery holes 340 detects the input of one lottery ball, and theCPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 obtains an identification datum corresponding to thelottery hole 340. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S119. - At the step S119, the
CPU 406 transmits the identification information obtained by theCPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 and the information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery. TheCPU 406 transmits the identification information and the information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery, to thegaming terminals 314A to 314J via thecommunication control circuits 414A to 414J, respectively. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S110. Additionally, the aforesaid information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery is counted by theCPU 406 and stored in the RAM 410 (seeFIG. 10 ). Furthermore, the aforesaid identification information and the information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery are received by thegaming terminal 314 at a step S214 that is the process of themain control circuit 500A of thegaming terminal 314 to be described later. - At a step S120, the
CPU 406 determines whether theCPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 has finished predetermined rounds of lottery. Referring to the aforesaid information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery, which is stored in theRAM 410, theCPU 406 determines whether this covers the predetermined rounds or not. When this determination is YES, the process moves to a step S121, and when this determination is NO, the process returns to the step S117. - At the step S121, the
CPU 406 finishes the rocking of the housing. By the control of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312, the rockingdevice 346 is stopped to finish the rocking of the housing of thelottery machine 312. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S122. - At the step S122, the
CPU 406 finishes the rotation of the lottery wheels. By the control of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312, the lotterywheel rotating motors lottery wheels - Operation of Gaming Terminal
- A process of the
main control circuit 500A (seeFIG. 11 ) of thegaming terminal 314 will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21. - As shown in
FIG. 19 , at a step S201, theCPU 506A performs the initialization of thegaming terminal 314. TheCPU 506A (seeFIG. 11 ) of thegaming terminal 314 performs processes such as clearing of various variables arranged in theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ) and initialization of the display of thedisplay 370A. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S202. - At the step S202, the
CPU 506A performs of the display of a demonstration screen. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S203. - At the step S203, the
CPU 506A performs the process of detecting a game entry operation. In this process, the players make a game entry. By the control of themain control circuit 500A of thegaming terminal 314, thetouch sensor 372A (or themain control circuit 500A itself) detects that the player has touch-operated the display screen of thedisplay 370A (or has operated theinner dial 376A or theouter dial 377A). When this process ends, the process moves to a step S204. - At the step S204, the
CPU 506A performs the process of receiving the lottery start signal. TheCPU 506A of thegaming terminal 314 causes themain control circuit 500A (seeFIG. 11 ) of thegaming terminal 314 to receive, via thecommunication control circuit 514A, the lottery start signal transmitted by thelottery machine 312 through the process of the step S102. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S204. - At the step S209, the
CPU 506A performs of creating and displaying a bingo card. TheCPU 506A of thegaming terminal 314 selects a predetermined number of display data from display data (e.g. a card design) for displaying identification information that are stored in theROM 508A, then arranges the predetermined number of display data in matrix form, and displays them on thedisplay 370A. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S211. - At the step S211, the
CPU 506A performs bet operation reception. In this process, theCPU 506A of thegaming terminal 314 processes the information that is the information about a bet operation which the player has performed by touching the display screen of thedisplay 370A and that thetouch sensor 372A has detected by the control of themain control circuit 500A of thegaming terminal 314, and stores the bet information in theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ). When this process ends, the process moves to a step S212. - At the step S212, the
CPU 506A determines the number of payouts in response to the number of bets. In this process, based on the bet information stored in theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ), theCPU 506A of thegaming terminal 314 determines the number of payouts in the game. The determination result is stored in theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ) and displayed on a predetermined display portion of thedisplay 370A. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S213. - At the step S213, the
CPU 506A performs the determination of whether the bet reception time ends or not. TheCPU 506A of thegaming terminal 314 measures the time taken after the process of the step S209 is performed, and determines whether or not the measured time reaches a predetermined time. When this determination is YES, the process moves to a step S214 ofFIG. 18 , and when this determination is NO, the process returns to the step S211. - As shown in
FIG. 20 , at the step S214, theCPU 506A transmits the data of the number of bets. In this process, theCPU 506A transmits the data signal of the number of bets detected by amedal sensor 380A to theCPU 406 of thelottery machine 312. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S215. - At the step S215, the
CPU 506A determines whether a first jackpot generating command is received or not. In this process, theCPU 506A determines whether the first jackpot activation command transmitted through the process of the step S108 is received or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S216, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S219. - At the step S216, the
CPU 506A performs a first jackpot activation process. Specifically, theCPU 506A causes thedisplay 370A of thegaming terminal 314A to display an image on thedisplay screen 371A thereof. And, the players operate theinner dial 376A or theouter dial 377A (seeFIG. 8 ) to operate themock telescope 397, thereby searching for thetreasure island 379, thus performing the Discover Treasure Island game. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S218. - At the step S218, the
CPU 506A transmits the game result. In this process, theCPU 506A transmits the result of the Discover Treasure Island game to theCPU 406 of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S220. - At the step S219, the
CPU 506A determines whether the payout data is received or not. In this process, theCPU 506A determines whether the payout data transmitted through the process of the step S110 is received or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to the step S220, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S221. - At the step S220, the
CPU 506A executes a dividend payout process. In this process, theCPU 506A transmits a drive signal to thehopper 588A and executes the dividend payout. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S221. - At the step S221, the
CPU 506A determines whether a second jackpot activation command is received or not. In this process, theCPU 506A determines whether the second jackpot activation command transmitted through the process of the step S112 is received or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S222, and then this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S225. - At the step S222, the
CPU 506A performs a second jackpot activation process. Specifically, theCPU 506A causes the lottery balls to be inputted onto thelottery wheels 338 and 339 (seeFIG. 4 ). The lottery balls roll on thelottery wheels card symbols - At the step S224, the CPUA transmits the game result. In this process, the
CPU 506A transmits the result of the symbol guessing game performed at the step S216 to theCPU 406 of themain control circuit 400 of thelottery machine 312. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S220. - At the step S225, it is determined whether the payout data is received or not. In this process, the
CPU 506A determines whether the payout data transmitted through the process of the step S114 is received or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S226, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S227. - At the step S226, the
CPU 506A performs dividend payout. In this process, theCPU 506A transmits the drive signal to thehopper 588A and performs the dividend payout. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S227. - As shown in
FIG. 21 , at the step S227, theCPU 506A receives the identification information that is transmitted through the process of the step S119 and is obtained by theCPU 406 of thelottery machine 312 at the step S118 (seeFIG. 21 ) and the information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery. By the control of themain control circuit 500A (seeFIG. 11 ) of thegaming terminal 314, the aforesaid information is received via the communication control circuit 514 a. TheCPU 506A of thegaming terminal 314 stores the aforesaid identification information and the information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery into theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ). When this process ends, the process moves to the step S215. - At a step S228, the
CPU 506A retrieves whether the identification information received at the step S227 exists on the bingo card and, if it exists, activates the corresponding bingo cell. In this process, it is retrieved whether or not the identification information received at the step 214 exists on the bingo card that is created at the step S209 and displayed on thedisplay 370A. If any identical identification information exists, a activation flag, placed in theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ), of the bingo cell on which the identical identification information is placed, is turned on. Furthermore, the aforesaid bingo cell on the screen display of thedisplay 370A is displayed so as to be differentiable from the other bingo cells in such a manner that it is relatively brightly displayed or displayed with a half-tone dot meshing display removed. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S229. - At the step S229, the
CPU 506A performs the determination of whether a bingo hand is formed. In this process, theCPU 506A determines the combination of: the identification information, configuring the bingo card, which is stored in theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ) and displayed on thedevice 370A; the information about the position of the bingo cell on which the aforesaid identification information is placed; and a activation flag corresponding to the aforesaid identification information. Then, theCPU 506A determines whether or not a bingo hand is formed on a specific line of the bingo card. When this determination is YES, the process moves to a step S231, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S230. - At the step S230, the
CPU 506A performs the determination of whether identification information receive has reached a predetermined number of times. With reference to the information of in which round of lottery is the current lottery, which is stored in theRAM 510A (seeFIG. 11 ), it is determined based on this information whether or not the identification information receive has reached the predetermined number of times. When this determination is YES, the process moves to the step S201, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to the step S227. - At the step S231, the
CPU 506A executes a dividend payout process. In this process, theCPU 506A transmits a drive signal to thehopper 588A and executes the dividend payout. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S201. - First Jackpot Process
- The first jackpot process to be executed at the step S108 will now be described with reference to
FIG. 22 . - First, in
FIG. 22 , theCPU 406 determines whether a first jackpot activation flag is on or not (a step S401). When this determination is YES, the process moves to a step S402, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S406. - At the step S402, the
CPU 406 determines how many games after the current game the first jackpot is activated. In this process, theCPU 406 issues a signal to the random number generator 417 to the effect that a random number is to be activated, and the random number sampling circuit 418 selects a random number. Based on the selected random number and the first jackpot activation time determination table, theCPU 406 determines how many games after the game being currently played the first jackpot is activated. - Specifically, the
CPU 406 selects a random number from the predetermined random number range (e.g. a range of “0” to “255”). And, suppose that the selected random number falls in a range of “151” to “200”. Then, since the number of activation standby games is 15 games (seeFIG. 15 ), the first jackpot is activated in the fifteenth game from the game satisfying the condition of activation of the first jackpot. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S403. - At the step S403, the
CPU 406 turns on the first jackpot activation flag and subsequently sets a first jackpot activation counter. In this process, theCPU 406 turns on the first jackpot activation flag stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410. Besides, theCPU 406 sets the first jackpot activation counter stored in the predetermined region of theRAM 410, in response to the number of activation standby games determined at the step S402. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S404. - At the step S404, the
CPU 406 determines how many games before the first jackpot activation game the first jackpot notification is executed. In this process, theCPU 406 selects a random number as at the step S402. Subsequently, based on the selected random number and the first jackpot notification execution time determination table, theCPU 406 determines how many games after the game being currently played the first jackpot notification is activated. - Specifically, the
CPU 406 selects a random number from the predetermined random number range (e.g. a range of “0” to “255”). And, suppose that the selected random number falls in a range of “151” to “200”. Then, since the number of notification execution games is 4, the first jackpot notification is performed four games before the game in which the first jackpot is to activate. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S405. - At the step S405, the
CPU 406 turns on a first jackpot notification flag and subsequently sets a first jackpot notification counter. In this process, theCPU 406 turns on the first jackpot notification flag stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410. Besides, theCPU 406 sets the first jackpot notification counter stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410, in response to the number of notification execution games determined at the step S404. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S406. - At the step S406, the
CPU 406 determines whether or not the number of players participating in the game is the predetermined number, i.e., four or more. In this process, theCPU 406 determines whether or not the number of players who have come for the bet operation reception of the step S211 is four or more. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S407, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S413. - At the step S407, the
CPU 406 determines whether the first jackpot notification counter is 0 or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S409, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S408. - At the step S408, the
CPU 406subtracts 1 from the first jackpot notification counter (step S408). In this process, theCPU 406subtracts 1 from the first jackpot notification counter and thereafter stores the result into a predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S410. - At the step S409, the
CPU 406 executes a first jackpot notification process and also turns off the first jackpot notification flag. In this process, theCPU 406 performs the notification of notifying the players that the first jackpot will be activated within a few games. Besides, theCPU 406 turns off the first jackpot activation flag stored in the predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S410. - At the step S410, the
CPU 506A determines whether the first jackpot activation counter is 0 or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S412, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S411. - At the step S411, the
CPU 406subtracts 1 from the first jackpot activation counter (step S411). In this process, theCPU 406subtracts 1 from the first jackpot notification counter and thereafter stores the result into the predetermined region of theRAM 410. - At the step S412, when it is determined that the first jackpot counter is 0, a first jackpot activation command is transmitted and, at the same time, the first jackpot activation flag is turned off (step S412). In this process, the
CPU 406 transmits the first jackpot activation transmission command to theCPU 506A of themain control circuit 500A of thegaming terminal 314A. Besides, theCPU 406 turns off the first jackpot activation flag stored in the predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, this sub-routine ends. - Besides, at the step S413, the
CPU 406 executes a cancellation process. In this process, theCPU 406 turns off the first jackpot activation flag and the first jackpot notification flag. Besides, the first jackpot activation counter and the first jackpot notification counter are set to 0. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S414. - At the step S414, the
CPU 406 determines whether or not the first pool value is equal to or greater than the first event value (step S414). In this process, theCPU 406 determines whether or not the first pool value stored in theRAM 410 through the process of the step S213 is equal to or greater than the first event value. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S415, and when this determination is NO, this sub-routine ends. - At the step S414, the
CPU 406 performs a first pool value transfer process. In this process, theCPU 406 transfers a surplus pool value, obtained by subtracting the first event value from the first pool value stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410, to the second pool value stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410. That is, the surplus pool value is added to the second pool value, thus updating the second pool value. - Specifically, for example, when the second pool value is 409, the first event value is 200, and the first pool value is 230, then 30 of the surplus pool value obtained by subtracting 200 of the first event value from 230 of the first pool value is added to 409 of the second pool value. Thus, the second pool value obtained after the addition is updated as 439 in the
RAM 410. When this process ends, this sub-routine ends. - Second Jackpot Process
- The second jackpot process to be executed at the step S112 will be described with reference to
FIG. 23 . - First, in
FIG. 23 , theCPU 406 determines whether a second jackpot activation flag is on or not (a step S501). When this determination is YES, the process moves to a step S502, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S506. - At the step S502, the
CPU 406 determines how many games after the current game the second jackpot is activated. In this process, theCPU 406 issues a signal to the random number generator 417 to the effect that a random number is to be activated, and the random number sampling circuit 418 selects a random number. Based on the selected random number and the first jackpot activation time determination table, theCPU 406 determines how many games after the game being currently played the second jackpot is activated. - Specifically, the
CPU 406 selects a random number from the predetermined random number range (e.g. a range of “0” to “255”). And, suppose that the selected random number falls in a range of “151” to “200”. Then, since the number of activation standby games is 30 games (seeFIG. 16 ), the second jackpot is activated in the thirtieth game from the game satisfying the condition of activation of the second jackpot. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S503. - At the step S503, the
CPU 406 turns on the second jackpot activation flag and subsequently sets a second jackpot activation counter. In this process, theCPU 406 turns on the second jackpot activation flag stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410. Besides, theCPU 406 sets the second jackpot activation counter stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410, in response to the activation standby number of games determined at the step S402. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S504. - At the step S504, the
CPU 406 determines how many games before the second jackpot activation game the second jackpot notification is executed. In this process, theCPU 406 selects a random number as at the step S402. Subsequently, based on the selected random number and the second jackpot notification execution time determination table, theCPU 406 determines how many games after the game being currently played the second jackpot notification is activated. - Specifically, the
CPU 406 selects a random number from the predetermined random number range (e.g. a range of “0” to “255”). And, suppose that the selected random number falls in a range of “151” to “200”. Then, since the number of notification execution games is 4, the second jackpot notification is performed four games before the game in which the second jackpot is to activate. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S505. - At the step S505, the
CPU 406 turns on a second jackpot notification flag and subsequently sets a second jackpot notification counter. In this process, theCPU 406 turns on the second jackpot notification flag stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410. Besides, theCPU 406 sets the second jackpot notification counter stored in a predetermined region of theRAM 410, in response to the number of notification execution games determined at the step S504. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S506. - At the step S506, the
CPU 406 determines whether the second jackpot notification counter is 0 or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S508, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S507. - At the step S507, the
CPU 406subtracts 1 from the second jackpot notification counter. In this process, theCPU 406subtracts 1 from the second jackpot notification counter and thereafter stores the result into a predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, the process moves to a step S509. - At the step S508, the
CPU 406 executes a second jackpot notification process and also turns off the second jackpot notification flag. In this process, theCPU 406 performs the notification of notifying the players that the second jackpot will be activated within a few games. Besides, theCPU 406 turns off the second jackpot activation flag stored in the predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, the process moves to the step S509. - At the step S509, the
CPU 406 determines whether the second jackpot activation counter is 0 or not. When this determination is YES, the process proceeds to a step S510, and when this determination is NO, the process moves to a step S511. - At the step S510, the
CPU 406subtracts 1 from the second jackpot activation counter. In this process, theCPU 406subtracts 1 from the second jackpot notification counter and thereafter stores the result into the predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, this sub-routine ends. - At the step S511, the
CPU 406 performs a second jackpot activation process. Besides, the CPU 406 a second jackpot activation command and also turns off the second jackpot activation flag. In this process, theCPU 406 performs the second jackpot activation process. Specifically, theCPU 406 lights up thesails 311A to 311E of the gaming machine 310 (seeFIG. 1 ) with light (not shown). Besides, theCPU 406 transmits the second jackpot activation transmission command to theCPU 506A of themain control circuit 500A of thegaming terminal 314A. Besides, theCPU 406 turns off the second jackpot activation flag stored in the predetermined region of theRAM 410. When this process ends, this sub-routine ends. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406,RAM 410, etc. that execute the step S106 ofFIG. 20 each correspond to an example of the cumulative storage unit of the invention. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406,ROM 408 andRAM 406 that execute the steps S107 and S111 ofFIG. 20 each correspond to an example of the event value achievement determination unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 506A, etc. that execute the steps S216 and S222 ofFIG. 20 , and theCPU 406, etc. that execute the step S412 ofFIG. 22 or the step S511 ofFIG. 23 each correspond to an example of the event activation unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406, random number generator 417, etc. that execute the step S402 ofFIG. 22 and the step S502 ofFIG. 23 each correspond to an example of the event activation time determination unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406, random number generator, etc. that execute the step S404 ofFIG. 22 and the step S504 ofFIG. 23 each correspond to an example of the event notification time determination unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406, etc. that execute the step S409 ofFIG. 22 and the step S508 ofFIG. 23 each correspond to an example of the event notification unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406,RAM 410, etc. that execute the step S406, etc. ofFIG. 22 each correspond to an example of the number-of-players determination unit or determination unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406,RAM 410, etc. that execute the step S415 ofFIG. 23 each correspond to an example of the cumulative value transfer unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406,RAM 410, etc. that execute the step S415 ofFIG. 23 each correspond to an example of the surplus cumulative value storage unit of the invention. - Besides, in this embodiment, the
CPU 406,RAM 410, etc. that execute the step S415 ofFIG. 23 each correspond to an example of the surplus cumulative value addition unit of the invention. - Modified Embodiments
- In this embodiment, the gaming machine is configured as follows. That is, the
lottery wheels lottery machine 312 imitating a ship. The holes that the balls can enter are formed on the surfaces of thelottery wheels FIG. 1 ) of this embodiment is also applicable to any lottery machine for any game that can generate a plurality of jackpots. - The embodiment of the invention has been described above, which merely illustrates a specific example and particularly does not limit the invention. That is, the invention is the gaming machine that includes a plurality of gaming terminal devices having control panels operated by players and on which the players play a game upon payment of a game value, the gaming machine including: the cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of kinds of cumulative values on a per unit game basis at a predetermined rate in response to the game value; the event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and the event activation unit that generates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved. However, the specific configuration of each unit such as the cumulative storage unit, the event value achievement determination unit, and the event activation unit can be modified in design as appropriate.
- Additionally, the advantages described in the embodiment of the invention are merely a listing of the most preferred advantages yielded from the invention. Thus, the advantages of the invention are not limited to the ones described in the embodiment of the invention.
- According to this embodiment, even when the cumulative value or greater at which an event activates is achieved, there is the possibility that the event does not activate immediately, thus making it difficult to predict the next event activation. Accordingly, the expectation of the player for the events is maintained, thus making it possible to maintain the interest of the player.
- According to this embodiment, the notification of an event is performed before the event activates, thus enabling the interest of the player to be prevented from being reduced due to a sudden event activation. Besides, it can be expected to attract customers because of the event notification, thus enabling an increase in the number of the player participating in the game.
- In many cases, in a gaming machine of this type, a plurality of terminals serving as game input units are disposed in an outer peripheral region of such a gaming machine so that a plurality of players can simultaneously participate in the game. However, although the contrivance of using various electric spectaculars is always made to lure a large number of players to simultaneously participate in the game, in part because such a lure means is not beneficial to the players, there is the problem that such an effect as intended is not expected.
- According to this embodiment, since the one cumulative value does not increase because of the transfer function of the cumulative value transfer unit, the event in which the cumulative value does not increase is practically prohibited from activating, thus limiting the kinds of events to be activated as a result. Therefore, it becomes possible to expect the human-induced lure function of attracting other players because the players participating in the game themselves generate a huge variety of events.
- Moreover, even when the number of kinds of events to be activated is reduced, the amount that is subtracted at a predetermined rate from the game value paid by each of the players the number of whom does not reach the predetermined number is stored as the cumulative value that can be restored to the players participating in the game. Therefore, the fairness of the game can be maintained.
- Additionally, in “transfers one of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values to another cumulative value for storage”, needless to say, a partial transfer may be performed instead of transferring all the cumulative values.
- According to this embodiment, when an event to be activated is the predetermined event and when only the predetermined number or less of players participate in the game, the predetermined event is not activated. Accordingly, this can motivate the players to participate in the game as much as possible. Besides, the predetermined event is held when there are a large number of players participating in the game, thus exerting a stage effect.
- Besides, for example, when the predetermined event is a competition in speed and is the event of awarding prizes only to the predetermined number, there is the risk of reducing a play instinct by generating the event when only the predetermined number or less of players participate in the game. However, according to the invention, such a risk is avoided, thereby making it possible to maintain the play instinct.
- According to this embodiment, when the activation of the predetermined event is stopped, the surplus cumulative value is added to a cumulative value other then the cumulative value serving as the chance of generating the predetermined event. Accordingly, even when the predetermined event does not activate, the activation of an event other than the predetermined event is facilitated. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the interest of the players is reduced because the predetermined event does not activate.
- Second Embodiment
- A second embodiment will be described with reference to
FIG. 24 .FIG. 24 is configured such that a bingo game is executed with the process of theaforesaid gaming machine 310 assigned separately to eachgaming terminal 700 and agame server 800. - As shown in
FIG. 24 ,gaming terminals game server 800 that is another computer are connected to anetwork 550. That is, thesegaming terminals game server 800. Besides, thegame server 800 includes a control section (not shown) and a storage section (not shown) for storing a program. The control section executes various processes in accordance with the program stored in the storage section. - In this case, as will be described below, each
gaming terminals game server 800 have separate units, thereby configuring onegaming system 900. - (A1) A cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of kinds of cumulative values on a per unit game basis at a predetermined rate in response to a game value.
- (A2) An event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values.
- (A3) An event activation unit that generates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the pre-set event value is achieved.
- (A4) An event activation time determination unit that determines the time at which the event activation unit generates the event corresponding to the event value, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
- (A5) An event notification time determination unit that determines the time of performing the notification of the event corresponding to the event value, when the event activation time determination unit determines the time of activation of the event corresponding to the event value.
- (A6) An event notification unit that performs the notification of the event corresponding to the event value at the time determined by the event notification time determination means.
- (A7) A number-of-players determination unit that determines whether or not the number of players participating in the game of the gaming machine is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number that is pre-set.
- (A8) A cumulative value transfer unit that transfers one of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values to another cumulative value for storage, when the number-of-players determination unit determines that the number of players participating in the game is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number.
- (A9) A number-of-players determination unit that determines whether or not the number of players participating in the game upon payment of the game value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number, when the event activated by the event activation unit is a predetermined event.
- (A10) An event stop unit that stops the activation of the predetermined event at the time determined by the event activation time determination unit, when the determination unit determines that the number of players participating in the game is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number.
- (A11) A surplus cumulative value storage unit that stores, as a surplus cumulative value, the result obtained by subtracting a specific value from a cumulative value that the event value achievement determination unit determines has achieved the event value pre-set, when the event activation stop unit stops the activation of the predetermined event.
- (A12) A surplus cumulative value addition unit that adds the surplus cumulative value stored by the cumulative value storage unit to any cumulative value other than the subtracted cumulative value out of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values.
- (A13) came value data transmission unit that transmits to the game server the data of the game value paid by the players.
- (A14) A game value data receive unit that receives the data of the game value transmitted by the game value transmission unit.
- (A15) A cumulative value data transmission unit that transmits to the game server the data of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit.
- (A16) A cumulative value data receive unit that receives the data of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values transmitted by the cumulative value data transmission unit.
- As an example of a game system imitating the gaming machine of this embodiment, the
gaming terminal game server 800 has the aforesaid units (A1) to (A12), (A14) and (A15), thereby enabling the formation of the onegaming system 900. - Additionally, in this embodiment, the
gaming terminal game server 800 has the aforesaid units (A1) to (A12), (A14) and (A15), thereby forming the onegaming system 900. However, according to the invention, one gaming system may be constructed such that thegaming terminal game server 800 has the remaining units. - According to this embodiment, even when the cumulative value or greater at which an event activates is achieved, there is the possibility that the event does not activate immediately, thus making it difficult to predict the next event activation. Accordingly, the expectation of the players for the events is maintained, thus making it possible to maintain the interest of the players.
- According to this embodiment, the notification of an event is performed before the event activates, thus enabling the interest of the players from being reduced due to a sudden event activation. Besides, it can be expected to attract customers because of the event notification, thus enabling an increase in the number of players participating in the game.
- In many cases, in a gaming machine of this type, for example, a plurality of terminals serving as game input units are disposed in an outer peripheral region of such a gaming machine so that a plurality of players can simultaneously participate in the game. However, although the contrivance of using various electric spectaculars is always made to lure a large number of players to simultaneously participate in the game, in part because such a lure means is not beneficial to the players, there is the problem that such an effect as intended is not expected.
- According to this embodiment, since the one cumulative value does not increase because of the transfer function of the cumulative value transfer means, the event in which the cumulative value does not increase is practically prohibited from activating, thus limiting the kind of event to be activated as a result. Therefore, it becomes possible to expect the human lure function of attracting other players because the players participating in the game themselves generate a huge variety of events.
- Moreover, even when the number of kinds of events to be activated is reduced, the amount that is subtracted at a predetermined rate from the game value paid by each of the players the number of whom does not reach the predetermined number is stored as the cumulative value that can be restored to the players participating in the game. Therefore, the fairness of the game can be maintained.
- Additionally, in “transfers one of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values to another cumulative value for storage”, needless to say, a partial transfer may be performed instead of transferring all the cumulative values.
- According to this embodiment, when an event to be activated is the predetermined event and when only the predetermined number or less of players participate in the game, the predetermined event is not activated. Accordingly, this can motivate the players to participate in the game as much as possible. Besides, the predetermined event is held when there are a large number of players participating in the game, thus exerting a stage effect.
- Besides, for example, when the predetermined event is a competition in speed and is the event of awarding prizes only to the predetermined number, there is the risk of reducing a play instinct by generating the event when only the predetermined number or less of players participate in the game. However, according to the invention, such a risk is avoided, thereby making it possible to maintain the play instinct.
- According to this embodiment, when the activation of the predetermined event is stopped, the surplus cumulative value is added to a cumulative value other then the cumulative value serving as the chance of generating the predetermined event. Accordingly, even when the predetermined event does not activate, the activation of an event other than the predetermined event is facilitated. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the situation in which the interest of the players is reduced because the predetermined event does not activate.
- Besides, the advantages described in this specification are merely a listing of the most preferred advantages yielded from the invention. Thus, the advantages of the invention are not limited to the ones described in this specification.
Claims (14)
1. A gaming machine that includes a plurality of gaming terminal devices having control panels operated by a player and on which the player play a game upon payment of a game value, the gaming machine comprising:
a cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of cumulative values on a per game basis at a predetermined rate in response to the game value;
an event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and
an event activation unit that activates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , further comprising
an event activation time determination unit that determines a timing at which the event activation unit activates the event corresponding to the event value, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
3. The gaming machine according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an event notification time determination unit that determines the time of performing the notification of the event corresponding to the event value, when the event activation time determination unit determines a timing of activation of the event corresponding to the event value; and
an event notification unit that performs the notification of the event corresponding to the event value at the time determined by the event notification time determination unit.
4. The gaming machine according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a number-of-players determination unit that determines whether or not the number of the prayer participating in the game of the gaming machine is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number; and
a cumulative value transfer unit that transfers one of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values to other cumulative value for storage, when the number-of-players determination unit determines that the number of the player participating in the game is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number.
5. The gaming machine according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a number-of-players determination unit that determines whether or not the number of the player participating in the game upon payment of the game value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number, when the event activated by the event activation unit is a predetermined event; and
an event stop unit that stops the activation of the predetermined event at the time determined by the event activation time determination unit, when the number-of-players determination unit determines that the number of the player participating in the game is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number.
6. The gaming machine according to claim 5 , further comprising;
a surplus cumulative value storage unit that stores, as a surplus cumulative value, the result obtained by subtracting a specific value from a cumulative value that the event value achievement determination unit determine has achieved the event value, when the event activation stop unit stops the activation of the predetermined event; and
a surplus cumulative value addition unit that adds the surplus cumulative value stored by the cumulative value storage unit to any cumulative value other than the subtracted cumulative value out of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values.
7. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming terminal devices on which a player plays a game upon payment of a game value; and
a game server for transmitting/receiving the data of the game from the plurality of gaming terminal devices, wherein:
the gaming terminal devices each includes:
an control panel operated by each of the player; and
a game value data transmission unit that transmits to the game server the data of the game value paid by the player; and
the game server includes:
a game value data receive unit that receives the data of the game value transmitted by the game value transmission unit;
a cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of cumulative values on a per game basis at a predetermined rate in response to the game value received by the game value data receive unit;
an event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and
an event activation unit that activates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
8. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of gaming terminal devices on which a player plays a game upon payment of a game value; and
a game server for transmitting/receiving the data of the game from the plurality of gaming terminal devices, wherein:
the gaming terminal devices each includes:
an control panel operated by each of the player;
a cumulative storage unit that stores a plurality of cumulative values on a per game basis at a predetermined rate in response to the game value; and
a cumulative value data transmission unit that transmits to the game server the data of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values stored by the cumulative storage unit; and
the game server includes:
a cumulative value data receive unit that receives the data of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values transmitted by the cumulative value data transmission unit;
an event value achievement determination unit that determines whether or not any of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values received by the cumulative value data receive unit has achieved an event value pre-set for each of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values; and
an event activation unit that activates an event corresponding to the event value achieved, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
9. The gaming system according to claim 7 , wherein
the game server further includes an event activation time determination unit that determines the time at which the event activation unit activates the event corresponding to the event value, when the event value achievement determination unit determines that the event value pre-set is achieved.
10. The gaming system according to claim 9 , wherein
the game server further includes:
an event notification time determination unit that determines the time of performing the notification of the event corresponding to the event value, when the event activation time determination unit determines the time of activation of the event corresponding to the event value; and
an event notification unit that performs the notification of the event corresponding to the event value at the time determined by the event notification time determination unit.
11. The gaming system according to claim 10 , wherein
the game server further includes:
an event notification time determination unit that determines the time of performing the notification of the event corresponding to the event value, when the event activation time determination unit determines the time of activation of the event corresponding to the event value; and
an event notification unit that performs the notification of the event corresponding to the event value at the time determined by the event notification time determination unit.
12. The gaming system according to claim 10 , wherein
the game server further includes:
a number-of-players determination unit that determines whether or not the number of the player participating in the game of the gaming machine is equal to or smaller than a predetermined number that is pre-set; and
a cumulative value transfer unit that transfers one of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values to another cumulative value for storage when the number-of-players determination unit determines that the number of the player participating in the game is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number.
13. The gaming system according to claim 10 , wherein
the game server further includes:
a number-of-players determination unit that determines whether or not the number of the player participating in the game upon payment of the game value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number, when the event activated by the event activation unit is a predetermined event; and
an event stop unit that stops the activation of the predetermined event at the time determined by the event activation time determination unit, when the number-of-players determination unit determines that the number of the player participating in the game is equal to or smaller than the predetermined number.
14. The gaming system according to claim 13 , wherein
the game server further includes;
a surplus cumulative value storage unit that stores, as a surplus cumulative value, the result obtained by subtracting a specific value from a cumulative value that the event value achievement determination unit determines has achieved the event value pre-set, when the event activation stop unit stops the activation of the predetermined event; and
a surplus cumulative value addition unit that adds the surplus cumulative value stored by the cumulative value storage unit to any cumulative value different from the subtracted cumulative value out of the plurality of kinds of cumulative values.
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1513115A2 (en) | 2005-03-09 |
JP2005080861A (en) | 2005-03-31 |
EP1513115A3 (en) | 2005-11-16 |
CN100345604C (en) | 2007-10-31 |
CN1600403A (en) | 2005-03-30 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ARUZE CORP., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TOYODA, HIROBUMI;REEL/FRAME:015779/0635 Effective date: 20040901 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
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