JP5026557B2 - Gaming machine and information providing system for gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides an image display unit for displaying an image, game control means for executing a lottery and controlling a game according to the lottery result, and the image display unit in response to a predetermined game condition being established. In particular, the present invention relates to a gaming machine that includes an effect execution means for executing a special effect including display of an image and a system for providing a player with information related to the gaming machine.

  For example, in recent pachinko machines, a liquid crystal panel is provided in the center of the board so that various animation display effects are executed. In particular, the “premier effect” performed when the highest value jackpot is reached appears with a very low probability, and thus is highly topical. As a result, for example, a player who has won a jackpot with a premier production thinks that the content of the production can be saved for a memorial or to show off to others. Also, a player who cannot win a jackpot with a premier performance may have a desire to confirm what kind of performance will be performed.

  As an invention aiming at meeting the player's demand as described above, there is one described in Patent Document 1 below. In the gaming machine according to the present invention, an external connection terminal for connection to a mobile phone is provided on the front surface of the machine body, and image data and audio data for presentation are output to the mobile phone through this connection terminal. It is configured as follows.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-181097

  However, in the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the output terminal for connection is exposed, the output terminal may be damaged. In addition, when the mobile phone model changes, the shape of the output terminal may have to be changed, which is not economical. In addition, there is a possibility of being used for fraud such as reading data other than production data or writing illegal data to the control unit (in Patent Document 1, the connection destination via the output terminal is limited to the sub-board). The data of the main control unit can be protected by doing this, but even if it is a sub-board, if the data is changed, the gaming machine can no longer be used and damage will occur. Absent.). As described above, since the invention described in Patent Document 1 has poor feasibility, it is difficult to actually provide a service that provides the player with data for performance.

  The present invention stores information on a gaming machine that is highly valuable to a player in a dedicated site on the Internet, and uses access information for accessing the dedicated site as a general-purpose portable terminal such as a mobile phone. It is intended to improve the feasibility in implementing an information providing service to a player by displaying it on the image display unit of a gaming machine as a code pattern that can be read using .

  The gaming machine according to the present invention includes an image display unit for displaying an image, a game control means for executing a lottery and controlling a game according to the lottery result, and a predetermined game condition being established. Effect execution means for executing a special effect including display of an image in the image display unit.

  In the above gaming machine, in response to the establishment of a game condition such as a special jackpot, it is possible to execute a game having a greater advantage than usual for the player while executing a special effect. The “special effect” is an aspect in which, among a plurality of effect forms, an aspect with a relatively low appearance frequency or an information with a high value for the player is notified. For example, it can be executed in a form such as a still image such as a rare cut screen, animation or character moving image display, a combination of a sandstorming screen and sound effects, a performance of a specific theme song, a notification by special sound, or the like. The image display unit is preferably a liquid crystal panel, but is not limited thereto.

A gaming machine according to the present invention is a portable terminal provided with optical non-contact information reading means for indicating access information indicating an address of a dedicated site on the Internet where information provided to a player regarding the gaming machine is stored. Based on the history information of the game executed by the control of the pattern display means displayed on the image display unit and the game control means as a code pattern encoded according to the standard that can be read by the game, the game medium payout with the winning Display control means for determining that the number or the number of winnings has reached a predetermined value and causing the pattern display means to display the code pattern in response to the determination.

In the gaming machine configured as described above, the access information indicating the address of the dedicated site can be displayed on the image display unit as a standardized code pattern such as a two-dimensional code or a barcode.
A dedicated site on the Internet can store, for example, programs and data (image data / sound data) necessary to output image display and sound similar to special effects actually executed on gaming machines. . However, data for outputting a moving image or sound for demonstration that is shorter than the actual special effect may be stored.

  According to the gaming machine configured as described above, the player acquires the address of the dedicated site by capturing the code pattern displayed by the mobile terminal having the optical non-contact information reading means and decoding the access information. can do. Furthermore, the player can acquire information stored in the dedicated site by connecting the mobile terminal to the Internet and accessing the acquired address.

The information providing system using the gaming machine includes the gaming machine and a computer that operates as a portal site including a dedicated site on the Internet. When the portable terminal that has read the access information from the code pattern displayed on the image display unit of the gaming machine using the non-contact information reading means accesses the address of the dedicated site via the Internet The information stored in this address is transmitted to the portable terminal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to read access information necessary for accessing a dedicated site related to a gaming machine and storing information of high value for a player by a general-purpose portable device such as a mobile phone. Since it is displayed on the image display unit of the gaming machine as a code pattern encoded according to a possible standard, it is possible to improve the feasibility in implementing the information providing service to the player.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the information provision service to which this invention was applied. It is a front view which shows the external appearance of the pachinko machine used for the service of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the main electric structures of a pachinko machine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of a display of a two-dimensional code. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of a special effect process.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of an information providing service to which the present invention is applied. This information providing service provides data (including moving image data and audio data, hereinafter referred to as “special effect data”) necessary to reproduce a special effect developed on a specific type of gaming machine 1. To do. In order to receive this service, the player needs to have a camera-equipped mobile phone 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as “mobile phone 2”) having an Internet access function and a two-dimensional code reading function. .

  In this embodiment, an address 31 is set in the portal site 3 established on the Internet by a gaming machine manufacturer, and the special effect data 30 is stored in the address 31. In an actual gaming machine 1 (pachinko machine or slot machine) installed in the pachinko hall, when a condition for executing the special effect is satisfied, a two-dimensional code 300 in which the address 31 is encoded is displayed on the front display unit. indicate. The player images the two-dimensional code 300 displayed by the mobile phone 2 and decodes the original address 31 using the two-dimensional code reading function. Then, the special effect data is read out by accessing the decrypted address 31 and downloaded to the mobile phone 2.

Note that the gaming machine 1 is not limited to one type, and a plurality of types can be set. In this case, the special effect data 30 for each gaming machine is stored in a state linked to the individual address 31.
In FIG. 1, for convenience, the device used by the player is limited to the camera-equipped mobile phone 2. A computer may be used.

  FIG. 2 shows the appearance of a pachinko machine 1A as an example of the gaming machine 1 used for the information providing service. On the front surface of the pachinko machine 1A of this embodiment, a game board 10, a pachinko ball throwing tray 11, a tray 12, a ball launching handle 13, and the like are provided. A liquid crystal panel 14 is provided in the center of the game board 10, and a start winning opening 15, a special winning opening 16, an out opening 17 and the like are provided below the liquid crystal panel 14. Further, the game board 10 is provided with a plurality of general winning openings 18 and bonuses 19 and injury nails (not shown) are provided at appropriate positions. In addition, a cancel button 100 is provided below the game board. The function of this button 100 will be described later.

  In the pachinko machine described above, when a pachinko ball enters the start winning opening 15, a main controller 101 described later executes a lottery, and a game with effects is executed according to the lottery result. In this game with effects, a moving image for a symbol matching game is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14, and sound effects and music data are output in accordance with the movement of the image. When a predetermined prize is won in the lottery, a “winning” state is finally achieved in which the symbols are aligned, and a predetermined number of pachinko balls are paid out. Further, when the special jackpot state is established here, the special winning opening 16 is repeatedly opened thereafter. Further, the special effect is executed in this special jackpot state.

  FIG. 3 shows the main electrical configuration of the pachinko machine. This pachinko machine is provided with a plurality of sub-control devices 102, 103, 104 in addition to the main control device 101 for controlling the main flow of the game. Each of the control devices 101 to 104 has a configuration in which a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like are mounted on a substrate independent of other control devices. These substrates are attached to the back surface of the aircraft. In FIG. 4, as the sub-control devices, the display control device 102 in charge of moving image display control, the voice control device 103 in charge of output of sound effects and music data, and the payout control for controlling the payout of pachinko balls Although the device 104 is shown, a sub-control device can also be provided for operation control of a lamp for electric decoration (not shown).

  Each of the sub-control devices 102 to 104 controls a driving system in charge according to a command from the main control device 101. The display control device 102 selects an effect moving image in accordance with a command from the main control device 101 and displays it on the liquid crystal panel 14. The sound control device 103 reads out sound effect data and music data corresponding to the moving image from the internal ROM based on the same command as that for the display control device 102, and outputs it to the sound circuit 105.

  The payout control device 104 drives the pachinko ball payout device in response to a payout command from the main control device 101, and pays out the designated number of pachinko balls. Further, the payout control device 104 is connected to a drive circuit 107 of a pachinko ball launch motor 108. When the control signal from the payout control device 104 is on, the firing motor drive circuit 107 generates a drive current corresponding to the rotational operation amount of the ball firing handle 13 and supplies this to the firing motor 108.

  The main controller 101 is connected to the cancel button 100 described above. The cancel button 100 is operated when it is desired to end the display of the two-dimensional code 300, and a signal generated by the operation is transmitted from the main control device 101 to the display control device 102. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the main control device 101 is connected to a pachinko ball sensor arranged in various winning holes, a solenoid for opening / closing winning holes, and the like.

  In the above configuration, the main control device 101 executes game control while outputting a command to each of the sub control devices 102 to 104 based on the program in the internal ROM. Here, a lottery is performed in response to the pachinko ball entering the start winning opening 15, and when the special win is won by the lottery, the main control device 101 causes the display control device 102 and the voice control device 103 to The execution command for special effects is output. The display control device 102 and the audio control device 103 read and execute a special effect processing program in response to this command. Further, the display control apparatus 102 of this embodiment holds the image data of the two-dimensional code 300 indicating the address 31, and reads the image of the two-dimensional code 300 at a predetermined frequency during the special effect process. Displayed in the empty area of the panel 14.

  FIG. 4 shows a display example of a two-dimensional code accompanying the special effect. Reference numeral 141 in the figure denotes an area in which a moving image for special effects is displayed on the liquid crystal panel 14. Below this area 141, a two-dimensional code 300 indicating the address 31 is displayed together with message information M that prompts photographing of the code. Note that the two-dimensional code 300 in the illustrated example is a QR code (registered trademark), but is not limited thereto, and other types of two-dimensional codes may be used. A bar code may be displayed instead of the two-dimensional code.

  FIG. 5 shows a procedure of special effect processing in the display control apparatus 102. In FIG. 5 and the following description, each step is abbreviated as “ST”.

  As described above, this procedure starts in response to a special effect execution command from the main control device 101. In this embodiment, the two-dimensional code 300 is displayed at a predetermined frequency instead of displaying the two-dimensional code 300 for each special effect. In the first ST1, it is determined whether or not the two-dimensional code 300 is to be displayed in the current special effect based on the operation history in the past predetermined time. Here, if the display frequency of the two-dimensional code 300 within the predetermined time is below a certain reference value, ST1 becomes “YES” and the process proceeds to ST2, and the liquid crystal panel 14 is used to display the two-dimensional code 300. A notice is given to the effect. In addition, this advance notice can also be performed by effect data including a moving image.

  In the next ST3, the two-dimensional code 300 is displayed at the position shown in FIG. In ST3, an internal timer is started. The time measured by this timer is used to determine the end of the two-dimensional code display period.

  After displaying the two-dimensional code 300, processing based on the special effect program is executed while checking the operation of the cancel button 100 or the end of the two-dimensional code display period. If the cancel button 100 is operated or if the time measured by the internal timer reaches a predetermined reference time, the process proceeds to ST8 and the display of the two-dimensional code is terminated. Thereafter, in ST9 to ST10, the remaining effect processing is executed, and then the processing is terminated.

  In this embodiment, since the execution time of the special effect is variably set, if the cancel button 100 is not operated, the effect process may end before the code display period ends. In that case, ST7 becomes “YES” and the process is terminated.

  Next, when the display frequency of the two-dimensional code 300 in the past predetermined time exceeds the reference value, ST1 becomes “NO”, and in ST11, a special effect process that does not involve two-dimensional code display is executed. . When the production is finished, ST12 becomes “YES”, and the processing is finished.

  In the special effect process described above, when the two-dimensional code 300 is displayed, the player can photograph the displayed two-dimensional code 300 using his / her mobile phone 2. Furthermore, after this shooting, the special effect can be reproduced on the screen of the mobile phone 2 by decrypting the address 31 using the reading function and accessing the portal site 3.

  Further, the player can end the display of the two-dimensional code by operating the cancel button 100 when the photographing of the two-dimensional code 300 is completed or when photographing is not necessary. Therefore, since it is possible to prevent the surrounding players and the like from stealing the two-dimensional code, it is possible to prevent a decrease in the value of the two-dimensional code.

  The display of the two-dimensional code 300 may be executed under conditions different from the special effects. For example, a two-dimensional code can be displayed when a special condition is satisfied, such as when a lottery separated from game control is won or when the payout of a pachinko ball is stopped.

  When the gaming machine 1 of FIG. 1 is a slot machine, a liquid crystal panel is provided in the vicinity of the symbol display window, and a special effect is given when a game state in which bonus winnings are repeated or a transition to a bonus game is made. At the same time, it is possible to display a two-dimensional code for calling the data for production. However, even in slot machines, a two-dimensional code is displayed at a timing other than during special effects, such as when the number of medals paid out or the number of winnings reaches a predetermined value, or when a lottery independent of the game is won. Also good.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the address where the special effect data is stored is encoded into a two-dimensional code. Instead, an image in which information obtained by compressing the special effect data is embedded is displayed. You may make it do. In this case, after shooting the displayed image, the player can download the decompression program from the portal site 3 to decompress the special effect data and call a moving image or sound effect.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Mobile phone with a camera 3 Portal site 14 Liquid crystal panel 30 Special effect data 31 Address 101 Main controller 102 Display controller 300 Two-dimensional code

Claims (3)

An image display unit for displaying an image, game control means for executing a lottery and controlling a game according to the lottery result, and display of an image in the image display unit in response to a predetermined game condition being established A game machine having an effect execution means for executing a special effect including:
Access information indicating the address of a dedicated site on the Internet where information provided to the player regarding the gaming machine is stored is encoded according to a standard that can be read by a portable terminal equipped with optical non-contact information reading means. Pattern display means for displaying on the image display unit as a converted code pattern;
Based on the history information of the game executed by the control of the game control means, it is determined that the number of game media payout or the number of winnings associated with winning has reached a predetermined value. A gaming machine further comprising display control means for causing the pattern display means to display the code pattern. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the pattern display unit displays a two-dimensional code in which the access information is encoded as the code pattern on the image display unit. A system comprising the gaming machine according to claim 1 and a computer operating as a portal site including a dedicated site on the Internet,
When the portable terminal that has read the access information from the code pattern displayed on the image display unit of the gaming machine using the non-contact information reading means accesses the address of the dedicated site via the Internet An information providing system for a gaming machine, wherein information stored in the address is transmitted to the portable terminal.

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