JP6719306B2 - Amusement machine and game frame - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a gaming machine and a gaming frame that can be played using a gaming value.

Conventionally, a pachinko ball, which is a game medium, is enclosed inside, and when a player operates a hit ball operation handle, a firing solenoid of a launcher is driven to enclose the enclosed game ball one by one. There is known a gaming machine that can be played by typing in.

JP, 2013-169228, A

In the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, a foul ball detection switch for detecting that the gaming balls are accumulated in the outer path is provided in the circulation path in which the gaming balls circulate inside the gaming machine. It is possible to detect. However, in the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1, in the nail maintenance work (particularly confirmation work) after the closing process in the game store, the clerk throws the game ball to the launcher side, so that the launcher (for example, If a game ball remains in the (launching mouth), the game ball cannot be collected from the game area, and there is a problem that an error occurs between the number of balls shot and the number of balls collected.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the actual situation, and an object thereof is that a game ball (game medium) remains in the launching device and an error occurs between the number of shots and the number of collected balls. An object is to provide a game machine and a game frame that can prevent the game machine from being lost.

(1) The present invention relates to a gaming machine capable of playing a game (for example, an enclosed-type pachinko gaming machine P stand 1),
Launching means (eg, launching device 14) for launching the game medium to the game area,
Firing control means (for example, payout control section 171) for controlling the firing means,
Firing number specifying means (for example, a firing ball detection switch 99) for specifying the number of game media fired by the firing means as the number of firings,
Collection number specifying means (for example, game ball detection device 27) for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
A monitoring processing unit (for example, a payout control unit 171) capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to execute a predetermined operation for launching a game medium to the game area after the power is turned on (for example, the payout control section 171 causes the game ball to be played after the power is turned on. An operation (a predetermined operation) for driving the firing solenoid 41 for causing the firing device 14 to fire),
The number-of-collection specifying means invalidates the addition to the number of collection of the number of collected game media until a predetermined period elapses after the launching means starts the predetermined operation after the power is turned on (for example, After the power is turned on, the addition of the number of balls collected for the game balls to the number of collected balls is invalidated until the collected-ball detection invalid period elapses after the launching device 14 starts a predetermined operation (see FIG. 22).

According to such a configuration, the gaming machine invalidates the addition to the collection number for the number of collected game media until the predetermined period elapses after the launching means starts the predetermined operation after the power is turned on. It is possible to prevent the game medium from remaining in the launching means and causing an error between the number of shots and the number of shots collected.

(2) The present invention is a game machine capable of playing a game (for example, an enclosed-type pachinko game machine P stand 1),
Launching means (eg, launching device 14) for launching the game medium to the game area,
Firing control means (for example, payout control section 171) for controlling the firing means,
A number-of-shooting specifying means for specifying the number of game media shot by the shooting means as the number of shots (for example, a shot ball detection switch 99),
Collection number specifying means (for example, game ball detection device 27) for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
A monitoring processing unit (for example, a payout control unit 171) capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to execute a predetermined operation for launching a game medium to the game area at the end of business (for example, the payout control section 171 causes the game ball to enter the game area when the store is closed). An operation (a predetermined operation) of driving the firing solenoid 41 for firing the firing apparatus 14),
The collection number specifying means adds the number of collected game media after the start of the predetermined operation by the launching means at the end of business to the collection number (for example, driving the launch solenoid 41 by the launching device 14 when the store is closed). After the start, the number of balls collected for the game balls is added to the number of collected balls, see FIG. 23).

According to such a configuration, the gaming machine adds the number of collected game media to the collected number after the start of the predetermined operation by the launching means at the end of business, so that the game medium remains in the launching means and is launched. It is possible to prevent an error from occurring between the number and the collected number.

(3) The present invention relates to a game frame (for example, a main frame 100) of a game machine (for example, an enclosed pachinko game machine P stand 1) capable of playing a game,
Launching means (eg, launching device 14) for launching a game medium to a game area of a game board that is removable from the game frame,
Firing control means (for example, payout control section 171) for controlling the firing means,
Firing number specifying means (for example, a firing ball detection switch 99) for specifying the number of game media fired by the firing means as the number of firings,
Collection number specifying means (for example, game ball detection device 27) for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
A monitoring processing unit (for example, a payout control unit 171) capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to execute a predetermined operation for launching a game medium to the game area after the power is turned on (for example, the payout control section 171 causes the game ball to be played after the power is turned on. An operation (a predetermined operation) for driving the firing solenoid 41 for causing the firing device 14 to fire),
The number-of-collection specifying means invalidates the addition to the number of collection of the number of collected game media until a predetermined period elapses after the launching means starts the predetermined operation after the power is turned on (for example, After the power is turned on, the addition of the number of balls collected for the game balls to the number of collected balls is invalidated until the collected-ball detection invalid period elapses after the launching device 14 starts a predetermined operation (see FIG. 22).

According to such a configuration, the game frame invalidates the addition to the collection number for the number of collected game media until the predetermined period elapses after the launching means starts the predetermined operation after the power is turned on. It is possible to prevent the game medium from remaining in the launching means and causing an error between the number of shots and the number of shots collected.

(4) The present invention is a game frame (for example, a main frame 100) of a game machine (for example, an enclosed type pachinko game machine P stand 1) capable of playing a game,
Launching means (eg, launching device 14) for launching a game medium to a game area of a game board that is removable from the game frame,
Firing control means (for example, payout control section 171) for controlling the firing means,
Firing number specifying means (for example, a firing ball detection switch 99) for specifying the number of game media fired by the firing means as the number of firings,
Collection number specifying means (for example, game ball detection device 27) for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
A monitoring processing unit (for example, a payout control unit 171) capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to execute a predetermined operation for launching a game medium to the game area at the end of business (for example, the payout control section 171 causes the game ball to enter the game area when the store is closed). An operation (a predetermined operation) of driving the firing solenoid 41 for firing the firing apparatus 14),
The collection number specifying means adds the number of collected game media after the start of the predetermined operation by the launching means at the end of business to the collection number (for example, driving the launch solenoid 41 by the launching device 14 when the store is closed). After the start, the number of balls collected for the game balls is added to the number of collected balls, see FIG. 23).

With such a configuration, the game frame adds the number of collected game media after the start of the predetermined operation by the launching means at the end of business to the collected number, so that the game medium remains in the launching means and is launched. It is possible to prevent an error from occurring between the number and the collected number.

(5) In (1) above,
A main control unit (for example, the main control unit 161),
A frame control unit (for example, a payout control unit 171) capable of communicating with the main control unit,
The frame control means controls the firing control means to fire the game medium when the main control means is in a start waiting state (for example, a user program start waiting state of the main control section 161) after the power is turned on. The firing means is caused to execute the predetermined operation of (for example, drive control of the firing solenoid 41 is performed).

According to such a configuration, when the main control unit is in the waiting state for starting, the launching unit is caused to execute the predetermined operation, so that the starting waiting time of the main control unit is effectively utilized to execute the predetermined operation. It is possible to avoid a delay in the start-up time of the gaming machine.

(6) In the above (1) and (5),
The launch control means has a condition that there is no game point to be used for the game and that there is an error between the number of shots identified at the time of the last power-off and the number of collections (for example, the number of game balls is 0 (zero. ), when there is an error in the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls (the total number of balls passing through the outlet and the number of winning balls) when the power was turned off last time), the game medium is played after the power is turned on. The firing means is caused to execute the predetermined operation for firing the area (for example, drive control of the firing solenoid 41 is performed).

According to such a configuration, there is no game point to be used for the game, and the predetermined operation is fired on the condition that there is an error between the number of shots specified when the power was last turned off and the number of collections. Means can be executed, and unnecessary processing is not executed.

(7) In (5) above,
The main control means does not identify the winning as a winning even if the game medium launched by the predetermined operation after the power is turned on enters the winning opening provided in the game area (for example, the gaming medium is launched during the collected ball invalid period). Even if a game ball enters the winning opening, it is not specified as a winning prize).

With such a configuration, it is possible to prevent the gaming state from changing in accordance with a predetermined operation.

(8) In the above (5) and (7),
The frame control means transmits a recovery start request command to the main control means to request the main control means to start a recovery process of information about a game when the predetermined period has elapsed (for example, payout). When the control unit 171 has passed the collection ball invalid period, it sends a recovery request command to the main control unit 161).

With such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the influence on the recovery process caused by causing the firing means to execute the predetermined operation.

(9) In the above (2),
A main control unit (for example, the main control unit 161),
A frame control unit (for example, a payout control unit 171) capable of communicating with the main control unit,
The frame control means detects a closing flag (for example, CU opening state=OFF) transmitted from a gaming device communicatively connected to the frame control means, and stores a game point used for a game. In this case, the information of the game points is transmitted to the game device (for example, the payout control unit 171 requests the CU 10 to count the remaining game balls, so the game ball information=50 game balls is displayed. After notifying the CU 10) that the information has been received by the gaming device (for example, receiving a notification that the game ball information has been received), the firing control means is controlled to move the game medium to the game area. The firing means is caused to execute the predetermined operation for firing the firing solenoid (for example, drive control of the firing solenoid 41 is performed).

With such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately manage the number of shots and the number of collections at the end of business.

(10) In the above (1), (2), (5) to (8),
To a gaming device (eg, CU10) that accepts a gaming medium (eg, an IC card such as a visitor card or a membership card) that can specify the value owned by the player (eg, the number of balls held, the number of balls accumulated, the prepaid balance). It is possible to play using a game value (for example, a game ball) that is provided correspondingly and converted from the possession value specified from the game medium,
Storage means for storing the game value (for example, RAM of payout control unit 171, see FIG. 10),
From the gaming device, reception information that can specify that the gaming medium has been received by the gaming device (for example, a card insertion notification, a status information request that can identify that the card insertion state is ON) is sent from the gaming device. Reception information receiving means for receiving (for example, payout control unit 171, see FIG. 15),
Addition information for adding a game value of a predetermined size (the number of game balls requested to be added) to the game value stored in the storage means (for example, state information including information indicating that the game ball addition request is ON). An addition information receiving unit (for example, refer to the payout control unit 171, FIG. 18, FIG. 19, and S10 of FIG. 20) for receiving a request),
When the addition information is received by the addition information receiving means, addition means capable of performing addition control for adding a game value of a predetermined size to the game value stored in the storage means (for example, payout) Control unit 171, see FIG. 18, FIG. 19, and S14 in FIG. 20),
The addition means performs the addition control when the reception information is received by the reception information reception means (for example, as shown in FIG. 20, if YES in S12 and S13, in S14, the number of game balls). On the other hand, when the reception information is not received by the reception information receiving unit, the addition control is not performed (for example, as shown in FIG. 20, when NO in either S12 or S13, Does not shift to S14).

According to such a configuration, even if the gaming machine receives the addition information for adding the game value of a predetermined size, the gaming machine stores the gaming medium when the gaming medium is not accepted by the gaming machine. Since the game value of a predetermined size is not added to the value, the security at the time of adding the game value can be improved.

It is a front view of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention, showing an arrangement layout of main members. It is an exploded perspective view of a game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the exploded perspective view which looked at the body frame of the game machine concerning the embodiment of the present invention from the back. It is a perspective view of the game ball detection device of the game machine concerning the embodiment of the present invention, (a) is a figure seen from the front, (b) is a figure seen from the back. It is the exploded perspective view which looked at the doffing device of the game machine concerning the embodiment of the present invention from the back. It is the perspective view showing the state where the game medium was filled in the ball passage of the launching device of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the launching device of the game machine concerning the embodiment of the present invention from the back. It is a block diagram showing a card unit of a game machine and a control circuit used for a pachinko game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a notification process when an abnormality is detected as a result of mutual authentication. It is an explanatory view for explaining various data stored in the card unit side and the pachinko gaming machine side and transmission/reception thereof. It is explanatory drawing explaining the outline of the command and response transmitted/received between a card unit and a pachinko game machine. It is an explanatory view for explaining the contents of a state information request. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the content of the status information response. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the content of the status information response. It is a figure showing an example of processing of a card unit and a pachinko game machine when a card is inserted in a card unit. It is a figure showing an example of processing of a card unit and a pachinko game machine when a card is returned. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the relationship of the command of a card insertion notification, the CU state contained in the command of a state information request, and the insertion state of a card. It is a figure which shows an example of a process of a card unit and a pachinko game machine at the time of lending a ball from the prepaid balance of the inserted card. It is a figure which shows an example of a process of a card unit and a pachinko gaming machine at the time of paying out a dime ball and paying out a ball. It is a flow chart for explaining status information request reception processing. It is a figure for explaining the kind of error which can be notified in a game system. It is a figure which shows an example of the emission operation at the time of power-on. It is a figure which shows an example of the firing operation at the time of a store closing. It is a perspective view showing a state in which a front door of the slot machine is opened. FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating various data stored in each of the card unit and the slot machine and a transmission/reception mode thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<Structure of pachinko machine>
FIG. 1 is a front view of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing an arrangement layout of main members. A pachinko gaming machine (gaming machine) (hereinafter, may be abbreviated as “P”) 1 includes a main body frame 100, and an upper front frame 3A that is rotatably supported on the left and right sides of the main body frame 100 in a vertically rotatable manner. And a lower front frame 3B which is located below the upper front frame 3A and which is pivotally supported on one side of the main body frame 100 in a vertically rotatable and detachable manner, and is arranged in front of the lower front frame 3B. The display unit 50 is provided. In the P stand 1, the upper front frame 3A, the lower front frame 3B, and the display unit 50 form the front surface of the P stand 1.

The upper front frame 3A and the lower front frame 3B are separated from each other, and the upper front frame 3A has bearing portions 31a and 31b attached on one side vertically and pivotally supported by a hinge portion (not shown) of the main body frame 100. Thus, it is rotatably attached to the main body frame 100. A game board (gauge board) 2 constituting a game board surface is detachably attached to the upper front frame 3A. On the game board 2, a game area surrounded by guide rails and having a substantially circular outer edge is formed. A game ball as a game medium is shot and driven into this game area.

At a predetermined position of the game board 2 (on the lower right edge of the game area in the example shown in FIG. 1), a first special symbol display device 4A and a second special symbol display device 4B are provided. Each of the first special symbol display device 4A and the second special symbol display device 4B is a special symbol which is a plurality of types of identification information (special identification information) capable of identifying each in a special symbol game as an example of a variable display game ( (Also called “special map”) is variably displayed (variable display).

An image display device 5 is provided near the center of the game area on the game board 2. The image display device 5 is composed of, for example, an LCD (liquid crystal display device) or the like, and forms a display area for displaying various effect images. In the display area of the image display device 5, corresponding to each of the variable display of the first special symbol by the first special symbol display device 4A and the variable display of the second special symbol by the second special symbol display device 4B in the special symbol game. In the decorative pattern display area, which is a plurality of variable display portions such as three, for example, decorative patterns which are a plurality of types of identification information (decorative identification information) capable of identifying each are variably displayed. The variable display of the decorative pattern is also included in the variable display game.

As an example, in the display area of the image display device 5, “left”, “middle”, and “right” decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R are arranged. Then, in the special figure game, in response to the start of one of the variation of the first special symbol on the first special symbol display device 4A and the variation of the second special symbol on the second special symbol display device 4B, The variation (for example, vertical scroll display) of the decorative pattern is started in each of the “left”, “middle”, and “right” decorative pattern display areas 5L, 5C, and 5R. After that, when the fixed special symbol is stopped and displayed as a variable display result in the special symbol game, in each of the "left", "middle", and "right" decorative symbol display areas 5L, 5C, 5R in the image display device 5. The fixed decorative design (final stop design) that is the variable display result of the decorative design is stopped and displayed.

In the display area of the image display device 5, a start winning a prize memory display area 5H is arranged. In the starting prize winning memory display area 5H, a hold memory display is displayed that allows the number of variable displays held corresponding to the special figure game (special figure reserved memory number) to be specified. Here, in the suspension of the variable display corresponding to the special figure game, the game ball passes through the first starting winning opening formed by the normal winning ball apparatus 6A and the second starting winning opening formed by the normal variable winning ball apparatus 6B. It is generated based on the winning prize for starting by entering. That is, the starting condition (also referred to as “execution condition”) for executing the variable display game such as the special drawing game and the variable display of the decorative pattern is satisfied, but the variable display game based on the previously satisfied start condition is being executed. If the start condition for allowing the start of the variable display game is not satisfied due to the fact that the P unit 1 is controlled to the jackpot gaming state, the variable display corresponding to the established start condition is suspended. Be seen.

Below the game area on the game board 2, a normal winning ball device 6A and a normal variable winning ball device 6B are provided. The normal winning ball device 6A forms a first starting winning opening as a starting area (first starting area) which is always kept in a constant open state by a predetermined ball receiving member, for example. The ordinary variable winning ball device 6B is an electric tulip type accessory (ordinary electric accessory) having a pair of movable wing pieces which are changed by a solenoid (not shown) between a normal open state in which the vertical position and a magnified open state in which the tilt position is set. And a starting area (second starting area) for forming a second starting winning opening.

A special variable winning ball device 7 is provided below the normal winning ball device 6A and the normal variable winning ball device 6B. The special variable winning ball device 7 is provided with a special winning opening door that is opened and closed by a solenoid (not shown) for the special winning opening door, and the special winning as a specific area that changes between an open state and a closed state by the special winning opening door. Forming a mouth.

A normal symbol display 20 is provided at a predetermined position of the game board 2 (on the left side of the game area in the example shown in FIG. 1). As an example, the normal symbol display device 20 variably displays (variable display) a normal symbol (also referred to as “general symbol” or “normal symbol”) that is a plurality of types of identification information different from the special symbol. Such variable display of normal symbols is called a normal figure game (also called "normal figure game").

Above the normal symbol display device 20, a universal symbol holding display device 25C is provided. The ordinary figure hold indicator 25C is configured to include, for example, four LEDs, and displays the number of stored ordinary figure reserves as the number of valid passing balls that have passed through the pass gate 26.

In addition to the above configuration, the surface of the game board 2 is provided with a windmill and a large number of obstacle nails that change the flow direction and speed of the game balls. Further, as the winning opening different from the first starting winning opening, the second starting winning opening, and the big winning opening, for example, a single or a plurality of general winning openings that are always kept open by a predetermined ball receiving member are provided. You may be asked. In this case, a predetermined number (for example, 10) of game balls may be counted as prize balls based on the fact that the game balls that have entered any of the general winning openings are detected by a predetermined general prize ball switch. .. At the lowermost part of the game area, there is provided an outlet 8 for taking in game balls that have not entered any of the winning openings.

Speakers for reproducing and outputting sound effects and the like are provided at the upper left and right positions of the upper front frame 3A. A decorative LED may be arranged around each structure (for example, the normal winning ball device 6A, the normal variable winning ball device 6B, the special variable winning ball device 7, etc.) in the game area of the P base 1.

The P stand 1 is an enclosed pachinko game machine in which game balls (pachinko balls), which are an example of a game medium, are enclosed. An enclosed pachinko gaming machine is a pachinko gaming machine that uses a game ball enclosed inside in exchange for deduction of the player's points. In the enclosed pachinko gaming machine, a non-magnetic game ball is enclosed in order to prevent fraud using a magnet. By operating the hit ball operation handle 37, the player drives the firing solenoid 41 (FIG. 6) included in the launching device 14 (FIG. 2) to drive the game balls one by one into the game area of the game board 2. It is configured to play games. Specifically, a touch sensor is provided around the hit ball operation handle 37, and while the player is operating the hit ball operation handle 37, the player's hand touches the touch sensor, and the player's hand touches the touch sensor. Is detected by the touch sensor, and the firing solenoid 41 (FIG. 6) is driven. In this state, the momentum of hitting the ball is adjusted in accordance with the amount of turning operation of the hitting operation handle 37 by the player, and the game ball is launched into the game area.

The game balls hit in the game area are won in any of the winning openings or are collected in the out opening 8 without winning. The gaming balls that have won the winning opening and the gaming balls that have been collected in the out opening 8 are returned to the launcher 14 through the circulation path in the P stand 1 again. Then, when the player operates the hit ball operation handle 37, the game ball at the hit ball firing position is again hit into the game area.

A card unit (hereinafter, also abbreviated as CU) 10 is installed on the side of the P stand 1 in a one-to-one correspondence. This CU10 is issued to a visitor card having a prepaid function, which is a recording medium for gaming, issued to a general player who has not registered as a member, or a member player who has registered as a member at the amusement hall. In the corresponding P unit 1 by accepting a membership card, which is a recording medium for gaming, and using the gaming value owned by the player (for example, the card balance, the number of balls held, or the number of coins stored) specified by the recorded information of those cards. It has a function for allowing a game to be played by elastically firing an enclosed ball which is an example of a game medium. The visitor card and membership card are IC cards.

The CU 10 that has received these cards has a function of converting the game value (for example, the card balance, the number of balls held, or the number of accumulated balls) owned by the player specified by the record information of the cards into "game ball data". .. On the P unit 1, a ball game equivalent to the number of balls specified by the data of the game balls is possible.

On the front side of the CU 10, there are provided a bill insertion slot 302 for inserting a bill, a card insertion/ejection slot 309 for inserting a membership card or a visitor card. The member card or visitor card inserted in the card insertion/ejection slot 309 is accepted by a card reader/writer (not shown), and the information recorded on the card is read.

Here, the "payment" is a game medium deposited in a game hall, and is generally managed by a hall management computer or another management computer installed in the game hall.

The "number of balls owned" is the number of game balls that the player owns as a result of the player playing a game on the game machine, and is the number of balls that have not been deposited in the game hall. It is. In general, the number of balls that a player has acquired on the day of play at a game hall is called “Jiden”, and the number of balls that the player has acquired before the previous day and that has been deposited at the game hall is called “savings”. Say

The "gaming ball" is data on the number of balls that can be fired by the gaming machine. This data is generated in exchange for the withdrawal of the balance of the prepaid card, balls held, or balls accumulated.

The number of balls held may be managed by a management device for managing the number of balls set in the game hall. In short, the difference between "balls" and "balls" is the number of balls deposited in the amusement hall after the operation for depositing a deposit to the amusement hall is performed, or it is still deposited in the amusement hall. The point is whether or not the number of balls is not yet reached.

In the present embodiment, the savings ball data is not directly recorded on the membership card but is stored in association with the membership card number in the hall server installed in the game hall such as the hall management computer, and the corresponding savings ball is stored based on the membership card number. It is configured to be searchable. On the other hand, the dice are recorded directly on the card. However, the invention is not limited to this, and both may be stored in the hall server in association with the card number. In the case of the visitor card, the dice are also recorded directly on the visitor card. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the balls may be stored in the hall server in association with the card number. When the hole server is stored in association with the card number, the data stored in the hall server that can specify the time may be written on a card (membership card, visitor card) and discharged. In addition, the prepaid balance is directly written on the card (membership card, visitor card) and discharged.

Note that the timing of storing the balls in the card (member card, visitor card) or the hall server is, for example, stored in real time every time the counting button is operated and the counting process is performed, or stored at regular intervals. Or, when you return the card, you can store it in a batch.

The bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 302 is taken in by a currency discriminator (not shown), and its authenticity and bill type are identified.

A plurality of operation switch groups 38 are formed on the lower front frame 3B. The operation switch group 38 includes, for example, a ball lending button (also referred to as a lending button) and a return button. The ball lending button is a button for withdrawing the balance recorded in the inserted card and performing an operation (conversion operation into a game ball) for use in a game by the P base 1. The return button is operated when the player finishes the game, and the number of confirmed game balls at the end of the game in the inserted card (number of balls held when the card is inserted-number converted to game balls + counting operation This is an operation button for storing and ejecting the counted number of balls. The ball lending button and the return button may be provided in the CU 10.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the up, down, left, and right directions when the P platform 1 is viewed from the front (to be described later) are used as they are in the following description, and the side on which the player is located relative to the P platform 1 is the front (that The following description will be made assuming that the opposite side is rear). In addition, as shown in the drawing, the P base 1 is configured by stacking the respective constituent members in the front-rear direction.

The P stand 1 has a vertically long rectangular outer frame 60 in the vertical direction. The outer frame 60 includes an upper plate 61 and a lower plate 62 made of a wooden plate material, and left and right side plates 63, 64 made of steel plate materials. The upper plate 61 is connected to the left and right side plates 63 and 64, and the lower plate 62 is connected to the left and right side plates 63 and 64 by a fitting 65. As a result, the outer frame 60 is formed in a rectangular shape. The left and right side plates 63, 64 are not limited to steel materials, and can be made of metal materials such as aluminum materials and stainless steel materials. A shaft hole 65a is formed in the mounting bracket 65 provided on the upper left portion of the outer frame 60. Further, a mounting pin (not shown) provided in the lower left portion of the outer frame 60 is provided with a shaft pin (not shown) protruding upward.

Further, the P base 1 has a main body frame 100 rotatably supported by the outer frame 60. The body frame 100 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene, and has a rectangular shape like the outer frame 60 described above. The main body frame 100 holds the game board 2. Further, various drive means such as the launching device 14 are attached to the main body frame 100, as will be described later. A connecting piece 101 having a shaft pin 101a facing downward is attached to the upper left portion of the main body frame 100 so as to project forward. Further, a connecting piece 102 having a shaft pin 102a protruding upward and a shaft hole (not shown) formed in the lower surface is attached to the lower left portion of the main body frame 100 so as to project forward.

Then, the shaft pin 101a formed in the connecting piece 101 of the main body frame 100 is inserted into the shaft hole 65a formed in the mounting bracket 65 of the outer frame 60, and not shown in the lower left part of the outer frame 60. The main body frame 100 is rotatably supported by the outer frame 60 by inserting the shaft pin into a shaft hole (not shown) formed in the connecting piece 102.

The P stand 1 also includes an upper front frame 3A that is rotatably supported by the main body frame 100. The upper front frame 3A is formed with a see-through window 3C which is an opening corresponding to the game area formed on the game board 2. The transparent cover 11 that covers the transparent window 3C from the rear is attached to the upper front frame 3A by known fixing means (for example, screwing). The transparent cover 11 is made of, for example, a glass body. Thereby, the player can visually recognize the game area of the game board 2 through the transparent cover 11 attached to the see-through window 3C. The transparent cover 11 attached in this manner forms a gap with the game board 2 that is larger than the diameter of the game ball. As a result, the game ball launched by the launching device 14 flows down in the game area. The transparent cover 11 provided on the see-through window 3C is not limited to a glass body, and other transparent synthetic resin such as acrylic resin or polycarbonate resin may be used.

A shaft hole (not shown) is formed on the lower surface of the connecting piece 103 of the main body frame 100. A shaft pin 104a protruding upward is formed on the upper surface of the connecting piece 104 of the main body frame 100. The upper front frame 3A is pivotally supported by these shaft holes (not shown) and the shaft pin 104a, and is rotatably supported by the main body frame 100.

The P stand 1 also includes a lower front frame 3B below the upper front frame 3A. A point display unit 35 and an operating unit 36 are provided on the upper front side of the lower front frame 3B, and a ball hitting handle 37 for firing a game ball is provided on the right side of the lower front frame 3B. ing. The score display unit 35 includes 7 segments, a dot matrix LED, an LCD (liquid crystal display device), and the like, and displays the score of the player. Further, the operation unit 36 is provided with, for example, one or a plurality of various switches (a settlement switch, an interruption switch, a ball lending switch, an automatic ball lending switch, a replay switch, a card data switch, a calling switch) collectively. ing. The hit ball operating handle 37 is connected to a hit ball launching device (not shown), and the player operates a handle ring of the hit ball operating handle 37 to launch a game ball to the game area.

In the lower front frame 3B, a display unit 50 is arranged on a disposition surface 39 which is a space avoiding the point display unit 35 and the ball hitting handle 37. An arrangement surface 39 for disposing the display unit 50 in the lower front frame 3B is formed so as to be retracted (offset) rearward of the rotation axis R of the lower front frame 3B. Further, the arrangement surface 39 is provided with a locking portion (locking member) 39a for locking the display unit 50 to the lower front frame 3B. The locking portions 39a are not limited to being provided in two sets on the left and right, and for example, only one may be provided.

In the lower front frame 3B, the shaft pin 105 facing upward is inserted into a shaft hole (not shown) formed in the lower surface of the connecting piece 104 of the main body frame 100, and the shaft pin 102a of the connecting piece 102 of the main body frame 100 is inserted. By being inserted into a shaft hole (not shown), the main frame 100 is rotatably supported.

The display unit 50 is attached to the CU 10 via the arm 51A and is arranged on the arrangement surface 39 of the lower front frame 3B. The arm 51A has a plurality of rotating shafts (joints) and can freely move the display unit 50. Therefore, the display unit 50 can be easily arranged on the arrangement surface 39. The display unit 50 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device, and displays various display screens to the player.

Next, in the game machine according to the present embodiment, various devices for circulating the game balls will be described. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the main frame of the gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear.

The main body frame 100 holds the game board 2 and has a launching device 14 in the upper left portion. The position of the launching device 14 is not limited to the upper left portion of the main body frame 100, and may be the lower left portion of the main body frame 100. The game balls are launched from the launching port (not shown) of the launching device 14 toward the game board 2, and the game balls that have not entered any of the winning ports flow down from the out port 8 toward the rear of the game board 2. To do.

A main control board 16 and a payout control board 17 are provided behind the main body frame 100. The main control board 16 is provided in the rear of the game board 2 and controls the progress of the game on the P stand 1. The payout control board 17 is provided on a back cover 18 that covers the rear surface of the game board 2. Further, on the payout control board 17, there is provided a ball pulling switch 19 for discharging game balls to the outside at the time of maintenance or the like. Details of the ball-punching process using the ball-punching switch 19 will be described later. The back cover 18 has four legs 18 a, and each of the four legs 18 a is bolted to the body frame 100. Thereby, the back cover 18 provided with the payout control board 17 is attached to the main body frame 100 in a state of covering a part of the rear surface of the main body frame 100.

On the rear surface of the main body frame 100, a power supply device 21, a game ball detection device 27, a polishing device 23, and a lifting device 25 are further arranged. To the right of the power supply device 21, a power switch 21a for the P stand 1 is provided. The four legs 18a of the back cover 18 have a sufficient height so that the power switch 21a can be operated even when the back cover 18 is attached to the rear of the main body frame 100.

The game ball detection device 27 is a device that guides the game ball that has entered the out port 8 or the winning port to the polishing device 23, and constitutes a part of the circulation path. The polishing device 23 has a transport screw (not shown) that constitutes a part of the circulation path, as described later. The polishing device 23 conveys the game balls toward the doffing device 25 with a conveying screw (not shown), and also polishes the game balls. The ball-lifting device 25 is a device that conveys (lifts) the game balls above the P table 1, and constitutes a part of the circulation path. Further, the launching device 14 that is placed on the upper portion of the main body frame 100 and launches the game balls toward the game area of the game board 2 also constitutes a part of the circulation path. As described above, the circulation path of the game balls in the present embodiment basically includes the game ball detection device 27, the polishing device 23, the doffing device 25, and the launching device 14, and makes one round in the P base 1. And the path is configured to return to the original position (for example, the firing position of the launching device 14). In addition to the above-mentioned members, the game area of the game board 2 may be considered as a circulation path.

Next, the route through which the game ball circulates in the P table 1 will be described while describing the details of each device that constitutes the circulation path. In the P stand 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the game balls that are fired toward the game area of the game board 2 enter the winning opening or the out opening 8 (FIG. 3) and flow down to the game ball detecting device 27. .. 4A and 4B are perspective views of the game ball detection device, where FIG. 4A is a front view and FIG. 4B is a rear view.

The game ball detection device 27 has a detection device body 29, a protective cover 68 attached to the rear surface of the detection device body 29, and a holding plate 69 attached to the front surface. On the upper part of the detection device main body 29, an out ball receiving portion 66 for receiving the game ball entering the out opening 8 (FIG. 3) and a winning ball receiving portion 67 for receiving the game ball entering the winning opening are formed. ..

The game ball that has entered the out ball receiving portion 66 flows down the inclined downflow path formed in the game ball detection device 27, and is detected by the out ball detection sensor 88 in the middle of the flow down. The out-ball detection sensor 88 includes a photo sensor and a micro switch. When the out-ball detection sensor 88 detects a game ball, the detection signal is input to the payout controller 171. The game ball further flows down the flow path, and is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 119.

The game ball that has entered the winning ball receiving portion 67 flows down an inclined downflow path formed in the game ball detecting device 27, and is detected by a winning ball detection sensor (not shown). The winning ball detection sensor (not shown) includes a photo sensor and a micro switch. When a winning ball detection sensor (not shown) detects a game ball, the detection signal is input to the payout controller 171. Then, the game ball merges with the game ball that has entered the out-ball receiving section 66, and is discharged to the outside from the discharge port 119. The payout control unit 171 calculates the total of the number of game balls detected by the out-ball detection sensor 88 (the number of out-mouth passing balls: the number of non-winning balls) and the number of game balls (the number of winning balls) detected by the winning-ball detecting sensor. It is specified as the number of collected balls (total number of returned balls). It should be noted that a recovery ball detection sensor is provided so that both the game ball that has passed the winning ball detection sensor and the game ball that has passed the out port can pass, and the number of recovery balls (total The number of returned balls) may be specified.

The game ball discharged from the game ball detection device 27 enters the polishing device 23 located below the game ball detection device 27. Although not shown, the polishing device 23 mainly has a polishing motor, a transport screw, a polishing cassette, and a cassette motor. The polishing motor is a motor for driving a polishing device (transport screw) to transport game balls in the polishing device, and is arranged behind the transport screw or the like. As described above, the transport screw transports the game balls to be polished while circulating.

A first filling detection sensor 75 is arranged near the polishing device 23 (here, the polishing end portion). The first filling detection sensor 75 is a sensor located at the entrance of the doffing device as shown in FIG. 5, for example. The first fullness detection sensor 75 is a sensor that detects that the game balls are full, and the first fullness detection sensor 75 detects that the game balls have been started to be thrown into the doffing device 25 at the start of the game. It also functions as a sensor. That is, the first filling detection sensor 75 detects that a game ball has begun to enter the area of the first filling detection sensor 75, and the second filling detection sensor 40 described later does not detect the filling state of the playing ball. The function of starting the driving of the ball hoisting device 25 on the condition that it is detected, the driving of the polishing motor 71 is stopped by detecting that the game balls are full, and no more game balls are sent to the downstream side of the polishing device 23. It also has the function of making the status.

That is, until the first filling detection sensor 75 detects that the game balls are full after the polishing motor 71 starts driving (while it is not detecting), the polishing motor 71 and the polishing screw are driven to play the game. The ball moves from the polishing start end toward the polishing end end. Stop means for stopping the driving of the polishing motor 71 when the first filling detection sensor 75 detects that the gaming balls are filled is provided. Further, when the first filling detection sensor 75 detects the insertion of game balls, the lifting motor 93 of the ball hoisting device 25 forming the circulation path starts to drive, and the circulation path directs the game balls to the ball hoisting device 25. Ready to be transferred to.

It should be noted that the combined use of the above functions of the first filling detection sensor 75 is merely an example, and different sensors may be provided according to the respective functions.

The game balls that have passed through the circulation path of the polishing device 23 enter the ball lifting device 25 on the right side of the polishing device 23. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a doffing device for a pachinko gaming machine according to the embodiment of the present invention as seen from the rear. The ball lifting device 25 mainly has a lifting ball inlet 92, a lifting motor 93, a lifting screw 94, a lifting device cover 95, and a lifting ball outlet 96. The game balls that enter the ball-lifting device 25 from the lift-up ball inlet 92 are installed so as to be sandwiched between the pumping screw 94 and the pumping device cover 95. Upon detection by the sensor, the hoisting motor 93 and the hoisting screw 94 start to drive in the same manner as the above-mentioned grinding motor 71, the grinding screw and the cassette motor. Then, the game balls that come into contact with the lifting screw 94 are transferred upward along the lifting screw 94 and exit from the lifting ball outlet 96 to the outside of the ball lifting device 25.

6 and 7 show the configuration of only the launching device in more detail, and the configuration of the launching device will be described with reference to these drawings. The launch device 14 includes a foul ball detection switch 33, a launch solenoid 41, a hitting hammer 42, a launch position 43, a ball passage 44, a launch ball inlet 46, a ball feed solenoid 47, a link 48, and a fulcrum 49. It mainly has and. In addition, the second filling detection sensor 40 is provided near the launching device 14 (on the back side). The second filling detection sensor 40 is a sensor that detects that the gaming balls arranged in a part of the circulation path (downstream of the doffing device 25 in which the second filling detection sensor 40 is arranged) are filled. The second filling detection sensor 40 also has a function as a sensor that detects that a game ball has started to be loaded into the launching device 14 at the start of the game. That is, the second filling detection sensor 40 has a function of detecting that a game ball has begun to enter the area of the second filling detection sensor 40 and starting driving the launching device 14 (ball feed solenoid 47), and the game ball being filled. It also has a function of stopping the driving of the lifting motor 93 to make it so that no more game balls can be sent to the downstream side of the ball lifting device 25.

Conversely speaking, from the start of the pumping motor 93 until the second filling detection sensor 40 detects that the gaming balls are filled in the ball pumping device 25 (while it is not detected), By driving the lifting motor 93, the game ball moves the ball lifting device 25 upward.

The dual function of the second charge detection sensor 40 is also merely an example, and different sensors may be provided according to the respective functions.

Further, the drive control of the polishing motor 71 and the lifting motor 93 is performed regardless of whether or not the ball movement upstream side sensors (polishing entrance ball detection sensor 701, first filling detection sensor 75) detect balls. It is also possible to perform control so as to start driving when the ball fullness state is no longer detected by the sensors (first filling detection sensor 75, second filling detection sensor 40) on the downstream side of the ball movement.

When the second filling detection sensor 40 detects that the game balls are full, the driving of the pumping motor 93 is stopped, and no more game balls are sent to the downstream side of the movement of the ball pumping device 25. Becomes That is, the second filling detection sensor 40 is provided with a stopping means for stopping the driving of the lifting motor 93 when detecting that the gaming balls are filled. When the second filling detection sensor 40 detects the insertion of the game ball, the circulation path becomes ready to transfer the game ball toward the launcher 14.

The launch position 43 corresponds to the exit from the launching device 14 for the game ball to be launched to the launch ball inlet 46. The ball passage 44 is a game ball passage that passes through the inside of the launcher 14 from the launch ball entrance 46 to the launch position 43.

The ball feeding solenoid 47 is a solenoid for carrying the game balls in the ball passage 44 toward the firing position 43. Further, the link 48 and the fulcrum 49 are members having the same function as the polishing screw in the polishing device 23, which controls the transfer of the game balls in the ball passage 44, for example. Specifically, when the ball feed solenoid 47 starts to be driven by the payout control board 17, the link 48 is attracted to the ball feed solenoid 47 by the excitation of the ball feed solenoid (solenoid coil) 47. As a result, the link 48 rotates about the fulcrum 49. In the state where the link 48 is not attracted by the solenoid 47, as shown in FIG. 6, the fluidization of the following game balls is stopped, but when attracted by the ball feed solenoid 47, the link 48 moves upward. It swings to allow the game balls to flow down, and only one game ball is conveyed toward the downstream side of the ball passage 44. In addition, the link 48 has a mode in which one upstream game ball enters the site when the part in contact with the game ball is sucked, and by repeating excitation and de-excitation of the solenoid 47, one by one is played. It works like sending out balls.

A shot ball detection switch 99 is provided slightly upstream of the link 48. By sending one game ball by swinging the link 48, the shot ball detection switch 99 is in a ball non-detection state for a moment, and the detection signal is input to the payout control unit 171, and one ball is shot. Determine that

The firing solenoid 41 is a solenoid that drives the game ball from the firing position 43 toward the game area of the game board 2. The hit ball hammer 42 is a hammer that hits a game ball to shoot the game ball. The hitting ball hammer 42 is an arm-shaped member having a rotating shaft 51 and a coil suction portion (not shown), and gives a hitting force to a game ball by the movement of the arm around the rotating shaft 51. , This is fired toward the game area. Specifically, when the firing solenoid 41 (solenoid coil) is excited, the hitting hammer 42 causes the coil suction portion (not shown) formed on the arm around the rotation shaft 51 to excite the solenoid coil. A reciprocating motion such as being sucked into a region or being returned to its original position by the restoring force of a spring (not shown) due to deenergization of the solenoid coil occurs, and the reciprocating motion is used to shoot a game ball. The strength of the game ball is adjusted by a variable resistor whose resistance value changes according to the amount of rotation of the hit ball operation handle 37.

The foul ball detection switch 33 is a switch that is provided in the middle of the path of the ball passage 44 and detects a state in which game balls are accumulated in the ball passage 44 and are stagnant. When the foul ball detection switch 33 detects that the game ball in the middle of the path of the ball passage 44 is not fired and is stagnant, the feeding operation in which the game ball is conveyed toward the downstream side of the movement of the ball passage 44 is performed. The game is stopped, and the operation of shooting the game ball from the shooting position 43 to the game area is performed. Specifically, for example, while the game ball firing operation is repeated three times (three game balls are fired from the firing position 43), the excitation of the ball feed solenoid 47 is stopped and the ball passage of the game ball is started. The flow down to 44 is blocked by the link 48, and the balls are ejected (fired) exclusively from the ball passage 44. In this way, the gaming balls present in the ball passage 44 are prevented from becoming an excess state.

Here, the batted ball firing operation of the batted ball hammer 42 and the game ball transport operation to the firing position 43 of the ball feed solenoid 47 are independently controlled by time control. That is, the operation in which the ball hitting hammer 42 shoots the game ball and the operation in which the ball feed solenoid 47 conveys the game ball toward the shooting position 43 are controlled so as to have the same speed (one in 0.6 seconds). ing.

If the foul ball detection switch 33 is on the orbit (launch orbit) in the game area of the game ball fired at the firing position 43 (including the vicinity of the firing position 43), the foul ball detection switch 33 is fired. There is a possibility of being damaged by the impact of the game ball or the ball hitting hammer 42. However, as in the present embodiment, the foul ball detection switch 33 is provided at a position (ball passage 44) different from the launch trajectory of the game ball launched at the launch position 43. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of damage caused by hitting a game ball.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the CU 10 and the P stand 1. An outline of a control circuit for the CU 10 and the P stand 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

The CU 10 is provided with a CU control unit 323 composed of a microcomputer or the like. The CU control unit 323 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control center, a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs and control data for operating the CPU, and a RAM (functioning as a work area of the CPU). Random Access Memory), an input/output interface for maintaining signal integrity with peripheral devices, etc.

The CU control unit 323 is provided with an external communication unit (not shown) for communicating with a hall management computer and a hall server (not shown) that performs security management, and payout control of the P unit 1 A security board 325 is provided for communicating with the board 17 while ensuring security. The CU 10 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) to the P base 1 side, and the P base 1 is provided with a connection portion (not shown) to the CU 10 side. These connecting portions are composed of, for example, connectors.

The security board 325 on the CU side and the payout control board 17 on the P stand side are communicatively connected via this connector and connection wiring. The security board 325 is provided with a communication control IC 325a for controlling communication between the security board 325 and the payout control board 17, and a security chip (SC) 325b for monitoring the security of the P stand 1. Further, the SC 325b includes a fraud detection unit 1325, and the fraud detection unit 1325 performs fraud detection by monitoring the game ball addition request information notified from the CU control unit 323 to the P console 1, and performs key management at the time of fraud detection. Notify the server (not shown). Also, the setting value (constant) for fraud detection is notified from the key management server as board control information.

The currency discriminator discriminates the authenticity and the type of the bill, and the discrimination result signal is input to the CU control unit 323. When the IR photosensitive unit receives the infrared ray emitted from the remote controller carried by the attendant of the game arcade, the received light signal is input to the CU control unit 323. The card reader/writer reads the record information of the inserted card, the read information is input to the CU control unit 323, and the CU control unit 323 sends to the card reader/writer the data to be written to the inserted card. When transmitted, the card reader/writer writes the data in the inserted card.

The CU control unit 323 manages and stores the balls of the player when the player is playing the game. Data such as the balance or the number of game balls is output from the CU control unit 323 to the display control unit 350, and converted into display data by the display control unit 350. The display data converted by the display controller 350 is output to the display 312, and the output display data is displayed on the display 312. When the player operates the touch panel provided on the surface of the display 312, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323 via the display control unit 350. When the player operates the ball lending button 38a, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323. The ball lending button 38a is not limited to the configuration provided in the CU 10, and may be provided in the P stand 1 to input an operation signal to the CU control unit 323. When the player operates the replay button 38c, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323. When the player operates the return button 38b, the operation signal is input to the CU control unit 323.

The P stand 1 has a main control board 16 that controls the progress of the game on the P stand 1, a payout control board 17 that manages and stores game balls, and a drive solenoid 41 that is controlled based on a command from the payout control board 17. The firing control board 31 and the variable display device 278 are provided.

As described above, the main control board 16 is provided on the game board 2. On the main control board 16, a game control microcomputer, which is the main control unit 161, is mounted. The gaming machine control microcomputer includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control center, a ROM (Read Only Memory) storing programs and control data for operating the CPU, and a RAM (functioning as a work area of the CPU). Random Access Memory), an input/output interface for maintaining signal integrity with peripheral devices, etc. The main controller 161 is connected to a winning sensor 162 and a radio wave sensor 163 provided on the game board 2. The game board 2 is further provided with a display control board (production control board) for controlling the variable display device 278 and the like.

The payout control board 17 is provided on the main body frame 100. The payout control board 17 is equipped with a payout control microcomputer 171 for payout control.

The payout control microcomputer includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) as a control center, a ROM (Read Only Memory) which stores programs and control data for operating the CPU, and a RAM (which functions as a work area of the CPU). Random Access Memory), an input/output interface for maintaining signal integrity with peripheral devices, etc.

In addition, the payout control board 17 is provided with a ball punching switch 19. The ball drop switch 19 is a switch for discharging the enclosed pachinko game ball due to maintenance of the P table 1 or the like. Although the details will be described later, pressing the ball drop switch 19 is one condition for executing the ball drop processing. Specifically, by turning on the power switch 21a while the ball drop switch is pressed down, the ball drop initial processing is executed, and after that, the launch operation is detected, and thus the game ball that cannot be discharged due to the automatic flow down. The drive source (specifically, the polishing motor 71, the hoisting motor 93, the ball feeding solenoid 47, the firing solenoid 41) for discharging (specifically, the P table 1) is automatically operated.

Further, with respect to the payout control board 17, a launch ball detection switch (not shown), a winning ball detection sensor 110, an out ball detection sensor 88, a polishing entrance ball detection sensor 701, a foul ball detection switch 33, a lifting motor 93, a polishing motor. 71, the ball feed solenoid 47, the first filling detection sensor 75, the second filling detection sensor 40, the third filling detection sensor 77, the counting button 28, and the radio wave sensor 173 are provided in an electrically connected state. The radio wave sensor 173 is for detecting an illegal act of illegally transmitting a radio wave.

The detection signal of the radio wave sensor 173 is input to the payout control unit 171 through an input port (not shown) of the payout control board 17.

However, if an illegal radio wave is generated, no matter how many balls are shot, the number of game balls is not subtracted. The radio wave sensor 173 detects such illegality caused by radio waves. Here, there is a possibility that the launch ball detection switch may be a target of fraud by radio waves. In other words, if the balls that were actually launched are collected and detected by the launch ball detection switch, the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls (the total number of balls that have passed through the outlet and the number of winning balls) There is a discrepancy, and an abnormality is detected, and the fraud detection information (see the fraud detection information 2 in FIG. 14) of “fire/OUT mismatched ball number” is transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10. However, if an illegal radio wave is transmitted to the launch ball detection switch to make it undetectable, the fraud detection information of the “firing/OUT inconsistent ball number” is not transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10. .. In the present embodiment, since the radio wave sensor 173 also detects an illegal radio wave transmitted to such a launch ball detection switch, the above-mentioned inconvenience can be prevented.

Further, a launching ball detection switch 99 is provided slightly upstream of the ball feeding solenoid 47 (see FIG. 6), and a payout control unit is provided each time one gaming ball is detected by the launching ball detection switch 99. 171 subtracts "1" from the number of game balls. Specifically, the subtraction ball number counter is incremented and updated by "1" and the game ball number is decremented and updated by "1".

As another modified example of subtracting and updating the number of game balls by "1", there is also a method of using the foul ball detection switch 33. Originally, the foul ball detection switch 33 detects the full foul ball when the foul ball is full in the ball passage 44, as described later. In this case, the foul ball detection switch 33 outputs a continuous detection signal instead of an instantaneous pulse signal, and the payout control unit 171 that has received the continuous detection signal detects that the foul ball is in the ball passage 44. Judge that it is full. On the other hand, when the ball feeding solenoid 47 is excited once, one game ball flows down the ball passage 44, and when the passing ball is detected by the foul ball detection switch 33, an instantaneous pulse signal is detected. It is output from the switch 33. The payout control unit 171 that has received the instantaneous pulse signal may control the subtraction ball number counter by adding “1” and update it, and may also perform the control by adding and updating the game ball number by “1”.

In this way, the foul ball detection switch 33 is configured to detect a game ball passing through the ball passage 44 in order to subtract the number of game balls, and to detect a foul ball filling the ball passage 44 and detect both. It may be configured as a dual-purpose switch.

From the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17, main control chip ID, winning prize information, round information, connection confirmation signal, winning prize detection signal, starting winning prize winning information, error information, number of symbols fixed, big hit information, manufacturer specific The jackpot information is sent.

The main control chip ID (also referred to as a main chip ID) is a chip ID recorded on the main control board 16 of the P stand 1, and is transmitted to the payout control board 17 when the power of the P stand 1 is turned on. Information. The winning hole information is information including the type of winning hole (starting winning hole, normal winning hole, large winning hole) and the number of prize balls (the number of payout balls when a game ball enters the winning hole), P It is transmitted to the payout control board 17 when the power of the table 1 is turned on. The round information is information on the number of rounds when a big hit occurs, and is transmitted to the payout control board 17 when the power of the P stand 1 is turned on.

The connection confirmation signal is a signal for confirming that the main control board 16 and the payout control board 17 are connected, and a signal of a predetermined voltage is constantly supplied from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17. The payout control board 17 is configured to control the operation under the condition that the payout control board 17 receives the predetermined voltage signal. The winning detection signal is a detection signal of a game ball that has won a winning opening other than the starting winning opening. Upon receipt of this detection signal, the payout control board 17 controls to add the number of balls to be given to one winning ball to the number of game balls and the number of added balls. This will be described later in detail.

The starting winning opening winning information is information indicating that the game ball has won in either the first starting winning opening or the second starting winning opening. The error information is information for notifying the payout control board 17 of an error when an error occurs while the main control board 16 is performing the game control.

The number of times of symbol determination is the information of the symbol determined as the display result of the variable display device for the winning of each starting winning opening.

The big hit information is information indicating that a big hit has occurred, and its details include common big hit information indicating a big hit common to each maker and maker-specific big hit information indicating a big hit unique to a maker. The common jackpot information is a jackpot commonly used by each game machine maker, such as a 15-round jackpot, and if the probability changes with the jackpot, it includes the probability variation information. When a time saving state (a control state that shortens the variable display time of the variable display device) occurs, the time saving information is included. The maker-specific jackpot is a jackpot state adopted only by a certain game machine maker, such as a sudden change (a sudden change).

A health check command and a prize ball number acceptance command are transmitted from the payout control board 17 to the main control board 16. The health check command is a command for checking whether the main control board 16 is operating normally. The prize ball number acceptance command is a command indicating that the number of added balls has been accepted.

The out ball collected from the out port 8 is detected by the out ball detection sensor 88 (see FIG. 4), and the out ball detection signal is input to the payout controller 171. The winning ball collected from the winning opening is detected by a winning ball detection sensor (not shown), and a winning ball detection signal is input to the payout controller 171. Further, the polishing entrance ball detection sensor 701 detects a passing game ball, and the game ball detection signal is input to the payout control unit 171.

The security board 325 of the CU 10 and the payout control board 17 of the P stand 1 are electrically connected, and a recovery request, a recovery detail request, a communication start request, from the security board 325 to the payout control board 17, as will be described later. Various commands such as a communication end request, status information, a card insertion notification, a card return notification, and a communication test request are transmitted.

The recovery request is a command requesting notification of recovery information from the P units 1, as described later. Upon receipt of the recovery request, the payout control board 17 notifies the CU 10 of the recovery information of the P unit 1. The recovery detail request is a command that requests the P units 1 to notify the detailed recovery information. Upon receipt of the recovery detail request, the payout control board 17 notifies the CU 10 of the recovery detail information of the P unit 1. The communication start request is a command that requests the P unit 1 to start communication. The payout control board 17 responds to the communication start to the CU 10 in response to the communication start request. The communication end request is a command that requests the P unit 1 to end the communication. The payout control board 17 responds to the CU 10 that communication has ended in response to the request for ending communication.

The status information request is a command that requests the P unit 1 to notify the status information. Upon receipt of the status information request, the payout control board 17 notifies the CU 10 of the status information of the P unit 1. The card insertion notification is a command that notifies the P unit 1 that a card has been inserted. Upon receipt of the card insertion notice, the payout control board 17 responds to the CU 10 that the card has been inserted. The card return notification is a command for notifying the P unit 1 that the card has been returned. Upon receipt of the card return notice, the payout control board 17 makes a response to the CU 10 that the card has been returned. The communication test request is a command for notifying the P unit 1 of test data. The payout control board 17 responds to the CU 10 with test data in response to the communication test request.

Various responses such as a recovery response, a recovery detail response, a communication start response, a communication end response, a status information response, a card insertion response, a card return response, and a communication test response are transmitted from the payout control board 17 to the security board 325.

The body frame 100 is provided with a firing control board 31 and a firing solenoid 41. The firing control board 31 emits a firing solenoid excitation output to drive the firing solenoid 41 when an input signal of a touch ring that detects that the player is touching the hit ball operation handle 37 is input.

A discharge control signal and a discharge permission signal are output from the payout control board 17 to the discharge control board 31. The firing control board 31 that has received it outputs a signal for exciting the firing solenoid 41. As a result, the game ball is in a state of being ejected to the game area.

A display unit 50 is provided on the body frame 100. The display unit 50 receives the display data from the display control unit 350 of the CU 10 and displays the display screen. As described above, in the present embodiment, the display unit 50 on the P side is configured to be controlled on the CU side, but instead of this, the display unit 50 is displayed on the P side. A display control substrate for controlling may be provided. In this case, the display control board controls the display of the display unit 50 based on the command from the payout controller 171. Although not shown in FIG. 8, the detection signal of the out-ball detection sensor 88 and the detection signal of the shot-ball detection switch 99 are input to the payout controller 171.

<Notification processing of abnormalities that occurred in the card unit and pachinko gaming machine>
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a notification process when an abnormality is detected as a result of mutual authentication.

Referring to FIG. 9, when an abnormality occurs in CU control unit 323, security board 325, payout control section 171, or main control board 16, notification is made in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9. The abnormality referred to here is that the CU control unit 323, the security board 325, the payout control unit 171, or the main control board 16 is replaced with another improperly manufactured one, or malfunction or failure due to noise or the like occurs. This includes cases such as the case of an accident or an offline state due to a disconnection. The key management server 800 shown in FIG. 9 is a key management server that stores the SID of the CU communication control unit and the authentication key in association with each serial ID (also referred to as SID) of the electronic component inside the CU 10. is there. The key management server 800 is a server that can communicate with the main control board 16 with each other.

First, when an abnormality occurs in the security board 325 of the CU 10, the CU control section 323 detects the abnormality as a result of the mutual authentication performed between the CU control section 323 and the security board 325 described above. In this mutual authentication, in addition to serial ID authentication and device authentication which will be described later, device authentication using a session key is also included.

The serial ID is the serial ID of the security board 325 (board serial ID), and is stored in the ROM of the security chip 325b at the stage of manufacturing the security chip 325b of the security board 325. When the CU 10 is loaded into the game hall and connected to the hall server 801, the board serial ID is downloaded from the key management server 800 of the key management center via the hall server 801 and stored in the CU control unit 323. It

When the CU control unit 323 detects an abnormality in the security board 325, the CU control unit 323 notifies the hall server 801 to that effect and transmits an abnormality notification command to the display control unit 350 of the CU 10. The CU control unit 323 causes the display control unit 350 to control the display 312 to indicate that an abnormality has occurred, and also turns on or blinks an abnormality notification lamp (not shown) to notify the abnormality. Further, the CU control unit 323 transmits a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred from the external communication unit to the hall management computer.

When an abnormality occurs by the CU control unit 323 of the CU 10, the security board 325 detects the abnormality occurrence by the above-described mutual authentication, and notifies the payout control unit 171 of a signal (abnormality notification signal) indicating that. The security board 325 notifies the payout controller 171 by a parallel signal via the PIF circuit 326 which is a parallel interface circuit. Upon receipt of this, the payout control unit 171 notifies the main control board 16 that an abnormality has occurred. Similarly to the above, the main control board 16 controls the operation of the abnormality notification lamp and transmits a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred to the hall management computer.

When the security board 325 detects an abnormality of the payout control unit 171, the CU control unit 323 is notified of that fact, and the CU control unit 323 notifies the hall server 801 of that effect.

As described above, when the security board 325 detects an abnormality in the CU control unit 323, it notifies the payout control unit 171 through the PIF circuit 326 of the abnormality, and when an abnormality in the payout control unit 171 is detected, the fact is notified. Is notified to the CU control unit 323, and the notification destination of the abnormality occurrence by the security board 325 is different. The reason is that even if the control unit in which the abnormality has occurred is notified that the abnormality has occurred, the control for notifying the abnormality is not performed at all, and it is not a measure for preventing the abnormality. Moreover, the security board 325 has a communication control function but does not have an abnormality notification control function. Therefore, the control of the abnormality notification cannot be performed by itself, and accordingly, the notification that the abnormality has occurred is always made in the direction of the control unit on the side opposite to the control unit in which the abnormality has occurred. The payout control unit 171 that has received the notification of the occurrence of an abnormality from the security board 325 via the PIF circuit 326 notifies the main control board 16 of that fact. Upon receiving the notification, the main control board 16 performs the same abnormality notification control as described above.

When an abnormality occurs in the payout control unit 171, the fact is detected by the security board 325, the occurrence of the abnormality is notified to the CU control unit 323, and the CU control unit 323 performs the above-described abnormality notification control. The hall server 801 is notified that an abnormality has occurred. Further, when an abnormality occurs in the payout control unit 171, it is detected that the main control board 16 has an abnormality, and upon receipt of the notification, the above-described abnormality notification control is performed.

As described above, the payout control board 17 detects the abnormality when the security board 325 occurs and notifies the main control board 16 of the abnormality, while it notifies the main control board 16 when the abnormality occurs. It detects and notifies the security board 325 that an abnormality has occurred. Similar to the security board 325 described above, when the payout control board 17 detects that an abnormality has occurred, the notification control is performed even if the control section in which the abnormality has occurred is notified. Since it does not exist, the control unit or the control board on the side opposite to the control unit in which the abnormality has occurred is notified. It should be noted that the security board 325 and the payout control board 17 are not connected to an abnormality notification means such as an abnormality notification lamp or an abnormality notification display, and have a function of controlling the abnormality notification by itself even if an abnormality is detected. Absent. In the above description, the security board 325 and the payout control board 17 are not connected to an abnormality notification unit such as an abnormality notification lamp or an abnormality notification display, and the abnormality notification is controlled by itself even if an abnormality is detected. Although it has been described as having no function, the security board 325 and the payout control board 17 may be provided with an anomaly notification function to directly notify that an anomaly has occurred.

<Transmission/reception mode between card unit side and pachinko game machine side>
Next, FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing main data among various data stored on the CU 10 side and the P stand 1 side and a transmission/reception mode thereof. With reference to FIG. 10, main data of various data stored on the CU 10 side and the P unit 1 side and a transmission/reception mode thereof will be described.

In the present embodiment, the variation of the number of game balls is calculated on the P machine 1 side to store and manage the current latest number of game balls. The CU 10 side also calculates and stores the current number of game balls, but the number of game balls is based on the information transmitted from the P unit 1 side. On the other hand, the number of balls held (the number of cards held), the number of balls stored, and the prepaid balance (remaining amount) are managed and stored on the CU 10 side.

FIG. 10 shows the storage data of the RAM provided in the CU control unit 323 on the CU 10 side and the storage data of the RAM mounted on the payout control board 17 on the P stand 1 side. First, when the power supply is started in a state where the P stand 1 and the CU 10 are installed in the game hall and electrically connected for the first time, the payout control board 17 on the P stand 1 side is moved from the main control board 16 to the main chip. An ID (main control chip ID) is sent, the main chip ID is sent to the CU 10 side, and the payout chip ID (payout control chip ID) stored in the payout control board 17 itself is sent to the CU 10 side. ..

The CU 10 stores the transmitted main chip ID and payout chip ID. Next, the connection time, that is, the data at the time when the CU 10 side and the P unit 1 side are connected and communication is started is transmitted from the CU 10 side to the P unit 1 side, and the P unit 1 side transmits the transmitted connection time. Memorize

In this state, three pieces of information of the main chip ID, the payout chip ID, and the connection time identified on the CU 10 side are stored on the CU 10 side and the P stand 1 side. When the power is turned on thereafter, these three pieces of information, that is, the main chip ID, the payout chip ID, and the previous connection time data are transmitted from the P stand 1 side to the CU 10 side.

On the CU 10 side, the transmitted data and the already stored data are collated to determine whether or not the same P unit 1 as the previous one is connected. As for the connection time data, new connection time data at which the communication between the CU 10 side and the P unit 1 side is started each time the power is turned on is transmitted from the CU 10 side to the P unit 1 side, and the new connection is made. The time data will be stored on the P stand 1 side.

Both the CU 10 and the P unit 1 add a "serial number" to the message and transmit it. Further, both the CU 10 and the P unit 1 store the “serial number” received from the other party. There are three types of "serial number": "normal serial number", "additional serial number" and "counting serial number". The "normal serial number" indicates the sequence number of the electronic message. As for the "normal serial number", the CU 10 side (primary station side) sets the initial value to "1" and counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits. However, the "normal serial number" is not incremented when retransmitting. The P station 1 side (secondary station side) transmits the received serial number as it is. In addition, if the continuity of serial numbers is not established, there is no response. The “additional serial number” is a serial number used when the CU 10 requests the P machine 1 to add game balls. The “counting serial number” is a serial number used when the P console 1 requests the CU 10 to count the game balls.

Only the CU10 has the right to update the normal serial number. When the same normal serial number as the transmitted normal serial number is returned, the CU 10 backs up and stores the normal serial number and then transmits the updated normal serial number. Only the CU 10 has the right to add and update the addition serial number. When the addition request is made, the CU 10 transmits the addition sequence number, which is the addition sequence number that has been used for communication up to +1, to the P unit 1. When the P machine 1 accepts the request, it returns the same addition serial number. When rejecting the request, the addition serial number received last time (addition serial number-1 received this time) is returned. Only the P machine 1 has the right to add and update the counting sequence number. When making a counting request, the P-unit 1 transmits to the CU 10 a counting sequence number that is +1 from the counting sequence number used for communication until then. When accepting the request, the CU 10 returns the same counting sequence number. When rejecting the request, the received counting serial number (currently received counting serial number-1) is returned.

In the following, for the “normal serial number”, a configuration will be described in which the CU 10 counts up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission and transmits. However, the present invention is not limited to the configuration, and the P-unit 1 and the CU 10 each count up (+1) the serial number received at the time of transmission by the P-unit 1 and transmit, and the other transmits the received serial number. May be transmitted as it is.

The “additional serial number” and the “counting serial number” are special serial numbers that are counted up in the addition request processing and the counting request processing, respectively. Hereinafter, a configuration will be described in which when the "additional serial number" and the "counting serial number" are counted up, the "normal serial number" is also counted up. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and may be configured to stop the count-up of the “normal sequence number” when the “additional sequence number” and the “counting sequence number” are counted up. In the following, the "normal serial number" is simply referred to as "serial number". Further, the "additional serial number" and the "counting serial number" are collectively referred to as "request serial number".

The latest game machine information (game machine information being counted) is transmitted from the P machine 1 side to the CU 10 side. The latest gaming machine information is stored in the latest gaming machine information storage area of the RAM of the payout controller 171 (see FIG. 8) on the P machine 1 side. Specifically, it includes information on the added ball number counter, information on the subtracted ball number counter, and information on the counted ball number counter. The number of game balls is not included in the latest game machine information, and is transmitted from the P unit 1 side to the CU 10 side as a count value of the game ball number counter as described later. However, instead of this, or in addition to the game ball number counter, the number of game balls may be included in the latest gaming machine information.

Information of these counters is collectively transmitted to the CU 10 side as a response. The added ball number counter is a counter that counts the added ball number. The addition balls are the sum of “the number of prize balls×the number of winning balls” and “the number of back balls”. The back balls are foul balls. That is, the additional balls indicate the number that the additional ball counter should add to the game balls. The subtraction ball number counter is a counter that counts the subtraction ball number. The subtracted ball is the “number of fired balls”. In other words, it is the number of balls for which the output change from ON to OFF in which the shot ball detection switch 99 is in the ball non-detection state for a moment is detected. The "number of subtracted balls" does not include the "number of counted balls". The counting ball number counter is a counter that counts the counting ball number. The counting balls are "the number of balls converted from game balls to holding balls by counting operation". Here, the "prize ball ball" is a safe ball, which is a ball paid out when a ball wins the winning opening. The “launch ball” is a ball that has been shot by the gaming machine, and if there is a back ball, the number of balls from which the back ball is subtracted becomes the number of balls to be shot. A "back ball" is a ball that has returned without launching a shot ball onto the board. The “out mouth passing ball” is a ball that has passed through the out mouth 8, and the total number of out balls and safe balls means the number of out mouth passing balls.

For example, when a pachinko ball hit in the game area wins and the winning information is transmitted from the main control board 16 to the payout control board 17, the number of balls to be added to the gaming ball based on the winning information. Is counted by the addition ball number counter, and the value (number of addition balls) of the addition ball number counter is transmitted from the P unit 1 side to the CU 10 side. In addition, the subtraction ball number counter counts the number of shot balls as the subtraction ball number based on the output change of the shooting ball detection switch 99 from ON to OFF due to the pachinko ball being fired in the game area, and the subtraction ball The value of the number counter (the number of subtracted balls) is transmitted from the P stand 1 side to the CU 10 side.

Alternatively, the payout control unit 171 counts the number of game balls as the number of counting balls by pressing the counting button 28, and transmits the value of the counting ball number counter (the number of counting balls) from the P unit 1 side to the CU 10 side.

On the P machine 1 side, each time the values of the addition ball number counter, the subtraction ball number counter, and the counting ball number counter are transmitted to the CU 10 side, these count values are stored in the previous gaming machine information storage area (RAM of the payout controller 171). Etc.) as the backup data (rewriting), and then the values of the added ball number counter, the subtracted ball number counter, and the counted ball number counter as the latest gaming machine information are cleared to 0 (excluding the gaming ball number counter). In the present embodiment, “clear” has the same meaning as “initialization”.

As a result, in the memory area of the previous game machine information (game machine information transmitted immediately before), the data of the number of added balls, the number of subtracted balls, and the number of counted balls, which is the game machine information transmitted to the CU 10 side immediately before, is backed up. It is stored as data. When the latest gaming machine information is not transmitted from the P machine 1 side to the CU 10 side, this backup data shows not only the value of each counter this time at the time of the next transmission but also the value of each previous counter that was not transmitted. Is also to be able to send. The number of gaming balls transmitted immediately before may be added to the previous gaming machine information and stored.

Further, the payout control board 17 updates the value of the game ball number counter in response to the occurrence of a prize, the firing of a ball, the generation of a back ball, and the generation of a counting ball (conversion from a gaming ball to a holding ball), The value of the updated game ball number counter is transmitted to the CU 10 side as the number of game balls.

On the CU10 side, the total data storage area in the RAM is the number of game balls, the number of card possessions (also simply referred to as the number of possession balls), the number of accumulated balls, the remaining amount, the total number of added balls (total number of added balls), and the total subtraction. The number of balls (cumulative number of subtracted balls) and the number of balls held when the card is inserted are stored. The number of balls held is the number of balls added when the number of balls paid out (the number of balls converted from the number of cards held to the number of gaming balls) is subtracted from the number of balls held when the card is inserted. That is, the number of balls held by the card is the number of balls held by the player at the present time.

The total number of added balls is added based on the value (number of added balls) of the added number-of-adders counter transmitted from the P machine 1 side to update the number of balls. Further, the total number of subtracted balls is subtracted based on the value (the number of subtracted balls) of the subtracted number counter transmitted from the P machine 1 side to update the number of balls. Furthermore, the number of card balls is added and updated based on the value of the counting ball number counter transmitted from the P machine 1. In this way, the CU 10 can manage the latest information by updating the total number of added balls, the total number of subtracted balls, and the number of cards held by the latest gaming machine information transmitted from the P machine 1 one by one. It will be possible.

As shown in the figure, the CU 10 is provided with an area for storing game balls, and also receives a count value of the game ball number counter (also referred to as game ball number or game ball total number information) from the P base 1 side. The CU 10 updates the area for storing game balls by the following procedure. That is, the CU 10 stores based on the value of the added ball number counter (the number of added balls), the value of the subtracted ball number counter (the number of subtracted balls), and the value of the counted ball number counter transmitted from the P unit 1 side. While updating the number of game balls being played, it is determined whether or not the count value of the game ball number counter transmitted from the P unit 1 side at the same timing and the number of game balls after update match. If they match, the game is allowed to continue, but if they do not match, control to shift to an error state is performed.

As a result, for example, an error notification is given by the abnormality notification lamp or the display 312, or an error notification signal indicating that an error has occurred is transmitted to the hall management computer or the hall server 801 (in this case, hall management). Error notification may be performed by the computer or the hall server 801). As a result, a predetermined notification prompting an artificial response by a staff member is given.

Instead of shifting to the error state and stopping the game, the number of game balls stored on the CU 10 side may be replaced with the count value of the game ball number counter transmitted from the P unit 1 side. Good. Alternatively, instead of this, the average value of the number of game balls managed on the CU 10 side and the number of game balls stored on the P machine 1 side may be corrected.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the number of game balls is also stored in the CU 10 side, but it is determined whether or not the number of game balls matches the number of game balls managed and stored on the P unit 1 side. (CU10 side function). Therefore, even if a situation occurs in which the number of game balls stored on the P unit 1 side does not match the number of game balls stored on the CU 10 side due to misconduct or other circumstances, it is possible to check that fact. Although the determination function is provided on the CU 10 side here, the number of game balls stored on the CU 10 side and the P unit 1 side are stored by, for example, the hall server 801 connected to the CU 10 or the hall management computer. It is also possible to receive the number of playing game balls and determine whether the two match.

As shown in FIG. 10, the CU 10 stores a storage area for storing the number of balls held and the number of stored balls, a storage area for storing the prepaid balance of the received (inserted) card, and the total number of added balls (the number of added balls). It further has a storage area for storing the total number of balls), the total number of subtracted balls (total number of subtracted balls) and the number of balls held when the card is inserted. The CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 8) stores the stored coins in response to an input requesting the use of the accumulated coins (for example, a pressing input of the replay button 38c provided in the CU 10 (however, when no balls are held)). A predetermined number of coins is subtracted from the area.

The CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 8) stores a ball that is used in response to an input requesting the use of the ball (for example, a pressing input of the replay button 38c provided in the CU 10 when the ball has a ball). A predetermined number of balls are subtracted from the area. Further, the CU control unit 323 (see FIG. 8) subtracts a predetermined value from the storage area in which the prepaid balance is stored according to an input requesting the use of the prepaid balance (for example, pressing input of the ball lending button 38a).

When the player performs an operation to deduct a certain amount of value from the possession value of the player's possession (for example, the number of balls held, the number of balls accumulated, or the prepaid balance), the number of balls deducted The number of added balls for adding to the game ball number counter is transmitted from the CU 10 side to the P unit 1 side. On the P machine 1 side, in response to this, the game ball number counter is added and updated.

In the game system according to the present embodiment, on the other hand, it is possible to accept a so-called wagon service order in which the player's ownership value is withdrawn and exchanged for a drink or the like. However, the wagon service is restricted for playing balls, and you can only receive the wagon service for holding balls. This is an image that the conventional enclosed-type pachinko gaming machine equipped with a counter for each unit prohibits the uncounted balls remaining on the plate from being used for wagon service.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the number of balls held is less than the number of balls corresponding to the desired menu of the wagon service when the operation to perform the wagon service is executed, the player is prompted to perform the counting operation. Has been done. At that time, when the player performs a counting operation, the number of counting balls based on the operation is transmitted from the P unit 1 side to the CU 10 side. On the CU 10 side, upon receipt of this, the number of game balls is subtracted, and the number of card possessions is added to update.

<Frame structure used in communication>
Next, communication between the CU 10 and the P stand 1 according to the present embodiment will be described in more detail. The electronic message used in the communication is composed of a frame having a predetermined format. The transmission data (telegram) is always transmitted in 1-frame units. That is, the divided transmission of the message is not performed. In addition, when transmitting electronic messages continuously, an interval of 1 millisecond or more is provided.

The transmission data of one frame includes a data length, a normal serial number, an addition serial number, a counting serial number, a command, and a data part. “Data length” indicates the data length of the transmission data (serial number to data part (business message range)). “Command” is a command code of a message. The "data part" is data of a telegram.

<Commands and responses sent and received between CU and P unit>
Next, with reference to FIG. 11, an outline of commands and responses transmitted and received between the CU 10 and the P unit 1 will be described.

FIG. 11 shows the transmission direction, whether the data to be transmitted is a command or a response, the name of the transmission information and its outline.

<<Recovery request, Recovery response>>
First, a command named recovery request is transmitted from the CU 10 to the P unit 1. This recovery request command requests the P units 1 for recovery information. In response to this recovery request, a response named recovery response is transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10. The response of this recovery response notifies the CU 10 of recovery information.

The recovery request command is transmitted from the CU 10 to the P unit 1 after the CU 10 completes the authentication. The recovery request command requests recovery information from the P unit 1 from the CU 10, and the CU 10 first sends the command after the authentication is completed. The recovery request includes "serial number", "command", "previous last transmission serial number" and "previous last transmission count serial number". The “serial number” is a sequence number (1 to 255). The "command" is a command code of the recovery request, and is represented by hexadecimal binary data.

The "last last transmission serial number" is the serial number of the last status information request command transmitted to the P unit 1 at the time of the previous connection. When the "last last transmission sequence number" is "0", it means that there is no stored sequence number. The "previous last transmission serial number" is a serial number that is stored as the last last transmission serial number (serial number) on both the P console 1 and the CU10 side when the status information response is transmitted by the P-unit 1 and when the status information response is received by the CU10. Is.

The “last last transmission count serial number” is the count serial number of the response of the last status information request transmitted to the P unit 1 at the previous connection. When "0" is shown in the "previous last transmission count serial number", there is no stored serial number. The "previous last transmission count serial number" is a serial number that is stored as the last transmission count serial number on both the P unit 1 and the CU10 side when the P unit 1 transmits the status information response and when the CU 10 receives the status information response. ..

In the recovery process (the number of counting balls) of the P machine 1, the “store code” and the “SC board ID” notified from the security board 325 in the counting history sequence described later and the “store code” held by the P machine 1 And the “SC board ID” are matched, and if they match, the following processing is performed. If they do not match, the count request ball count=0 is set in the subtraction register and notified to the user program.

The P unit 1 refers to the "previously transmitted last transmission count serial number" notified by the CU 10, and sets the count request ball count=0 in the subtraction register when the CU 10 has not performed the count process for the count request. Notify the user program executed on the P unit 1. When the CU 10 has already performed the counting process, the count requesting ball number notified to the CU 10 is set in the subtraction register and notified to the user program. If all of the store codes held by the P stand 1 are “F” (hexadecimal number), it is determined that the store codes match. Further, when the “store code” notified from the security board 325 and the “store code” held in the P unit 1 do not match, the user code side is notified of the store code mismatch via the register. When receiving the recovery request command from the CU 10, the P console 1 notifies the user program side via the register.

The response of the recovery response is the response of the recovery information held by the P unit 1 to the CU 10. Recovery information is "serial number", "command", "last last transmission serial number", "previous insertion card ID", "last card insertion time", "last last transmission addition serial number", "ball unit price", "game information" "Presence or absence of storage", "previous game machine information" and "previous game information" are included. The "serial number" and the "command" are the same as those described above, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

The "last last transmitted serial number" is the serial number data included in the response of the status information response transmitted last to the CU 10 at the time of the previous connection, and when it is "0", there is no retained serial number. “Previously inserted card ID” is data of the card ID of the card which was being inserted at the time of the previous connection, and when it is “0”, there is no card being inserted. The payout control unit 171 of the P machine 1 stores and holds the card ID being inserted based on the information transmitted from the CU 10.

The "previous card insertion time" is data of the insertion time of the card which was being inserted at the time of the previous connection, and when it is "0", there is no card being inserted. This data is also represented by 2-digit YY for year information, 2-digit MM for month information, 2-digit DD for day information, 2-digit hh for time information, 2-digit mm for minute information, and 2-digit ss for second information. Is. The “last last transmission addition serial number” is the addition serial number included in the response of the status information response transmitted last to the CU 10 at the time of the previous connection, and when it is “0”, there is no such addition serial number. The “ball unit price” is a ball unit price (0.01 yen to 99.99 yen) per ball playing on the P unit 1. The “presence/absence of game information storage” is “0x00” when the game information is not stored and “0x01” when the game information is stored.

The "previous game machine information" is the game machine information notified to the CU 10 last time, and includes the information of "the number of game balls", "the number of game balls", "the number of requested balls for counting", and "the counting serial number". The “number of game balls” is the number of game balls previously notified to the CU 10. The "gaming ball information" is the gaming ball information notified last time. The game ball information is, for example, information such as the number of shot balls previously notified to the CU 10, the number of out-passing balls, and the total number of prize balls. The "number of balls required for counting" is the number of game balls for which counting is requested. The “counting serial number” is the counting serial number notified to the CU 10 last time.

The “previous game information” is the game information notified to the CU 10 last time, and includes the “game information number” and the “game information 1” to “game information n”. “Number of game information” is the number (0 to n) of game information notified to the CU 10 last time. The variable length is n=0 to 22. "Game information 1" is the game information 1 that was previously notified to the CU 10. The “game information n” is the game information n notified to the CU 10 last time. The game information n includes, for example, the type information and the game prize ball information that the CU 10 was previously notified of.

The "last last transmission addition serial number" is a serial number that is stored as the last last transmission addition serial number on both the CU 10 side and the P machine 1 when the CU 10 transmits a status information request and when the P machine 1 receives the status information request.

In the recovery process (game information) of the P machine 1, the “store code” and the “SC board ID” notified from the security board 325 in the counting history sequence described later, and the “store code” held by the P machine 1 and It is determined whether the “SC board ID” matches, and if the “store code” does not match, the recovery data is treated as no. If they match, the following processing is performed.

When there is recovery data of game information, "Presence or absence of game information storage" is stored: 0x01 is set, the previous "gaming ball number", the last "gaming ball information", the last "count requesting ball number", the last " The recovery data held by the P console 1 is set in the “counting serial number”, the previous “game information number”, and the previous “game information 1 to n”. When there is no recovery data of game information or when the last transmission serial number is 0, the "game information storage status" is set to "0x00" without storing, the last "gaming ball information", the last "count request ball number", the last time The "counting serial number" and the previous "number of game information" are set to ALL "0". However, the number of game balls set last time is set as the number of game balls. If all of the store codes held by the P stand 1 are “F” (hexadecimal number), it is determined that the store codes match.

When it is determined that the “store code” notified from the security board 325 does not match the store code held on the P stand 1, it is processed as no card. That is, ALL “0” is set for “previously inserted card ID” and “previous card insertion time”.

The P console 1 stores the serial number at the time of responding to the status information request as the last last transmitted serial number. If the “store code” and “SC board ID” notified from the security board 325 do not match with the information held in the P units, the last transmission serial number=0 is notified. The “store code” and “SC board ID” notified from the security board 325 are compared with the information held in the P units, and if they match, the stored last transmission serial number is notified.

The P console 1 stores the counting serial number as the last final transmission counting serial number when transmitting the status information response. If the “store code” and the “SC board ID” notified from the SC 325b are compared with the information held in the P units and they do not match, the last transmission count serial number=0 is notified. The “store code” and “SC board ID” notified from the security board 325 are compared with the information held in the P units, and if they match, the stored last final transmission count serial number is notified.

In addition, when the process of the “last transmission serial number of the last time” notified from the P unit 1 has not been performed, the CU 10 performs the recovery process using the previous gaming machine information. In addition, when the process of the "last last transmission sequence number" is performed, the CU 10 performs the recovery process by using only the previous game machine information. However, recovery of the number of counting balls is not performed.

<<Recovery request 2, recovery response 2>>
A command named recovery request 2 is transmitted from the CU 10 to the P unit 1. The command of this recovery request 2 notifies the P units 1 of the additional recovery information. In response to this recovery request 2, a response named recovery response 2 is transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10. The response of this recovery response 2 notifies the CU 10 of the processing result of the additional recovery information.

The command of the recovery request 2 is for notifying the P unit 1 of the additional recovery information, and includes the data of “serial number”, “command”, “previous last transmission additional serial number” and “additional ball number”. There is. The "serial number" and the "command" are the same as those described above, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated. The recovery request 2 is transmitted when the CU 10 determines that it is necessary to perform the addition ball recovery process on the P unit 1. The CU 10 compares the “previous last transmission addition serial number” included in the recovery response received from the P unit 1 with the “previous last transmission addition serial number” stored by itself, and if they match, the addition ball recovery It is determined that the processing is not necessary, and if they do not match, it is determined that the addition ball recovery processing is necessary. When it is determined that the additional ball recovery processing is necessary, the recovery request 2 is transmitted.

The "last last transmission addition serial number" included in the recovery request 2 is data of the addition serial number of the last status information request command transmitted to the P unit 1 at the time of the previous connection, and the "additional ball number" is the game ball. Is the data of the number of balls added.

Next, the recovery process of the P unit 1 will be described in detail. In the recovery process of the P unit 1, if the P unit 1 has not executed the process of the “last last transmission serial number” notified from the CU 10 based on the recovery request 2, the P unit 1 refers to the number of added balls and becomes a game ball. This is a process of performing addition to each other.

The response of the recovery response 2 notifies the CU 10 of the processing result of the additional recovery information on the P unit 1, and includes a “serial number”, a “command”, and a “recovery result”. The “recovery result” is the recovery result process OK in the case of “0x00” and the recovery result process NG in the case of “0x01”. If the P machine 1 is in a state where it cannot receive the added number of balls, the process NG is returned as a recovery result.

When performing the recovery process (the number of added balls) of the P unit 1, if the P unit 1 has not executed the process of the “last final transmission addition serial number” notified from the CU 10, the CU 10 performs the process as “recovery result”. In response, the number of added balls notified from the CU 10 is set in the addition register, and the user program is notified. When the number of added balls=0 notified from the CU 10, the number of added balls=0 is set in the addition register, the user program is notified, and the process OK is returned to the CU 10. However, when the CU status of the status information request described later is during the game ball addition request (Bit3=1), when the gaming machine status 1 responds with the game ball addition result (Bit5=1) in the status information response, the CU 10 indicates “recovery”. As a result, processing NG is returned, the number of added balls=0 is set in the addition register, and the user program is notified.

When the "last last transmission addition serial number" notified from the CU10 is the same as the "last last transmission addition serial number" held by the chips of the P unit 1, set the number of addition balls = 0 in the addition register, The user program is notified, and the process NG is returned to the CU 10 as a “recovery result”. When the "last last transmission addition serial number" notified from CU10 is 0, the number of added balls = 0 is set in the addition register regardless of the number of added balls notified from CU10, and the user program is notified to CU10. Process OK is responded.

Further, at the timing of completion of the recovery processing (for example, timing of setting the recovery completion flag), the "previous last transmission addition serial number" notified from the CU 10 is notified to the user program via the register, regardless of the recovery result. .. When the recovery request 2 is not received, the “previous last transmission addition serial number” held by the chips of the P units 1 is notified to the user program at the timing when the recovery process is completed.

<<Request for status information>>
From the CU 10 to the P unit 1, a status information request command is transmitted at predetermined intervals (for example, 200 ms). This status information request command requests the status of the CU 10 to the P unit 1. The CU 10 uses this command to periodically check the status of the P unit 1. In addition, the command for requesting the status information includes the number of balls to be added from the CU 10 side to the P unit 1 side shown in FIG.

The status information request will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the content of the status information request. Specific data of the status information request includes data of "serial number", "command", "CU status", "additional ball number", "additional serial number", "counting serial number", and "ball unit price". There is. The "serial number" and the "command" are the same as those described above, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

The “CU state” represents the state of the CU 10 that notifies the P unit 1. The card insertion state is ON when Bit0 is “1”, that is, the card is being inserted, and the card insertion state is when it is “0”. It indicates OFF, that is, no card is inserted. That is, Bit0 represents a state in which a card (general card/membership card) is inserted in the CU 10 (card insertion state). In addition, a general card is being inserted by depositing a stock card (general 0 yen 0 coin card) pre-stocked in the card stock section of the CU 10.

When Bit1 is "1", the card unit is open, and when it is "0", the card unit is closed. That is, Bit1 notifies the P unit 1 of the card unit opening state based on the state of the CU 10. The timing of notifying that the card unit is open is, for example, when the opening of the store is completed. The timing of notifying that the card unit is closed is, for example, when the card is closed. When the same state changes from the opening state to the closing state, the P unit 1 notifies the CU 10 by a state information response as the number of all the held gaming balls. When Bit1 is regarded as a closing flag, the closing flag is OFF when Bit1 is "1", and the closing flag is ON when Bit1 is "0".

When Bit2 is "1", the card is being prepared for return, and when it is "0", the card is not being prepared for return. The CU 10 sets this bit during each operation of returning the card, simple leaving the seat, and taking a meal break, to notify the P console 1 of "preparing for returning the card" for a certain period of time (10 seconds). When the operation of the counting button 28 is detected, the P-unit 1 receives the status information request in which the bit for preparing to return the card is ON, and whether the counting button has been operated once or a plurality of times. Regardless of the operation duration, the CU 10 is notified of all the stored game balls as the number of counted balls in the status information response.

When Bit3 is "1", the game ball addition request is ON, that is, there is a game ball addition request, and when it is "0", the game ball addition request is OFF, that is, there is no game ball addition request. That is, Bit3 requests addition of game balls (number of added balls) at the time of operations of ball lending, holding ball payout, and accumulated ball payout.

When Bit4 is "1", it indicates that the counting balls have been received, and "0" indicates that the counting balls have not been received. Bit4 notifies the P unit 1 that the receipt is completed when the counting balls are received. That is, it is used to confirm the delivery of the response “counting ball number” of the status information response. When the P unit 1 receives the counting ball reception completion, it checks whether the counting sequence number is also the same as the P unit 1, and if the sequence numbers do not match, it notifies the CU 10 without subtracting the number of game balls.

When Bit5 is "1", the card is waiting for card removal, and "0" indicates the completion of card removal. The Bit 5 notifies the P unit 1 of the state of waiting for the card removal from the CU 10. Note that Bit6 and Bit7 are unused.

The “added ball number” is the added ball number of the game balls, and the data of the added ball number is valid only when Bit3 in the CU state is “1”. The "additional serial number" is a sequence number for addition (0 to 255), and the sequence number is updated (+1) and notified when a game ball addition request is made. The "counting sequence number" is a counting sequence number (0 to 255), and directly reports the counting sequence number received at the time of the counting request. However, if the continuity of the counting sequence number is not established, the counting receipt will not be issued.

The "ball unit price" is a ball unit price (0.01 yen to 99.99 yen) per game ball played on the P unit 1. The ball unit price notified from the CU 10 to the P machine 1 is stored in the RAM of the payout control board 17 of the P machine 1, for example. Then, the P unit 1 notifies the CU 10 of the ball unit price stored in the RAM by a status information response when a predetermined condition is satisfied. Specifically, when the CU 10 requests the P unit 1 for recovery information for recovering from the incommunicable state (a recovery request command is transmitted from the CU 10), the P unit 1 responds with a recovery response. Set the ball unit price and send to CU10. That is, the ball unit price is not output to the outside except for notifying the CU 10 at the time of recovery response. The ball unit price stored in the P unit 1 is set in the response of the recovery response when the recovery request command is transmitted from the CU 10, and is transmitted to the CU 10. As a result, it is possible to accurately grasp the ball unit price of the game ball that was playing on the P unit 1 before the recovery, and it is possible for the player to restart the game with an appropriate game value after the recovery. In addition, security is ensured so that the ball unit price is not illegally changed by not outputting the ball unit price stored in the P unit 1 to the outside except for notifying the CU 10 at the time of recovery response. Furthermore, the ball unit price stored in the P unit 1 is prohibited from being overwritten with a new ball unit price when the P unit 1 holds the number of game balls. Even if the P-table 1 holds the number of game balls, the ball-unit price stored in the P-table 1 is allowed to be overwritten, and the number of game balls held is converted to the overwritten ball-unit price and displayed. May be updated.

<<Status Information Response>>
In response to the status information request, a response of status information response is transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10. The response of this status information response notifies the CU 10 of the information and status of the P unit 1. The response of the status information response includes the latest gaming machine information and the number of game balls shown in FIG.

The status information response will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. 13 and 14 are explanatory diagrams for explaining the content of the status information response. Specific data of the status information response includes "serial number", "command", "CU control unit request information", "number of game balls", "number of shot balls", "number of outro passing balls", and "total prize ball ball". "Number", "Number of requested balls", "Counting serial number", "Firing intensity", "Game machine status", "Game machine error status", "Fraud detection information", "Fraud detection status", "Additional serial number", And "game information" data are included. The "serial number" and the "command" are the same as those described above, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

The “number of game balls” is the current number of game balls (the number of game balls resulting from the calculation of addition/subtraction). The “number of shots” is the number of shots (if there are multiple shots at the time of transmission, they are added together). The “number of out-passage balls” is the number of balls that have passed through the out-out port 8 (if there are a plurality of passing balls at the time of transmission, they are added together). The “total number of prize balls” is the total number of prize balls in the prize ball information 1-n. The "number of requested balls" is the number of gaming balls requested to be counted. The “counting serial number” is a counting sequence number (0 to 255), and is updated (+1) and notified when counting is requested.

The "firing strength" is information on the firing strength of the game ball. The "gaming machine status" indicates the status of the P machine 1 at the time when the command for requesting the status information is sent from the CU 10 to the P machine 1, and is "gaming machine status 1", "gaming machine status 2", " It includes information on "gaming machine status 3" and "gaming machine error status".

For example, Bit5 of “gaming machine state 1” indicates the result of whether or not the P machine 1 has added the game balls in accordance with the addition request received from the CU 10. Bit5 is set to "0" when the game balls are normally added, and Bit5 is set to "1" when the game balls are not normally added.

The “fraud detection information” is information detected by the P unit 1 at the time when the command for requesting the state information is sent from the CU 10 to the P unit 1, and is “fraud detection state 1” and “fraud detection state 2”. , And “fraud detection information 1” to “fraud detection information 4”.

For example, Bit6 in the “fraud detection state 2” is a fraudulent ball lending detection flag and indicates whether or not the addition request is received in a state where no card is inserted in the CU 10. Bit6 is set to "0" when an addition request is received with a card inserted in the CU10, and Bit6 is set to "1" when an addition request is received with no card inserted in the CU10. Specifically, the payout control unit 171 sets Bit6 to “1” when it is determined that the card is not inserted in the CU 10 in the status information request reception process (see FIG. 20) described later, although the addition request is accepted. Set to. Once the Bit 6 in the “fraud detection state 2” is set to “1”, the Bit 6 is maintained in the state set to “1” until the power supply of the P stand 1 is turned off.

Further, the “fraud detection information 3” is valid when the Bit 6 of the “fraud detection state 2” is “1”, and the number of balls (also referred to as the number of fraudulent ball lending) attempted to lend in the state where no card is inserted. It represents the accumulated results.

The "additional serial number" is an addition sequence number, and the addition serial number received at the time of the addition request is notified as it is. However, if the continuity of the addition serial number is not established, the addition NG is notified.

The “fraud detection state 3” is the fraud detection information of the payout control board 17. For example, when Bit 1 of “Fraud detection state 3” is “1”, it indicates that it is the fraud detection information of the iron ball detection.

The “game information” is the information of the P machine 1 at the time when the command for requesting the state information is sent from the CU 10 to the P machine 1, and is the “game information number”, “classification information 1” to “classification information n”. , "Count information 1" to "count information n".

<<Card insertion notification, card insertion response>>
The command of the card insertion notification is transmitted from the CU 10 to the P unit 1. This card insertion notification command notifies the P unit 1 of card insertion. In response to this card insertion notification, a response of a card insertion response is transmitted from the P console 1 to the CU 10. The response of this card insertion response is a response indicating that the card insertion notification has been received to the CU 10.

The card insertion notification command notifies the P base 1 of the card ID and insertion time of the inserted card when the card is inserted, and the "serial number", "command", "card ID", "card insertion time", The data of "store code" and "SC board ID" is included. The "serial number" and the "command" are the same as those described above, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated.

The “card ID” is identification ID information of the IC card inserted in the CU 10, and is used for linking with the game ball held by the P table 1. "Card insertion time" is the time when the IC card is inserted into the card insertion/ejection slot 309 of the CU 10 (see FIG. 1). Year information is 2 digits YY, month information is 2 digits MM, and date information is 2 digits. The data is represented by DD, time information is 2 digits hh, minute information is 2 digits mm, and second information is 2 digits ss. The card insertion time is used to determine whether the game ball held by the P unit 1 is a current day ball or a past ball.

The “store code” is a store identification code in which the CU 10 is installed, and is used for linking with the game ball held by the P table 1. It is also used to determine whether the CU 10 has been moved to a store. The CU 10 stores the store code in which it is installed. The store code is added to the information from the security board 325 and notified to the P units. The “SC board ID” is an SC board ID for identifying the CU 10, and is used to determine whether the CU 10 has been replaced. The SC board ID is added to the information from the security board 325 and notified to the P stand 1. The payout control unit 171 of the P machine 1 stores the information notified by the card insertion notification command such as the card ID (C-ID) and the card insertion time. The "store code" and the "SC board ID" are deleted in the payout control circuit without notifying the user program side.

The response of the card insertion response notifies the CU 10 that the card insertion notification has been normally received, and includes data of "serial number", "command", and "result". The "serial number" and the "command" are the same as those described above, and therefore description thereof will not be repeated. The “result” indicates whether or not the card ID and the card insertion time are normally overwritten when the payout control unit 171 receives the card insertion notification, that is, whether or not the card insertion notification is normally accepted. ing. When the card insertion notification is normally accepted, OK is shown as the “result”, and when the card insertion notification is not normally received, NG is shown as the “result”. If the "card insertion time" specified by the card insertion notification is a value other than a value having a predetermined format (for example, a BCD value (binary coded decimal)), the result is NG. Is shown.

Here, the operation of the P stand 1 at the time of the card insertion/return notification will be described. First, a card or general card is inserted into the card insertion/ejection slot 309 of the CU 10 or a general 0 yen 0 coin card is deposited to notify the P unit 1 of the card as a card insertion notification. Information such as ID and card insertion time is notified. Upon receiving the card insertion notification, the P stand 1 backs up information such as the card ID and the card insertion time. However, when the card insertion notification command is received and the status information request including the information that the status of the CU 10 is the card insertion status (Bit 0=1 in the CU status) is received (when it is determined that the P unit 1 is in the card insertion status). ), the P stand 1 does not back up the information such as the card ID and the card insertion time and sends only the response. Further, when the card return button 322 of the CU 10 is pressed, a card return notification is given to the P machine 1, and the P machine 1 clears the backed up information such as the card ID and the card insertion time. Note that the condition for releasing the card insertion state is when the P-table 1 receives the card return notification command.

When normally overwriting the card ID, the card insertion time, etc., that is, the card insertion notification is normally received, the P-table 1 sets a card insertion flag indicating that the card is in the insertion state in the RAM of the payout control unit 171. Set.

<<Card return notification, card return response>>
The command of the card return notification is transmitted from the CU 10 to the P unit 1. This card return notification command notifies the P unit 1 of the card return. In response to this card return notification, the response of the card return response is transmitted from the P console 1 to the CU 10. The response of the card return response is a response of the card return to the CU 10.

Note that the CU 10 does not return the card if the card ID included in the command does not match the ID of the card currently inserted in the card return response, or if there is a problem with the card insertion time included in the command. , Such as prohibiting writing of balls in the card.

Here, the operation of the P console 1 at the time of the card insertion notification or the card return notification will be described. When the CU 10 performs the operation of inserting a membership card, inserting a general card, or depositing a general 0 yen 0 coin card at the time of the card insertion notification, the P stand 1 backs up the card ID and the card insertion time. When the "return card" button is pressed on the CU 10 at the time of the card return notification, the P console 1 clears the card ID and the card insertion time. Further, the P-table 1 clears the card insertion flag set in the RAM of the payout controller 171.

<Main sequence in communication between CU and P unit>
<<Sending commands and responses>>
First, the transmission of commands and responses between the CU 10 and the P unit 1 will be described. A command is transmitted from the CU 10 (primary station) to the P unit 1 (secondary station), and the P unit 1 returns a response to the CU 10 in response to the command. That is, the transmission of the business message is a command/response method in which the CU 10 is the primary station and the P unit 1 is the secondary station.

The period from the transmission of the first command to the P unit 1 from the CU 10 to the transmission of the next command is controlled to 200 ms, that is, 0.2 seconds. Also, the period from the transmission of the response from the P unit 1 to the CU 10 until the transmission of the next response is controlled to 200 ms, that is, 0.2 seconds.

Thus, both the command and the response are transmitted between the CU 10 and the P unit 1 at intervals of 200 ms. On the other hand, since the P base 1 operates 100 hits of pachinko balls into the game area per minute by operating the hit ball operation handle 37, the interval of the hitting ball firing time is 0.6 seconds. As a result, a plurality of commands and responses are transmitted/received during one shot of the ball.

Therefore, the response for notifying the amount of change in the number of game balls is transmitted from the P console 1 to the CU 10 one after another at intervals shorter than the interval of ball firing time. As a result, the P console 1 can notify the CU 10 of the amount of change in the number of game balls in detail.

Although the transmission interval of the command and the response is set to 200 ms here, the transmission interval may be set to a longer interval or a shorter interval. For example, the transmission interval is set to the emission time of the P unit 1. It is also possible to match the interval.

<< card insertion >>
The processing of the CU 10 and the P stand 1 when a card is inserted will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the CU 10 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n and card insertion status=OFF to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P-unit 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n and the game prohibition to the CU 10.

After that, in the CU 10, when the card is inserted, the card reader/writer outputs a command signal for loading the card, and the card reader/writer reads the information (card ID etc.) stored in the loaded card, A card insertion process such as receiving the read information is executed. Information (card ID, etc.) stored in the card read by the card reader/writer may be stored in the CU 10.

The CU 10 is in a card information inquiry state for a predetermined period after the card is inserted. This is in the middle of inquiring about the suitability of the inserted card, whether it is a member card registered at the game hall, or the ball server, the accumulated ball, the prepaid balance, etc. This means that the process of displaying a certain thing on the display 312 and displaying it on the display unit 50 on the side of the P stand 1 is being executed.

While the CU 10 does not authenticate the inserted card while the display 312 indicates that the inserted card is being inquired, the CU 10 sends a status information request including serial number=n+1 and card insertion status=OFF. Send a command to P machine 1. In response to this, the P-unit 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n+1 and the game prohibition to the CU 10. The display unit 50 on the side of the P stand 1 is subjected to display control by the display control unit 350 of the CU 10, and a display indicating that a card inquiry is being made is displayed.

After that, when the inserted card is authenticated, the CU 10 stores the card ID and the card insertion time of the card in the RAM of the CU control unit 323, and the serial number=n+2, the card ID, the card insertion time, and the store code. , And a card insertion notification command including the SC board ID are transmitted to the P unit 1. The store code and the SC board ID are information added to the command of the card insertion notification when passing through the security board 325. In response to this, the P machine 1 backs up the received data of the card ID, the card insertion time, the store code and the SC board ID in the RAM of the payout control unit 171 or the like. When normally overwriting the card ID, the card insertion time, etc., the P machine 1 sets the card insertion flag in the RAM of the payout control unit 171, and returns the response of the card insertion response including the serial number=n+2 and the result=OK to the CU10. Reply to. Note that the CU 10 also stores the card ID of the inserted card in the RAM of the CU control unit 323 or the like.

In response to this, the CU 10 sends a status information request command including a serial number=n+3 and a card insertion status=ON to the P console 1, thereby notifying the P console 1 of the status that the card is being inserted. Upon receiving the notification that the card is being inserted, the P console 1 permits the game, and returns a response of a status information response including the serial number=n+3 and the game permission to the CU 10, thereby indicating that the game is being permitted. Notify.

While the card is being inserted, the CU 10 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+4 and card return preparation status=ON to the P unit 1, and the P unit 1 responds with a status information response including serial number=n+4 and game permission. To CU10.

Furthermore, a case will be described in which a card insertion notification command is transmitted from the CU 10 to the P stand 1 during card insertion. First, the CU 10 transmits a card insertion notification command including serial number=n+x, card ID, card insertion time, store code, and SC board ID to the P unit 1. When a card insertion notification command is sent during card insertion, the card ID and card insertion time that are sent are often different from the card ID and card insertion time of the card being inserted, and are stored in the P unit 1. There is a high possibility that fraudulent attempts are made to intentionally change the card ID or the card insertion time.

Therefore, the P stand 1 does not back up the received card ID, card insertion time, store code, and SC board ID data to the RAM of the payout controller 171 or the like. The determination as to whether or not the card is being inserted in the P unit 1 can be easily made based on the information indicating that the card return preparation state is ON, which is included in the command for requesting the state information.

Next, the P console 1 returns a response of the card insertion response including the serial number=n+x and the result=NG to the CU 10 without backing up the received card ID, card insertion time and the like. Note that the CU 10 also does not store the card ID, the card insertion time, and the like transmitted by the card insertion notification command in the RAM or the like of the CU control unit 323. As a result, it is possible to prevent fraudulent acts such as falsification of the card ID stored in the P machine 1 by intentionally transmitting the card ID to the P machine 1 during card insertion, and to improve security. You can

<<Return card>>
The processing of the CU 10 and the P unit 1 when the card is returned will be described. Note that FIG. 16 shows the processing after the "card return" button is pressed. As shown in FIG. 16, the CU 10 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n and card insertion status=ON to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P-unit 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n and the game prohibition to the CU 10. Next, the CU 10 transmits a command of a status information request including serial number=n+1 and card insertion status=ON to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P-unit 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n+1 and the game prohibition to the CU 10.

After that, when the card is returned, the CU 10 transmits a card return notification command including the serial number=n+2 to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P-unit 1 returns a response of the card return response including the serial number=n+2 to the CU 10. After returning the response of the card return response to the CU 10, the P machine 1 clears the card ID and the card insertion time data stored in the RAM of the payout controller 171 and clears the card insertion flag.

Then, the CU 10 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+3 and card insertion status=OFF to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P-unit 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n+3 and the game permission to the CU 10. After that, the CU 10 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+4 and card insertion status=OFF to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P console 1 sends back a response of the status information response including the serial number=n+4 and the game permission to the CU 10.

The conditions for overwriting (updating) the card ID and the insertion time will be described in more detail. As described above, the card ID and the insertion time are prohibited from being updated while the card is being inserted. As the prohibition condition, the relationship between the card insertion notification command and the CU status included in the status information request command will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 17 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the relationship between the card insertion notification command, the CU status included in the status information request command, and the card insertion status.

First, in FIG. 17A, the CU status included in the status information request command before the P unit 1 receives the card insertion notification command is the card insertion status (card insertion status=ON, Bit0=“1”). ) Is shown.

The state (1) shown in FIG. 17A is a card insertion waiting state, in which the P unit 1 has not received the card insertion notification command (no card insertion flag is set) and is transmitted from the CU 10. This is a case where the CU status included in the status information request command is not a card being inserted (card insertion state=OFF, Bit0=“0”). In this case, since the CU 10 is not inserting the card, the P unit 1 enables the card ID and the insertion time to be overwritten when the card insertion notification is received. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a response of the card insertion response including the result=OK to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (2) shown in FIG. 17A is a card insertion preparation state, in which the P unit 1 has not received the card insertion notification command (the card insertion flag is not set), and the CU 10 sends it. This is a case where the CU state included in the transmitted status information request command is a card being inserted (card insertion state=ON, Bit0=“1”). Also in this case, since the CU 10 is not inserting the card, the P unit 1 enables the card ID and the insertion time to be overwritten when the card insertion notification is received. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a response of the card insertion response including the result=OK to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (3) shown in FIG. 17A is a card insertion state, in which the P unit 1 receives the card insertion notification command (the card insertion flag is set) and is transmitted from the CU 10. This is a case where the CU state included in the command of the state information request is a card being inserted (card insertion state=ON, Bit0=“1”). In this case, the P stand 1 prohibits the card ID and the insertion time from being overwritten when the card insertion notification is received, assuming that the CU 10 is inserting the card. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a card insertion response including RESULTS=NG to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (4) shown in FIG. 17A is a card return preparation state, the P unit 1 has not received the card return notification command (the card insertion flag is set), and This is when the CU state included in the transmitted status information request command is not a card being inserted (card insertion state=OFF, Bit0=“0”). In this case, the P unit 1 prohibits the card ID and the insertion time from being overwritten when the card insertion notification is received, assuming that the CU 10 has not returned the card and the card is being inserted. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a card insertion response including RESULTS=NG to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (5) shown in FIG. 17(a) is a card return state, in which the P unit 1 receives the card return notification command (the card insertion flag is not set) and is transmitted from the CU 10. This is a case where the CU state included in the information request command is not a card being inserted (card insertion state=OFF, Bit0=“0”). In this case, since the CU 10 is not inserting the card, the P unit 1 enables the card ID and the insertion time to be overwritten when the card insertion notification is received. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a response of the card insertion response including the result=OK to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

On the other hand, in FIG. 17B, the CU status included in the status information request command after the P unit 1 receives the card insertion notification command is the card insertion status (card insertion status=ON, Bit0=“1”). The following shows an example.

The state (1)′ shown in FIG. 17(b) is a card insertion waiting state, the P unit 1 has not received the card insertion notification command (the card insertion flag is not set), and is transmitted from the CU 10. This is a case where the CU state included in the command for requesting the state information is that the card is not being inserted (card insertion state=OFF, Bit0=“0”). In this case, since the CU 10 is not inserting the card, the P unit 1 enables the card ID and the insertion time to be overwritten when the card insertion notification is received. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a response of the card insertion response including the result=OK to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (2)′ shown in FIG. 17B is a card insertion preparation state, in which the P unit 1 receives the card insertion notification command (with the card insertion flag set) and is transmitted from the CU 10. This is a case where the CU state included in the command for requesting the state information is that the card is not being inserted (card insertion state=OFF, Bit0=“0”). Also in this case, since the CU 10 is not inserting the card, the P unit 1 enables the card ID and the insertion time to be overwritten when the card insertion notification is received. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a response of the card insertion response including the result=OK to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (3)′ shown in FIG. 17B is a card insertion state, in which the P unit 1 receives the card insertion notification command (the card insertion flag is set) and is transmitted from the CU 10. This is a case where the CU state included in the command for requesting the state information is that the card is being inserted (card insertion state=ON, Bit0=“1”). In this case, the P stand 1 prohibits the card ID and the insertion time from being overwritten when the card insertion notification is received, assuming that the CU 10 is inserting the card. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a card insertion response including RESULTS=NG to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (4)′ shown in FIG. 17B is a card return preparation state, the P unit 1 has not received the card return notification command (the card insertion flag is set), and the CU10 This is a case where the CU state included in the command of the state information request transmitted from is not in the card insertion state (card insertion state=OFF, Bit0=“0”). In this case, the P console 1 prohibits the card ID and the insertion time from being overwritten when receiving the card insertion notification, assuming that the CU 10 has not returned the card. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a card insertion response including RESULTS=NG to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

Next, the state (5)' shown in FIG. 17(b) is a card return state, the P unit 1 receives the command of the card return notice (the card insertion flag is not set), and is transmitted from the CU 10. This is a case where the CU status included in the status information request command is not a card being inserted (card insertion state=OFF, Bit0=“0”). In this case, since the CU 10 is not inserting the card, the P unit 1 enables the card ID and the insertion time to be overwritten when the card insertion notification is received. Therefore, the P console 1 returns a response of the card insertion response including the result=OK to the CU 10 in response to the card insertion notification command.

In this way, by limiting the conditions for overwriting (updating) the card ID and the insertion time, the card ID etc. is intentionally transmitted to the P machine 1 and the card ID etc. stored in the P machine 1 is tampered with. It is possible to prevent fraudulent acts such as doing and improve security. Further, when the condition for overwriting (updating) the card ID and the insertion time is satisfied, the response of the card insertion response including the result=OK is transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10, so that the card is inserted in the CU 10, for example. When an addition request is made by a fraudulent act despite the fact that there is none, the game balls are not added according to the addition request, and the security at the time of adding the game balls can be improved.

<< Prepaid lending >>
Next, a process for lending a game ball from the prepaid balance of the inserted card will be described. In the sequence processing shown in FIG. 18, the prepaid balance stored in the inserted card is 500 yen and the number of game balls is 50. First, the CU 10 transmits a command of a status information request including serial number=n, card insertion state=ON, game ball addition request=OFF, and addition serial number=m to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P console 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n, the number of game balls=50, and the additional serial number=m to the CU 10. In this way, the addition serial number is not updated while the addition request is not generated.

After that, when the player performs the lending operation (ball lending operation) by pressing the "lending" button once, the CU 10 lends the remaining amount of 500 yen, that is, 125 balls. When the ball lending button (lending button) 321 is pressed, the CU 10 confirms the prepaid consumption of 500 yen and backs up the data of the number of added balls=125. In this way, the balance consumption is determined by the CU 10 side alone when the lending operation is performed. After that, the CU 10 is in the addition display. In the addition display, the display unit 50 displays that the balance is being deducted by 125 balls and added to the game balls.

Next, the CU 10 requests the P machine 1 to add game balls. Therefore, the CU 10 transmits a status information request command including serial number=n+1, card insertion state=ON, game ball addition request=ON, number of added balls=125, and addition serial number=m+1 to the P unit 1. In this way, the CU 10 counts up the serial number to "n+1" in order to request addition of game balls, and also counts up the added serial number to "m+1" in order to request addition of game balls. .. The CU 10 counts up the addition sequence number to "m+1", updates the last transmission addition sequence number to "m+1", and backs up the data.

On the other hand, when the P unit 1 receives the addition request from the CU 10, the P unit 1 executes a state information request reception process (see FIG. 20) described later. By executing the status information request reception process, the P-unit 1 determines whether or not the addition request is accepted with the card inserted in the CU 10, and if the addition request is accepted with the card inserted. While adding the game ball, the game ball is not added unless the addition request is accepted with the card inserted.

In this example, since the P unit 1 receives the addition request with the card inserted in the CU 10, the number of game balls is updated to 50 (current number of game balls) +125 (number of added balls) =175. Then, the last transmission addition serial number is updated to “m+1” and the data is backed up. Then, the P machine 1 notifies the CU 10 of the number of game balls=175 and the result of game ball addition=OK, so that the serial number=n+1, the number of ball additions=175, the result of game ball addition=OK, and the additional sequence number=m+1. The response of the status information response including is returned to the CU 10. Since this is a response to the addition request of the game balls, the addition serial number is not counted up and is directly set to "m+1".

After that, when the addition request of the game ball is OFF, the CU 10 counts up the serial number in the status information request and the status information response, but does not count up the serial number addition.

After the card is returned, the CU 10 transmits a command of a status information request including serial number=n+x, card insertion state=OFF, game ball addition request=OFF, and addition serial number=m+1 to the P unit 1. In response, the P console 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n+x, the number of game balls=0, and the additional serial number=m+1 to the CU 10. The number of game balls stored in the RAM of the payout control unit 171 is cleared to 0 due to the return of the card.

Here, a case will be described in which the P machine 1 accepts a game ball addition request due to a fraudulent act even though the card is not inserted in the CU 10. For example, FIG. 18 shows an example in which the CU 10 is illegally operated and an addition request is issued from the CU 10 to the P unit 1 in a state where no card is inserted.

If the CU 10 sends a status information request command including serial number=n+x+1, card insertion state=OFF, game ball addition request=ON, addition ball number=125, and addition serial number=m+2 to P machine 1, P machine 1 executes a state information request reception process (see FIG. 20) described later, and determines whether or not an addition request is accepted with the card inserted in the CU 10.

In this example, the P unit 1 receives the addition request in a state where no card is inserted in the CU 10, so the fraudulent ball lending detection flag is set to ON without adding a game ball. That is, Bit6 of fraud detection state 2 included in the state information response is set to "1". In addition, the P unit 1 adds the number of balls attempted to be illegally lended this time (the number of illegal ball lending) to the already stored number of illegal ball lending, and the fraud detection information 3 included in the status information response. Set the number of fraudulent balls to lend after being accumulated in. Further, the P machine 1 sets the game ball addition result to NG. That is, the P machine 1 sets the Bit 5 of the gaming machine status 1 included in the status information response to “1”.

Then, the P console 1 returns to the CU 10 a response of a status information response including serial number=n+x+1, number of game balls=0, game ball addition result=NG, and additional serial number=m+1. In addition, in P machine 1, since the addition request|requirement of a game ball was fraudulently performed, the information which can identify the accumulated number of fraudulent ball rental balls is displayed on the score display part 35. On the other hand, in response to the game ball addition result being NG, the CU 10 notifies the hall server 801 of the fact that an illegal addition request has been made and the number of accumulated illegal ball rentals can be specified.

<< Jidge ball payout/payment ball payout (replay) >>
Next, a process of paying out balls and paying out balls and replaying will be described. In this FIG. 19, the initial number of game balls is 50. First, the CU 10 transmits a command of a status information request including serial number=n, card insertion state=ON, game ball addition request=OFF, and addition serial number=m to the P unit 1. In response to this, the P console 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n, the number of game balls=50, and the additional serial number=m to the CU 10. In this way, the addition serial number is not updated while the addition request is not generated.

After that, when the player presses the dice ball payout button or the replay button 38c in the state where the dice balls or the accumulated balls are present, the CU 10 confirms the consumption of 125 balls from the dice balls or the accumulated balls. As described above, the consumption of the ball-holding amount or the ball-saving amount is determined by the CU 10 side alone when the operation for pressing the ball-holding payout button or the replay button 38c is performed. If both balls and accumulated balls exist, ball consumption is prioritized.

In place of the control for preferentially consuming the balls, a ball replay button and a ball replay button are provided, and the player can select and operate either the ball consumption or the ball consumption by selecting and operating. You may do it. That is, the re-play button is used to obtain a game ball (game point) from a game ball (stored medal) and a game ball (game point) to obtain a game ball (game point) from a held ball (game point). It may be configured with two balls (balls) replay button.

The CU 10 confirms the consumption from the possessed balls or the accumulated balls, and then notifies the P unit 1 of the addition request of the number of added balls=125. Specifically, the CU 10 displays that game ball addition processing is in progress, and displays serial number=n+1, card insertion state=ON, game ball addition request=ON, added ball number=125, and added serial number=m+1. The status information request command including the command is transmitted to the P unit 1. In this way, the CU 10 counts up the serial number to "n+1" and also counts up the additional serial number to "m+1" in order to request addition of game balls. Further, the CU 10 updates the last transmission addition serial number to “m+1” to back up the data.

On the other hand, when the P unit 1 receives the addition request from the CU 10, it executes the state information request reception process to determine whether the addition request is received with the card inserted in the CU 10, and the card is inserted. If the addition request is received in the state where the card is inserted, the number of game balls is added and updated, while if the addition request is not received in the state where the card is inserted, the number of game balls is not added and updated.

In this example, since the P unit 1 receives the addition request with the card inserted in the CU 10, the number of game balls is updated to 50 (current number of game balls) +125 (number of added balls) =175. Then, the last transmission addition serial number is updated to “m+1” and the data is backed up. Then, the P console 1 returns to the CU 10 a response of a status information response including serial number=n+1, added ball number=175, game ball addition result=OK, and added serial number=m+1. Since it is a response to the addition request of the game ball, the addition serial number is not counted up and is left as it is as "m+1".

Thereafter, when the game ball addition request is OFF, the CU 10 counts up the serial number in the status information request and the status information response, but does not count up the addition serial number.

After the card is returned, the CU 10 transmits a command of a status information request including serial number=n+x, card insertion state=OFF, game ball addition request=OFF, and addition serial number=m+1 to the P unit 1. In response, the P console 1 returns a response of the status information response including the serial number=n+x, the number of game balls=0, and the additional serial number=m+1 to the CU 10. The number of game balls stored in the RAM of the payout control unit 171 is cleared to 0 due to the return of the card.

When the CU 10 sends a status information request command including serial number=n+x+1, card insertion state=OFF, game ball addition request=ON, added ball number=125, and addition serial number=m+2 to the P machine 1, that is, When the addition request is made from the CU 10 even though the card is not inserted, the P unit 1 executes the status information request reception process (see FIG. 20) described later to insert the card into the CU 10. It is determined whether or not the addition request is accepted in the state of being.

In this example, the P machine 1 receives the addition request in a state where no card is inserted in the CU 10, and therefore the illegal ball lending detection flag is set to ON without additionally updating the number of game balls. In addition, the P unit 1 adds the number of balls attempted to be illegally lended this time (the number of illegal ball lending) to the already stored number of illegal ball lending, and the fraud detection information 3 included in the status information response. Set the number of fraudulent balls to lend after being accumulated in. Further, the P machine 1 sets the game ball addition result to NG.

Then, the P console 1 returns to the CU 10 a response of a status information response including serial number=n+x+1, number of game balls=0, game ball addition result=NG, and additional serial number=m+1. In addition, in P machine 1, since the addition request|requirement of a game ball was fraudulently performed, the information which can identify the accumulated number of fraudulent ball rental balls is displayed on the score display part 35. On the other hand, in response to the game ball addition result being NG, the CU 10 notifies the hall server 801 of the fact that an illegal addition request has been made and the number of accumulated illegal ball rentals can be specified.

<Status information request reception process>
The state information request reception process will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining the status information request reception process. The state information request reception process shown in FIG. 20 is executed by the payout control unit 171 of the P machine 1 each time the state information request is received from the CU 10.

First, the P machine 1 determines whether or not a game ball addition request has been received (S10). That is, the P machine 1 determines whether or not the game ball addition request is ON for the CU state specified by the received state information request. When the game ball addition request is OFF (NO in S10), the P machine 1 proceeds to the next process. On the other hand, if the game ball addition request is ON (YES in S10), the P machine 1 determines whether or not the continuity of the addition sequence number is valid (S11).

If the continuity of the addition sequence number is not valid (NO in S11), P machine 1 sets the game ball addition result included in the status information response to NG (S18), and proceeds to the next process. At this time, the point display unit 35 gives an error notification that the continuity of the addition serial numbers is not valid. On the other hand, when the continuity of the addition serial numbers is valid (YES in S11), the P-table 1 normally receives the card insertion notification by determining whether the card insertion flag is set in the RAM. It is determined whether or not (S12).

When the P machine 1 determines that the card insertion flag is not set, that is, the card insertion notification is not normally received (NO in S12), the number of balls attempted to be illegally lended this time (illegal ball lending) The number of balls is stored and stored, and the number of fraudulent fraudulent balls after storage is set in the fraud detection information 3 included in the status information response (S16). After that, the P machine 1 sets the illegal ball lending detection flag to ON by setting the bit 6 of the fraud detection state 2 included in the status information response to “1” (S17), and the gaming machine included in the state information response. By setting Bit5 of state 1 to "1", the game ball addition result is set to NG (S18). After that, the P stand 1 shifts to the next process.

On the other hand, when the P unit 1 determines that the card insertion flag is set, that is, the card insertion notification is normally received (YES in S12), the card insertion is performed for the CU state specified by the received state information request. By determining whether the state is ON, it is determined whether the card is inserted in the CU 10 (S13).

When the P stand 1 determines that the card insertion state is OFF, that is, the card is not inserted in the CU 10 (NO in S13), it executes the processes of S16 to S18, and then shifts to the next process. On the other hand, when P card 1 determines that the card insertion state is ON, that is, a card is inserted in CU 10 (YES in S13), it adds a game ball (S14). After that, the P machine 1 sets that the result of game ball addition included in the status information response is OK (Bit5=0 in gaming machine status 1) (S15), and shifts to the next process.

<Type of error reported in the gaming system>
Next, the errors reported in the game system according to the present embodiment will be collectively described. FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining the types of errors that can be reported in the game system. In FIG. 21, 36 types of errors are described, and each error has “priority”, “error code”, “error name”, “error detection content”, “informing means”, and “error canceling method”. Is described.

For example, as for the error of number 28, "Priority" is "7", "Error code" is "F60", "Error name" is "Illegal ball lending detection", and "Error detection content" is other than "card is being inserted". "A request to add the number of rental balls has been received", "notification means" is "game machine frame, unit", and "error cancellation method" is "automatic recovery". Here, when notifying by a gaming machine frame, in addition to displaying an “error code” on a display device (such as the variable display device 278) such as the point display unit 35 and notifying, the payout control board 17 is provided. You may display by displaying an "error code" on a 7-segment LED display. Further, instead of displaying the "error code", the game may be stopped and the error may be notified, or the error information may be output to the outside.

The notifying means may notify the error by outputting a voice or lighting an electric decoration on the game board depending on the type of the error. Further, the notification means may notify the error by outputting the information output 1 and the information output 2 to the hall controller depending on the type of the error. In addition to the "automatic recovery", the "error clearing method" includes a "power off/on" method that temporarily turns off the power and turns it on, and a "release switch" that presses the release switch.

The "automatic recovery" is an error canceling method in which the processing automatically recovers from the error state after a certain period of time elapses after the notification means notifies the error. “Power OFF/ON” is an error canceling method for recovering from an error state by literally turning off the power of the P stand 1 once and turning it on. The “release switch” is an error release method for returning from an error state by pressing an error release switch (not shown) provided on the payout control board 17, for example. By pressing the error release switch, the abnormality flag of the subtraction sensor or the like stored in the payout control board 17 is reset, and the error state can be recovered. That is, as for the error requiring the error canceling method by the “cancellation switch”, some data is stored in the payout control board 17, and the error requiring the resetting of the data is mainly targeted. Errors requiring a method of releasing the error due to “power OFF/ON” include not only data stored in the payout control board 17 but also data stored in the main control board 16 or the like that needs to be reset. Mainly targeted. "Automatic recovery" mainly targets errors that do not require data reset.

Further, the error that occurs before the execution of the predetermined processing such as the user program is the error in the in-game machine authentication error with the error code "F91" and the error in the in-game machine communication error code with the error code "F96". However, if they occur at the same time, the error with the higher priority is notified. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 21, the priority of the error code “F91” is “16” and the priority of the error code “F96” is “21”. Therefore, the error code “F91” having a high priority is It is displayed on the score display unit 35. If the display device can display a plurality of errors, the plurality of errors may be displayed in order of priority.

<Process at power-on>
Next, a firing operation on the P stand 1 when the power is turned on will be described using a sequence. FIG. 22 is a diagram showing an example of the firing operation when the power is turned on. First, when the payout control unit 171 and the main control unit 161 of the P machine 1 are turned on and turned on, the authentication process is started. Specifically, in the authentication process, the information including the main chip ID and the payout chip ID is transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10. Further, the CU 10 transmits the received main chip ID and the payout chip ID to the upper management server to inquire whether the main chip ID and the payout chip ID are properly registered, and as a result, the result is legitimate. If it is registered, it is an appropriate authentication result. The authentication process is performed, and if the authentication result is proper, the CU 10 and the P unit 1 can be provisionally communicated.

Next, in the P machine 1, first, the payout control unit 171 is activated, and the payout control unit 171 shifts to a user program activation waiting state of the main control unit 161. When the payout control unit 171 shifts to the main control unit start waiting state, the start waiting monitoring timer (not shown) starts counting. The activation waiting monitoring timer monitors the time until the user program is activated by the main control unit 161, for example, the time until 90 seconds elapse.

Note that the payout control unit 171 displays an error code “F97” (see FIG. 21) on the holding point display unit 35, which is a 7-segment LED display, when the activation waiting monitoring timer has counted 90 seconds (timed up). Is displayed, and an error notification of the main control board startup abnormality is given.

Next, before the user program of the main control unit 161 is started, the number of game balls is 0 (zero), and when the power is turned off last time, the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls (the total number of balls passing through the outlet and the number of winning balls) If there is an error in the number of balls), the payout controller 171 emits five game balls as a process for driving the game balls remaining in the opening of the launcher 14 into the game area. 41 drive control is performed. At this time, the payout control unit 171 drives the firing solenoid 41 to operate the hitting hammer 42, but does not drive the lifting motor 93 to operate the lifting screw 94. Therefore, the game ball is newly lifted to the launching device 14. The ball feeding solenoid 47 is not operated. In the payout control unit 171, if there is an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls when the power is turned off, an error flag indicating that there is the error is set. Therefore, the payout control unit 171 determines whether or not there is an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls, based on the error flag stored when the power was turned off last time. The payout control unit 171 resets the error flag when drive control of the firing solenoid 41 for firing five game balls is performed. Further, the payout control unit 171 controls the drive of the firing solenoid 41 for firing five game balls, but the game balls remaining in the launch port of the launcher 14 can be driven into the game area. If possible, the number of balls is not limited to five, and for example, drive control of the firing solenoid 41 for firing three game balls may be performed. Further, the drive control of the firing solenoid 41 may be performed not by the control of the number of fired balls but by the time control such as intermittently driving for 3 seconds.

Here, the number of collected balls can be specified by the game ball detection device 27 shown in FIG. 4, and the out ball detection sensor 88 specifies the number of game balls that have entered the out port 8 (FIG. 3) to detect the winning ball. The number of game balls that have entered the winning opening can be specified by a sensor (not shown). The number of fired balls can specify the number of game balls fired in the game area by the fired ball detection switch 99.

The payout control unit 171 controls the driving of the firing solenoid 41, thereby performing a process for driving the game balls remaining in the firing opening of the firing device 14 into the game area, and driving the firing solenoid 41 for a predetermined period. Even if a game ball is hit in the game area and collected by the lapse of 15 seconds, the addition to the number of collected balls is invalidated. Here, the predetermined period is a collected ball detection invalid period in which the detection is invalid even if the game balls hit in the game area are collected in the outlet 8 or the winning opening. The payout control unit 171 does not treat the number of balls detected by the game ball detection device 27 as the number of collected balls during the collected-ball invalid period, and does not add it to the stored number of collected balls. Thereby, the payout control unit 171 can prevent an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls. The number of collected balls is stored in the game ball detecting device 27, and the number of balls detected by the game ball detecting device 27 during the collected ball detection invalid period is not treated as the number of collected balls, but added to the stored number of collected balls. You may not.

The main control unit 161 does not perform a game operation such as winning detection because it is in the recovery ball invalid period and the recovery completion waiting state. In other words, the main control unit 161 does not specify a game ball that has been launched during the ineffective period of the collected balls as a winning prize even if it enters the winning opening. When the CU 10 transmits a command for a game machine connection request to the payout control unit 171 during the collected ball invalid period, the payout control unit 171 returns a response of the game machine connection response in the main control unit activation waiting state to the CU 10. To do.

Next, the payout control unit 171 executes a recovery process after the collected-ball invalid period has elapsed. In the recovery process, when the payout control unit 171 has passed the collected-ball invalid period, it sends a recovery request command to the main control unit 161. Upon receiving the recovery request command from the payout control unit 171, the main control unit 161 returns a recovery response. This recovery response includes recovery data stored in the main control unit 161 (for example, information on the gaming state, the number of gaming balls, the number of owned balls, etc., which was cut off last time). When the payout control unit 171 receives the response of the recovery response from the main control unit 161, the payout control unit 171 temporarily stores the recovery data until the recovery process with the CU 10 is started, and the recovery data is sent to the CU 10 at the time of the recovery process with the CU 10. Send to. In this way, the payout control unit 171 suppresses the influence of the game balls fired during the collected ball invalid period on the recovery process by performing the recovery process after the collected ball invalid period.

Next, when the user program is executed by the main control unit 161, the game information acquisition permission flag is turned on, and the fact that the game information acquisition permission state is transmitted to the payout control unit 171. When the payout control unit 171 receives the fact that the game information acquisition is permitted, the payout control unit 171 stops the time counting of the activation waiting monitoring timer. Further, when the payout control unit 171 receives the fact that it is in the game information acquisition permission state, the connection with the main control unit 161 shifts to a normal state (OK state). As a result, when the CU 10 next transmits a command for a game machine connection request to the payout control unit 171, the payout control unit 171 returns a response of a game machine connection response in which the connection is normal (OK state) to the CU 10. To do. When the CU 10 receives the response of the gaming machine connection response in which the connection is in the normal state (OK state), the CU 10 starts the recovery process with the P machine 1.

When executing the recovery process, the payout control unit 171 reads the temporarily stored recovery data by FIFO (First In, First Out) and transmits it to the CU 10. The CU 10 transmits a recovery request command to the payout control unit 171. Upon receipt of the recovery request command from the CU 10, the payout control unit 171 returns a recovery response. This recovery response includes the recovery data temporarily stored by the main control unit 161.

When the recovery process is completed between the CU 10 and the P unit 1, a business electronic message is started between the CU 10 and the P unit 1. Specifically, the communication start request, the communication start response command, and the response communication are performed between the CU 10 and the payout control unit 171, and the launch of the game ball on the P machine 1 is permitted. After that, communication of the status information request, status information response command, and response is performed between the CU 10 and the payout control unit 171.

In this way, as a launch operation when the power is turned on, the payout control unit 171 executes an action (predetermined action) for the launch device 14 to drive the launch solenoid 41 for launching the game ball into the game area after the power is turned on. Then, after the power is turned on, the addition of the number of balls collected for the game balls to the number of collected balls is invalidated until the collected ball detection invalid period elapses after the launching device 14 starts the predetermined operation. Therefore, the P stand 1 can prevent an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls.

Further, the payout control unit 171 causes the firing device 14 to execute an operation (a predetermined operation) for driving the firing solenoid 41 when the main control unit 161 is in a waiting state for starting the user program after the power is turned on. By effectively utilizing the startup waiting time of the unit 161, it is possible to avoid the delay in the startup time of the P unit 1 due to the execution of the predetermined operation. It should be noted that the processing when the P stand 1 is powered on has been described, but the same can be applied to the processing when the main body frame 100 (game frame) is powered on.

<Processing when the store is closed>
The launching operation on the P stand 1 when the store is closed (business end) will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a diagram showing an example of the firing operation when the store is closed. First, the CU 10 is in a state where there are no stock cards with 0 card possession. On the other hand, the payout control unit 171 recognizes that there are 50 game balls and no card is inserted in the CU 10. Then, the CU 10 transmits to the payout controller 171 a status information request command including serial number=n, CU open state=ON, card insertion state=OFF, counting serial number=m, counting response=OFF. In response to this, the payout control unit 171 returns to the CU 10 a response of a status information response including serial number=n, number of gaming balls=50, counting serial number=m, number of counting balls=0, and counting request=OFF.

When it is determined that a card has not been inserted and a game ball remains on the P stand 1 when the store is set to be closed in the game hall where the CU 10 and the P stand 1 are installed, the process described below is executed. .. The fact that no card is inserted can be determined from the card insertion state=OFF information included in the status information request command. It can be determined from the information of the number of game balls=50 included in the response.

Next, the CU 10 notifies the payout control unit 171 of the CU opening state OFF (closing flag ON). Specifically, a status information request including serial number=n+x, CU opening state=OFF (closing flag=ON), card return preparation state=ON, counting serial number=m, and counting response=OFF is transmitted to the payout control unit 171. ..

Note that the closing setting in the game hall is performed by the CU control unit 323 by broadcasting the closing command to the CUs 10 from the management computer for halls or the hall server 801 installed in the game hall to the respective CUs 10 simultaneously. It will be done by judging the end of business in. Specifically, when a person in charge closes the hall management computer or the hall server 801, a closing command for closing the shops to all the CUs 10 is distributed all at once. Alternatively, the closing time may be set and stored in the hall management computer or the hall server 801, and the closing command may be automatically delivered to all the CUs 10 at the closing time. As another method, a clerk may transmit a business end signal to the IR photosensitive unit 320 by operating the remote control to close the business, and the CU control unit 323 may determine the end of business at the game hall. As still another method, each CU 10 is provided with a clock function, and when the closing time is (for example, 10 o'clock), the time (for example, 10:20) after a predetermined time (for example, 20 minutes) after the closing time is set as the clock. When timed by the function, each CU 10 may be controlled to transmit a state information request including the CU opening state=OFF (closing flag=ON) to the payout control unit 171.

In the payout control unit 171, which has received it, the serial number=n+x, the number of gaming balls at the present time as the gaming ball information=50, the counting serial number of m+1 updated by adding “1” to the received counting serial number m, the number of counting balls=50. And a status information response including counting request=ON is transmitted to the CU 10. That is, the payout controller 171 requests the CU 10 to count the number of remaining game balls, and thus notifies the CU 10 of the game ball information of the number of game balls=50.

Receiving it, the CU 10 receives the game ball information, and adds the number of counted balls=50 sent from the payout control unit 171, to the number of held balls stored in the CU 10. Then, the CU 10 sends a reply to the payout controller 171 to notify the completion of receipt of the game ball information. Specifically, a status information request including serial number=n+x+1, CU open state=OFF (close flag=ON), counting serial number=m+1, and counting response=ON is transmitted to the payout control unit 171.

In the payout control unit 171, which has received the notification of the completion of receipt of the game ball information, the number of game balls is subtracted from the number of game balls (number of game balls=50−number of count balls=50), and the display of the number of game balls=0 is displayed. To do. Further, the payout control unit 171 determines whether or not there is an error in the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls (the total number of balls that have passed through the outlet and the number of winning balls). If there is an error, the payout control is performed. The part 171 performs drive control of the firing solenoid 41 for firing five game balls as a process for driving the game balls remaining in the launch port of the launcher 14 into the game area. As a result, the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls can be appropriately managed when the store is closed (at the end of business). At this time, the payout control unit 171 drives the firing solenoid 41 to operate the hitting hammer 42, but does not drive the lifting motor 93 to operate the lifting screw 94. Therefore, the game ball is newly lifted to the launching device 14. The ball feeding solenoid 47 is not operated. If there is no error, the payout controller 171 does not control the drive of the firing solenoid 41. Moreover, although the case where the drive control of the firing solenoid 41 is performed when the number of game balls is present on the P table 1 has been described, the drive control of the firing solenoid 41 is executed regardless of the presence or absence of the number of game balls. Further, the payout control unit 171 controls the drive of the firing solenoid 41 for firing five game balls, but the game balls remaining in the launch port of the launcher 14 can be driven into the game area. If possible, the number of balls is not limited to five, and may be drive control of the firing solenoid 41 for firing three game balls, for example. Further, the drive control of the firing solenoid 41 may be performed not by the control of the number of fired balls but by the time control such as intermittently driving for 3 seconds.

The payout control unit 171 controls the driving of the firing solenoid 41, thereby performing a process for driving the game balls remaining in the firing opening of the firing device 14 into the game area, and driving the firing solenoid 41 for a predetermined period. If a game ball is hit in the game area and collected by the lapse of time (for example, 15 seconds), it is added to the number of collected balls. However, the payout control unit 171 does not regard a game ball as a prize even if the game ball enters the winning opening for a predetermined period, and invalidates the prize. Here, the predetermined period is a winning invalid period in which the winning is invalid even when the game balls hit in the game area enter the winning slot. The payout control unit 171 identifies the number of balls detected by the game ball detection device 27 as the number of collected balls during the ineffective period of winning, and adds it to the stored number of collected balls. Thereby, the payout control unit 171 can prevent an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls. In addition, the number of collected balls is stored in the game ball detection device 27, and the number of balls detected in the collected ball detection invalid period by the game ball detection device 27 is not treated as the number of collected balls but added to the stored number of collected balls. You may not.

In the state information response command transmitted by the payout control unit 171 to the CU 10 during the award winning period, the gaming machine state 1 is Bit0=“1” game prohibited, Bit1=“1” waiting, Bit2=“1” no game ball. , Bit3=“1” game ball confirmed, Bit6=“0” release stop switch release state information is included. Furthermore, when the game ball does not hit the winning hole even if the game ball enters the winning opening during the winning invalid period, the state information response command transmitted by the payout control unit 171 is the number of out-out passing balls and the number of balls in the fraud detection information 2 ( The information of the winning number abnormality 1 detection (Bit4) and the winning number abnormality 2 detection (Bit5) is updated. When a big hit or a small hit occurs even if a game ball enters the winning opening during the winning invalid period, the status information response command transmitted by the payout control unit 171 is other than the information on the number of out passing balls and the number of fraud detection information 2. Further, the information of the gaming machine state 2 and the gaming machine state 3 (see FIGS. 13 and 14) is also updated. When the game ball enters the starting winning opening during the winning invalid period, the state information response command transmitted by the payout control unit 171 may include information on the number of symbol determinations.

If a big hit or a small hit occurs even if a game ball enters the winning opening during the award winning period, in order to prevent the big hit or small hit game state from continuing after the power interruption, the store clerk and the payout are performed. It is preferable to clear the information stored in the RAM of the control unit 171. For this reason, when a game ball enters the winning opening during the ineffective period of the prize and a big hit or a small hit occurs, it may be notified to prompt an operation for clearing the information stored in the RAM. The main control unit 161 and the payout control unit 171 may automatically initialize the RAM after the end of the winning invalid period from the viewpoint of reducing the work load on the store clerk and preventing work mistakes.

In this way, as a launching operation when the store is closed in the game arcade, the payout control unit 171 causes the launching device 14 to drive the launching solenoid 41 for launching the game balls into the game area when the store is closed. It is executed, and the number of balls that have collected game balls after the driving of the firing solenoid 41 by the launcher 14 at the time of closing the store is added to the number of collected balls. Therefore, the P stand 1 can prevent an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls. Note that the processing when the P stand 1 is closed has been described, but the same can be applied to the processing when the main body frame 100 (game frame) is closed.

<Slot machine>
Next, a slot machine will be described as another example of the gaming machine. FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a state where the front door of the slot machine is opened. In the above description, the slot machine is also abbreviated as “S” in the following because of the fact that the pachinko gaming machine is abbreviated as “P”.

The example of the game system of the present embodiment using the game balls and the ball-bearing balls and the example of the game system described in the modified examples described below are similarly applied to the S table. However, since the game is played on S machines without using balls, the game balls are hereinafter referred to as game points and possessed balls as points.

Referring to FIG. 24, an enclosed slot machine (hereinafter, also abbreviated as a gaming machine or an S table) 2S can be opened/closed with respect to a main body frame 2aS by a front door 2bS with its left edge as a swing center. It is provided in. Although not shown in FIG. 24, a CU is connected to the left side of the S stand 2S in the drawing in the same manner as the P stand.

On the S table 2S, the number of bets is set by using the game points, and the game points are added and updated according to the winning. Therefore, it is not necessary to insert medals when playing a game on the S table 2S. Therefore, the S table 2S is not provided with a medal insertion slot and a medal payout slot.

Inside the housing of the S stand 2S, reels 2L, 2C, 2R (hereinafter also referred to as left reel, middle reel, right reel) in which a plurality of types of symbols are arranged on the outer periphery are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction, Of the symbols arranged on the reels 2L, 2C, 2R, three consecutive symbols are arranged so that they can be seen from a see-through window provided on the front door 2bS. On the outer peripheral portions of the reels 2L, 2C, 2R, a plurality of types of symbols are drawn in a predetermined order.

A touch panel type display device 510 is provided in a portion of the front door 2bS surrounding each reel 2L, 2C, 2R. The display unit 510 is a display unit corresponding to the P display units 50, and displays various kinds of information (game points, score points, etc.) similar to those of the display unit 50, and bets set in the game. The number is displayed. The display unit 510 is connected to the display control unit 350 of the CU similarly to the display unit 50 of FIG. 8, and the display is controlled on the CU side. The indicator 510 is not provided in the portion surrounding the reels 2L, 2C, 2R, but is located below the panel portion (a position lower than the start switch 7S shown in FIG. 24, like the P stand). It may be provided in a panel portion where conventional S token payout openings are provided).

Further, on the front door 2bS, a one-sheet BET switch 5S that is operated when setting the number of bets using "game point=1" corresponding to one medal, the maximum determined according to the gaming state. When setting the bet number (for example, "game point = 3" in the normal game state before the occurrence of BB and RT (Replay Time) in which the winning probability of replay is high probability, "game point = 2" in bonus) A MAXBET switch 6S operated to, a start switch 7S operated to start a game, and stop switches 8L, 8C and 8R operated to stop the rotation of the reels 2L, 2C and 2R, respectively. There is.

When playing a game on the S table 2S, first, similarly to the P table 1, the adjacent CUs are used to secure a game point, and the bet number is set using the game point. The game points are obtained by withdrawing the remaining amount of the prepaid card inserted in the CU, the points, or the saved medals (corresponding to P balls) deposited at the game hall. In order to use the game points, one-piece BET switch 5S or MAXBET switch 6S may be operated. In the present embodiment, for example, by setting the bet amount to 1, the game point is deducted by 1, and the display of the game point on the display 510 is also subtracted and updated. When the bet number is set, the pay line determined according to the bet number and the gaming state becomes valid, and the operation of the start switch 7S becomes valid, that is, the game can be started.

When the start switch 7S is operated in a state where the game can be started, the reels 2L, 2C, 2R rotate, and the symbols on the reels 2L, 2C, 2R continuously change. When any of the stop switches 8L, 8C, 8R is operated in this state, the rotation of the corresponding reels 2L, 2C, 2R is stopped and the display result is derived and displayed on the see-through window.

Then, all the reels 2L, 2C, 2R are stopped to complete one game, and a predetermined combination of symbols (hereinafter, also referred to as a winning combination) on the activated pay line is each reel 2L, 2C, If the player stops as a result of the 2R display, a prize is generated, a game point determined according to the prize is given to the player, and the display of the game point on the display 510 is also updated.

Even in the case of the S unit 2S, it is possible to count the game points similarly to the P unit. As shown in FIG. 1, the S table 2S is provided with a counting button 28S for counting game points and converting them into holding points. The ball lending button, the card return button, and the replay button are provided on the CU side (see FIG. 8). The player executes the counting operation at an arbitrary timing or on the display 510 prompting the counting operation as in the case of the P unit. Then, the number of game points is counted and the number of game points is decreased while the number of game points is increased is displayed on the display unit 510. The ball lending button may be provided on the P side and the S side instead of the CU side. In that case, the operation signal of the ball lending button may be directly input to the CU 10, or may be transmitted to the CU 10 as a status information response via the P unit 1 or the S unit (slot machine) 2S. You may

The type of winning combination is determined according to the game state, but it is roughly classified into a special combination involving the transition to a big bonus (BB) and a regular bonus (RB), and a small combination involving the payout of medals. There is a replay role (replay) that enables the next game to be started without the need to set the bet number.

Which of the plurality of types of winning combinations is to be won or which of the winning combinations is not to be won is determined by, for example, a main control unit (S) that controls the S stand 2S when a start operation is detected. (Corresponding to the main control unit 161 of the table 2S). This determination is made by, for example, drawing a random number generated from a predetermined random number generator or generated on software.

After that, the main control unit waits for the player's reel stop operation, and if there is a symbol corresponding to the winning combination within the predetermined number of frames based on the time of the stop operation, pull it in, otherwise, other symbols Is controlled to stop the three symbols, and it is determined whether or not there is a winning. When the main control base determines that the prize has been won, it gives the player a game point according to the type of the prize (adds the game point).

The payout controller of the S stand 2S is mounted on a payout control board (not shown). This payout control board is delivered to the hall from the frame maker while being attached to the main body frame 2aS by the frame maker.

Further, the S stand 2S has a configuration for detecting the opening of the front door 2bS corresponding to the upper front frame 3A of the P stand 1 and detecting the connection between the main body frame 2aS and the board mounting board, and has a loop-shaped power line. A main control board is also connected to 500 in series.

With the S table 2S, the game can be started by setting a predetermined number of bets for one game using the gaming value, and a plurality of types of identification information that can be identified for each can be variably displayed. A slot machine in which one game is completed by deriving a display result on a display device, and a prize can be generated according to the display result derived on the variable display device. Prior to the derivation, a predetermination means for deciding whether or not to allow a plurality of types of prizes to be generated, and a control for deriving the display result on the variable display device according to the determination result of the predetermination means. A slot machine including a derivation control means for performing the above and a giving means for giving a game value when the prize is won is configured.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for explaining various data stored in each of the card unit and the slot machine and a transmission/reception mode thereof. In the transmission/reception mode shown in FIG. 25, the terms of FIG. 10 described as the configuration of the P units are replaced with those for the S units, and the mode is the same as that described using FIG. Here, further description is omitted.

<Modifications and characteristic points>
Next, the modified examples and characteristic points of the present embodiment described above will be listed.

(1) In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 22, the payout control unit 171 of the P stand 1 (main body frame 100) has a firing solenoid 41 for firing a game ball into the game area after the power is turned on. The number of balls collected from the game balls after the driving operation (predetermined operation) is executed by the launching device 14 and after the power is turned on and the launching device 14 starts the predetermined operation until the collected ball detection invalid period elapses. Disable addition to numbers.

In this way, the P unit 1 invalidates the addition of the number of collected game balls to the number of collected balls until the collected ball detection invalid period elapses after the launching device 14 starts the predetermined operation after the power is turned on. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a game ball from remaining in the launching device 14 and cause an error between the number of shots and the number of shots collected.

It should be noted that the number of balls from which the game balls have been collected is specified after the launch device 14 starts a predetermined operation after the power is turned on and before the collected ball detection invalid period elapses. The specified number of balls may not be added to the number of collected balls.

(2) In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 23, the payout control unit 171 of the P stand 1 (main body frame 100) drives the launch solenoid 41 for launching the game ball into the game area when the store is closed. The operation (predetermined operation) to be performed is executed by the launching device 14, and the number of balls collected after the start of driving of the launch solenoid 41 by the launching device 14 when the store is closed is added to the number of collected balls.

In this way, the P unit 1 adds the number of collected game balls after the start of the predetermined operation by the launching device 14 at the end of business to the collected number, so that the number of game balls left in the launching device 14 and the number of shots It is possible to prevent an error from occurring between the number and the collected number.

(3) In the present embodiment, the payout control unit 171 controls the drive of the firing solenoid 41 when the main control unit 161 is in a user program activation waiting state after the power is turned on.

In this way, when the main control means is in the activation waiting state, the launching device 14 is caused to execute the predetermined operation. Therefore, the activation waiting time of the main control portion 161 is effectively utilized to execute the predetermined operation. It is possible to avoid the delay of the startup time of 1.

Note that the payout control unit 171 may perform drive control of the firing solenoid 41 at a timing other than the user program activation waiting state of the main control unit 161 after the power is turned on.

(4) In the present embodiment, the payout control unit 171 determines that the number of game balls is 0 (zero) and the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls (the total of the number of balls passing through the exit and the number of winning balls) were set when the power was last turned off. If there is an error in the number of balls, the drive control of the firing solenoid 41 is performed after the power is turned on.

According to such a configuration, when the number of game balls is 0 (zero), and when the power is turned off last time, the launching device 14 is caused to execute a predetermined operation specially when there is an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls. And unnecessary processing is not executed.

It should be noted that the payout control unit 171 shoots when the payout control unit 171 determines that the number of game balls is 0 (zero) or there is an error between the number of shot balls and the number of collected balls when the power was last turned off. The drive control of the solenoid 41 may be performed.

(5) In the present embodiment, the main control unit 161 does not specify that a game ball, which has been launched by a predetermined operation after the power is turned on, enters a winning opening provided in the game area as a winning prize.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the gaming state from changing in accordance with the predetermined operation.
(6) In the present embodiment, the payout control unit 171 transmits a recovery request command to the main control unit 161 when the collected-ball invalid period has elapsed.

In this way, it is possible to suppress the influence on the recovery process caused by causing the launching device 14 to execute the predetermined operation.

(7) In the present embodiment, the payout control unit 171 detects the closing flag (CU opening state=OFF) transmitted from the CU 10, and when the number of game balls is not 0 (zero), information on the number of game balls is displayed. After transmitting the information to the CU 10 and confirming that the information is received by the CU 10, the drive control of the firing solenoid 41 is performed.

In this way, the number of shots and the number of collections can be appropriately managed at the end of business.
(8) In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, the P machine 1 has normally accepted the card insertion notification in the process of S12 when the addition request of the game ball is requested by the status information request. When it is determined that the card insertion flag shown in the table is set in the RAM and the card insertion state is ON for the CU state specified by the state information request in the process of S13, the game is executed in S14. Add balls. On the other hand, when the addition request of the game ball is requested by the status information request, the P-table 1 does not have the card insertion flag set in the RAM of the payout controller 171 in the process of S12, or the state in the process of S13. When it is determined that the card insertion state is OFF for the CU state specified by the information request, the process does not move to S14 and the game ball is not added.

In this way, even if the P machine 1 receives the addition request, the game balls stored in the P machine 1 are not added when the card is not accepted by the CU 10, so that the security at the time of adding the game balls can be improved. it can.

(9) As shown in FIG. 20, in the process of S12, the P-table 1 determines whether or not the card insertion flag indicating that the card is normally received based on the reception of the card insertion notification is set in the RAM. By determining whether or not, it is determined whether or not the game balls are added.

In this way, the P unit 1 determines whether or not to add game balls by determining whether or not the card insertion notification transmitted from the CU 10 when the card is accepted by the CU 10 has been received. can do.

(10) As shown in FIG. 20, in the process of S13, the P machine 1 adds a game ball by determining whether or not the card insertion state is ON for the CU state specified by the state information request. It is determined whether to do.

As described above, the P unit 1 receives the status information request including the CU status (card insertion status) that is information transmitted from the CU 10 every 200 ms and that can identify that the card is accepted by the CU 10. By determining whether or not the game balls have been added, it is possible to determine whether or not to add game balls.

(11) As shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 19, when the P unit 1 determines that the card is not inserted in the CU 10 in spite of accepting the addition request and does not add and update the game ball, The accumulation result of the number of balls that have been attempted to be illegally lended (the number of fraudulent ball lending) is displayed on the point display unit 35. Further, in the CU 10, when it is specified from the status information response received from the P unit 1 that the game ball addition result is NG, the hall server 801 is notified of the accumulation result of the illegal ball rental number.

In this way, since the number of balls not added when the card is not accepted by the CU 10 (the number of fraudulent ball rental balls) is output as identifiable information, the security at the time of adding a game ball is improved. You can

(12) When the P unit 1 receives the card insertion notification by any of (1), (2), (5), (1)', (2)', and (5)' shown in FIG. Then, a card insertion response including information indicating that the result of the card insertion is OK (card is normally accepted) is transmitted to the CU 10.

As described above, when the predetermined transmission condition is satisfied, the card insertion response including the information indicating that the result of the card insertion is OK (the card is normally accepted) is transmitted from the P unit 1 to the CU 10. It is possible to further improve security when adding game balls.

(13) In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, when the addition of a game ball is requested by the status information request, the P console 1 normally receives the card insertion notification in the process of S12. And in the process of S13, it is determined whether or not the game ball is additionally updated by determining whether or not the card insertion state is ON for the CU state specified by the state information request. .. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it may be determined whether or not to additionally update the game ball by only determining whether or not the card insertion notification is normally received, or the CU state specified by the state information request. For, it may be determined whether or not the game ball is additionally updated by only determining whether or not the card insertion state is ON.

(14) In this embodiment, when it is determined whether the card insertion notification is normally received in the process of S12 of FIG. 20, it is determined whether the card insertion flag is set in the RAM. However, not limited to this, it is determined whether or not the card ID and the card insertion time are stored, and if the card ID and the card insertion time are stored, it is determined that the card insertion notification has been normally accepted, while the card ID If the card insertion time is not stored, it may be determined that the card insertion notification is not normally received.

(15) In the present embodiment, when the card is inserted into the CU 10, the card insertion notification is transmitted from the CU 10 to the P stand 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when a money such as a bill is inserted into the CU 10, the CU 10 may send a card insertion notification to the P unit 1. In this case, the CU 10 creates a new card ID based on the insertion of the banknote, sets the banknote insertion time as the card insertion time, and includes the card ID and the card insertion time information in the card insertion notification. Good.

(16) In the present embodiment, when the P unit 1 does not normally overwrite the card ID and the card insertion time when receiving the card insertion notification from the CU 10, the result of the card insertion is NG. The card insertion response including the information of the above is transmitted to the CU 10. In addition to this, when the P unit 1 does not normally overwrite the card ID and the card insertion time when the card insertion notification is received from the CU 10, the P unit 1 uses the indicator such as the point display unit 35 to make an error. You may display.

(17) In the present embodiment, the P-table 1 has already stored the number of illegal ball lending attempted to be illegally lended this time when the addition and update of the game balls were not performed. In addition to accumulating and storing the number of balls, the point display unit 35 displays information that can identify the accumulated number of illegal ball rentals. However, it is not limited to this.

For example, the P machine 1 stores only the number of illegal ball lending that is about to be illegally lended this time when the addition and update of the game balls are not performed, and the information that can specify only the number of illegal ball lending is stored. May be displayed on the dot display section 35.

For example, the P unit 1 accumulates and stores the number of illegal ball lending that has been attempted to be illegally lended this time when the game balls have not been added and updated, to the already stored number of illegal ball lending. However, the point display unit 35 may display information that can specify only the number of illegal ball rental balls that have been attempted to be illegally loaned this time.

For example, the P unit 1 does not store the number of illegal ball rental balls, and when the game balls are not added and updated, the number of illegal ball rental balls that is about to be illegally loaned this time is set. It is also possible to only display the identifiable information on the dot display section 35.

Further, in the display of the information capable of specifying the number of illegal ball rental, the number of the illegal ball rental itself may be displayed, or a predetermined error code may be displayed.

Further, the information capable of specifying the number of illegal ball rentals may be displayed not only on the score display unit 35 but also on another display device, or may be output as a sound from a speaker.

(18) In the present embodiment, the CU 10 accumulates the number of illegal ball rentals attempted to be illegally loaned this time when the addition and update of the game balls in the P unit 1 are not performed. The information capable of specifying the number is transmitted to the hall server 801. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the CU 10 may transmit to the hall server 801 information that can specify only the number of illegal ball lending that is attempted illegally this time. Alternatively, the CU 10 may not transmit the information capable of specifying the number of illegal ball rentals to the hall server 801.

(19) In this embodiment, the CU 10 determines whether or not a card is inserted every time a status information request is sent to the P unit 1 every 200 ms, and if a card is inserted, inserts the card. The state was set to ON, and if the card was not inserted, the card insertion state was set to OFF. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when the card is inserted and the card insertion notification is transmitted to the P unit 1, the CU 10 sets a flag indicating that the card is inserted, and sends a status information request to the P unit every 200 ms. When sending to 1, the card insertion state may be set to ON if the flag is set, and the card insertion state may be set to OFF if the flag is not set. When the CU 10 receives a card insertion response indicating that a card has been inserted, a card insertion notification is transmitted to the P machine 1, and the card ID, the card insertion time, etc. have been normally overwritten from the P machine 1. Alternatively, a flag indicating that a card has been inserted may be set. The flag indicating that the card has been inserted may be cleared when the card is returned.

(20) In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to an enclosed type pachinko gaming machine in which a pachinko ball is enclosed, but the present invention is applied to a conventional pachinko gaming machine in which a pachinko ball is not enclosed. May be. Further, in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the enclosed slot machine in which medals are enclosed, but the present invention may be applied to a conventional slot machine in which medals are not enclosed.

(21) In the present embodiment, the P console 1 determines whether or not a card is inserted in the CU 10 when an addition request is made at the time of prepaid lending or replay (hereinafter, also referred to as determination processing. ), if no card is inserted, addition of game balls is prohibited (hereinafter, also referred to as addition prohibition processing). However, the P console 1 may execute the determination process and the addition prohibition process not only during prepaid lending and replay, but also when the CU 10 requests addition in other situations.

For example, by additionally inserting a card different from the card inserted in the CU10 into the CU10, the ball held in the different card can be added to the game ball stored in the P unit 1. Good. In this case, the P machine 1 may execute the determination process and the addition prohibition process when an addition request is made to add the dice balls stored in another card to the game balls stored in the P machine 1. .. In the determination process in this case, the P stand 1 determines whether or not the card originally supposed to be inserted is inserted, whether or not the additionally inserted card is inserted, or either. You may.

Further, for example, by inserting into the CU 10 a card in which balls having a first value (for example, 1 yen) per ball are stored in the CU 10, the P table 1 stores the balls held in the card 1 It may be possible to add to a game ball having a second value (for example, 4 yen) per ball. Alternatively, by inserting into the CU10 a card in which balls that have a second value (for example, 4 yen) per ball are inserted into the CU10, the balls stored in the card are stored in the P unit 1 It may be possible to add to a game ball having a first value (for example, 1 yen). In this case, the P machine 1 may execute the determination process and the addition prohibition process when an addition request is made to add the ball held in the card to the game ball stored in the P machine 1.

(22) In the present embodiment, the P unit 1 executes the determination process and the addition prohibition process when an addition request is made, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the CU 10 is made when a subtraction request is made. It may be determined whether or not a card is inserted in (determination process), and if the card is not inserted, the subtraction of the game ball may be prohibited (hereinafter, also referred to as subtraction prohibition process).

For example, the P unit 1 may execute the determination process and the subtraction prohibition process when the game balls stored in the P unit 1 are converted into the dice balls during the counting process when the counting button 28 is pressed. Good.

In addition, for example, the P machine 1 executes the determination process and the subtraction prohibition process when the game balls stored in the P machine 1 are converted into the dice balls when the card is returned when the card return button 322 is pressed. You may.

Further, for example, the P machine 1 may execute the determination process and the subtraction prohibition process when the game balls stored in the P machine 1 are converted into the dice balls when the order of the wagon service is received.

Further, for example, the P unit 1 converts a part of the game balls stored in the P unit 1 into a ball and stores the stored ball when the CU 10 issues a determination process and a subtraction prohibition process. May be executed.

(23) In the present embodiment, the P unit 1 executes the above-described determination process and the addition prohibition process and the subtraction prohibition process, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the CU 10 executes the above-described determination process. At the same time, addition prohibition processing or subtraction prohibition processing may be executed.

For example, the CU 10 inserts a card into the CU 10 when it receives a status information response including the result of game ball addition result=OK and a predetermined number of game balls from the P unit 1 at the time of prepaid lending or replay. It may be determined whether or not there is no card, and the ball is not subtracted if the card is not inserted. In addition, for example, when the CU 10 receives a signal including information indicating conversion from a game ball to a dime ball from the P unit 1 when receiving an order for the wagon service, whether or not the card is inserted in the CU 10. If the card has not been inserted, the balls may not be added. When determining whether or not the card is inserted, the CU 10 determines that the card is inserted when the card insertion response including the result=OK is received from the P stand 1, and the result=NG. It may be determined that the card has not been inserted when the card insertion response including the card insertion response is received from the P platform 1 or when the card insertion response to the card insertion notification is not received from the P platform 1. Further, the CU 10 determines that the card is inserted when the status information response including the information indicating that the card is inserted is received from the P stand 1, and the status information including the information indicating that the card is not inserted When the response is received from the P unit 1, it may be determined that the card is not inserted.

(24) Further, not only when adding or subtracting game balls in the P machine 1, but also when executing other predetermined processing, the P machine 1 determines whether or not a card is inserted in the CU 10, If the is not inserted, the execution of the predetermined process may be prohibited. For example, the P stand 1 may prohibit a game on the P stand 1 unless a card is inserted into the CU 10.

<Other modifications>
(1) In the present embodiment, the addition sequence number and the counting sequence number are defined as separate data in the message format, but they may be shared as the request sequence number. In particular, since the process of adding game balls and the process of counting game balls are the opposite processes, it is unlikely that both processes will occur at the same time, and from that perspective it is possible to reduce the message data volume by sharing both serial numbers. Is.

Further, in the present embodiment, when a new request is generated, the request sequence number is updated based on the previously updated value until a new upper limit value is reached. However, instead of such control, when all the processes corresponding to one request are completed, the request sequence number may be initialized to a predetermined initial value.

Further, the requested serial numbers such as the addition serial number and the counting serial number, and the normal serial number are not counted up one by one, but are updated (addition update, subtraction according to a predetermined rule stored in both the P unit 1 and the CU10). It may be updated or updated by other arithmetic expressions). In this case, the serial number is not a "sequential number" such as 1, 2, 3 but is data that is updated based on the concept of A, B, C and the like.

(2) When a slot machine (S units), which is an example of a gaming machine, is applied to the above-mentioned gaming system, for example, a reel and various sensor parts attached to the reel and a main control board for controlling the reel are P units. Corresponding to the board, the other configuration corresponds to the P frame. However, various detection switches, various detection sensors, the firing control board 31, and the firing solenoid 41 of the main body frame 100 shown in FIG. 8 are not necessary on the S stand.

The conventional S machine has a credit function, and when this is valid, the credit is subtracted when the bet number is set, and the credit is added when a winning occurs. However, an upper limit is set for credits, and when a prize occurs in a state where the number of credits reaches the upper limit value, medals are paid out from the hopper.

On the other hand, in the S unit according to the present embodiment, the game point is subtracted when the number of bets is set, and the game point is added when a winning occurs. When the number of game points reaches a predetermined number, a display prompting a counting operation is displayed, and the game points are converted into points by performing the counting operation. For this reason, it is not necessary to pay out medals when the credit reaches the upper limit as in the conventional S unit. As a result, it is not necessary to provide a hopper on the S stand according to the present embodiment.

As a result, it is not necessary for the game arcade to secure a large number of medals, and the economic burden is reduced. In addition, the amusement hall is also freed from operations such as replenishment and collection of medals and maintenance operations to deal with clogging of medals. The player is relieved of the hassle of inserting a medal for each betting operation after the credits are full, and it becomes easier for the player to concentrate on the game.

On the other hand, if the S units become medal-less, the player who has won a large number of medals cannot stack the boxes with medals on the side of the seat to show off his or her own arm. Inconvenience occurs. However, in the present embodiment, since the function of displaying the dollar box is provided as described above, it is possible to prevent such an inconvenience. In the case of S units, it is preferable that the dollar box display is such that many medals are loaded instead of many balls.

When S machines are applied as a gaming machine, each data is calculated as follows using two types of data, "points" and "game points", and two types of data, "credits" and "credit excess points". It is also possible to configure a gaming system that can be converted. Note that these four types of data are displayed on the S displays 510 or the displays 29S.

First, when a prepaid card balance, medals, or conversion operation from points (lending operation, medals payout operation, point payout operation) is detected, each is withdrawn and converted to a game point. It

The game points are data corresponding to medals in conventional slot machines. Therefore, for example, it is desirable to display the number of game points on the display unit 510 or the display unit 29S and also display the medal images corresponding to the number of game points. For example, when a pseudo-insertion medal operation (for example, an operation of pushing a medal) such that a player touches this medal image and inserts it into the slot machine is detected, the medal image disappears, the game point is subtracted, Instead, one bet is set. The number of bets is set to the maximum value of 3 by performing such a pseudo medal insertion operation three times.

After that, when a pseudo medal insertion operation is further detected, credits are added according to the detection. An upper limit value (for example, 50) is set for the credit, and when the credit exceeds the upper limit value, the credit excess point is added.

The bet number can be set using the game points as described above, and can also be set using credits. That is, if the one bet BET switch 5S is operated, the bet number setting value is incremented by 1 and the credit is decremented by 1. If the MAXBET switch 6S is operated, the bet number is set to 3, and the credit is subtracted according to the bet number setting.

When a winning is generated as a result of the game, the number of points corresponding to the winning is added to the credit. When a prize that exceeds the upper limit of credits is generated, the score of the overrun is stored as the credit excess point. The credit excess points correspond to medals to be paid out when a prize is generated in excess of the credit upper limit in the conventional slot machine. Therefore, for example, it is desirable to display the credit excess points and the number of medal images corresponding to the credit excess points on the display unit 510 or the display unit 29S. Further, it is desirable to change the color of this medal image so that it can be distinguished from the medal image corresponding to the game point.

Moreover, it is desirable that the credit excess points are converted into game points by the operation of the player. For example, when a pseudo-medal conversion operation (for example, an operation of pushing a medal) in which a player touches a medal image corresponding to a credit excess point and converts it into a game point is detected, the medal image disappears and the credit excess occurs. It is assumed that points are subtracted and game points are added.

Alternatively, when the credit becomes less than the upper limit value, the credit excess point may be automatically converted into the credit.

When the player performs the counting operation, each of the game points, the credits, and the credit excess points is counted and converted into the points. As a result, the player's score is posted as "the number of cards held+the number of games+the number of credits+the number of credits exceeded". In addition, the "number of card balls" is the number of points before conversion (the number of balls owned by the player at the moment) which has not been converted into game points.

In the above description, the four types of data of the points, game points, credits, and credit excess points may be stored in both by exchanging data between the CU and the S unit, or the points may be stored. The data may be stored only on the CU side, and on the other side only on the S side. Further, the credit excess points may be targets of the dollar box display.

Further, in the above description, an example in which the credit excess point is used has been described, but the credit excess point may not be used. In this case, when the credit limit is exceeded, the game points may be added.

(3) In the present embodiment, the game points are added by consuming the card frequency. Alternatively, the game points are added by consuming the accumulated balls (saved medals). That is, the card frequency or the accumulated coins are converted into game points. On the other hand, the card frequency and the accumulated balls are not converted into the points (counting balls, counting medals). However, the card frequency and the accumulated coins may be temporarily converted into points.

(4) In the present embodiment, the game points are converted into the points by the counting operation. The conversion rate in this case is 1:1. However, the conversion rate for conversion may be other than 1:1. For example, when 100 game points are converted, 97 points obtained by subtracting 3 points from the game points may be converted to points. Alternatively, the points may be converted into a number of game balls obtained by multiplying the points by a predetermined ratio of less than 100%.

(5) The recording medium for recording the points that can be specified may be a mobile terminal such as a smartphone. In this case, a communication unit for communicating with the mobile terminal is provided in the CU, and the mobile terminal is held over the communication unit so that the CU recognizes the ID stored in the mobile terminal. The game can be played by the procedure as described. On the other hand, at the end of the game, the mobile terminal is again held over the communication unit so that the score at the end of the game is added to the score of the player through the ID.

(6) In the present embodiment, in the communication between the CU and the gaming machine, a command-response system is adopted in which the CU is the primary station and the gaming machine is the secondary station, but the primary station and the secondary station The relationship with may be reversed. Alternatively, instead of adopting such a communication system having a master-slave relationship, a system may be adopted in which both parties transmit data to the other party when a request for communication occurs.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

1 pachinko gaming machine, 2S slot machine, 10 card unit, 16 main control board, 17 payout control board, 2 game board, 35 holding point display section, 171 payout control section, 309 card insertion/ejection slot, 319 replay button, 320 IR light receiving unit, 321 ball lending button, 322 return button, 323 CU control unit.

Claims (4)

A gaming machine capable of playing,
Launching means for launching the game medium to the game area,
Firing control means for controlling the firing means,
A number-of-shoots specifying unit that specifies the number of game media launched by the launching unit as the number of shots,
Collection number specifying means for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
And a monitoring processing unit capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to perform a predetermined operation for launching a game medium into the game area after power is turned on,
The number-of-collections specifying means invalidates the addition to the number of collections for the number of collected game media until a predetermined period elapses after the launch means starts the predetermined operation after the power is turned on. .. A gaming machine capable of playing,
Launching means for launching the game medium to the game area,
Firing control means for controlling the firing means,
A number-of-shoots specifying unit that specifies the number of game media launched by the launching unit as the number of shots,
Collection number specifying means for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
And a monitoring processing unit capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to execute a predetermined operation for launching a game medium into the game area at the time of business closing,
The game machine, wherein the number-of-collections specifying means adds the number of collected game media after the start of the predetermined operation by the launching means at the end of business to the number of collections. It is a game frame of a game machine capable of playing,
Launching means for launching a game medium to a game area of a game board which is removable from the game frame,
Firing control means for controlling the firing means,
A number-of-shoots specifying unit that specifies the number of game media launched by the launching unit as the number of shots,
Collection number specifying means for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
And a monitoring processing unit capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to perform a predetermined operation for launching a game medium into the game area after power is turned on,
The number-of-collection specifying means invalidates the addition to the number of collection of the number of collected game media until a predetermined period elapses after the launching means starts the predetermined operation after the power is turned on. .. It is a game frame of a game machine capable of playing,
Launching means for launching a game medium to a game area of a game board which is removable from the game frame,
Firing control means for controlling the firing means,
A number-of-shoots specifying unit that specifies the number of game media launched by the launching unit as the number of shots,
Collection number specifying means for specifying the number of collected game media as the number of collected items,
And a monitoring processing unit capable of executing processing for monitoring the number of shots and the number of collections,
The launch control means causes the launch means to execute a predetermined operation for launching a game medium into the game area at the time of business closing,
A game frame, wherein the number-of-collection specifying means adds the number of collected game media after the start of the predetermined operation by the launching means at the end of business to the number of collection.

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