JP7687664B2 - Pachinko game system and its performance unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a pachinko game system and its presentation unit, which are comprised of a main unit including a game board that rolls game balls and a presentation unit including a presentation device that operates based on the game content on the game board.

In pachinko machines, which include a game board on which game balls are rolled, when parlors replace machines with new ones due to environmental considerations such as resource conservation, it has been proposed that instead of replacing the entire machine as in the past, only parts of the machine could be replaced so that it would appear to players as a new machine. In particular, the presentation device, including the display device located near the center of the game board, is an important component that significantly determines the characteristics of each pachinko machine, and it has been proposed that replacing such presentation device would make it appear as if the machine had been replaced with a new one.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a gaming machine in which the displayed symbols, pictures, and display operations can be changed by replacing only the ROM that stores symbols, pictures, and control programs in a display device that displays stereoscopic images, and in which a new machine can be installed by replacing only the ROM without replacing the gaming machine itself. Display devices that display stereoscopic images are expensive, and by eliminating the need to replace them, it is claimed that the cost of the gaming machine can be significantly reduced. In addition to replacing storage devices such as ROM, the document also describes rewriting the contents of the storage device through data communication.

JP 2001-276359 A

Generally, the presentation device operates in conjunction with the game content on the game board where the game ball is rolled to play, so the two are designed as a single unit. In other words, even if the software of the presentation device is replaced as in Patent Document 1, it is required to design it as a single unit with the game board, which imposes certain restrictions.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a pachinko game system and its presentation unit that increase the degree of freedom in designing presentation devices that operate based on the game content on the game board that rolls the game ball.

The pachinko gaming system according to the present invention is a pachinko gaming system including a presentation device that operates based on the game content on a game board that rolls a game ball, and is characterized in that a main unit including a main board that performs lottery processing together with the game board, and a presentation unit including a presentation board that performs operation processing of the presentation device in response to the lottery processing together with the presentation device are arranged in separate compartments so that they can operate independently of each other, and are provided with a signal transmission means that transmits a game signal including information about the lottery processing from the main unit to the presentation unit, so that they can operate in sync with each other, the presentation unit includes a CPU and a memory unit that holds a program that performs this operation, and the program in the memory unit is rewritable.

The presentation unit according to the present invention is used in combination with a main unit including a main board that performs lottery processing along with a game board that rolls game balls, and includes a presentation device that operates based on the game content on the game board, and is provided in a separate compartment from the main unit so that they can operate independently of each other, while having a receiving device that receives a game signal including information about the lottery processing from the main unit and can operate in synchronization with the main unit, includes a CPU and a storage unit that stores a program that provides this operation, includes a presentation board that performs operation processing of the presentation device in response to the lottery processing, and is characterized in that the program in the storage unit can be rewritten.

This feature allows the design of the presentation device to be done separately from the main unit, increasing the freedom of design and making it possible to provide a wider variety of presentations with a single presentation device.

1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming system in one embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is a top view of a pachinko gaming system in one embodiment according to the present invention. 1 is an exploded side view of a pachinko gaming system in one embodiment according to the present invention. A front view of a main body frame used in the gaming system. FIG. 1 is a side view of a pachinko gaming system in one embodiment according to the present invention; 1 is a block diagram of a main part of a pachinko gaming system. FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the main parts of another pachinko gaming system.

The following describes a pachinko gaming system and a presentation unit used therein as one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the gaming system 1 used as a pachinko gaming machine is attached inside the outer frame 2, which is a frame body installed in an island facility in an amusement facility (not shown). The gaming system 1 includes a main frame 5 attached to the outer frame 2 so as to be freely opened and closed, and a main unit 1a, which is a gaming device incorporated into the main frame 5 so as to be freely opened and closed. The main unit 1a is housed in a cabinet 15 (see Figure 5) and includes a main unit unit section 16 provided inside it, and is provided below the main frame 5 so as to provide a space above it. On the other hand, the performance unit 1b is housed in the space provided above. In other words, the performance unit 1b is provided outside the cabinet 15 of the main unit 1a in a separate section from the main unit 1a. Note that, in the following, when directions are indicated, the directions are those seen from a player directly facing the gaming system 1 as shown in the figures.

The main unit 1a is configured by housing a main device section 16 in a housing 15. For example, the main device section 16 has a front door 3 with an opening 3a in the center when viewed from the front, and the front door 3 can be opened toward the player using the left end as a pivot. The front door 3 is further equipped with a transparent plate 6 that blocks the opening 3a while allowing the player to view the game area 19, a handle 7 that is operated to launch game balls, an upper tray 8 that stores game balls, and a lower tray 9.

The main device section 16 is provided with a game board 10 that forms a game area 19 between itself and a transparent plate 6 fitted in the front door 3 and rolls game balls along its surface. The game board 10 is further provided with prize openings such as a start chucker 13 and an attacker 14, other prize openings not shown, nails, and other accessories, and can distribute the path of the game balls that fall while rolling within the game area 19 along its surface. In addition, although not shown, the main device section 16 is provided with mechanisms and passages necessary for launching and collecting game balls, such as a game ball launching device section, inside. The main unit 1a can handle game balls and progress the game by itself without the presentation unit 1b. For this reason, the main device section 16 further includes a main board 40 that controls the game operation and a main power supply unit 55 that supplies power to the main unit 1a.

On the other hand, the performance unit 1b is housed in the performance device housing 17 and is configured to include a performance device section 18. The performance device section 18 includes multiple performance devices, a performance board 30, and a performance device power supply unit 56, and operates based on the game content on the game board 10, and its operation is performed by a performance device power supply unit 56 separate from the main unit power supply unit 55 of the main unit 1a. In other words, the performance unit 1b performs performance based on the game content of the main unit 1a, while being capable of operating independently as a device by providing a performance device power supply unit 56 inside the performance device housing 17 independent of the main unit 1a. In addition, the performance device section 18 includes a first performance device 12 using a liquid crystal display device that performs performances for the player, a second performance device 4 that performs performances related to winning and lottery using LEDs, and other performance devices that perform audio performances using speakers not shown, and the operation of these performance devices is controlled by the performance board 30. The first presentation device 12 can, for example, display the results of a lottery process for a jackpot that occurs when a prize is won through a prize slot on the game board 10, along with a presentation to notify the player. Note that there are no particular limitations on the presentation devices or the content of the presentation, and other combinations may be used.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the main frame 5 to which the main unit 1a and the performance unit 1b are attached is a frame body with a cross section of a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front so as to fit along the outer frame 2. The main frame 5 has an upper cross beam 5a and a lower cross beam 5c at the upper and lower ends, respectively, and a central cross beam 5b between them. An upper hinge 11a and a lower hinge 11c are provided at the left ends of the upper cross beam 5a and the lower cross beam 5c, respectively. The upper hinge 11a and the lower hinge 11c are assembled to the outer frame 2, so that the main frame 5 can be rotated freely relative to the outer frame 2 with the left end serving as the rotation axis A1. A middle hinge 11b is provided near the left side of the central cross beam 5b, and the main unit 1a can be assembled so as to be rotated freely around the vertical axis A2 between the lower hinge 11c and the central cross beam 5b.

The main unit 1a is housed in the lower space 22 between the lower cross beam 5c and the central cross beam 5b inside the main frame 5, and the presentation unit 1b is housed in the upper space 21 between the central cross beam 5b and the upper cross beam 5a. In other words, the main unit 1a and the presentation unit 1b are housed in compartments independent of each other. Here, the main unit 1a can be moved freely to open and close relative to the main frame 5, and the gaming system 1 including the main unit 1a and the presentation unit 1b can be opened and closed relative to the outer frame 2 together with the main frame 5. Note that the cross section of the main frame 5, together with the outer frame 2, when viewed from the front can also be other shapes such as an ellipse.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 5, the dimensions of the performance unit 1b at the front side are larger in the left and right and upward directions than those at the back side, and it is inserted by sliding it from the front side to the back side and accommodated in the main frame 5. In other words, the performance unit 1b is detachable from the front (front side) of the main frame 5. At this time, the performance unit 1b is attached to the main frame 5 by engaging the performance device frame 20 provided in the performance device housing 17 that houses and integrates the performance device section 18 consisting of multiple performance devices such as the first performance device 12 and the second performance device 4. This makes it possible to separate the performance unit 1b as a whole from the main unit 1a. The performance unit 1b is provided so that it protrudes to the front side at the top of the front door 3. The main unit 1a is also integrated with the housing 15 and is detachable from the main frame 5.

Meanwhile, the main board 40 controls the game operation in the main unit 1a, such as detection of winning and payout for it, and generates and sends out the game signal required for the performance unit 1b to perform the performance. The sent game signal is transmitted to the performance board 30. In the game system 1, the performance program of the performance unit 1b can be rewritten to provide different performances. Therefore, each of the multiple types of performance programs that can provide different performances can perform different performances even if the same game signal is received. For example, one performance program develops a performance based on a certain fantasy world, while another performance program develops a performance based on a certain sport. In this way, the performance program of the performance unit 1b that performs completely different performances can be rewritten. In this case, the game signal is a general-purpose signal, and the performance unit 1b can be operated based on this general-purpose signal regardless of the performance program. Below, the configuration of the performance board 30 and the main board 40 and the transmission of the game signal will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 6, the main board 40 includes a CPU 41, a ROM 42, a RAM 43, and an input/output port 44. In the main board 40, the CPU 41 executes processing related to game operations according to a program recorded in the ROM 42. The CPU 41 also advances processing while rewritably recording data generated during processing in the RAM 43 as necessary. Through these operations, the main board 40 mainly controls the game operations.

The main board 40 receives a signal detecting the winning of a game ball from a sensor provided in a winning port such as the start chucker 13 via the input/output port 44, and performs lottery processing such as for a jackpot. The main board 40 also sends a signal to the payout control board 60 (described later) to pay out prize balls in response to the winning. Furthermore, the main board 40 sends a signal to operate solenoids such as the electric role-playing device and the attacker 14 related to the progress of the game. In this way, the main board 40 can control game operations such as detection of winning, lottery processing, and payout. Furthermore, the main board 40 sends a game signal including information about the lottery processing such as the result of the lottery processing to the performance board 30. As for the game signal, for example, if it is a signal including information on whether the jackpot lottery was won or not, and the time spent on the performance to display the lottery result, it can be used as a general-purpose signal.

A payout control board 60 is connected to the main board 40, and includes a CPU 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, and an input/output port 64. The payout control board 60 can control the above-mentioned gaming operations performed by the main board 40, mainly those related to payouts, based on signals from the main board 40. It can also control the payout of prize balls and payouts in response to requests to borrow game balls.

The main power supply unit 55 is also provided with a main power supply board 70. The power supply section 71 of the main power supply board 70 can supply a predetermined amount of voltage to each part of the main unit 1a, such as the dispensing control board 60, the main board 40, and the first relay port 52 described below.

As described above, the main board 40 is provided in the main device section 16 of the main unit 1a. Meanwhile, the performance board 30 is provided in the performance device section 18 of the performance unit 1b. The main unit 1a and the performance unit 1b are capable of operating independently of each other. Here, the first relay port 52 is connected to the main board 40, and the second relay port 50 is connected to the performance board 30, so that a game signal can be transmitted from the first relay port 52 to the second relay port 50.

First, the first relay port 52 connected to the main board 40 is capable of receiving game signals transmitted in one direction from the main board 40. In addition, the second relay port 50 is connected to the performance board 30, and game signals or signals corresponding thereto can be transmitted in one direction from the second relay port 50 to the performance board 30. Here, for example, the first relay port 52 and the second relay port 50 are connectors that can be electrically connected to each other. This makes it possible to transmit game signals from the main board 40 to the performance board 30, and also makes it possible to easily attach and detach the performance unit 1b including the performance board 30 to the main unit 1a by attaching and detaching the connector. In addition, since only game signals need to be transmitted from the main board 40 to the performance board 30, only one set of connectors is required.

In this way, the performance board 30 can receive a game signal from the second relay port 50. In other words, the second relay port 50 functions as a receiving device that allows the performance unit 1b to receive a game signal from the main unit 1a. The performance board 30 is equipped with a CPU 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, an input port 34, and an output port 35, and is connected to a memory unit 90. In the performance board 30, the CPU 31 executes processing related to the performance operation according to the basic program recorded in the ROM 32 and the performance program stored in the memory unit 90. The CPU 31 also proceeds with the processing while rewriting data generated during processing in the RAM 33 as necessary. These operations allow the performance board 30 to control the performance operation.

The performance board 30 extracts the winning or losing of the jackpot lottery from the game signal obtained through the input port 34, and the time spent on the performance to display the lottery result, and controls the performance operation to notify the player of the lottery processing result accordingly. As a performance operation, for example, a multi-digit number is changed on the first performance device 12, and if the result of the lottery processing is a jackpot, the multi-digit number is stopped at a repeat number, and if it is a loss, it is stopped at another number (number). This series of operations from the change of the number to the stop is performed in accordance with the time spent on the performance described above. In this way, by including the time spent on the performance in the game signal, the performance operation of the performance unit 1b can be synchronized with the main unit 1a. In other words, the main unit 1a and the performance unit 1b can operate in synchronization with each other. In addition, as a performance operation, a performance using light and sound from the lighting and speakers mounted on the second performance device 4 can be performed in accordance with the progress of the game.

In detail, the performance board 30 can select one pattern corresponding to the game signal from among multiple predetermined performance patterns, and send a signal indicating this pattern via the output port 35. Such a signal is input to each of the sub-sub-boards for image performance, LED performance, and sound performance (not shown). Each sub-sub-board can operate the lighting and speakers of the first performance device 12 and the second performance device 4 in a pattern corresponding to the input signal, and perform the performance of the pattern selected by the performance board 30.

The performance board 30 is also connected to a storage unit 90 that holds a performance program as described above, and can operate according to the performance program. The storage unit 90 is further connected to a communication unit 91, and the performance program held in the storage unit 90 can be rewritten by communication with the outside. The communication unit 91 may be connected to the outside via a wired connection, but it is preferable to connect wirelessly and to be able to rewrite the performance program in the storage unit 90 by operating it from a remote location, which reduces the effort required for rewriting.

Furthermore, the performance unit 1b includes the performance device power supply unit 56 as described above, and is provided with a performance device power supply board 80 within the performance device power supply unit 56. The power supply section 81 of the performance device power supply board 80 can supply a predetermined amount of voltage to each part of the performance unit 1b, such as the second relay port 50, the performance board 30, the memory section 90, the communication section 91, the first performance device 12, the second performance device 4, and other performance devices.

As described above, according to the gaming system 1, the main unit 1a including the main device section 16 and the presentation unit 1b including the presentation device section 18 can be operated independently of each other. In this case, the main unit 1a has a main power supply unit 55 inside, and it is sufficient for it to be able to send game signals in relation to the presentation unit 1b. Therefore, the game can proceed regardless of the presence or absence of the presentation unit 1b. In other words, the main unit 1a can operate independently of the presentation unit 1b. On the other hand, the presentation unit 1b has a presentation device power supply unit 56 inside, and can operate in a standby state in which it can perform presentation operations by receiving a game signal. In other words, the presentation unit 1b can operate independently of the main unit 1a.

As a result, the presentation unit 1b only needs to operate in response to a game signal received from the main unit 1a in standby mode, and the rest of the design can be freely changed. In other words, the presentation unit 1b can be designed separately from the main unit 1a, increasing the freedom of design. Furthermore, by making it possible to rewrite the presentation program in the presentation unit 1b, it becomes possible to provide a wide variety of presentations with a single device.

In addition, the transmission of game signals from the main board 40 to the performance board 30 can be easily detached by connecting the first relay port 52 on the main board 40 side and the second relay port 50 on the performance board 30 side using a connector. In this way, it is possible to easily replace the performance unit 1b including the performance board 30 by one lottery process by the main board 40. In addition, the signals sent from the main board 40 can be made into an aggregated game signal, which can be made into a general-purpose signal. As a result, a performance program that provides different performances in response to the results of one lottery process can be prepared and made rewritable. A wide variety of performance programs can be selected from among the performance programs that provide multiple different performances.

In the above example, the main board 40 is electrically connected directly to the performance board 30 via a connector to transmit game signals, but it can also be made non-contact.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, a signal transmission means for contactlessly transmitting a game signal is provided between the first relay port 52 and the second relay port 50, and the game signal can be transmitted in one direction from the first relay port 52 to the second relay port 50. As the signal transmission means, the first relay port 52 is provided with a display unit 53 for displaying a game signal corresponding to a lottery process, and the second relay port 50 is provided with a reading unit 51 for reading the display of the display unit 53. In this case, it is preferable to place the display unit 53 on the surface of the housing 15 of the main unit 1a and the reading unit 51 on the surface of the performance device housing 17 of the performance unit 1b, so that they face each other.

More specifically, for example, an image display device capable of displaying a two-dimensional code is used as the display unit 53, and a camera capable of processing the image and recognizing the two-dimensional code is used as the reading unit 51. This allows the game signal to be converted into a two-dimensional code and then transmitted to the performance board 30 without contact. In other words, the display unit 53 encodes the game signal and displays a pattern containing this as an image, which is then read by the reading unit 51 to decode the game signal. In addition, by appropriately using optical transmission means, it is possible to transmit game signals at high speed and with high stability. Instead of optical means, other means capable of transmitting game signals without contact, such as sound waves or magnetic waves, can also be used as signal transmission means.

As described above, the game signal is transmitted from the main board 40 to the performance board 30 in a non-contact manner between the first relay port 52 on the main board 40 side and the second relay port 50 on the performance board 30 side. In other words, the performance board 30 processes the operation of the performance device section 18 in response to the display content of the display section 53. By making it non-contact in this way, the design freedom of the performance unit 1b can be increased in terms of dimensions as well.

In the above example, the game signal is transmitted from the display unit 53 to the reading unit 51 using a two-dimensional code, but this may also be done using a code. For example, the game signal is encrypted at the first relay port 52, an image corresponding to the code is displayed on the image display device used as the display unit 53, this image is captured by the reading unit 51, and the second relay port 50 decodes it to obtain the game signal. In other words, the display unit 53 is a pseudo-effect display device that displays a display corresponding to the lottery process contained in the game signal. Furthermore, the reading unit 51 is a reading device that pairs with the display unit 53.

Also, a predetermined code can be used as the game signal. A correspondence table that defines the code corresponding to each set of information, such as whether or not a jackpot has been drawn and the time spent on the performance to display the lottery result, is stored in the main board 40, and this code is extracted when the main board 40 creates a game signal. The extracted code is then transmitted as a game signal to the performance board 30, which stores the same correspondence table, and the performance board 30 can select a performance corresponding to the code and perform the performance. Also, a second correspondence table that defines the performance pattern corresponding to the code can be stored in the performance board 30, and the performance can be performed based on this.

It is also preferable that the main unit 1a is a circulating game device that can circulate game balls inside the cabinet 15 to allow continuous play. In this case, a game ball passage that guides game balls from the island equipment is not required, and the design freedom of the presentation unit 1b is also improved.

The above-mentioned rewriting of the performance program may be performed by replacing the storage medium attached to the storage unit 90. In other words, different performance programs are stored in the storage medium attached to the storage unit 90 and in another replaceable storage medium, and the performance program is replaced for each recording medium. Alternatively, multiple recording media storing such different performance programs may be prepared in advance, and one of these may be selected for replacement. Furthermore, such multiple recording media may be arranged to be simultaneously attached to the storage unit 90, and the performance program on one recording medium may be selected and used.

Although the present invention has been described above with reference to examples and variations thereof, the present invention is not necessarily limited to these examples. Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will be able to find various alternative embodiments and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of the appended claims.

1 Gaming system 1a Main unit 1b Presentation unit 2 Outer frame 5 Main frame 10 Gaming board 16 Main device section 18 Presentation device section 30 Presentation board 40 Main board

Claims (7)

A pachinko game system including a performance device that operates based on game content on a game board that rolls a game ball,
A main body housing that houses a main unit including a main board that performs lottery processing together with the game board that includes a game ball launching device that handles the game balls and progresses the game ;
a presentation device casing which houses a presentation unit including a presentation board which processes the operation of the presentation device in response to the lottery process, and all of the presentation devices which operate based on the game content in the main unit, including a liquid crystal display device, a presentation section which uses LEDs to perform presentations related to winning and lotteries, and a presentation section which performs audio presentations using a speaker; and a presentation device casing which houses a presentation unit which includes a presentation board which processes the operation of the presentation device in response to the lottery process, and each of these is housed in an independent compartment inside a frame body which is installed in an island facility in an amusement facility, with the main body casing located at the bottom when viewed from the front and the presentation device casing located at the top, and each is provided with a power supply unit inside so that they can operate independently of each other, and each is provided with a signal transmission means which transmits a game signal including information about the lottery process from the main unit to the presentation unit, so that they can operate in sync with each other;
A pachinko gaming system characterized in that the presentation unit includes a CPU and a memory unit that stores a program that provides this operation, and the program in the memory unit is rewritable. 2. The pachinko gaming system according to claim 1 , wherein said signal transmission means transmits said gaming signal in a non-contact manner. The signal transmission means includes a pseudo performance display device of the main unit and a reading device of the performance unit that is paired with the pseudo performance display device,
A pachinko gaming system as described in claim 2, characterized in that the pseudo-performance display device encodes the gaming signal and displays a pattern containing the gaming signal, and the reading device reads the pattern displayed on the pseudo - performance display device and decodes the gaming signal. 4. The pachinko gaming system according to claim 2 , wherein the main unit provides a game by circulating the game balls inside the main unit. A presentation unit is used in combination with a main unit including a game board including a game ball launching device that handles game balls and progresses the game , and a main board that performs lottery processing , and is housed in a presentation device housing that includes all of the presentation devices that operate based on the game content on the main unit, including a liquid crystal display device, a presentation section that uses LEDs to perform presentations related to winning and lotteries, and a presentation section that performs audio presentations using speakers ,
The game machine is housed in an independent compartment at the top of a main body housing that houses the main unit, the main unit being located at the bottom when viewed from the front inside a frame that is installed in an island facility in an amusement facility, and is provided with a power supply unit inside so that it can operate independently of the main unit, while having a receiving device that receives a game signal including information about the lottery process from the main unit and can operate in synchronization with the main unit;
A presentation unit of a pachinko game system, comprising a presentation board including a CPU and a memory unit for storing a program for providing this operation, and for performing operational processing of the presentation device in response to the lottery processing, and characterized in that the program in the memory unit is rewritable. 6. The presentation unit of a pachinko gaming system according to claim 5 , wherein the receiving device receives the gaming signal in a non-contact manner. The receiving device includes a reading device that is paired with the pseudo-performance display device of the main unit,
7. The presentation unit of a pachinko game system according to claim 6 , further comprising: a pseudo-presentation display device which encodes the game signal and displays a pattern including the encoded game signal; reading the pattern; and de-encoding the game signal.

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